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GETTING AROUND Most important, buy a map. Curitiba is not the easiest city to get a handle on as it is planned around one-way systems without many landmarks. Two of the best maps available are Guia Facil and Guia Turistico, both available from any newsstand. In both cases they list every street in Curitiba by first name (rua Augusto Stresser is under A). Try the bus tour, it will give you a good feel for the city and will help orientate you, especially if you buy the brochures in advance (available in English at Galeria Schaffer, Rua XV, 40, and Sec. Industria, Comercio and Turismo, Rua Ebano Pereira, 477). The bus starts at Praça Tiradentes, in front of the cathedral and run from Tuesday to Sunday, from approximately 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. You buy a number of coupons - each person needs a coupon each time they get on and off the bus. The bus is the Jardineira, white bus, takes about 2 hours, and takes you to 16 of Curitiba's attractions and tourist sites, you can get off and on the bus 3 times. Taxis are very easy to use. You can call and book one and there are many taxi ranks near supermarkets and the centre of town. All taxis are orange and are metered. You can call toll free to 0800-414-1414. Neighbourhoods There are plenty of nice neighbourhoods in Curitiba, including: Batel: although there are some houses, this is really the home of high-rise apartments. Batel is very convenient to downtown, shopping and to an intensive collection of restaurants. But, extremely noisy and poluted. Champagnat: adjacent to Batel, but with more of a mix of high and low rise apartments. A little further from the center, but with great access to shopping. It is also convenient to Barigüi Parque, one of the largest parks in Curitiba. Mercês: an older suburb, with a mix of shops and residential streets. Santa Felicidade: the furthest out of the popular suburbs, and home to the Condominios Fechados (gated condominiums). It is also home to a lot of (mostly Italian) restaurants, the local wine industry and scores of rattan/wicker furniture shops. Jardim Social: a residential neighbourhood, all houses and close to the Swiss School of Curitiba. Jardim Schaffer: also a residential area, but with mixed types of housing and close to the International School of Curitiba. Seminario: another area with a number of houses and gated condominiums. WEATHER Curitiba can experience four seasons in one day - a unique phenomenon. Officially, it is in a humid, sub-tropical region. However, because the city is situated on a plateau 900 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, it is much cooler than towns located less than an hour away. The average temperatures range from 20(C) 69(F) in the summer to 12(C(55(F) in the winter, but these averages are misleading. The weather changes very quickly, and the mornings and evenings are often quite different from the middle of the day. Summer temperatures are frequently well over 30(C) 90(F) during the day. Some suggestions for dealing with the weather.... The weather can be very cold, and the humidity makes it a very penetrating cold. Central heating is rare, so you will need to dress warmly. You may not use a winter coat very often but jackets, sweaters and sweat (track) suits are very useful. The best way to keep the house cool and comfortable is to have a through draught. On cold days, get as much light as possible to help warm up and again open windows - it is often warmer outside than in. Be careful of the sun in the spring and summer, both at the beaches and in Curitiba (altitude). Use plenty of sunscreen - even on cloudy days - with a high protection factor.
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