RSSFlying Down to Rio
27 Feb 2007 Comments Off
Back in 1933, movie greats Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were teamed up for the first time. The movie was entitled Flying Down to Rio. While the all the principals from that movie have passed on, the idea has not. In nine days, AoV hits the skyways again. When I touch down, my taxi will be taking me to Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This is not a bad assignment. Hit the praia (beach). Watch the girls in thong bikinis. Toss down a few cold caipirinhas. Dine at a churrascaria where they keep slicing and bringing you roasted meats until you wave them off. Then I might listen to some cool jazz, do the samba, do the lambada, and maybe I’ll do the wild thing. And then, try to repeat all of the above on the next day. I’ll have to be at my best to accomplish the mission.
But before I board that Varig jet, let’s have a peek at some Brazilian art. Rio lies below the equator at a place where the mountains and the sea meet to surround an urban setting. An unbelievably gorgeous setting that is fantastic.
Artist Candida Ferreira melds fantasy with her conception of Rio. The butterfly is in danger flying over the sea. But he is watched over by Christ the Redeemer Who watches over all of Rio.
And down from the favelas, the shacks and shanties built on Rio’s hillsides, come the people to samba and party on the Praias de Copacabana et Ipanema. Check out the art of Luis Coelho who shows his on canvas versions of the Girls from Ipanema.
As is our custom here at AoV, we like to present you with a look at culture, and art, and travels to the world’s most exotic playgrounds to whet your appetite for additional excitement.
So samba your way down to our pages as often as you like to see the latest in lovely ladies, who did not accompany me to Rio, or Japan, or Thailand, or anyplace else. Instead, they have remained here for your pleasure.
Originally published in AoV March 4th, 2001 – updated for JustMeMike’s New Also on Video