Mirante da Paz

Well, who would have guessed that a great lookout tower would be constructed right in Ipanema.
Of course, I am a bit late with this information, after all, it was inaugurated in July of 2010, but I am sure that a lot of you don´t know anything about it yet.

The tower serves not only as a lookout (more about the views later) but also as an entrance to the subway (Estação General Osório), and as an access to the Comunidade do Pavão-Pavãozinho/Cantagalo, a pacified community. The whole is called Complexo Rubem Braga and is situated at the corner of Rua Barão da Torre and Rua Teixeira de Melo.

Taking the elevator to the top of the first tower you will find the Mirante da Paz, you go up some steps and will see a lovely view over the islands in front of Ipanema (Ilhas Cagarras), the Lagoa on the other side and a close view of the favela. There are also some nice paintings

And, if you are into a game called geocaching, here you will find something.

Mercado CADEG

This is just as much fun as it was when I first posted it, and the food at BARSA is just as delicious.
2-2015

The Mercado CADEG is the big distribution center for vegetables and flowers for the state of Rio. Early in the morning, around 2 am, trucks start arriving filled to the top with produce and flowers in a riot of color and confusion. The picture on the top is how the flowers are sold in the feira, the local markets, at at least, three times the price as in CADEG.



If you actually go at that ungodly hour make sure to be careful, these people are working and they are rushed. The market is open until 5pm so I would suggest a later visit.
However, then most of the flower and produce stalls will be already closed.

Of course there are not only produce and flowers, the huge indoor market has little shops selling anything imaginable, fish, meat, clothes, paperware etc. There are also a few restaurants, we only ate at one: BARSA. We really don't eat very much but what we had was delicious: one of their specialties - Bruschetta was the best I have ever had.

Rua Capitão Felix, 110, Benfica.

Escadaria Selarón

Another find in this beautiful city.

A ESCADARIA SELARÓN........... Selarón is a Chilean artist who has been living in Brazil since 1983. In 1990 he started a project which has since become his life work. It is a staircase which links the neighborhoods of Santa Terese and Lapa, the stairs of the Convent of Santa Teresa. It is comprised of 215 steps and is 125 meters long. Daily he cleans and maintains his work made easier because he lives right next to it.



He started with the bottom steps which he covered in tiles of colors of the Brazilian flag, green, yellow and blue.


He is better known abroad than in Rio and he asks all visitors to send him tiles from their home countries. There are something like 30 countries represented already.

You can see that his favorite color is red, he uses it mainly in his tiles, his clothing and even his bike.

O Carangueijo

Should you be in Copacabana hungering for seafood, this is the place for you.
A pleasant restaurant, with inside and outside dining, and also a take-out station right next to it, it is known for its fresh and tasty seafood.
I confess that we have only visited it once, having only discovered it towards the end of our stay in Rio, but what we had was delicious. And I did not even have my camera with me, I will have to improve this post ASAP.
Should you go, please send your comments and pictures if possible.

The restaurant is located very near the metro station of Cantagalo.

Rua Barata Ribeiro, 771
Copacabana

Hans Stern Lookout

At the end of a beautiful night, do you ever look for a peaceful place, maybe with a view, maybe for a last nightcap? Enough of the noise, excitement, lazy waiters, long waits etc.?
Well, I have the spot for you, that is, as long as the weather is good.

Try the Mirante Hans Stern which is located on the Ave. Niemeyer, quite close to Leblon. It basically consists with a great view and a simple kiosk. Actually, it is not only a great place to relax at night, but really any time of the day as well. And what's more, you can walk there from the beach.

It used to be called Mirante Leblon but was renamed, in 2007, in honor of Hans Stern, the founder of our most famous jewelry store, H. Stern. There is even one of those on 5 th Ave. in NY and the prices are the same. Of course, there is such a little thing as NY taxes to consider. If you go and visit the store headquarters in Ipanema you will be amazed by the service. Be prepared to be offered anything from water to caipirinhas while they tempt you with the wares.

Have fun!!!!!!!!!

A small aside: I have to check until what time the kiosk is open and I don't suggest walking on the Avenida Niemeyer alone at night. Sorry.

Well, it continues to be a great spot and is open until the last customer leaves. 1/27/13

Arnaldo Battaglini

I guess what was still missing in this blog, was some personalized art, so let me introduce to you a good friend and very good artist. He happens to be paulista, poor thing, but is getting to be known in Rio as well.

The foto shows him and a work commissioned by the hotel Novotel on Rua Marechal Camara 300, Centro. Unfortunately, due to the location of the piece, it is a bit difficult to show a good photo, so you will have to go visit it yourselves. The hotel is close to Santos Dumont.

Soon I will be adding pictures of other work of his. In addition to ^to order^ wall sculptures, he also makes beautiful jewelry, but for that you would have to go to São Paulo

A Gentil Carioca

Right in the heart of downtown Rio you will find a charming gallery featuring young Brazilian artists. Be exposed to a vibrant art scene in this vibrant city, with a vibrant economy. It is run by artists Laura Lima, Márcio Botner e Ernesto Neto.

Marcio also takes his artists to art fairs all over the world, but while in Rio you will be on their home turf.

Rua Gonçalves Ledo, 17
second floor
tel: 2222-1651

open Mon-Fri 12pm to 7pm and Sat 12pm to 5pm

Terra Brasilis Restaurant and Bar

This restaurant boasts the most beautiful view of Rio. Located at the end of Praia Vermelha, very close to the access to the Sugarloaf, it has a varied menu. Unfortunately the service is fairly mediocre, but the view is certainly worth the wait.


Pr General Tiburcio - Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22290-270 (21) 2275-4651 ‎

Nomangue

1/27/13 - Nomangue closed in Botafogo, it opened in Copacabana but I have not yet been to it.

Unfortunately, we only just discovered this wonderful restaurant, so close to our home, such delicious food, such excellent service. What else can I say? Guess you just have to try it out for yourselves.
The restaurant specializes in seafood, Thursday is the day to go if you like oysters, they are then flown in directly from a farm in Florianopolis. We had those, and some marinated mussels and some spaghetti with seafood. Wonderful, the picture does not do it credit.
We did not try the seafood feijoada, that will be our next time, but friends have praised it in loud voices. As far as I know it has white beans, seafood and some of the meats that regularly go into the feijoada. Sounds a bit strange to me, but I am assured it is well worth having.


Let's go..........................

Rua Visconde de Caravelas, 180 - CEP 22 271-030
tel/fax: (21) 2225-4028 | (21) 2286-2579
Botafogo

Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura

There are truly hidden treasures in Rio. This little library is amazingly beautiful. I am sorry that my photos do not do justice to it.

On the 14th of May of 1837, a group of Portuguese merchants got together and decided to create a library, with the idea of maintaining the Portuguese culture alive in Brazil and among its inhabitants.
In 1872, the collection, by then counting with more than 40.000 volumes, was moved to the present building, originally a hotel. In 1900 it became a public library and in 1935, a decree was issued in Portugal, that all publishers should provide the library with a copy of all new books printed.





Rua Luís de Camões nº 30
Centro

Bistro Ouvidor

We found, by chance, a delicious restaurant right in the center of town.

It's prize winning dish is Lasagna Mediterranee. Well worth a try.

It is open Monday thru Friday, 8am to 6pm

52 Rua do Ouvidor
Centro

Nativity Scenes

During the Christmas season, there was a festival of nativity scenes in Rio. It was the second of its kind and a request has been submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records to be included as the biggest, life size display of such scenes in the open air.
The people voted on their favorite. The winner was:












Following are some of the other ones.