It’s summer in Brazil. The mere thought of blue skies has me reeling. And, as the New Year has just begun, my friends and I are contemplating where to go this year on our big vacation. I’m rooting for Brazil!
If you haven’t read them yet, Eduardo Camara wrote fantastic diary entries of Brastilo’s photo shoots. Not only do the pictures capture the sheer beauty of Rio’s beaches and mountains, but his description of the “carioca spirit” – one that is cool, sophisticated, and laid back – is truly enticing. There are so many things to see – the Portuguese mosaics that line Rio’s beaches, the Lapa Staircase with its welcoming message, the Sugarloaf Mountains, and Christ the Redeemer (recently added to the 7 Wonders of the World). Beyond Rio, there’s Sao Paolo, the city that recently banned all outdoor advertising. Sao Paolo is the home to a burgeoning design scene, according to posts from CJosh Spear’s Phuong-Cac Nguyen. Art flourishes everywhere in this gritty city, from the colorful, urban sneaker stores to the recent sewer art project.
And finally, the place I’ve been dying to go, the legendary Iguaçu Falls – a natural beauty rivaled only by Victoria Falls in Africa. While the falls themselves are beautiful, the mythology behind them is equally as touching. According to Wikipedia, “Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.” Maybe it’s just me, but I always found fascinating the legends of gods immortalizing mortal lovers in the natural landscape.
It’s these natural beauties and historic mythologies combined with the carioca spirit that make Brastilo such a fun brand. And it’s these elements that make Brazil an amazing tourist destination – one that is stunning, complex, interesting, and eye-opening. I just hope I can get there when it’s warm!
