September 26, 2003 -- In our on-going competition with Canada for overall "cool," we're usually in the lead -- an opinion popularly held on this side of Great Lakes. But being fair players, we do acknowledge good moves of our competitors. This is certainly the case with Bob Thomas from Ontario, who dreamed up this travel opportunity: tours to Brazil and Argentina, designed specifically for farmers and their spouses. Talk about niche marketing! Touring the farmlands during the day and dancing tango and salsa at night will not only acquaint you with South American agricultural business, but let you enjoy the cultural riches as well.
You can spend 10 days in Brazil, departing November 27, 2003 (when it's Spring down there), or 16 days in Argentina and Brazil, departing January 22, 2004 (when it's Summer there). The trips are priced from $2,495 for the ten days tour and from $3,295 for the longer journey. Both are based on double occupancy and include airfare, all internal South American air as well as land travel by air-conditioned buses, hotels, full breakfasts and some meals. Tours of the cities are also part of a deal.
The Brazil trip will drop you right in the heart of South America -- Rio de Janeiro! Three nights in the city with full day sightseeing tour and dinner should give you a pretty good idea of the depths of Brazilian soul. Make sure to give yourself some time for curing your cachaça-induced hangover, because the next four days mean business. You'll be touring farm and agricultural sites in the Mato Grosso state, the heart of Brazil's new Cerrado agriculture frontier. After visiting a flower auction and greenhouses in the region, you'll have an opportunity to see the workings of dairy and citrus farms near the Dutch community of Holambra in the state of Sao Paulo.
The longer, 16-day tour is carefully designed to deliver manageable dosages of work and play. You'll begin by spending two nights in Iguazú Falls -- a spectacular canyon waterfalls surrounded by subtropical jungle. After seeing what shaped the colorful spirit of Argentineans, you are sure to fully appreciate their capital, Buenos Aires -- the next step on your journey. Here, a city tour including the Liniers Stockyards will give you a glance at how at the city works, while a Tango Dinner Show will give you an idea how its denizens spend their after-work hours. Leaving the urban scene behind, you'll get to know yet another, agricultural side of the country. During four days in Pergamino region you will visit cash crop, beef farms and export facilities near Rosario. After getting your fill of Argentina, you'll fly to Rio de Janeiro for the weekend (dust your dance shoes and switch to your play mode!) where a full day city tour and dinner will be provided. Next, back to business as you embark on the tour of Mato Grosso state.
Departures are from Chicago or Toronto, but you can arrange for flights out of other cities as well. Contact Thomas for details and brochures at 519/633-2390 or fax 519/633-4807, e-mail Thomas@ionline.net