Brasilia - impromptu visit


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South America » Brazil » Distrito Federal » Brasília
November 1st 2009
Published: January 10th 2010
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Well, it was a kind of surprise for us to end up visiting Brasilia.
We had been debating about going there. Was it worth paying for another flight? Would we find time to go? When?
Now, our flight from Florianopolis to Manaus had a 3 hour stop over in... Brasilia.
We were quick to have a deal with a taxi driver and here we went for a private tour of this futuristic city from the fifties.

After Salvador (Bahia) and then Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia is the third capital of Brazil.
It was president Juscelino Kubitschek's initiative, the idea was to bring the capital away from the over populated coast so that it would be easier to reach from all parts of Brazil and also to develop the interior of the country.
On 21 April 1960, the capital of Brazil was shifted from Rio to Brasilia. Today although very quit at week-ends, it definitely is the center of political Brazil.

It is really worth a visit. While some of the buildings are monumental and others aesthetic, all clearly show what the view of the future was in the fifties and sixties. But time goes on and the buildings no a longer represent the future. Just like the Gothic or Baroque buildings from Europe these architecture is now ageless.
The cathedral is particularly exceptional. It is totally surrounded by water so that the access is through a tunnel.

So here are our pictures, they are not that exceptional, some of them were taken through the windows of the taxi.
We hope you will enjoy them anyway.



Additional photos below
Photos: 36, Displayed: 23


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Esplanada dos ministériosEsplanada dos ministérios
Esplanada dos ministérios

Each bloc is a different ministry. They look like French "HLM's" (social housing)
Approaching the cathedralApproaching the cathedral
Approaching the cathedral

Unfortunately, we don't know what this building with a dome is, Please tell us should you know.
The cathedralThe cathedral
The cathedral

The full name is: "Catedral Metroplolitana Nossa Senhora Aparicida". it is the work of Oscar Niemeyer.
CathedralCathedral
Cathedral

The statues represent the evangelists.
The cathedralThe cathedral
The cathedral

Restoration works were taking place, and a mass was going on, so we could not visit much.
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

This is the official residence of the president of the republic
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

Changing guards.
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

changing guards
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

mangoes hanging over the guards booth.
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

Lula's superb mango tree
Palácio de AlvoradaPalácio de Alvorada
Palácio de Alvorada

Just to prove we were there


10th January 2010

It worth
I always had the same doubt: should I visit Brasilia? Will it worth go there? Finally, at the end of 2008, I decided to spend the weekend there. I just loved. I don´t know if I will come back, but for sure it´s a place that worth go at least once... Saudade de vocês... beijooo

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