1. No. If you're going in the winter, you have enough time to grind enough Portuguese to get by and have basic conversations. Just find native speakers online and practice speaking with them every day.
2. Very few.
3. If you've never lived outside of suburban USA or a similar environment, then yes. If you've spent any amount of time building up some level of street awareness, then no. Don't take your phone out on the street, and don't wear anything flashy.
4. Very few people in Brazil listen to bossa nova. I say this as a huge bossa nova fan who has visited Brazil. You can hear music like this easily however: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRc1Fh0y3ZI

>>2887513
>Just find native speakers online and practice speaking with them every day
Omw to /copalib/ to argue with schizos
>don't wear anything flashy.
Define "flashy" please. Is wearing a cheap watch already flashy, or are we talking gucci shirts level of flashy

>Can you truly experience Brazil without knowing Portuguese?
Oh hell no. Start learning Portuguese right now. You're gonna be fucked six ways from Sunday if you don't know it. Download Tandem and start chatting with Brazilians pronto.
>Do a lot of people there speak English?
Barely anyone, outside the Guarulhos airport.
>Is it as dangerous as people say?
Depends on the region. Definitely be wary if you do to the Northeast (Pernambuco Ceará etc.), those are the most dangerous states. I imagine Rio is pretty dangerous too and I've heard shit about Espírito Santo.

>>2887558
Nta, but "flashy" as in anything that looks like it could be pawned off should be a no-go. A cheap Casio watch that anyone could have is fine. But since everyone will know you're a tourist anyway, I personally wouldn't wear watches at all just to be safe
t. huefag

>>2887558
>Define "flashy" please. Is wearing a cheap watch already flashy, or are we talking gucci shirts level of flashy
Think Miami, then wear the opposite of that

>>2887507
I know German and I’m learning Italian. If I only go to Rio Grande do Sul, how fucked am I?

>>2887697
Very fucked, do you really expect 5th or 6th gen immigrants to speak those languages?

>>2887697
>I know Italian and I'm learning Irish. If I only go to New York, how fucked am I?

>>2887507
>Can you truly experience Brazil without knowing Portuguese?
Not at all, you could potentially get by in Florianopolis, Curitiba, or some touristy place in the northeast like Natal, but the actual feeling is impossible without portuguese, grind it up while you have time
>Do a lot of people there speak English?
Look for young people, usually will be able to communicate somewhat, mostly in the aforementioned places, never assume someone is an anglophone
>Is it as dangerous as people say?
The less english-speaking the more dangerous, as a rule of thumb try to never appear foreigner if you're able (you wont be able to, but it's worth the attempt). In the beachside of Natal / Recife / Fortaleza / Joao Pessoa and the like you are able to walk safely with a shining watch out at night no worries, but mostly keeping to well lit and tourist-focused parts of town. Don't try that shit in downtown or in your cultural immersion area or you may end up on the news, a simple polo or dress shirt could already mark you down as a target
>Where can I go for the best Bossa nova vibes?
To the past.
But on a serious note, the brazilian concept of boemia (bohemian life) is pretty much gone and so it this cozy non-place you're looking for, there's no sidewalk bar in Rio with that vibe no more. Mostly you'll find it in places that focus on blues or jazz, but most brazilian bars like that go full in on the north american jazz bar aesthetic. Fully gentrified. Your best chance is chatting someone up on your itinerary and asking them, they may enlighten you on the random location in bumfuck, brazilopolis that doesn't even show on google maps where you might be able to find some of that joy, good luck otherwise

>>2887697
If you're in the Serra Gaucha or Santa Catarina you may be able to get by if you reach out to the right someone in the town hall to guide you. you would then have a great time with the native german-speaking elite
t. been there, done that