I originally wrote this to my friend Mat, but applies to all you gringos reading this blog. Here's the early version of the planning.

Planned activities will likely start on the 7 March with a feijoada (brazilian meal - think a red beans and rice party, but with black beans) mid-day and a night out at a bar. 8 March there will be some Sao Paulo tourism downtown and then transit at night to the beach. 11 March there will be transit at night back to SP. 12 March there is a churrasco (brazilian BBQ - oh hell yes) at Carol's parents house. 13 March is a dinner between the Wilbanks and Rossini families, followed at night by a luxury bar for fancy cocktails, TBD.  14 March is the wedding.

You gringos are welcome at any and all of this, of course :-) but your presence is...demanded...from the 12 March to the 14 March. If you want to see the rest of the country before or afterwards I think you've have a great time. The beach is also going to be awesome and I know my family will be there and would love to have you along telling bad stories about me.

There's also Rio. Carol, as a paulistana (SP resident), has conflicted emotions about Rio. I think it's a lovely place, great beaches - but very touristy and crimey. But it's worth having on your list as a potential place to go. Or you can fly up to Manaus and check out the Amazon - I've never done that and would love to do so. Salvador on the upper northeast coast is wonderful, Brazil's version of New Orleans, home of my favorite indigenous music and food styles, great beaches. Each of these is a flight away from SP but served by Brazilian national airlines GOL and TAM.

If I were you, I'd show in SP on the 6 March, work the gringo schedule, then go back to the beach after the wedding for a few more days of R&R before you go home. You can stay in a pousada (think fancy motel on the beach) with cable, internet and air conditioning for like $50 a night and get in a bunch more tropical sun time, to go kayaking or surfing or shopping or a mix of all three. Or I would fly up to Salvador at some point and poke around there, buy a ton of forro music and eat nothing but acaraje on the beach while drinking copious amounts of coconut water and pineapple juice.

You should also probably get your vaccinations updated. I'd recommend the whole megillah if you plan to hit the beaches - hepatitis, diptheria/tetanus, tyhpoid, etc - makes it easier to eat all the local foods without fear.