Rio de Janeiro: the Future, the Past, the Night

It was the first time that I traveled to Rio de Janeiro and spent so little time in Rio. Between Salvador and Foz de Iguaçú, Kobe and I spent 3 days in Rio with my aunt for Christmas. My cousin from Belo Horizonte, Silvia, also flew in to spend some time with us. In that short time, we managed to see some of Rio's futuristic side, some of old-time Rio, and some of the bustling nightlife.

En route to Niterói, the city on the other side of the Guanabara bay. An enormous bridge (over 14km long!) connects the two cities.



Niterói boasts one of the most spectacular buildings by Oscar Nieyemer, a 106-year-old (no kidding) Brazilian architect famous for his futuristic style.

This is the Museum for Contemporary Art.

Beside the Nieyemer museum, one of Niterói's biggest assets is its view of Rio's skyline.

An some pristine beaches as well - slightly less crowded than Rio's beaches.

The Sugarloaf Mountain (o Pão de Açúcar) is an oddly shaped rock at marks the entrance of the Guanabara bay. A highly recommended spot for sunsets.

Rio is an excellent city for live Latin music. One of the coolest places in the city, what am I saying, on the South American continent, is Rio Scenarium in the Lapa district.

This live music venue and bar is located in an old townhouse and decorated like an antique shop.

Rio also has a few older quarters, which remind the visitor of the 19th century splendour of the former capital.

Santa Teresa district, a part of Rio that has hung on to the atmosphere of bygone times.

Escadaria Selarón in Lapa. A Chilean-born artist has decorated these steps with tiles from all over the world.

And finally, o Largo do Boticário, a beautiful somewhat hidden square in Cosme Velho, another of Rio's old neighbourhoods.

Rio has so many faces... I can only say: go and discover for yourself!

Salvador da Bahia, pt.II

Entering our third week back in dreary Belgium, it is time to reminisce about our Brazil trip some more... this series is from our stay in Salvador de Bahia, in the northeast. Tio Mecenas took us on a walking tour of Salvador's historic center, the Pelourinho district. Pelourinho is characterized by colourful colonial houses and lavishly decorated churches. Baianas, women dressed in typical historic outfits, parade in the streets and will take a picture with tourists for a few Brazilian reais.

But first, a hearty breakfast with a view.

Tio Mecenas taking a picture of the Lacerda elevator, the public elevator which connects downtown and uptown.

The Lacerda elevator looking out on the Bahia de Todos os Santos, the Bay of All Saints.

Colourful colonial houses.

They say there is a church for every day of the year in Bahia.

A sandalwood salesman. Smells nice, but a little too potent to transport in a crammed suitcase.

A Baiana walking down the cobblestone street.

Lots of colourful souvenir shops in the Pelourinho area.

The central square of Pelourinho (which is, in fact, triangular - just some trivia for you there).

A volkswagen van making its way through the busy streets.

A baiana luring us to her shop with (free!) ice cold water.

A street artist and his, um, fans.

Memories

I'm currently going through aaaall the Brazil pictures to make the selection for our trip's album... Seems like it might take awhile. I'm currently at day 4.

Day 4 was our second day in Ariau Towers in the Amazon. We were zooming around on a little wooden boat on the Rio Negro, enjoying the sun and marveling at the immensity of the Amazon forest. I remember we talked about how we can't even gauge how enormous the Amazon is without flying over it. Too bad both our Amazon flights were during the night. I guess we'll have to go back...

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

Hi guys,

Sorry I've been MIA for the last two weeks of my Brazil trip...

The end of the trip has been, well, agitated...

The fact that this happened didn't help much:

We were in my aunt's house in Petropolis when the torrential rain and the mudslides happened.

We are very fortunate and grateful that cleaning up the mud after the water seeped away was the worst we were confronted with. So many have lost so much more: their entire houses, or loved ones. There are no words to describe what has happened there.

Apart from the scare at the end, our trip has continued to be wonderful. Below are some pictures of the week we spent in Belo Horizonte, in the Minas Gerais province, where my uncle, aunt and three cousins live.

On the first day we took a trip to the farm of my aunt's father.

We shared a hearty Brazilian meal at the big kitchen table.

Rice and beans, and cooked maniok: typical Brazilian everyday food. The boyfriend likes.

My aunt's mother serving typical Brazilian desserts: goiabada with Minas cheese, and homemade lime ice cream.

The second day, we visited the historic city center, of which the Praça da Liberdade is the heart.

We visited the new Museum for Science and Technology.

The next day, we visited an open-air museum about 80km outside Belo Horizonte, called Inhotim. It is an enormous garden, with a large botany collection, that houses several modern art galleries.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate: the whole drive to Inhotim was sunny, but as soon as we got there, the heavenly gates opened and water poured out for the entire duration of our visit. But we are Belgians, and it takes more than a little rain to stop us.

Even the gardeners look artsy at times.

Some of the art installations even allowed participation. The hammock room with the loud Jimi Hendrickx music was our definitive favourite.

THE coolest profile picture ever taken...


... with the enormous kaleidoscope:


The earth is rusty red, as in all Minas Gerais.

The steps of this pool are meant to represent a telephone book. Arty.

The day before my cousin's wedding: grooming!

*** For all the people expecting pictures from my cousin's wedding, I must disappoint you: my camera didn't fit in my teeny tiny bag... and I'm still awaiting pictures from other sources.
Sit tight. ***

Brazil still nurtures a few old traditions, like the ambulant "scissor sharpener" (what are they called?) who has a particular whistle to alert the people of the block of his presence.

On the night before the wedding, we went out to a special bar in Belo Horizonte... o Bar do Belga! Unfortunately, ALL their Belgian beer had sold out. Logically. It's that good.

On Friday's, there's a flower market down the street from where my family lives.

On my birthday, which was last Saturday, my cousin's friend Bruno Senna took us to a belvedere high up a mountain with a stunning view of Belo Horizonte.

Bruno is an fantastic photographer by the way. Check out his photoblog here.

Here are a few pics Bruno took:

Picture by Bruno Senna.

Picture by Bruno Senna.

The view from the Belvedere is simply stunning. Here is an original idea I'm allowing Bruno to steal. ;-)

Taking a shot with his amazing equipment.

Well, and that's it for Belo Horizonte for now... I hope I can work my way through many more pictures and share some more images from our wonderful trip with you over the next few weeks. Thanks to all the people who have been following us during our voyage!