Daily Life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti in Rio de Janeiro

Okay so the rat may not be "gorgeous" but amazing nonetheless...

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

My Twilight Connections

I have somehow managed to completely avoid the whole Twilight thing. Haven't read a book or watched any of the movies. I'm sure it is not the only pop culture craze I missed out on living in Rio over the past few years. (As a complete aside I recently discovered that even after THREE years Ben Mulroney still has a TV show back in Canada. Really? REALLY? Disappointing. Though, encouraging to know that the job market clearly must not be THAT tough there. )

As I hear more and more about the movie in the series that's currently being filmed (see, I don't even know the title), I do think I will have to jump on the bandwagon at some point, no matter how late in the game.

Why? Well, it was filming in two locations I'm well familiar with - Rio (Paraty), and Tofino, the teeeeeeeny tiny fishing village where I was born. I kinda wonder if the film's location scout has been following me around....  If you can find anything else in the universe that's so connected to these two special and somewhat obscure places as, well, me and this film, then you can bet I want to know about it. If someone actually does come up with something - anything, I will even provide a prize.

So I guess I will have to see it. Vampires, right?

 

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti in Rio de Janeiro

 

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

 

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Carnaval Break

So I thought I'd give myself a little vacation from the blog and take carnaval off.

This year, Mr. DRL and I participated in the parade at the Sambadromo. We had an absolute ball and can I just say it was such a pleasure to be a teeny tiny part of something so huge and beautiful. What a precious memory.

We paraded with Sao Clemente. One of my favorite moments of the night was when we left our friends' apartment with our costumes to walk the two blocks through the streets to meet up with our ride. Cariocas stopped what they were doing and stared at the gringos dressed in samba gear. To be fair, we were all dressed as different versions of giant pineapples. They cheered, they honked, whooped, they sang the Sao Clemente song. We were given more wishes of luck than I think I've ever been wished before. I was immediately choked up. I'm not a big crier. This was just on the street in Leblon! I wondered how we could possibly get through the entire Sambodromo with this level of emotion blasting at me.

When we went to pick up our costumes the previous week we were shown up a rickety set of stairs deep in Centro to a loft filled end to end with Brazilians frantically but carefully sewing feathers and sequins onto costumes - some as big as cars. What a sight. What dedication!

The amount of effort, blood, sweat and tears that goes into putting together the artistic creative masterpiece is terribly overwhelming.

It was an absolute privelige to be part of it, and it was a night I'll never forget.

The icing on this already-fabulous cake? I was particularly grateful for the cool temperatures!!!!!!!!!! Those costumes are roasting hot.

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Saturday Street Art: The Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

 

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

 

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic! 

 

Saturday Street Art: Gorgeous Graffiti of Rio de Janeiro

Thanks so much to "Grams" for compiling this series for me. Although not all of the graffiti in Rio is gorgeous, I'm featuring some that is, on Saturdays for your viewing pleasure. If you see some fantastic graffiti in Rio that you think I should feature, send a pic!

Merry Christmas Eve, Rio style

 

Photo credit: Grams

Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be more nativity scenes in Rio...

 Can you tell what this one's made of?

Pop (soda) bottles! How's that for creative?

Photo credit: Grams

Rio de Janeiro Ultra Modern Nativity Scene

Photo credit: Grams

Crazy Rio Christmas Display of the Day

Photo credit: Grams

Today's Rio de Janeiro Christmas Display

Photo credit: Grams

More Nativity Scenes of Rio

Perhaps the most unique one I have seen so far!'

Photo credit: Grams

More Christmas Displays in Rio!

Photo credit: Grams

Rio de Janeiro Unique Christmas Display of the Day

 

Photo credit: Grams

Everyone's writing about Rio...

• If you have a carseat in Rio, I suspect the value of it just went up... a Dorel child car seat factory was destroyed by fire this week in Rio de Janeiro. Already the newly-required-by-law items were in short supply. 
• A human trafficking ring was busted in Brazil this week with 12 people arrested. The scheme? Smuggling people (using false documents) into the US through Mexico but upon arrival,  holding them for ransom. 10 of the 12 were arrested in Minas Gerais. 
• Some ugly news that has spurred a lot of talk about hate crimes in Brazil - a teenager was shot (luckily he survived) by two military members at Rio's Pride parade. The accused have since been arrested, thankfully. 
• I am not the only person out there with concerns about Brazil's airports! These people have obviously also been to a Brazilian luggage carousel and know what I'm talking about.... maybe I can get some funding and support now for that "Acceptable Behaviour at the Luggage Carousel" instructional video? All joking aside, Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the International Air Transport Association has stated that Brazil's overburdened airports cannot meet demand and are a "growing disaster" that could embarrass the country during the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup if they aren't improved. Article on ESPN. From the same article, earlier this year, the IOC's principal concern was the lack of planning to revamp Brazil's airports.

• An interesting little read about art in Rio among other topics (dining, poverty, contrast in Rio, etc.)

 

Recent positive articles on favela life in Rio

Generally the stories about favela life in Rio are scary. These ones are not, highlighting positive changes that are happening today. Having spent all of about 3 hours in a favela since arriving here, I obviously don't claim to know much, but I'm certainly interested. I do know that favelas are not all about drugs and poverty the way people picture them, they are also about families, community and every day life.

• Interesting article about a property rights project for residents of Cantagalo (the favela at the end of Ipanema). Property lines were established and mapped, creating transferable property titles for longstanding residents. 
• Rio's Police Pacification Project in Cidade de Deus (City of God) features an afternoon physical education program directed by officers. 
• Article in the Financial Times about Rio's Police Pacification Project offering glimmers of hope for Rio residents. 
• National Geographic blog post about a Favela Painting Project, which creates striking artworks, collaborating with local people to use art as a tool to inspire, create beauty, combat prejudice and attract attention. - there is also a facebook group you can join.

Brazilian Films in the News

I desperately need to work on my Portuguese. I went to see Cats last week in Portuguese - a humbling experience considering I've been here two and a half years. I know that generally one does not catch every single word of a musical even in their native language, but in my opinion the amount I understood was rather pitiful.

So, I will resume lessons. I will watch more Portuguese TV and movies. I might even start on a novella!

There are two Brazilian films  in particular which are making headlines back home:

• Lula, Son of Brazil, was sent in as Brazil's entry for the Academy Awards' Best Foreign-Language film category. This was a controversial entry, as it has not been a well-received film. The nominees will be announced January 20th.
• Wasteland - a film festival darling, documentary about a landfill outside of Rio - click here to learn more.

Expat Daily News put out an article recently on cinema from South America, check it out here.

What are your favorite Brazilian movies and programs?

Sweetest Tattoo I've Seen in Awhile...

I'm actually not a huge tattoo fan - for myself - I think they suit others just fine in many cases! But I have been noticing them more and more lately. Really liked this one (but won't be getting one anytime soon!)

The arches of Lapa.

Casa de Arte e Cultura Julieta de Serpa

Every time I drive by the Casa de Arte e Cultura Julieta de Serpa, I think: "I must go there!"

Currently a production of "Maria Antoineta" is playing.

Anyone been?

 

Tattoos in Rio

So many people have been telling me to do a post on tattoos - so here it is. You see a ton of wild tattoos in Rio. I am not sure if they truly are more common here or it's just that everyone shows more skin. Either way, I take photos of people's tattoos all the time, here are a few, will have to make an effort to post more...

 

A New Experience with Selaron

I went to the steps with a friend and her sister visiting from the states a couple weeks ago, and it proved that every experience in Rio is a little different. I take guests to Centro all the time, and do many of the same things over and over again, but there is always something slightly different and new, this time was not exception!

Selaron let us work on his masterpiece with him!

 

 

 

 

As you can see, he kept a close eye on us to make sure it was just right! What a character he is!

Casa Cor

First thing's first. Who can tell me what kind of little critter this is that I spotted at Casa Cor last weekend?

Kind of like a big chipmunk but a small tail - anyway!

What the heck is Casa Cor? It's basically a huge showhome of living spaces both outdoor and indoor put together by a range of designers, plus restaurants and a few stores. Held in the Palacete Modesto Leal in Laranjeiras - gorgeous. Info on the residence itself can be found here. 

We went last Sunday, quite a nice little outing which we concluded with Chinese food at the Chinese Cultural Center in Tijuca.

If you've been - what was your favorite space or decorative feature? Mine was the striped wall when you come upstairs with the variety of photos on it. I found a photo of it online, which made me happy since I decided to play by the rules for once and obey the no photos please policy...  I want to recreate something like that when we settle eventually.

Mr. DRL liked the ambiance of the large blue living space on the first floor with the big windows. We both also liked the framed TV set in the upstairs living room. We both liked how many of the living spaces included desk spaces which were both functional and inclusive to the room yet not a focal point. My desk would definitely have to get tidier to be included in such a space ;)

Go check it out for yourself! It's a big gorgeous mansion in Laranjeiras, all decked out.On the 13th, many of the featured pieces will be sold....

Runs: until October 13, every day with the exception of October 11th.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12-10. Sunday, 10-8. 

Location: Rua das Laranjeiras, 304 - Laranjeiras.

Tix: At the door. Tues-Friday, R$30  Weekends & Holidays, R$35

Parking: Valet available, R$15

Santa Teresa Art Walk

Mr. DRL and I seem to miss this every year - a great chance to check out some different artists in Santa Teresa, this weekend and next, click here for more details. 

 

Rio Feira Antigo - Lapa Antique Fair

Finally after over 2 years of Rio living, we made it down to Lapa on the first Saturday of the month for the antique fair. This past Saturday was a great day for it - sunny but not too hot.

   

We strolled through the streets listening to the sounds of Brazilians watching the Argentina - Germany game. I didn't realize the extent of the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina until I saw hoards of Cariocas jumping up in down gleefully roaring with laughter each time Germany scored... 

There are quite a number of antique stores in the area - I will certainly return! I would like to find a few pieces to take with us when we move.

 

Lapa's architecture is quite impressive.
 

I really wanted these oversized bottle openers. Until I found out they were R$200 each (or the three for $R500).




 

There are so many amazing ornate pieces in Brazil.
 

Some unique very-Rio bags at the Fair.

 

Mr. DRL and I often have "if we had a cabin" musings... such as: "If we had a cabin, we'd want to put a table like this in the kitchen..."


 

On my list of things to take back: Ornate headboard. You'll find them in every antique store here and I imagine painting them a bright glossy color for a kids' room...
 

Many antique stores I've had luck in are set up like this. The best stuff is usually buried in the back under 2 inches of dust and 2 stories worth of furniture stacked on top of it.

Art @ the Hippie Fair in Ipanema

Some pieces I felt like showcasing:

Haven't bought one of these yet but I will. Love love love the bahian dancers...

Several friends have bought from this artist:

I want to get a big colorful piece full-of-life piece something like this for Canadoca's playroom when we leave Rio.

 

@ the Hippie Fair

Art and fun treasures to be found. Sundays. Also if you need anything stretched or framed, the place to go!

Beautiful intricate leather art (check out the light fixture!)

Love these, but just don't know where I'd put one...

For the cowgirl in your life: