Rio de Janeiro

Heliconia, the "Wild Banana"

Related to the edible banana, the Heliconia's leaves are paddle-shapped and brightly coloured. The floral part looks like crab or lobster claws and the plant is pollinated by Hummingbirds. There are about 40 different species of this shrub, which grows wild in South and Central America and in a number of Caribbean islands. It blooms from June to August and can reach a neight between 8 - 15 feet.

This photo was taken in Itaipava, a couple of hours inland from Rio de Janeiro.

More information here.

Heliconia, the "Wild Banana"

Related to the edible banana, the Heliconia's leaves are paddle-shapped and brightly coloured. The floral part looks like crab or lobster claws and the plant is pollinated by Hummingbirds. There are about 40 different species of this shrub, which grows wild in South and Central America and in a number of Caribbean islands. It blooms from June to August and can reach a neight between 8 - 15 feet.

This photo was taken in Itaipava, a couple of hours inland from Rio de Janeiro.

More information here.

Forte de Copacabana

Historians trace the name Copacabana to a small village around distant Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, from where the Portuguese brought a XVII century image of Our Virgin Lady of Copacabana to a small chapel here. The chapel was later destroyed by the military in 1908 to make way for the Forte, built to protect the city from invaders.

Nowadays the Forte de Copacabana is a cultural center. The splendid fireworks show along Forte de Copacabana is one of the highlights of New Year's Eve.

Prainha

Prainha means "little beach" and is about a 45 minute ride south of Ipanema. Mountains surround the beach and the many surfers that frequent the beach created an association, ASAP, that campaigned over many years to ban construction at the beach and to create an ecological sanctuary.

Prainha has its own small website in portuguese here.

Restinga da Marambaia

Lulled by Brazilian Bossa Nova, you won't want to leave as you enjoy excellent seafood at the terrace while appreciating the spectacular view of the flatlands and the sandy peninsula of Restinga da Marambaia, south of Rio de Janeiro. The peninsula is a reserve which is off-limits to the public. Please contact me if you'd like to know the name of the restaurant this was taken from.

MAC Niteroi

The Museo de Arte Contemporanea in Niteroi, designed by the world renowned brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer.

MAC

The Museo de Arte Contemporanea in Niteroi, by Oscar Niemeyer.

Leme

Leme is the Northern extremity of Copacabana Beach, conveniently located close to the Rio Sul shoppng Center, Botafogo, Urca, Flamengo, and downtown Rio.

Joatinga Beach

Joatinga Beach is a beautiful yest less frequented beach between Barra and Sao Conrado.

Joatinga

Another view of the beautiful beach surrounded by the mountains separating Barra from Sao Conrado.

Island

There are many unihabited islands off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian Flag

National flying on Ipanema beach in the heat of summer.

Classic Ipanema

About 30 degrees Celsius, palm trees, the Dois Irmaos mountains and people heading off to have a caipirinha and a meal after a summer day at the beach ...

Guanabara Bay

Rio de Janeiro means the “River of January” and is named after the event in which André Gonçalves, a Portuguese captain, steered his ship into Guanabara Bay on January 1, 1502, thinking he was heading into the mouth of a great river.

The French were keen to stake a claim on the New World and established themselves near the Sugar Loaf mountain in 1555. The Governor of Brazil, Mem de Sá unsuccesfully tried to oust them and his son, Estácio de Sá, finally defeated them in 1567, although he was mortally wounded during the battle.

The city then acquired its official name, São Sebastião de Rio de Janeiro, after the infant king of Portugal. Rio first developed around the Morro do Castelo, near where Santos Dumont airport now stands.

This photo was taken shortly after takeoff from Santos Dumont airport, on my way to Sao Paulo.

Guanabara Bay

Rio de Janeiro means the “River of January” and is named after the event in which André Gonçalves, a Portuguese captain, steered his ship into Guanabara Bay on January 1, 1502, thinking he was heading into the mouth of a great river.

The French were keen to stake a claim on the New World and established themselves near the Sugar Loaf mountain in 1555. The Governor of Brazil, Mem de Sá unsuccesfully tried to oust them and his son, Estácio de Sá, finally defeated them in 1567, although he was mortally wounded during the battle.

The city then acquired its official name, São Sebastião de Rio de Janeiro, after the infant king of Portugal. Rio first developed around the Morro do Castelo, near where Santos Dumont airport now stands.

This photo was taken shortly after takeoff from Santos Dumont airport, on my way to Sao Paulo.