Group Activities

Football Game&Maracana

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.

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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.

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  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.

Second Row Spectators

IMG_3091 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!

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. image

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Walk through the palms

a final walk out of Jardim Botanico of the group through the Royal Palm Avenue-

imagethough I have experienced many palm trees in my life, these palms in Rio

Royal Palm avenue at Jardim Botanico

Royal Palm avenue at Jardim Botanico

hold a special place in my memory

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Finally, an adventure using yet another mode of transportation for the group the Metro Superficie

 

Centro e Praia do Flamengo

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.

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Lost & Found

Off to the peak we went, all slammed into one cable car with at least a couple other families resembling something of a sardine can. There I stood in the cable car as it drew closer to the peak of sugar loaf mountain, snapping as many pictures of the beautiful surrounding landscapes as I could. Little did I know there was still so much more to see. I was under the impression that once we reached the peak of the Loaf it would simply be an observation deck or a small precarious platform to look out onto the bays from. However, to my pleasant surprise once we reached the top there was a gift shop, a place to eat, several observation decks in which you could see all of Rio de Janeiro, as well as an elaborate set of trails on the backside of the mountain. These very trails would become the cause of a very acute and temporary stress on my part. Somehow, Someway, my phone ended up outside my pocket. After retracing virtually every step I could remember taking, both before and after I remember having my phone yielded no results, I turned to Vanessa for help. She was able to quickly speak to most of the security guards atop the loaf asking weather or not they had found a phone or even heard anything about a missing phone. Luckily one of the security guards remembered another tourist asking where the lost and found was because he wanted to return “something”. This very security guard ran over to the cable car that was already on the platform about to leave, found the man the previously asked him about the lost and found and told him he in fact knew who the phone belonged to. With our fast acting wonderful tour guide Vanessa, the local security guards, a good samaritan (whom I wish I could have at least bought uma cerveja) as well as what seemed to be boundless luck on my part I was able to get my phone back and even get a few more photos coming down from the peak. To think all this happened on the first day, I simply cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

Parça General Osorio

 

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!!

Markets, Markets, Everywhere!

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!

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Feira Hippie de Ipanema

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.image

Reflections on the First Day

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 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

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

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

First day in Rio

The group arrived today to a hot and sunny day in Rio. After short tour of the local area around the hotel students explored options for lunch and/or the beach to get their first taste of Rio. We met at 3 for the bus taking us to Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain). The dramatic bondhino (cable car) takes visitors to Morro de Urca first where the group enjoyed an ice cream and fruit snack (and some frisky marmosets) and a group photo.

Knowlton Rio Culture and City Group photo at Pao de Acucar

Knowlton Rio Culture and City Group photo at Pao de Acucar

Panoramic view from Pao de Acucar

Panoramic view from Pao de Acucar

Then up to Morro de Acucar to explore for the final panoramic views to Niteroi, downtown, Flamengo Beach, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. Final drive around the exclusive neighborhood of Urca before returning back to the hotel was a wonderful end to a first day in Rio.

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 peakimage 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.