Wednesday May 2, 2012
Inclusive tourism will be the theme of a forum which will take place during the Iguassu Falls Tourism Festival in Brazil June 13-15.
Successful experiences and new trends in inclusive tourism, the importance of inclusive tourism as a driving force in the development of local communities, and related themes such as regional priorities and education will be some of the topics discussed in the International Forum on Accessibility and Citizenship.
Scott Rains, one of the world's most active and engaged inclusive tourism advocates, has summed up the forum's themes and objectives. Besides Rains, other expertes involved in the forum are Carlos Tavares, Tourism Secretary in Socorro, one of Brazil's top references in inclusive tourism; Jorge Luiz, creator of Brazil's first accessible jangada; Silvana Cambiaghi, an expert in Universal Design and the author of Desenho Universal.
Other parallel and complementary events in the Tourism Festival will include EIBTUR, a travel blogger meeting; a sustainable travel show; and a gourmet event promoted by Abrasel, the Brazilian Bar and Restaurant Association.
Friday April 27, 2012
Recife has top-notch museums and Instituto Ricardo Brennand is one of the best for visitors interested in the history of Dutch Brazil.
The institute holds the world's largest private collection of works by Frans Post (1612--1680), an artist who arrived in Brazil in 1637 by invitation of Maurice of Nassau, governor of Dutch-occupied Northeastern Brazil, and was the first European artist to paint landscapes of the Americas.
But there's a lot more, especially a comprehensive collections of weapons, at the complex built in medieval style by entrepreneur Ricardo Brennand to house and display all the works of art he's amassed over decades.
The institute, named after the founder's uncle and not himself, is one of two laboriously created Brennand venues in town. At Oficina Brennand, Francisco Brennand, Ricardo's cousin, displays his paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramic art in a setting transformed over the course of 40 years from the ruins of a brick and tile factory founded by his father.
Photo courtesy of Brazil's Ministry of Tourism.
Wednesday April 25, 2012
The diversity of Rio de Janeiro's musical scene has moved up several notches since the start of Santa Música Faz!, a project which aims at creating a "cultural belt" around the city with shows in favelas which have UPPs, or Police Pacifying Units.
Until 2013, all the favelas involved in Santa Música Faz! will host an eclectic blend of classical music, jazz, rap, samba and other musical styles in shows featuring renowned musicians alongside talents from each one of the communities involved.
Produced by Roda de Produção Ilimitada and Coletivo Santa Música and sponsored by the Rio de Janeiro State administration in a partnership with several NGOs and radio stations, Santa Música Faz! aims at forming 300 musical producers in the participating communities. The project is also involved in World Music Day in Brazil.
If you're in Rio this coming Saturday, add this great show at Morro da Providência - which, by the way, is free - to the list of best things to do in town; if you can't be there, plan for upcoming editions of the event, which has already been to Morro da Mineira, Chapéu Mangueira and Babilônia.
Providência, located behind Central do Brasil (Central Station, featured in the eponymous movie) and near the port zone, is considered Rio's - and Brazil's - first favela. One of the goals of the UPP installed in the area in 2010 is to create a greater connection between tourists and this community rich in history and culture, including Afro-Brazilian heritage. Some of its attractions are the house (in great need of restoration) where Machado de Assis, one of the greatest Brazilian writers of all time, was born, and the Nossa Senhora da Penha Church. The favela also has some lookout points with extraordinary views.
The term favela in its current use actually had its origin at Providência; former soldiers in the Canudos War who moved to the area in the late 19th century thought the hill reminded them of a hill in Bahia where favela trees (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus) grew.
One of the headliners this Saturday will be Rodrigo Santos, playing hits from his solo career and from his Barão Vermelho years, alongside Os Lenhadores.
Leo Gandelman, one of Brazil's greatest saxophone players, will also be there.
Other performers scheduled: Zé da Velha and Silvério Pontes, Paulinho Trompete, Marlon e Helo and musicians from Providência's percussion band showing how much samba the favela's got.
Santa Música Faz! at Providência:
Admission: Free
At Praça da Toca (Rua Ebroino Uruguai, Gamboa):
Free Stage (4 p.m.), Rodrigo Santos (6 p.m.), Zé da Velha and Silvério Pontes (7 p.m.).
At N. S. da Penha Church (Ladeira do Barroso, Gamboa):
Paulinho Trompete (7 p.m.) and Leo Gandelman (8 p.m.)
At Cruzeiro: (Av. do Cruzeiro 70 - Gamboa)
Free stage (4 p.m.), Marlon e Helo and Escola de Percussão (6 p.m.)
Keep up with Santa Musica Faz on Facebook
Photos of Rodrigo Santos and Leo Gandelman courtesy of Santa Música Faz!. Photo of Leo Gandelman by Luiz Garrido.
Saturday April 21, 2012
Today Brasília is commemorating its 52nd anniversary with nearly 30 shows, a hot air balloon festival and more.
Not all is shine - the federal capital is one of the cities where Marcha contra a Corrupção, a protest against corruption in Brazil, was scheduled to take place today.
Despite Brazil's political and social maladies, there's much to be celebrated about life and tourism in the country's capital. Local newspaper Correio Braziliense is celebrating the anniversary with a special in its printed edition about the city's nightlife, which is brimming with new spots such as the sizzling hot Balcony 412, winner of a 2012/2013 Revelation of the Year award from Veja Brasília, and old faves such as Calaf.
The newspaper, launched on Brasília's inauguration day, is highlighting the fact that Lucio Costa's city plan restricted the height of buildings just so people could freely enjoy the cerrado's magnificent sunsets and skies.
Oscar Niemeyer's world-famous designs for the capital (which inspired today's Google Brazil doodle) were not even all materialized when Brasília was inaugurated on Tiradentes Day. For example, Our Lady of Aparecida Cathedral, which had its cornerstone launched in 1958, would only be completed in 1970.
The semi-finished capital did have enough substance to be inaugurated, after less than four years of construction, with festivities which included a gala for 3,000 at Palácio do Planalto (photo).
It all started with a solemn midnight Mass, for which the same iron cross used for the first Mass in Brazil in 1500 was brought over from Tesouro-Museu da Sé de Braga in Portugal. A bell used to announce the execution of Tiradentes in 1792 rang in the ceremony, during which President Juscelino Kubitschek broke down and cried.
If you read Portuguese, enjoy one of the best online resources about the events leading up to that big day in Brazil history: Veja's special Brasília 50 Anos, launched for the city's 50th anniversary.
Great Photos of Brasília:
