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Published: December 16th 2008
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Okay, doing a bit of catch up here on the blog to try and fit most things in and I really should tell you about Brazilia.
Basically, we decided to sack off El Salvador and the bottom of the East coast as we had heard so many dodgy stories and everyone who had visited El Salvador and Recife felt threatened and only lasted a day there! So...Lets check out lonely planet and get a bus the whole way through the country (its a big country) up to the top!!! First Stop - Brasilia, the capitol of the third millenium...! 17 hours, nice way to take my bus journey travelling cherry!
Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, was created on April 22nd 1960, in the central area of the country. Just five years before, the area resembled a desert, with no people, scarce water, few animals and plants. President Juscelino Kubitschek, who became President in 1956, invited the best Brazilian architects to present projects for the new capital. Oscar Niemeyer, today one of the most famous world's architects, combined straight and rounded shapes to create innovative architectural masterpieces. Lucio Costa, reknowned Brazilian urbanist, devised a layout combining beauty, simplicity and
percy beside the cathedral
testing his penguin beliefs functionality. Businesses are organized into sectors, where all Pharmacies are found in a certain block, banks are found on another, hotels in yet another and so on. The Plano Piloto was built this way, however, the surrounding areas(satellite cities) continue to grow without much consideration to the original planning of the city. People say that it is shaped as an aeroplane...but I have been told it is more of a bird, with the main government house in the beak- where the counrty talks from!!
To tell you the truth, I was really intruigued to go as I learnt about it in 3rd year geography and here was my chance. So we turned up in the Rodoivaria (bus station) and it was not pleasant,people were looking at us strange, we had all our worldly possessions on us and it didn´t feel right. So initially we were going to sack off brasilia and just continue to Sao luis...But there was no bus, we had no choice but to stay!
Out comes lonely planet, first hostel...point to it and point to taxi driver - ce? ce...! awesome - lets go!!!
so off he drives, and soon the city comes into
do not be deicieved
There was nothing in the auditorium. Nearly broke me leg walking up the ramp!...ha view and its inspiring architecture. After travelling on a bus overnight through some rough areas and shanty town favella´s, we had come across bits of a city that wouldn´t look out of place in the western world...! Still quite dirty, but you could see there was more structure and organisation. whaomp haomp flying round roundabouts cutting up lanes, windows open fully as there was no aircon, we arrived at our supposed hostel...bags out, pay the man- job done! ring the bell... ring again...ring one more time...hmmmmm...this could be interesting (thank god it was daylight!) No one there, consult lonely planet, walk to the next one...So its in some backstreet..again every soul looking at us like we´re aliens...We walk up to supposed hostel no 2 - still no joy...o dear ....then he door opens and a little old lady huirries us in... shuts the door...gobble d gook gobble d gook coming out her mouth, sign language wasn´t even a useful tool here. this is going to be fun...!
Eventually, the owner returned who spoke a little English, she was happy for us to stay as long as we returned after 11 pm...hmmmm....so we left our bags and off we trotted...didn´t
Ipood
ha...oops, someone pass the toilet roll! really get far as there was a bar just round the corner. he he he...! had a bit of food and went to the only nightlife in town down one street - this is a capitol city for god´s sake! BUT - the girl´s were beautiful! nicer than Rio...alas, they didn´t understand the lanky irishman with a busted open toe mind so no luck there- looking at me like I had a carrot coming out of my head!!!
Back to the hostel at about 11 30, and a little chat with madam hostel owner explained a lot. Wait till you hear this... One of the senior possitions in the government owns a couple of the hotels in brasilia and has made it his mission to shut down all hostelling, so you are stuck to find somewhere to stay for less than R$200 - say roughly 60 quid! She had been shut down, but was still taking guests sneaky sneaky...that´s why we had to be back late and quiet, etc. Very luky that we got in there! She evn made me write an e-mail to some friend of hers in the governement - crazy cat!
So, the tourism isshot....You can see from the photo´s, this city has a lot going for it and I am really glad we took time to see it. The architecture really is beautiful and the organised structured street plan is mad! but, the streets are wrecked, holes in ground, dig up for fun and not refinished...All these beautiful buildings are,upon closer inspection, absolute dives - not looked after at all! They don´t seem to care about this tourism carry - on!
Ahh well, worth the visit - I liked it anyway!
One day, an all you can eat buffet for 2 quid...Fill this tummy up for our 26 hour bus journey to Sau Luis- or so we thought!!!!
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