SOME THOUGHTS LOOKING BACK

Bud and I went back to Rio at the end of the trip. Those extra days gave us the chance to go to the Sangueiro Samba School and explore new areas like Niteroi and Santa Teresa. 

We left Rio on our 1st cloudy day in Brazil- a signal it was time to head home. 

We had a charmed trip- every hotel was great–every plane was on time– every day was sunny–every city exceeded our expectations and captured our interest- and we had engaged and fun traveling companions.  

Rob Eastwood’s work leading the trip was amazing. Standouts were the terrific people we met who gave us invaluable insights into Brazil. Also, there were the adventures that Rob discovered and invited us to join. The soccer game in São Paulo, the rock sliding and waterfall swimming in Parity, the bike riding to sample soccer bars in Curitiba -all helped us understand and enjoy what adds gusto to Brazilian life.

HIGH RISE LIVING

I will be thinking about the planning aspects of this trip for a long time. Seeing high-rise residential towers far into the horizon as we flew into São Paulo made a powerful impression.

Brazil's experience with housing so much of its population in high-rise buildings is instructive. We know that there are many environmental and economic advantages to increased density.  It works well in Curitiba where the high-rises line the transit corridors and there is a vibrant street life.  The long lines of gated high rise complexes in São Paulo that kill street life and the high rises in Brasilia’s satellite cities far from jobs are more cautionary examples. 

EXPERIENCING GREAT BRAZILIAN ARCHITECTURE

And then there is Oscar Niemeyer, who is still working at age 104, and designed many of the best buildings that we visited - the Cathedral and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs buildings in Brasilia, the Oscar Niemeyer museum in Curitiba and, of course, the Brasilia Palace Hotel where we stayed.  All are stand alone, iconic modernist buildings with great ramps and curves, wonderful proportions, and extraordinary use of windows and glass.  It was a treat to have the chance to experience them and to see how Brazilians use them.

We saw dancers and musicians using the plazas of the Curitiba and Niteroi museums as performance spaces-a contrast to the lifeless plaza of so many American buildings. Niemeyer’s great public buildings add to the image and life of Brazilian cities. And show the impact one person can have. It was impressive.