INHOTIM Botanic Garden and Gallery

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.

Spotting Hélio Oiticicia's Invenção da cor, Penetrável Magic Square # 5, De Luxe across one of various ponds at INHOTIM Botanic Garden and Gallery.
Spotting Hélio Oiticicia’s Invenção da cor, Penetrável Magic Square # 5, De Luxe across one of various ponds.

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 ->

RIO DE JANEIRO – a refined guide to a rough city

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.

Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, a smooth place in a rough city
The world-famous Copacabana

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.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Street Art in Rio de Janeiro: The Voice of Colors by Rita, Eduardo, and Jorge

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.

Street Art in Rio de Janeiro
#favelismo – an art movement turning poverty and humiliation into power and pride. That’s what great street art stands for.

I’m introducing Rita Wainer, Eduardo Kobra, and Jorge Selarón, three of the greatest urban artists that left ineradicable traces in Rio de Janeiro.

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Trip to BELO HORIZONTE | BRUMADINHO | INHOTIM

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.

Group of drummers in Belo Horizonte
Young Belo Horizontians drumming with vigor.

Turns out, Inhotim was the only spot worth the travel. But so worth it!

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Language Learning in Brazil

My passion for travelling and my interest in learning yet another language took me to Rio de Janeiro, the legendary metropolis on the Atlantic coast of Brazil.

Renata Green in Rio de Janeiro while learning the Portuguese language in Brazil.
This is what Bildungsurlaub stands for: Getting inspired by seeing things from a new perspective!
Here at Rio’s Jardim Botanico, a beautiful, serene oasis not far from the beach of Ipanema. 
There is not only an eclectic mix of untamed nature growing next to manicured lawns and flowerbeds, decorated with old, weathered statues and fountains. There is also an exhibition of modern art taking place. 
My favorite piece is an installation by Gustavo Prado called “Caminho Inverso”/”Reversed Path”. It consists of about thirty mirrors facing the top of the palm tree alley which shows you the plants from many, many….different perspectives!
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Guide to SÃO PAULO – Brazil’s Art Hub

I will not beat around the bush – São Paulo, Brazil’s Art Hub, was my favorite Brazilian city.

Mural of a boy at SÃO PAULO - Brazil's Art Hub
There’s a lot of truly amazing street art in São Paulo.

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.

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Guide to BRAZIL – Travelling the South

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.

Collage of the Iguazu Falls in the South, Cristo Rey and the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro when travelling Brazil
These are only three highlights Brazil has to offer – a kind of appetizer.

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 ->