Log in
Join travelers community
Your Profile
Logout
1994
Brazil (Salvador) - South America
Bec2004-09-20 17:50:35
Displayed times (last time: )
de Janeiro
Rio could have been French had they not been expulsed in 1560 and repulsed in 1710 during the Minas Gerais gold rush. By then Rio had already grown prosperous on the sugar exported from its fine natural port. Gold only added to its wealth until it took over from Salvador as capital of the country in 1763.
The city center's heyday came in 1808 when the Portuguese Monarchy moved in with its 15000 strong Court to flee Napoleon's armies. Rio's brilliance did not diminish when Dom Pedro I refused to return to Lisbon, declared Brazil's Independence and became the country's first Emperor in 1822. The Igreja da Candelária remains although surrounded by modern buildings at the eastern end of the broad Avenida do Presidente Vargas.
I spent a week in Rio on the beaches of course, but also visiting museums and art galleries like this Museo de Arte Moderna near the Marina de Gloria where the more fortunate keep their boats near the old city center.
I stayed in middle class Catete, a stone throw away from Praia Flamenco, half way between the old city center and the fashionable Copacabana, Ipanema and Lebon beaches to the south.
Of course, I did the rounds of all the "must see" places, the beaches, Santa Theresa, the Sugar Loaf seen in the background and the monument to Christ the redemptor on Corcovado where this picture was taken.
The big crescent in the background is the famous Copacabana Beach and the tiny one behind the cable car going up to the Păo de Açúcar is called Vermelha.
Finally I leave you with this view of Copacabana Beach with its collection of beach front apartments, hotels and night-clubs.
My 1994 adventure had come to an end and I flew back to Montreal after travelling 43,000 km and visiting 10 countries in 178 days.
Copyright Bernard Cloutier
All rights reserved.
Please visit my website
See photographs from:
Brazil Gallery
