The best experience of the entire trip to Rio has been visiting the Botanical Gardens, from a Landscape perspective they are truly amazing. They have a richness about them that can only come from age and a lushness that is unique the the tropical climate they reside in. I was fascinated by the primary pathways that created strong axis through the site and by the secondary paths that formed intimate spaces for one to interact personally with the landscape. I was also fascinated by the materials used within the site, There is a bridge that seems to be made of recycled industrial materials, it seemed so out of place in the formal landscape yet it fit in due to the entire sites variety of materials and spaces. I was also amazed by the metalwork that created the walls of the orchid greenhouse, they were painted white and were shaped into an intricate curvilinear yet geometric pattern that was the perfect backdrop for the brightly colored and delicate orchids. I could have spent an eternity studying the landscape of that site, noting how it connected the urban environment to the natural, or how the simple plane of the water features perfectly counterbalanced the chaos of the vegetation. It would be a treat to one day be able to go back to those gardens and enjoy their serenity once again.
Author: Jessica Rybolt
Back in the Snow
Since coming home to Columbus and reflecting on my trip to Rio I have come to realize that out of all the places I have traveled to, Rio is by far the most unique city I have seen. I am still in awe of its landscape and culture, something that I don’t think I will ever fully understand. The city utilizes the landscape in ways I had never seen before, such as the favelas climbing the morros, making the best of an ‘undesirable’ location. I was also amazed by the tunnels going under the morros, these extensive roadways were carved through the landscape causing minimal changes to the ground above it, true tunnels are common in the U.S. as well, however, I have only seen one other tunnel that rivals the impressiveness of the tunnels in Rio. The most amazing thing about the city was the minute details that gave the city its vibrancy
, this is especially significant when in terms of the vegetation; never before have i seen such beautiful shapes and colors. Overall Rio is a truly beautiful city and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to spend a week there. Now as I sit at my desk the bright sun and soft sand of Rio seems like a dream, but it is a dream that I will hold onto and always cherish. I hope that one day I am able to return and continue my adventures in Rio.
Imperfections
Rio de Janeiro is a truly immense and busy city, over the past two days we have walked through Niteroi ( technically it’s own city) , downtown Rio, and the Copacabana/Ipanema area. In all of these places the traffic, crowds, and streetscapes remind me somewhat of New York City. All large cities hold some resemblance to each other, however, Rio and New York are shockingly similar. Both cities have a grungy side to them that is apparent in the imperfections that somehow make the place more beautiful. Graffiti is a common occurrence in cities, however in New York and especially Rio, the street art becomes a consistent part of the urban fabric that is as much a part of the city as the roads or buildings are. There is an entire culture to the graffiti that hides beneath the surfac, for example, artists in Rio from rival groups try to see who can tag the tallest places, therefore, one can find tags in places that seem impossible to reach and this quandary sets the mind spinning . It’s little things like this that truly make a city feel alive; while size, population, and diversity may also be similar between the cities, they mainly provide a more visual and spatial sense whereas the imperfections and hidden meanings behind it provide the city with a story and a life.
First Day
This has been an absolutely perfect day, although it started out a little rough due to being uncomfortable on the plane, It has certainly turned into a wonderful day. After leaving the airport we took a bus to the hotel and by driving through the city we were given an amazing view of the various neighborhoods. The favelas came straight up to the highway so we were able to see an interesting view of them without actually being in them. It amazed me that although they are simply shacks and run down buildings, it didn’t seem like such a horrible place to live. I understand all of the issues with the favelas but as I viewed them I couldn’t help but notice the little things like a tricycle on a roof or a beautiful garden on a patio. these things gave the favellas a sense of life and community that you don’t hear about in news stories and such.
Once we arrived at the hotel I was pleasantly surprised by our room, it is simple yet beautiful, perfect for this trip. I was excited to explore the local neighborhood with the group after settling in and I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the streets.
Our next adventure was to Sugar Loaf and it was beyond amazing. Once we reached the peak
of the mountain Ana, Reyna, and I followed a path through the jungle to a little bench overlooking Copacabana and Ipanema. It was the perfect opportunity for us to sketch and as we sat there we listened to Brazilian music coming from a small island down below, the entire experience was perfect, I hope to always have that memory.
Post-departure Pre-departure
The adventure begins!!! We are finally off on the first leg of our journey and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope that the upcoming events will meet and surpass my expectations. I know that we have a long night of travel ahead of us but rather than feeling dismayed by the upcoming hours I am looking forward to it. I hope that Aimee is having better weather in Rio than the rain we have had up here all day, I am curious about what it will actually be like in Rio seeing as how the forecast dramatically changes for it daily. I hope that since it is in a tropical climate the forecasts that predict rain actually mean pop up showers like those of Florida. Even if our trip is bogged down by rain, we will still have an amazing time enjoying each other’s company and the culture of Brazil.
Upon landing in Atlanta (my least favorite airport ) I hope that the group manages to stay together and stay calm in the hectic bustle of the Atlanta airport. Once we manage to find our next gate I plan on using some of my time to explore the terminal and to hopefully find a Chipotle (fin
Columbus Airport
gers crossed!). Hopefully a solid meal like that will make me comfortable for the long plane ride ahead and to make up for my lack of a meal earlier today.
Best of luck to all of us traveling on this very superstitious day and may we all make this trip something special.
Over and out!