Rio de Janeiro

The view of Rio at Vista Chinesa that is easier and faster to get up to than Corcovado. 

The rains that has fallen the last week have put Rio in the media spotlight. Sadly many buildings in Rio are built without proper construction and without being approved by the Municipality. When the heavy autumn rains start pouring down these buildings collaps and kill people caught inside. It is so sad and unjust and my heart goes out to all of the families affected here in Brazil. 

 Being back in the magic metropolis founded 1565 by the Portuguese, Rio de Janeiro,  I marvel at the view of this extrodinary landscape that takes my breath away just as it dit over 10 years ago I first saw this city. 

Parts of Rio has been designated World Heritage Site, named "Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea by UNESCO on 1st of July 2012. Click if you want to read more. 

When you drive uphill to Vista Chinesa its easy to understand why this long and winding nearly vertical road was included in the 2016 Olympics Cycling competition. 

The road called Estrada da Vista Chinesa runs between Jardim Botánico and Parque Nacional &Foresta da Tijuca. 

When you get up here it feels like flying over the green hills of Rio and the enormous Atlantic with the islands accompanying this gorgeous green hilly land. 

Giving me the feeling of the deserted overgrown palace where Baloo of the Jungle book might come dancing out at any time is Mesa do Imperador. 

Just uphill a few more meters you find another viewpoint called Mesa de Imperador.

Nowadays this mesa/table is not used so imperial, but the view is still amazing over Rio. 

Naturally the fauna as well as the flora is richly dense
with life. So  happy to see this cute monkey having a great time
showing off in the closest tree. 

Jack tree with fruit. 

Here in the National Park of Tijuca where Vista Chinesa or the Chinese Pavilion as I call it is located, you really have to look up at times just to see that a Jack fruit does not fall on your head. 

They turn into really big things of over 5 kg that you do not want on your head, but if you look for recipes of cooking this big decorative fruit check our recipes from India, cause this is where this funny smelling delicasy is from originally.   

Jack fruit grows directly from the trunk of the tree an is like the pineapple a Multiple fruit, 
also called collective fruits that is fruiting bodies formed from as a cluster of fruiting flowers.

André is an english teacher in Rio and I will visit his school later this month to talk about my experience of learning english and how it has made a big impact on my life. 

Taking us uphill yesterday was André who is a friend of Marcello (my love) and today he is  taking us to Niterói with a boat ride from downtown Rio. 

This fantastic french renaissance building in down town Rio hosts a collection of paintings by Brazil's finest contemporary artists as well as an impressive array of folk and African art.

The name is Museo Nacional de Belas Artes

Brazil is a very religious country compared to Sweden. The Saint of Rio is San Sebastian and Saints are an important part of everyday life I would say. There are several beautiful both traditional and modern churches to see and whole bunch of ugly ones too... 

Mosaics is a part of life here as well as in Portugal. The streets of Rio are filled with mosaics of different kinds and often in combination with plants like this terassed greens here. 

Founded in 1894 Confeitaria Colombo is the  bucket list café for many of downtown Rio. 

The whole building is worth seeing although a coffee here is probably among the most expensive ones you find in Rio.

Really love that this place is intact and still such a tourist attraction. 

If you are in the mood for a more up to date type of café, not far from Colombo you find Fika(!)

On R.do Carmo 58, in Centro Rio de Janeiro you find Fika Cafés especias. 

This cosy spot has great coffey and cakes and food as well as a lot of fun interior details. Check out the rake/krattan as a wine glass holder. 

The owner has lived in Sweden and 

therefore the name FIKA. 

We have made it down to the harbor and here we take the boat to Niterói which is much easier and faster than going around the bay area by bus or taxi. 

To the left you can see Corcovado with Jesus overlooking the whole city, 

as we leave downtown Rio this dramatically cloudy, hot and humid day. 

MAC 

Museo de Arte Contemporanea de Niterói is the saucer-shaped modernist structure, it has been likened to a UFO by many as well as me. 

Set on a cliffside at the bottom of which is  a beach where bathing is not encouraged, so follow me to Ipanema later. The 50 meter in diameter building is created by Oscar Niemeyer along with the structural engineer Bruno Contarini. 

In the film "Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century" Niemeyer is seen flying over Rio de Janeiro in a UFO which then lands on the site, suggesting this to be the origin of the museum. 

We are heading to Ipanema and the beach close to Farme de Amoedo which street is close to where I stayed the first time I came to Rio.  This cute little street also still hosts the same café I became very fond of called Cafeina. At the end of Farme de Amoedo is where the gay beach starts.  

The heritage of Roberto Burle Marx, a Brazilian landscape architect as well as a painter, print maker, ecologist, naturalist, artist and musician whose designs of parks and gardens made him world famous. I will most certainly dedicate a post about this productive and influential man who was born 1909 and died in 1994

As I mentioned in my post about 

Figueira da Foz, the famous promenades of Rio has its origin from Portugal as this type of mosaics inspired Burle Marx that in 1970 created the Copacabana promenade pavement which is a 4 km long mosaic. This mega mosaic has influenced how the pavements look all over Rio and has also become the trademark of Rio. 

Emiliano at Copacabana

Newest and trendiest hotel in Rio 

right now I would dare to say is :  

Really like the facade that dubbles as a mobile shade. Each room can decide how much sun they want and by doing so the facade never stays the same. 

The lounge in the lobby at Emiliano is an eclectic mix of Brazilian and international design from 60´s to now. See the view from their rooftop pool on their site. 

Next stop for us is Penedo, the home town of Marcello 

(M&me in the photo)  and the first time I meet his family. André - thank you for the photo and  a fantastic time in Rio. See you soon!

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Jimmy