Imaging Brazil 336: Blue Commelina Flower in Aquidauana, MS (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

336: Blue commelina flower

When we walked around in Aquidauana on a hot day, I noticed this striking blue flower. A beautiful flower, with only two petals, that gives you an idea that you are dealing with a butterfly. A quick Google search made me end up with the name Commelina. The local name is trapoeraba or erva-de-santa-luzia. It was interesting for me to read that the name has its origins in its discoverer, the Dutch botanist Jan Commelin. The Asian day-flower, which can be seen on the photo, originates from East Asia, but is also common in Europe and in North America. Also in Brazil this beautiful blue flower is found, in many states, including Mato Grosso do Sul. The plant is used in the development of medicines, dyes, and is a potential candidate for the detoxification of contaminated soil around copper mines.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 326: Pink Flower in Aquidauana, MS (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

326: Pink flower

Only three days were spent in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The bus travel from Belo Horizonte to Campo Grande, the capital, took about 17 hours. The remainder of the first day was spent in Campo Grande, to visit the nearby Shopping Mall, and the main avenue. The following day, we took a bus to the bus station, from where we took another bus to Aquidauana, a small city that is part of a very large municipality bearing the same name. That day, it was very hot: it felt as if the temperature had exceeded fifty degrees. The heat was reflected by the ground, and it felt like we were in an oven: the heat was everywhere. Suddenly, a fierce breeze caused some slight panic among the people in the street: some obstacles fell down or were moved by the strong windforce. When it was calm again, we enjoyed the natural environment, where this beautiful flower was observed. 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 314: Church’s Water Mirror Image in Aquidauana, MS (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

314: Church’s water mirror image

Aquidauana is a very large municipality in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It borders with a much larger municipality, Corumbá, which is more than twice the size of Belgium. Both municipalities are located in the Pantanal region, and both offer facilities of visit the vast wetlands of Pantanal, that is located Brazil and – to lesser extent – in the neighboring countries Paraguay and Bolivia. When I was in Aquidauana in November 2011, it was a very  hot day, with temperatures reaching forty degrees centigrade. Suddenly, there was a strong breeze that blew down various objects in the streets. I had to seek shelter. After this breeze I returned to the Igreja Matriz, where I noticed an interesting water mirror image of this gothic-style church in the small pond in front of this church.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 302: Igreja Matriz in Aquidauana, MS (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

302: Igreja Matriz

Aquidauana is a very large municipality (slightly more than half of the country’s territory of Belgium), at about 140 km west of Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. The first non-indigineous inhabitants were soldiers of the Brazilian empire who settled in this region after the defeat of Paraguay in the bloody Paraguayan War (1864-1870). One of the most striking buildings in Aquidauana is undoubtedly the Igreja Matriz, full: Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Imaculada Conceição (Our Lady of Immaculate Conception). This church, built in 1930, is clearly inspired upon Gothic architecture. The rear of this church is visible on the picture, with the two towers in the background.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2011 – 012

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2011.

Part 12:
Aquidauna (MS) – Church
Campo Grande (MS) – Monument at Nações Indígenas Park
Aquidauna (MS) – Church
Campo Grande (MS) – Monument at Nações Indígenas Park

Aquidauana (MS) – Church

Campo Grande (MS) – Monument at Nações Indígenas Park

Aquidauana (MS) – Church

Campo Grande (MS) – Monument at Nações Indígenas Park

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2011 – 011

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2011.

Part 11:
Aquidauana (MS) – Church
Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) – Railway
Aquidauana (MS) – Pink flowers
Aquidauana (MS) – Church

Aquidauana (MS) – Church

Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) – Railroad

Aquidauana (MS) – Pink flowers

Aquidauana (MS) – Church

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Travel in Brazil: AQUIDAUANA (MS)

Image of the church in a fountain, located in front of the church.
f/ 3.2  1/640 sec. ISO-80

AQUIDAUANA (MS)

Aquidauna is a municipality west of Campo Grande, capital of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its size is half of Belgium and counts about 45 thousand inhabitants only.  The city itself is located at about 140 km from Campo Grande.
The bus travel from Campo Grande took about 2 hours. The first hours in Aquidauna were quite hot, with approximately 42 degrees centigrade. A sudden and fierce breeze did the temperature drop to about 32 degrees in less than one hour.
The principal church is located close to the Aquidauana River, that forms the border with neighboring municipality Anastácio.
The Saint Francis Church, inspired upon gothic architecture, was built in the thirties of the past century.

Image of the church
f/8,   1/640 sec.  ISO-80

Camera: Canon PowerShot A1100 IS

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