Archive for June, 2011

Every bit as remarkable as they are silly. Here is a glimpse of my time spent with the Foleys, in their home and aside the beautiful Lake Paranoá.

In my opinion, the most vibrant place in all of Brasilia, Parque de Cidade. A giant city park that is likened to that of Central Park in NYC, with all the activities and all the culture of the city, melded into one glorious green space in the middle of the city. On weekends it is the place to be…and to be seen. With everything from a fair Nicolandia to heated games of futevôlei, followed by casual gatherings of friends sipping agua de coco from straws dipped directly into large green coconut shells. Watermelon is sold quartered for less than a dollar and outdoor gyms and open air massage tents are set up to build and to ease aching muscles. The park also has several enormous parks for children built to shape shoes, cinderella’s carriage and boats and rocket ships, painted a familiar Brazilian trio of red, blue and yellow. This photo was taken in one of the children’s parks while my boys played, imaginations running wild while snacking on tiny white waxy bags of salty pipoca.

There are many charming things about Brasilia, another one of which I discover each day. My recent photographic study of Brasilia has been of bus stop culture. A place for families and friends to come together twice a day, to see each other off to work and  reconvene after a long day. A place to cultivate relationships to nourish bodies and to gain knowledge all in the time that we wait. Juice and pastry vendors will set up shop within bus shelters on the morning commute and sell plastic cups of freshly blended abacaxi and pão de queijo and in the evening men carry baskets filled with candy for sale before the dusty evening ride home. This particular photo was taken at a bus stop in Asa Norte, where stacks of books are typically piled in openings of bus shelters. Take one, leave one, enjoy one while you wait.

My very first lime tree, my very first lime tree in bloom.

My favorite refreshing breakfast as of late, a refreshing bowl of nearly frozen açaí na tigela, sprinkled with sliced bananas and homemade granola.

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More on Açaí and it’s benefits here.

I cheated a little on this one. I actually took this photo last Saturday in the Brazilian countryside. Driving along open roads flanked by fazendas and a sky so big that it often seems you can see half the world, I was beckoned to pull over and pull out my camera by this one single and quite unreal looking cloud.

Yesterday’s photo, this image of my most favorite pair of shoes. Paul wondered how I’d ever decide. I did. Until tomorrow when I buy my next favorite pair! I purchased these earlier in the year from here by the always fabulous Vince Camuto. They remind me of a picnic basket and here in Brazil it is always appropriate to wear shoes like this to a picnic (or anywhere for that matter) and so I do.