Imaging Brazil 182: Tram on Arcos de Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

182. Tram 

AUGUST 2008: Tram

Lapa is a very popular location in Rio de Janeiro. Virtually every tourist is attracted by the diversity of nightlife in this district, which is part of downtown Rio. Lapa is also known for the huge arches of the aqueduct, which was constructed in the middle of the eighteenth century, in order to transport fresh water from the Carioca River to the city center. Late nineteenth century, the aqueduct got another function: now it served as a tram rail track, uphill to the equally popular Santa Teresa District. At the time I left the huge arches – the largest measuring more than seventeen meters high – behind me, the tram just rode on the former aqueduct.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

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Imaging Brazil 181: Lady on the Balcony in Ouro Preto, MG (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

181. Lady on the balcony 

SEPTEMBER 2008: Lady on the balcony

Ouro Preto is one of my favorite cities in Brazil. The historic town, at about 100 km from Belo Horizonte, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1980. Ouro Preto is mainly known because of the works by Aleijadinho, the famous and mysterious artist that had created numerous statues and ornaments in several historic towns in Minas Gerais. One of the principal churches in Ouro Preto is Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora do Pilar. It is located in the cozy center, but you need to descend some steep streets before you can reach it. The recently restored church with a high abundance of gold leaf, is a real eye-catcher. One day, my eyes caught this lady, standing on a balcony, near Igreja Matriz. She seemed to look at me, and I looked back. She stood there, unmoved, and kept on staring. Initially, it gave me an awkward sensation, until I discovered that this lady is nothing more than a life-size doll.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 180: Red Rose in Maceió, AL (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

180. Red rose 

JULY 2008: Red rose

We had planned a visit to Pajuçara Beach. This beach is located within the city limits of Maceió, capital of the state of Alagoas. During the previous days, the sun had shone abundantly, but was totally absent today. Fortunately, we had enjoyed excellent days on the beaches of Ipioca, Praia do Francês, Gunga, Ponta Verde, and Coruripe. But it had rained a lot earlier that morning, and it kept on raining softly. Pajuçara Beach looked somewhat dreary and deserted, thanks to the heavy clouds. The jagandas (flatbottom boats) were moored on the beach. Normally, these little sailing boats transport tourists to the more distant dry sandbank, where tourists can enjoy the so-called ‘piscinas naturais’ , shallow waters near the beach. We visited a local market of souvenirs and handicraft. When our group was having a little break, I could no longer resist the temptation to visit the beach. And there I saw this red rose. A red rose that was previously offered to the ocean.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 179: Palm Tree Lane in Rio de Janeiro, RJ (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

179. Imperial palm trees 

MARCH 2008: Imperial palm trees

The famous Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) in Rio de Janeiro hosts more than six thousand – mostly tropical – plant species. One of the tallest and impressive species is the imperial palm tree. More than four hundred palm trees are planted in two straight rows that flank some principal paths in the Botanical Garden. It is believed that het Portuguese Prince Dom João VI himself had planted the ‘mother palm tree’ in 1809. The actual imperial palm trees are descendants of this so-called Palma Mater, which, incidentally, has succumbed to a lightning strike in 1972. Thirty years after the plantation, the Palma Mater started to flower and carry fruits. The then director of the Botanical Garden commanded to collect all flowers and fruits, in order to trying to maintain exclusivity of the imperial palm tree in the Garden. However, his policy wasn’t successful, and thus more imperial palm trees are found outside the Garden. Nonetheless, the imperial palm trees are very famous, and are now shown in the Jardim Botânico logo.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016