There are many different forms of ground travel, and you might be thinking “Why a bus?” Well, I will admit, the first time I stepped into a foreign bus terminal, I was rethinking my own decision. My goal was to see with my own eyes the countryside, rural communities, and suburbs of Brazil. In simplest of forms, bus travel does permit a view, has local stops, and caries local commuters of all types. I chose to take a bus from São Paulo, Brazil to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so I could marvel at the native hillsides of this beautiful country.
I used BusBud in Brazil to make my way from one of the largest metropolitan areas in South America to the picturesque beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I used the app to book my tickets and it was not hard at all. In the BusBud search engine, I entered my destination and was provided with a slew of option's, with price differences, and multiple times for departure and arrival. The app is easy to use, and it is easy to manage the booking, cancel, and rebook if necessary.
I departed from Tiete Bus Terminal in Centro São Paulo. I would recommend going with another person for safety reasons. I was able to navigate the terminal at 1 a.m. solo without issue, but anyone could fall victim to random acts. the bus terminal is large and not as fancy as an airport. There are shops and a food court. The signs are not like a train terminal, they do not update. The bus ticket on your phone has the gate number and they are easy to find.
I made my way to Rio on a double-decker Brazilian bus, which was a first for me. I had never sat on a travel bus and had only been on public transportation buses in the US, in large cities. I will admit, I was taken aback by the bus terminal appearance and its inhabitants. A word to the wise, avoid the restrooms in bus terminals. But, it is the same in any other country, just people trying to get to a different location.
The bus was clean, smelled good, and was comfortable. This was an overnight trip, and to be ready to hit the streets of Rio, quality sleep was a must. The seats reclined, but the best part was that the upstairs seats were converted into a small bed. The restrooms were clean, the air was cold, and all auxiliaries worked (e.g.: USB ports, outlets for electronics, etc.).
The ride to Rio was overnight, comfortable, and smooth. We made one stop halfway through at a German-inspired transportation stop. To my surprise, there was a large Brazilian food court, which had flavorful culinary food. The name of the stop is called Graal Alemão and I highly recommend this stop.
The rural farmland just outside the city limits of Rio de Janeiro is similar to areas in the States, but widely different at the same time. Obviously, a cow is a cow, but the plant life is tropical, the equipment has some age on it, and the workers have similar builds. The difference that I saw is the lay of the land, it is of a mountain terrain. There are banana trees that create the property line, with the traditional wood and metal fencing.
The suburban and city areas along the way are truly beautiful and are a representation of the larger city that everyone loves, São Paulo. The tall box-like buildings for apartments and office space line the city center and the traditional Brazilian housing. The lush green tree canopies are that of palms and evergreens.