a travel blog by renata green
While studying Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, I thought it might be a good idea to take a trip to Belo Horizonte at the weekend – mostly because I wanted to see Inhotim, a botanic garden full of contemporary art.
Turns out, Inhotim was the only spot worth the travel. But so worth it!
This Way to the Whole Story ->Let me guide you further South to the laid-back city of Curitiba, from where you can venture out on a memorable day trip to scenic places like Morretes.
Let me guide you to Foz do Iguaçu, worldwide known for its spectacular waterfalls.
However, this city at the tripoint of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay has actually more attractions to offer than you think.
This Way to the Whole Story ->Instead of being Brazil’s rough and tough bad boy, Rio de Janeiro could be the most beautiful city on the planet. There are the ocean, the beaches, the hills, the vegetation, the views….I could go on and on.
But then there is the poverty, the violence, the hopelessness, the corruption, the dirt….I could go on and on.
And I do. In this refined guide to a rough city.
Let me guide you to Brazil, a country that should be on everyone’s bucket list and that I’ve started to explore by travelling the South.
Actually, I think there are countries that are automatically on every traveller’s bucket list: Australia, India…and Brazil is a country like that, too.
For me, the danger with these standard bucket list countries is that since they are permanently there, I feel no rush to visit. I always knew that I wanted to explore Brazil one day. Yes, one day….
This Way to the Whole Story ->Have you ever heard of Inhotim, the Botanic Garden, and Open Air Gallery in Brazil?
No?
No wonder, since this amazing place is hidden on the outskirts of a lost place called Brumadinho, located about one hour from Belo Horizonte.
At Inhotim, God’s artistic creations such as flowers and trees are of genuine, pure beauty, indeed. However, in combination with creations by earthly visual artists, they become just marvelous.
This Way to the Whole Story ->Street Art is becoming more and more not only tolerated but also actually recognized and promoted – not exclusively in Rio de Janeiro. All over South America, Street Art has a long tradition – as a medium where colors give people a voice.
I’m introducing Rita Wainer, Eduardo Kobra, and Jorge Selarón, three of the greatest urban artists that left ineradicable traces in Rio de Janeiro.
This Way to the Whole Story ->…and what I am needs no excuses – the beginning of Gloria Gaynor’s evergreen is the perfect intro to this post, which deals with my perspective on the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, an extremely gay event.
Gay in every sense of the word.
This Way to the Whole Story ->I will not beat around the bush – São Paulo, Brazil’s Art Hub, was my favorite Brazilian city.
Although Bonito enchanted me with its natural beauty, Foz do Iguaꞔu impressed me with the power of nature – São Paulo is the place where I see myself living and working and being part of the cool, artsy crowd.
This Way to the Whole Story ->