Culture | Rio 2015 Culture and City

Next Flight back to Rio

March 29 2015March 29, 2015

Now that we’ve gotten back into the swing of things, with classes and studying and stress, its almost soothing (or maybe thats depression I don’t know for sure) to reminisce on the memories of Rio de Janeiro. This post circles back to my pre-departure post about the other flags seen in the airport. These flags pictured here were hanging from the ceiling at the train station at Corcovado mountain. These flags really spoke to me in a bigger way than the previous. Each flag has a different patten from the next, different colors, shapes, and story. Some share the same meaning, while others drastically different. And yet, with so much difference between them, they are all assembled beautifully together, assembled as separate entities all apart of one bigger picture. In Brazil, we experienced a culture different than our own, and that was only one country! Each flag can serve as a symbol of a different culture. This merely scratches the surface on the sheer vast amount of different cultures in this world to be experienced. There are so many more, with differences and similarities to others at all ends of the spectrum! I think one should strive to experience all of these cultures and develop a wider global awareness.

Finally, this picture remains one of my favorites from Rio. I am not the artist behind this awesome picture, COMPLETE PHOTO CREDIT TO ASHTON. Still, this picture resonates as such a cool and modernistic representation of the city in its entirety. The text pictured here (if you can’t see because it is cut off) has a heart and then Rio, in a very simple, modern font. Very evidently so, the “R” is damaged, which i think is such a strong parallel to city. The city of Rio is largely a modernistic and evolving one. There may be its rough patches, such as poverty, crime and violence as a whole, despite that it maintains its beautiful image as “Cidade Maravilhosa”.

Finally, one of my sketches. (No judgement I’m not an architecture student) This is from the botanical gardens, a wonderful experience. This is a sketch of one of the birds i briefly saw. I had been waiting for the majority of the trip to see some beautiful birds and upon visiting the botanical gardens, I was sure I would finally find them. Upon getting there, I saw a whole lot of beautiful vegetation and structures, but not a whole lot of beautiful birds. I spent the entirety of the visit looking to the sky hoping for a glimpse of the precious *golem voice*. Finally in a split second, it was there! A beautiful green bird, conure was my assumption. I stumbled to get out my phone to take a picture, and just like that, it was gone. At first i was disappointed, but that really is the nature of birds. They are fleeting, never in one place for too long, one moment they’re there, the next they’re gone. I think that accurately portrays society, always in a state of change, never placid. One could view this as sad, as sometimes things do not return to the original state, or one could view it as beautiful, and appreciate the fleeting moments as they come.

Back in the Snow

March 26 2015March 26, 2015

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.

Brazilian Markets

March 26 2015

I would say one of the most interesting parts of this trip is the two markets we visited. Let`s talk about the Hippie Fair first. It is not a very big market, but there are so many funny and cultural items. We visited on our second day in Rio, as being a tourist who still did not know much about Brazil at that time, I`d say it completely increase my understanding of Brazilian culture; how is Brazilian folk market looks like and how the local people behave in there as part of their daily life. Especially we learned how to bargain with the traders. Actually it is not strange with me because in China we often do the same thing; but also feeling interesting that you found it also works in Brazil, which is almost the opposite side of earth with your hometown. And I found it is challenging! It is not easy at all, especially when you barely know Portuguese and trying to convince them in your body language. But it`s funny at all.

Speaking of there, The majority of people cannot speak English is part of my most impressive experience in Brazil. I`m really curious why they do not more positively promote the education of English. Because in my opinion being a famous traveling country which tourism is a large part to support its economy, promoting English will give more convenience and advance for sure. But that`s only a small question of my own, in all people are really nice there, you can always meet local people who can speak English help you to communicate with the trader, the restaurant etc. People only speak Portuguese are fine as well without doubt.

I really love those real handmade art pieces by the traders their own in Hippie Fair. Every one of them is different by the handmade, that making them unique. They do not like usual souvenir from the factory line which makes me boring. I really like the drawing map I bought from a really nice granny and the small house model from a old mister.

For the last day we visit another market, and that is a really meaningful experience as well. It tends to be even more local, as Venesa said we might be the only foreigners in there. And that is true. There is even more funny things. I love the small trolley with poetry. That`s new to me. All the poetries looks interesting and I wish I could read it. And Lulu tried the braid thing, it is so cool I wish I did it but there was not enough time. The market experience really broaden my understanding of Brazilian folk life.

Football Game&Maracana

March 26 2015April 13, 2015

I’m a big fan of football game so when I heard we could have a chance to watch a local game at Wednesday night, I definitely said I’m not gonna miss it. The game is between Flamengo FC & G.E Brasil at the Maracana Stadium. This is a very good chance not only it is the “first fase” of the Brazil Cup, it’s also chance we see the Maracana Stadium at night and on a game.

I have learned about the craziness and enthusiasm of the fans, but when I was really with them still I’m overwhelmed by the atmosphere! The song and beats are never stopped, even before and after the game. And I`d say it really boost the morale. Since the Flamengo is the home team, the stadium is full of red and black. We were sitting at the very first one and two rows , and this is also my first experience to watch a game in such a close distance. Since I support the Flamengo, when they wins I stood and clapped with the fans, feeling excited as same as they did.

And at the last day we are very luck to have a guide trip in Maracana in the daytime. That is really good for me cause I have gotten the views of this famous stadium in different times and conditions. And thanks to the guide I have gained a better understanding of this stadium. I noticed the mix of yellow and blue seats, like the two colors are slowly melted together. The guide told us the yellow and blue, with color of grassland green, represent the idea of this country and flag. How interesting to learn that! The experience in Maracana is really amazing.

Samba Night Photos

March 22 2015

Cristo Redentor

March 22 2015March 22, 2015

This was taken at the Christ the Redeemer monument on Corvocado Mountain. The picture is actually Ashton’s because all of my photos were too cloudy. Upon arriving at the monument and finding out the fog was covering eighty percent of the statue, i was pretty disappointed. However, despite the lack of visibility, the visit to the statue was very moving. The size was incredible as well as the height above the ground. Looking around and down at the city (which we couldn’t see) felt like we were in some other world, above the clouds almost (the fog helped with that). It really is intriguing to me how in pretty much any part of the city of Rio de Janeiro, you can look around and somewhere, on a clear day, see the Christ the Redeemer statue. The statue has its arms open, engulfing the city and all of its people, as if he is always watching over them. On the backside of the statue there is a small chapel actually inside the Christ the Redeemer for worship. It really illustrates the strong presence of the catholic religion in Rio de Janeiro. Even though the fog may have diminished our visibility the visit to Christ the Redeemer was an overall eye opening experience.

Goodbye Rio

March 21 2015March 27, 2015

Today is our last day in this beautiful costal city but I believe no one wants to leave. After visiting the Maracana Stadium, Vanessa took us to the biggest local market Feira de Sao Cristovao. This market is totally different from the Hippie Fair. Most stuff which sold in Hippie Fair is hand made products with good quality and very unique. And because it near the beach areas, there were many tourists coming around and picked gifts for their trip. This market we visit today looks like serve for the local people in stead of tourists. Things here are much cheaper and the quality is less good than products we bought in Hippie Fair. But it is a good culture experience to see what Rio people come to buy for their daily life.

This afternoon is our last time to enjoy Rio. It is really hard to decide how to spend the last few hours. We six girls find a really cute cafe near Copacabana and enjoy the Brazilian deserts and nice coffee there. Everyone of us is not willing to leave this fantastic city. Anyway, our amazing trip will end in today but our friendship and precious memory will never end.

See you Rio!

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Downtown Culture

March 21 2015March 21, 2015

For me, one of those most interesting things we have done on our trip is exploring downtown. A city really reveals itself inside of it’s core. Business, art, culture, and infrastructure are all on display downtown, with no one more dominating than the others.

cathedral

The cathedral is right in the mix of all of the company towers and definitely holds it´s own as a religious icon. The culture of the city is definitely different than the beach areas we had explored until that point. Rather than a casual carefree dress and atitude, most of the people there were dressed professionally and were in a rush like any other downtown area. However, I did appreciate that it was kind of a mix between a gridded plan and a circuitous European style city. There were definitely main plazas and straight main roads, but in between were some interweaved alley ways that had some nice places hidden within. In my opinion, this allows a little more expression within the city such as street art and facade art work that can be appreciated rather than destroying.

tile fish

The infrastucture was also very present as both good and bad. I saw that there were plenty of busses that were a viable and speedy transportation option. They weren´t overcrowded and seemed to get through the streets well. However, they were also putting in the underground train system, which congested the city quite a bit. I believe it will be a good thing eventually, but I think it was a bit of a lost opportunity that it didn´t get done before. It should be the goal of the city to better itself for the sake of being better as well as for the people. Instead, it was put off until absolutely necessary. I think public transportation planning involves some gambling and needs to be proactive rather than reactive to be truly successful.

The People You Meet

March 21 2015March 21, 2015

There have been so many interesting people from all over the world that have made this trip great thus far. From our coordinator, Vanessa, to to random waiters and samba singers, these people have made the Rio experience amazing. John Dai and I actually started a project documenting some of the people of Rio. It has been interesting getting to know strangers from all walks of life in this city. For example, we spent time giving food and money to homeless people. One of them even taught us a handshake that we have been using ever since we met him. I met another man at a samba dance restaurant who was originally from Italy. When I told him we are from Ohio in the United States, he mentioned Columbus and said he knew the school there. He was businessman and had been to a conference in the city (and he even mentioned the football team). I never thought that I would run into someone from Italy, while in Brazil, who knows where I go to school in America. I love the culture of Rio, but it does not stem from the landscape, the beach, or the food. The culture here is enveloped in the people and their attitudes toward each other and life in general.

a free day wandering in Rio

March 20 2015March 20, 2015

Rio de Janeiro is a city that I want to wander around to every corner of the city, and today is a freeday! Zen, Ran, Yuanyuan and I decided to explore the city more. We went to the post office and sent a piece of Rio to our families and friends, hoping to share with them our wonderful experience in Rio.

Our second stop is the Escadaria Selarón, which is a long, colorful steps. It reflects the colorful side of Rio. The materials it used is kind of mosaic, which share the same method with the pavement of pedestrians in Rio ( as we can find in along the beach and in the downtown area). Each mosaic is unique in terms of its shape and story. The step is like a collection of art from all the citizens and the story is continuing as you are walking along the steps, I can almost image the steps can be continued by generations and generations, which will finally become a stepping way that tell the story of Rio, an outdoor museum.

The bright colors reminded me the green tropical plants in Rio, which is a huge contrast with the steps in color. The experience is so different from the Botanical garden, which was full of green. The trees along the steps also created shades, adding another layer for the Escadaria Selarón. The bright, high-contrast colors shined under the sun, which attracted a lot of tourists. We spent a huge amount of time there and really enjoyed ourselves.

Escadaria Selaron

March 20 2015

There are so many things that I want to do in Rio de Janeiro for my free day, but it is too hard to do all the things together just in one day. Tangling for a long time, my roommate and I, we finally decide to go to see Escadaria Selaron in downtown for our free day.

Escadaria Selaron is a set of the most famous steps in Rio de Janeiro. Those steps are the work of Jorge Selaroa. There are 250 steps which are covered in more than 2000 tiles collected from over 60 countries all around the world. I am so amazed to see all the little piece collection, and I think they are the most colorful steps in the world. This unusual creation not only make the neighborhood more pretty, but makes Rio a more colorful city.

Some of the tiled steps are very interesting. Since Selaron is known as a artist that depict a pregnant African woman, we can see his preference in his tiles collection. Facing the steps, on our left side, there is a 4*6 tiles size section that attracts my attention: a black pregnant woman with the wall map of Christ the Redeemer, and there are some words in this section “Living in a favela is an art. Nobody robs, nobody hears, nothing is lost. Those who are wise obey those who give orders”. It is interesting!

Escadaria Selaron is definitely worth a visit in Rio de Janeiro. I do wish I have more time that I can see all the details from the tiles.

Second Row Spectators

March 20 2015

This is a panoramic i took at the game on Wednesday of Maracana Stadium. The stadium was absolutely massive. Seating seventy eight thousand, it almost compares to the capacity of the Ohio Stadium. The energy inside the stadium was just amazing. The match was the first phase of the Brazil Cup, between Flamengo and Brasil RS. Both teams’ colors were red and black, and as easily guessed, just about every single person was dressed accordingly. Upon finding our seats (second row!! 🙂 ) we noticed the extremely spirited and loud section of people behind and to the right of us. I like to think of this section as an equivalent of Block “O” on a game day for the buckeyes. All sporting the teams colors, waving flags, blowing horns and even complete with a band, these people were ready for the game to say the least. At first we assumed they were the home (Flamengo) teams fan section but upon hearing boo’s with the entrance of the team, quickly learned they were on the opposing side. The game had a slow start, with a score of zero-zero for the first half. Flamengo delivered in the second half, scoring two goals and winning the game. To our surprise and much astonishment, throughout the entire game, even upon their opposing team scoring (twice) the fan section for the Brasil RS consistently cheered and sung and chanted. After the game was over, the fans still cheered on their loosing team. This truly was a display of not only good sportsmanship but the importance role football plays in these peoples lives. It is part of the lifestyle, cheering on your team, win or loose, no matter the outcome. This experience was eye opening and much admired.

Futbol Game!

March 20 2015

So I haven’t had a chance to post yet with a busy night and morning, but last night (Wednesday) was one the best and most memorable experiences of my life. A group of us went to a futbol game last night at the famous Maracana Stadium. And the game/stadium did not disappoint. We were taken in a bus to the stadium, directed to our seats, and taken back to the hotel after the game. A very good deal for only 210,00 reais!
For the game itself, it was awesome! We watched Flamengo FC play G.E Brasil in the first “fase” of the Brazil Cup. When we got our ticket, I didn’t know where our seats would be. I thought we’d be lucky to even get a seat in the upper bowl. But sure enough, as great as our tour guide Vanesa has been on this trip, we got hooked up with front row seats!
I’ve grown up and played soccer my whole life. I played on the varsity team at OSU for three years and the sport itself since I was 5 so I know a thing or two about soccer. But this experience blew away all expectations I had and increased my personal passion for the game even more. Flamengo won 2-0 including a last minute goal that was unforgettable. What this experience taught me was how passionate Brazilian people are about the sport. In essence, soccer depicts their culture. And that was seen by the away team refusing to sit down and stop cheering even though they were losing and even after the game was done. So, I can officially cross seeing the world’s greatest sport in the world’s greatest stadium in the world’s most passionate soccer country off of my bucket list.

Awesome cultural experience!

The Business Side

March 18 2015

While I have been introduced to, examining, and looking at the architectural/landscape side of the sites we have visited and passed as a group, I have also been individually looking at Rio in a business perspective as well (my major). One of the first things that I’ve noticed is that a lot of the people in Rio are self-made. Self-made meaning that they are busy selling things themselves. No matter where you go whether it’s the beach, downtown, or even just walking on the sidewalks there is someone trying to sell you something.

In the business world, this would probably fall under the category of personal selling. All of the vendors are nice (even though the language barrier is hard) and it seems like they truly care about you. A lot of the business takes place in markets and fairs. One of my first experiences with this was the Hippie Fair. I was able to use my negotiating skills to bargain on some quality Brazilian items.

Another part of business in Rio that I have been looking at are the actual corporations. Subway, McDonalds, and Burger King are all the big names down here that are familiar from America. What is interesting is that they have offerings that are tailored to Brazilian culture like the picante burger. One food place that isn’t in the US but is big here is Bobs. It is similar to the other fast food restaurants that deliver burgers. Some other businesses that I have seen include Sherwin Williams and Pizza Hut. One thing I’ve noticed is that almost all of the buildings the businesses are in are connected. A lot of the buildings are also vacant. I will be interested in continuing to look at this side of the trip some more.

Downtown Rio De Janeiro

March 17 2015March 24, 2015

Today we set out to explore the metropolitan core of Rio De Janeiro. This was also the day that we were going to be taking public transportation for the first time on our trip. Leaving the hotel we headed west towards Parça General Osorio, the last stop on the Metro and where the start of a fast, looping bus route called the Metrô Na Superfície begins. As we headed down into the underbelly of the city we became exposed to how a large majority of Rio navigates through the urban center, by subway and the connecting bud routes. Currently Rio is in the process of expanding their Metrô lines, Line 4 in particularly. Line 4 will grow to reach out from Ipanema in the east to Barra de Tijuca in the west. This new line will commute an expected 300,000 people per day, taking almost 2,000 cars off the busy streets of Rio during rush hour. At the platform for General Osorio I saw the dead-end where this expansion would fuse the regions. Down here is where the lazy, beach going Rio that I experience on our first day gains it’s speed. We quickly caught the Linha 1 or Line 1 taking us east briefly hugging beneath Copacabana then tail whipping north under Cristo de Redentor. After passing Flamengo and Botofago we got off at the Uruguaiana station. At the surface we got to the surface where Rio transforms from the towering condos and hotels of Ipanema to the lower laying timeless architecture of the 1800s in Uruguaina.

We weaved our way through classical pediments and columns and ornate baroque detailing. Churches and stood in small squares. In midst of the labyrinth is The Royal Portuguese Reading Room.

With its gorgeous multicolored skylight and lovely balustrades, the richly decorated Neo-Manueline interior is truly a slight to behold.

The library holds the biggest and most valuable collection of Portuguese lterature outside of Portugal itself. There are over 350,000 volumes within the library, with collections of rare books that are several centuries old.

We continued through the lower part of the city making our way to the Metropolitan Cathedral. A massive concrete cone that rises out of historic Lapa.

The Metropolitan Cathedral or Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião lies in the former footprint of a Morro which was torn down to fill in the area of the bay that is now know as Flamengo.

The massive structure looks just that, massive. The bare concreted skeleton comes across as heavy and firm emphasing the presents of the Christian church in the city. The large conical shape has for sweeping stained glass windows that let vibrant streaks of dyed light into the interior.

At one of the entrance into the main space stands a statue of Christ. He faces inwards instead off out as if he’s looking upon the alter and congregation. This specific spot of the cathedral captivated me the most. Something about they way he looks into the space ang holds his hand as if offering it out to you.

Art in different forms

March 17 2015March 18, 2015

We went to Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art and this building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Even though I have seen it on Internet before the trip, it is still very impressive when I saw the building. I like the design of putting water under the building, the water creates a reflection of the building and makes the building more vividly. Also, this small pond kind of interacting with the bay behind the building, so the museum doesn’t look isolated from the environment. From today’s tour, I had a general understanding of Niemeyer’s work. He uses lots of curves and lines in his design, which makes the exterior of the architecture look smooth and extending. Also the using of color, like red and yellow in the design is another expression of Niemeyer’s design style. I guess all of these are influenced by Brazil sprits, free and passionate.

Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art

Teatro Popular in Niterói

In the afternoon, we visited Museu de Arte do Rio. The museum was opened in 2013. The roof of the building is connecting the new and the old building of this museum. The museum has four eclectic exhibitions of Brazilian and various kinds of international art. Among all the exhibitions, the one I like is from Marcos Chaves. He uses landscape to reflect cultural and political aspects of the society.

The pictures below are describing the Sugarloaf Mountain with people enjoying sun on the beach. The two chairs show that people used to have a good time there.

Then there are also pictures showing a different side of Rio. These pictures are telling stories about people who are poor or struggling with their lives. What impressed me was his using of the Sugerloaf Mountain. The mountain doesn’t move and as it always is. But it expresses different feelings in different pictures.

There is even a picture has the Sugerloaf Mountain with a bird feather, perhaps a pigeon. What’s the story of this pigeon? : ）

Imperfections

March 17 2015March 22, 2015

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.

Centro e Praia do Flamengo

March 16 2015March 18, 2015

Step after step we traversed through downtown Rio de Janeiro (centro) absorbing the sites and sounds of a city in full swing during the work week. It was interesting to see the city so lively during the week as compared to the weekend. Although there were alot of people throughout Copacabana and Ipanema during the weekend, the amount of traffic and noise in the city doesnt even compare to the work week. One of the most shocking things to see other than the amazing architecture and landscapes were the way people interacted with each other. People were talking to the police (which almost never happens in the USA), walking in the middle of traffic holding normal conversations, and the cars of the city seemed to be in a constant horn battle to see who could honk their horn the most. I really appreciated walking as opposed to a bus tour because I think a derive throughout a city is truely the best way to experience and discover new things about a city. However, after the tour of Centro we were set free to roam throughout Parque do Flamengo. Parque do Flamengo was aboslutely beautiful in that once inside, I felt completely immersed in nature. Roberto Burle Marx was able to accent both the architecture as well as the surrounding landscapes with his plant choices as well as his precise organization of the plants: weather they were as small as a lilipad floating in a reflecting pool or as big as the linear organization of 60 foot palms. This was a nice cap to a long day of walking because we got to stroll along the beach soaking in the sea breeze as we made our way to churrascaria porcao.

Parça General Osorio

March 16 2015March 24, 2015

It’s funny how much can be fit into one single day here in Rio. I find it hard to believe that there is seemingly such little time in the States to stop and enjoy your surroundings while still going about your daily lives, where in Rio here they have time for fun and work. After leaving the vigorous beach on my first day in Rio de Janeiro we were able to experience and immerse our selfs in the weekly cultural market known as the Hippie Fair. Every Sunday craftsmen and women bring their work; vivacious paintings, skillful leather goods and artistries only found in museums hang amongst the canopy of tree at General Osorio.

This is the heart of Ipanema, the last stop on the metro and social meeting grounds for the neighborhood of Ipanema. At the Hippie Fair I was able to get a breathtaking look at the people of rio. They are vibrant and terrible warm. They love to welcome you into their world and show you how to speak, how to dance, how to breath and relax like a Carieoca. They are embraceful!

It was hard,!I must say, to keep from spending my life savings in reals buying all the unique treasures at the Hippie Fair. Tent after tent displayed works, in particularly artwork. I met a man, he was selling his oil paintings in the middle of he square. He spoke very little english but understood much. He taught me the meaning behind his paintings and the history of the farmers and the plight of the poor workers against the harsh stratified class system of Rio. Although it was difficult, my heart was breaking thinking about their struggles, struggles so foreign in my sometimes shallow reality I could hardly grasp. I was impressed by this man, by his hardships, his expression and his artwork. Needless to say I purchased one of his pieces.

Although the Hippie Fair is the most popular, Praça General Osorio is not just used on Sunday’s for the Hippie Fair it is used every day and transforms by the hour! Every Tuesday one of most vibrant markets of Ipanema takes place. The locals call it “Terça feira”, meaning “Tuesday market”. Local tropical fruits and vegetables, fish and meats can be bought directly from the fishermen and framers themselves. They are incredibly skilled and generous-they will let you taste all types of fruits, nuts and cheeses. At night the parça is flourished with several restaurants who establish their dinning rooms on the Portuguese stone on the fringe of the park. The canopy of trees is becomes filled with the aroma of grilled kebabs and meats. This is truly an amazing place experience every day of the week!!

Ipanema

March 16 2015March 24, 2015

Sunday I woke to the misty morning of our first full day in rio. It was early and I was eager to get outsidei the hotel and enjoy everything Rio has to offer. So I left the hotel and l headed to the beach. !The streets where quite, hardly a soul was awake, just the occasional runner and dog walker, but other than that it felt like I was all alone. It was a was a surprisingly comfortable feeing as I walked along the ornate black and ivory mosaic sidewalks, watching the venders begin to set up for their daily ritual.

Looking over the embankment I could see the pale sands of Ipanema weighted by the two brothers to the south and a large rock protruding in the ocean to the north. This rock, or series of large rocks piled high on each other captivated me….I had my heading. As I got closer I noticed the beach wasn’t only inhabited by street venders, the sands were freckled with teenagers lying in piles on each other cuddling, half naked toddlers playing in the rising waters, and energetic dogs tackling each other, leash-less. The soothing crash of wave interrupting my every thought, making it impossible to think of anything but the shear beauty of the landscape. As I approached the pier-like rock I began hear more barking. My passage between the hotels lining the beach and the rock lead me to a dog beach. What looked like hundreds of dogs played in droves around the few owners who watched them. Try as I did I couldn’t get through the crowd of canines without being covered in lovable licks and sniffs. But my destination was just past them so I mustered up the courage to be adored. Fishermen cast their lines from the edge catching the small fish that swam in the morning shallows. From the top of this rock I was awarded for my trouble with a stunning view of all of Ipanema.

On my backside was Copacabana, more specifically a sliver of golden beach leading to Fort Copacabana. A thin wire fence and a armed guards stands as a barrier between the beach and the rocks leading up to the fort. These guard prohibited me from moving forward so I settled for a secluded cornered nestled between the beach and the rock, this is where I slipped into the sea.

Like in all of rio beach front property is gold so it wasn’t long before beachgoers began to flood the tranquil sands. This is when I began to see the real heart of these beaches. The beaches are alive with locals and tourist alike claiming their own slice of the beach for the day. The vendors, now in full operations scurry around the towels and umbrellas, like ants in a colony, selling Globos and Matte

Coco, my new favorite drink, epitomize my idea of the beaches here in rio. They have a way of breathing life in and reviving you. The water is like the city, rough but gentle — rash moments of adrenal rushes followed by calms of effortless motion, and utterly saturated by prolific culture and life.

Lost in the Hippie Fair

March 16 2015March 24, 2015

I looked everywhere. No where, could the item I desired to collect, be found. One by one I scoured the hippie fair for a pair of well-made, fashionable flip-flops. They eluded me. Like the Sun and Moon which can never touch. Rotating on opposite ends of an invisible string that somehow, keeps them from drifting too far. Tent after tent, there was hand-crafted leather belts, hand-woven bracelets in a rainbow of colors. Green, Red, Blue, Purple, Black. Mixtures of some, mixtures of the others. I wandered by shops full of paintings on canvases of landscapes, architecture, favelas, the glorious human body in female and male forms. There were nick-knack stores filled to the edge with Christ the Redeemer carvings, key chains. More and more key chains. And when I thought there no more key chains to see, My expectations were shattered. More key chains. There were bird carvings, music CDs, coconut water kiosks, large sculptures of birds, elephants, people, etc…. The search went on.

Finally, I found them. A tent that specialized in leather work, and even more specifically, flip-flops. I gazed across the spectrum of styles and sizes. “Quento Custa?” I asked. The man standing behind the rows of leather feet liberators typed into his calculator. He held it up, the number showing was 75. 75 Reais. They wouldn’t even cost me 30 US dollars. What a bargain. I didn’t even want to haggle, I already felt like I was robbing the Carioca senior.

I picked my style, and the man asked me to sit so I could find the right size. I took off my current footwear and continued to size up the flip-flops. After two or three pairs that were a size or so too small, the perfect fit was found. I was the male version of Cinderella, and this flip-flip was my glass shoe. Perfect.

Markets, Markets, Everywhere!

March 16 2015March 18, 2015

Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, we learned about the markets in class. However, I never expected there to be so many markets! It seems that everywhere you look, there is a market. It’s absolutely wonderful!

I’ve always valued hand crafted items and one-of-a-kind treasures. I love all of the artwork that I have seen in the markets. Each painting has it’s own unique character and I love the texture of the paints used. There are so many skilled artists here in Rio, and their work is exquisite. I have had the opportunity to visit two markets so far, once on Saturday night along Copacabana Beach beach, and we all went to the Hippie Fair Sunday afternoon. I loved experiencing the markets at different times of the day because they feel like two different experiences. During the day at the Hippie Fair, it was bright and sunny, somewhere close to 90 degrees and there were so many different sounds and smells. You could hear musical instruments being played at some of the tables overlaid with the sound of cars honking, people’s conversations, and the sound of a street musician. The whole market seemed to be buzzing and there was a very high energy surrounding the entire market. The sun was incredibly hot, and it was nice to walk under the vendor’s tents to escape the heat of the sun. At the street market along Copacabana Beach, there seemed to be a slightly calmer energy; there was not as much hustling and bustling. The air was cooler and there was a very nice breeze that circulated throughout the market. The items found at this market weren’t always handcrafted, and this market definitely seemed to be targeted more on tourists, whereas the Hippie Fair seemed to target not only tourists, but locals as well. The items displayed in the mart at night were lit by artificial lighting, which in my opinion, has a different effect than when they are lit by the summer sun. Negotiating with the vendors has posed many difficulties. Most of them do not know English, so trying to figure out how much something costs is always interesting. The one girl vendor pulled out her smartphone and used the calculator to explain the costs of the items she was selling. I thought this was a very clever approach and made communicating much easier!

Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here in Rio, and I hope to visit many more markets before having to return to the US. I think my favorite part of the markets are the paintings – I wish I could buy them all!

Feira Hippie de Ipanema

March 16 2015March 18, 2015

It’s so nice waking up to the sounds of birds chirping and looking out to see the sun shining. The view from our hotel is marvelous; we can see tall buildings down our street with a small mountain peeking through in the distance, but the most spectacular view is that of the canopy of trees along the streets below. Frank made a good comment when we first got a tour of the neighborhood: “it’s like New York, with trees.” The canopy of trees makes a significant difference when walking down the streets here and makes the 90 degree sun feel much cooler.

As I reflect on Day 2 (yesterday), I think of how lucky we were to be able to experience different parts of their culuture at the beach and at the Feira Hippie de Ipanema. At the Hippie Fair I was able to find an assortment of things to bring back home to the family and friends that helped me get here. Most of the vendors spoke little to no English, so it was challenging trying to negotiate with some people. I learned that while it’s always beneficial for you to try getting items for less Reals (as most of the vendors are expecting you to do), there are some things worth paying full price for and not offending the vendor, such as handcrafted art pieces or the handmade pants I bought (see picture). The Portuguese language is very beautiful; it sounds as if each person has found their own rhythm when they speak, it’s very melodic and I am inspired to pick up another language soon.

Hippie Fair

March 15 2015March 25, 2015

Today we went to the Hippie Fair at noon. It was not very big. Yutong and I almost visited every small shop. We both interested in finding cute and colorful handicraft. Thus, visiting hippie fair was something we did interested to do. I wanted to find something that are quite special and can represent Rio to decorate my next year new apartment. And when I saw this small map hanging on the booth, I thought it was cute and it looked nice for my room. The old grandma who sold this small map told me that it was all made by herself and her daughter. I also found a really beautiful mirror at this booth. It was made of the tile of a car and I thought it was amazing! We also saw lots of other cute stuff here. Colorful Parrot made by lots of wires, a cute leather bag for packing drinks, lots of beautiful jewelry made by different materials like leather, wire, stone or steel. I also bought lots of stuff today. Like a handmade notebook which has a handmade real spoon on the cover, a beautiful favela painting on the cloth and so on. I think Rio is a really amazing city. People there no matter how old they are, they all really talent! Lots of seniors do their artworks here and sell to people. This is maybe what I want to do when I am old. Making my own art work and sell them to who like them!

Reflections on the First Day

March 15 2015March 18, 2015

This city has a syncopated rhythm. The people walk slow and drive fast. It is a New York smeared across a tropical forest. The beauty that comes from that is captivating.

It seems like every inch of this city begs to be photographed. The people are kind and patient with a grand kind of showmanship about it, reveling in any stumbling bit of shared communication as much as I did. Trying ask if a vendor made his bags himself was rewarding for both of us, him smiling with a proud “Sim” and me thrilled in successfully generating my question. I bought the bag for R$ 97, $33 in the US.

The view from Morro de Urca toward Niteroi.

The journey to the top of Pão Açúcar was calmly amazing. The impression of this landscape is irresistible, the city is nothing without it. At the top of the mountain, the grand sweeping views were inverted in the tight and tiny patios all along the top park. I felt I could have stayed and sketched there forever, it was so varied, and so quiet. The city seems to have learned how to create moments of sublime peace like these from the hills themselves.

A small patio on the bay-side of Pao de Acucar

At night a group of four of us went up to the rooftop pool, which we thought was a hot tub because of its appearance. This city and country seems to understand the value of rooftop spaces in a way that I wish the United States would. All along the Ipanema promenade full-grown palms, ferns, and bushes can be seen flowing over rooftop patios. Our pool area serves as more than water recreation; the multi-platform space serves as a semi-private urban space to socialize. The views brings about a feeling of voyeurism about the city, giving grand views from the comfort of the private rooftop.

A terraced green space teetering on the edge of Pao de Acucar

Wavin’ Flag

March 13 2015

These are some cool flags i came across while exploring the airport. ( There were more…I would have liked to capture all of them however panorama only let me get these….) I have always loved exploring the different flags from each country and what they stand for. Especially in an international airport, a central hub of transportation where people come from all over headed to various places around the world. Pictured here, sixth over from the rightmost flag, is the Brazilian flag. Headed to Rio de Janeiro, i am very excited and anticipate seeing this iconic flag all over. A flag is such a strong representation of the culture and values of a country and as we begin our journey and prepare to enter a new one, i think it is important to be cognizant of the possibly differing values and most certainly different culture we will encounter. These various differences in lifestyles, cultures, and values can be compared to the differences we see in flags, each having its own unique pattern, color, and meaning associated with it. The concept of these flags and the many things they stand for is intriguing to me and i think is something to be admired.

Next stop…Rio de Janeiro!!

Pre-departure

March 13 2015March 13, 2015

We’re at the Atlanta airport waiting for our flight to Rio, and it’s fianlly hitting me that we’re going to be in Brazil in 12 hours. It seems like we’ve been planning and preparing for so long that it hasn’t felt real until now. The taste of spring that Columbus gave us this week has made me even more ready for 90 degree weather in rio.

When I was swing dancing this week, I happen to meet a young woman named Livia from Sao Paulo who recently moved to Columbus. She told me that rio is her favorite city in the world. Upon finding out that I know so little Portuguese, she taught me some useful phrases that I’m excited to try out. Livia also told me about a dance style called forro that is very popular in Brazil. She recommended that I try it while we’re there, and showed me a video of what the dance looks like. When we get there, I want to find out if there’s somewhere in the city to dance, and hopefully get a group of people to come with me and experience this aspect of Rio’s rich culture! I’m interested to see how social dance culture differs from the United states.