Imaging Brazil 339: Red Carpet on Stairs in Minas Gerais, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

339: Red carpet on stairs

The bus journey from Belo Horizonte to Diamantina takes about five hours, over a distance of almost three hundred kilometers. The ride takes you through arid, mountainous regions, called the ‘sertão’. On the way, the bus driver stopped at a number of places along the highway; the most important stopover was in the town of Curvelo, about halfway the ride. There the driver had to drive a tourist tour in order to reach the intercity bus station. The same route was taken again in the direction of the highway. Not far from Curvelo, along the highway, I noticed this red carpet. This runner covered the stairs to a higher church building. The churchgoers are here still regarded as very important people!

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

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Imaging Brazil 312: Mountain Landscape in Minas Gerais, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

312: Mountain landscape

Minas Gerais state is one of the largest Brazilian states: its land area is similar to that of France and Switzerland combined. The state, with the centrally located capital of Belo Horizonte, is rich in mountains and rocks, which contain huge amounts of minerals. Iron ore, precious metals, precious stones and semi-precious stones are still extracted. The mining towns were very wealthy in the past, and it is still visible to the richly decorated houses and churches in these towns. When I was on my way to Diamantina, less than three hundred kilometers from Belo Horizonte, we drove along a fascinating mountain scenery, with rocks richly spread over the vast slopes and valleys.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 305: Bus Mirror in Minas Gerais, MG (2011)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

305: Bus mirror

Between 2006 and 2011, I made a number of long bus trips with various groups of university students. These students attended annual meetings, spread across the immense country. Especially the coastal cities in the northeast were very popular for these meetings. The students attended workshops, presentations and discussions, and in the evening they participated in various parties and music programs. I didn’t have to attend these meetings, but I gratefully took advantage of their invitation to get to know the country better. My final bus trip with these students was in November 2011: a meeting in Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, near the border with Bolivia. A journey that lasted over seventeen hours. The picture shows a side mirror of our bus.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2011, 2017

Imaging Brazil 295: Sunset at Gunga Beach, AL (2010)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

295: Gunga Beach sunset

When I was accompanying a group of students on their way to João Pessoa, a day was spent on the beach of Gunga in the state of Alagoas. Following my visits in 2008 and 2009, it was the third time I stayed at this  beach paradise. Just like the first time, the bus driver had to use all his experience and agility to guide the bus over the bumpy and paved secondary road. Most students immediately searched for the nearby beach pavilion and ordered a large amount of beer right away. This was not my intention, I preferred a long beach walk, with a camera in my hand. Late afternoon, we enjoyed a breathtaking sunset.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 282: Countryside Landscape in Pernambuco, PE (2010)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

282: Countryside

The state of Pernambuco has a very varied landscape. Arid areas are alternated by rolling fresh-grown sugarcane fields, and palm plantations in the coastal region. When I was on my way from Belo Horizonte to João Pessoa, the capital of the neighboring state of Paraíba, Pernambuco was crossed. The drought had left its traces in the landscape: dry grasslands, with scattered groups of palm trees that are more resistant to drought. Two men rode on their cart through the sun-burnt landscape.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 274: Three on a Bike in Pernambuco, PE (2010)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

274: Three on a bike

A bus trip in Brazil can be tiresome. Especially when you have to travel very long distances. In that respect, taking the plane is a better, but a much more expensive alternative. The hours seem to take longer on the bus when you drive in the dark. But during the day, you will notice that the time seems to go faster. You can enjoy the colorful and varied landscape for many hours, having a privileged look at the daily life along the highway. Especially when the bus has to go through villages and small towns, there is a lot to see. Like that time when my eye caught these three boys on a bike in an unknown village in the state of Pernambuco.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 271: Sunset in Pernambuco, PE (2010)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

271: Sunset

A flight is very fast, but you only have sight from high altitude, if there are no clouds below you, and if you do not have your seat next to the wing. Traveling by bus is very tiring – especially if you are on your way for a few days -, but you are rewarded with excellent views of breathtaking landscapes. Mountain landscapes, green hills, infinite sugar cane fields, long coastlines, vast plains, dry and bare fields, and many more. In addition, you can also enjoy the colorful sunrises and sunsets, like a sunset in Pernambuco, when I was on my way from João Pessoa (Paraíba) to Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 270: Lone Tree in Bahia, BA (2010)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

270: Lone tree

During my bus trips to the northeast of Brazil, we always had to cross the giant states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. In July 2010, I accompanied a group of students on their way to their annual meeting in João Pessoa, capital of Paraíba state. A bus trip of more than forty hours. It takes at least twelve hours before the state limit of Minas Gerais with Bahia is reached, and another twelve hours to reach Salvador. Despite the many hours, it is very interesting to see the multicolored and varied landscape from open bus window: from mountains and  green hills to arid plains. The photograph shows a lone tree in a landscape hit by winter drought.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging Brazil 234: River Reflecting Clouds in Alagoas, AL (2009)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

234: Water reflection 

AUGUST 2009: Water reflection 

During my stay in Maceió in August 2009, I didn’t restrict myself to the city limits, but I also made some trips by bus. Two of these trips were provided by the tour company, while I was on my own in the other trips. It was not really difficult, I only had to request some information at the hotel and at the bus station for the necessary bus schedules and bus stops. I took the bus to various beaches at some distance from the capital, like Ipioca and Sonho Verde. During the bus ride, I kept the camera on my lap, and I shot several pictures of the varied landscape. A hilly, green landscape with coconut plantations, sugarcane plantations, and grasslands; often the landscape was intersected by rivers or streams, like here on the photo. On this semi-cloudy day, the clouds were sharply reflected in the almost stagnant river water.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2009, 2016

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2006 – 005

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2006.

Part 5:
Bahia (BA) – Crossing a river
Olivença (BA) – Ocean waves
Salvador (BA) – Fortress
Salvador (BA) – Beach chair

Bahia (BA) – Crossing a river

Olivença (BA) – Ocean waves

Salvador (BA) – Fortress

Salvador (BA) – Beach chair 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2006, 2016

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2005 – 009

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2005.

Part 9:
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Sunset
Minas Gerais (MG) – Motorcyclist
São Paulo (SP) – Water Effect
São Paulo (SP) – Coins in Fountain

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Sunset

Minas Gerais (MG) – Motorcyclist

São Paulo (SP) – Water Effect

São Paulo (SP) – Coins in Fountain

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2016

Imaging Brazil 198: Children along the Highway in Alagoas, AL (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

198. Children along the highway 

JULY 2008: Children along the highway

It’s no secret that there is much poverty in the large northeastern region of Brazil. There have recently been intense attempts by the federal government to eradicate absolute poverty of the regional population, with visible results. Nonetheless, poverty is still clearly visible there, even to the eyes of tourists and travelers who use the highways. At some locations, houses and huts have been built not far from the highway, and the local people seem to be undisturbed about the speeding fast traffic. A few people try to take advantage of the raised bumps at the city limits, and then try to sell vegetables, fruit, sweets or handicraft to drivers and passengers. Children also seem to have grown up with life along the highway. These children enthusiastically waved to us when our bus passed by their little house.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 185: Bridge on the São Francisco River, PE (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

185. Bridge 

JANUARY 2008: Bridge

It was a long and adventurous bus trip from Belo Horizonte to Fortaleza, capital of the state Ceará. On the way to Fortaleza, which lasted no less than four days, we visited the beach resorts of Porto de Galinhas, Praia de Pipa, and Canoa Quebrada. The return trip was much shorter, only two days. From the capital, the highway across the arid landscape of the state of Ceará was followed. The bus drivers insisted to leave early in the morning, in order to reach the border with the state of Pernambuco before sunset. The highway Ceará was known to have frequent raids happening, especially at night. It was very hot that day, we had put all the windows wide open for some ventilation. The landscape was surprisingly interesting and varied, and I shot hundreds of photos of it. The sun was about to set, when we finally reached the São Francisco River that formed the border with Pernambuco. There was a bridge under construction, but the bus was – like the cars and even trucks – transported by ferry across the wide river. We had to wait patiently for the arrival of the ferry, before we could continue our way home.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 183: Mirroring the Highway in Bahia, BA (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

183. Highway mirror 

JULY 2008: Highway mirror

In July 2008, I undertook an adventurous bus trip to Maceio, capital of the state of Alagoas. A bus trip that took more than thirty-six hours. From Belo Horizonte, it took about twelve hours to reach the border of Minas Gerais with Bahia. And it took another twelve hours to reach the city limits of Bahia’s capital, Salvador. As we left in the night, we were sleeping during the journey through Minas Gerais. The following day, the bus drove along the diverse but somewhat barren landscape of Bahia. The highway was anything but straight, but had countless turns  that followed the slopes of the hills and mountains. As I sat right behind a large bus window, I could conveniently use the mirror effect of that window. After some experimenting and playing with the camera, I managed to photograph some nice reflections of the highway. One of them showed the effect that we were apparently approaching a T-junction.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 176: Cat with Yellow Eyes at Praia de Pipa, RN (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

176. Cat with yellow eyes 

JANUARY 2008: Cat with yellow eyes

On our way from Belo Horizonte to Fortaleza, by bus, we had visited three paradisaical beach resorts in Northeast Brazil: Porto de Galinhas in Pernambuco, Praia da Pipa in Rio Grande do Norte, and Canoa Quebrada in Ceará. Each of them is more than worth visiting: breathtaking views, a beautiful beach, a calm ocean, cozy bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. We spent the night on the bus, while the two bus drivers carried us to another destination. Early in the morning, we arrived at the beach resort, took some breakfast, and went to the beach. Many of our large group visited the nearest beach barrack with cheap beer and stayed there all day. I joined a smaller group that preferred to walk around, to enjoy more of the location: we made long beach walks, we wandered along the narrow streets in the nearby village, and discovered many shops and restaurants. At night, all of us went to a hostel to take a shower, and then made another walk in the village until midnight. Then it was about time to enter the bus for another night ride. When we were walking in the village, I discovered this cat in a stoic pose. The flash light reflected in the eyes, turning them yellow.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 170: Landscape in Paraná, PR (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

170. Landscape 

MAY 2008: Landscape

Even I prefer a comfortable and fast flight over a long and tiring bus journey, but traveling by bus also has its advantages. Traveling with companions can be very sociable and entertaining, as I have repeatedly experienced with students as companions. Another advantage of traveling by bus is the encounter of the varied landscape, when being on the way. The mountains in Minas Gerais, the arid plains in Bahia, the lush green sugarcane fields in the northeast, the hilly landscapes in São Paulo and Paraná. On the way to Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná, we met a very interesting landscape: green, bushy hills, rushing rivers, and small lakes. This photo was made in the state of Paraná, near Curitiba. At that moment, it was late in the afternoon, when the sun was about to set. The pale pink of the sunset was a colorful contrast to the blue sky and its reflection in the water, and to the various shades of green vegetation on the hills.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 112: Dirty Hands in Atins, MA (2007)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

112. Dirty hands

JULY 2007: Dirty hands

We had spent 55 hours by bus, to bridge the huge distance of more than 2500 km between Belo Horizonte and São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão. Another five hours were spent by bus to reach Barreirinhas, gateway to the immense dune landscape of Lençóis Maranhenses. Four more hours were spent by boat to reach Atins Beach, at the Atlantic Ocean. Our feet really hurt when we stepped on the hot sand. It was as if our flip flops were even melting! But that didn’t stop us from reaching the shoreline and giving our feet a refreshing bath. To our big surprise, our feet sank deeply in the moist sand, almost ten centimeters! There was another surprise that clumps of clay were found on the shoreline. Two students immediately recognized the substance, and started to smear the clay on their hands. According to them, this clay type is very suitable for ceramic handicraft.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2007, 2015

Imaging Brazil 008: Flat tire in Bahia, BA (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

008. Flat tire

FEBRUARY 2005: Flat tire

It is quite an adventure, to travel from Belo Horizonte to Recife by bus. The travel lasts more than forty hours. It is already more than a full day to reach Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia. From Salvador, the bus followed the route through part of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas and Pernambuco. I also had taken the bus for the return trip. On the way in Bahia, we suddenly heard a loud bang. A flat tire. The bus was located at dozens of kilometers from the nearest city. The bus driver almost panicked, he had no idea how to change the heavy bus tire. He was fortunate that a mechanic sat next to me. The man offered his help, and, together with a number of bus passengers, he managed to change the tire in a bit more than an hour. The bus driver offered the man gratefully a free meal at the next bus stop.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014

Travel in Brazil: Salvador (BA)

SALVADOR (BA)

July 2006. I suddenly received an invitation to join students to their annual meeting, in Salvador that year.  We went by bus, the bus ride took more than 24 hours.  Before we arrived in Salvador, we spent a day on the beach in Olivença, a coastal city south of Salvador.
Almost all students spoke no English, and I did not speak Portuguese by then. Despite this language problem, I was very well accepted by them, and long-lasting friendships were started with some of them. Most of the time I was accompanied by a student named Carol. She guided me during my stay in Salvador. Initially, some students were wondering why I was taking so many photographs, and writing down some data. They joked that I must be spying for my native country, to prepare the second Dutch invasion. I quickly corrected them that there already had been two Dutch invasions at least. They suddenly went silent. For me this travel became the start of another two dozen bus travels with students to various locations throughout Brazil.

The Lacerda Elevator connects the lower city of Salvador (close to Mercado Modelo) to the upper city (close to Palácio Rio Branco), giving access to the historic center of Salvador: Pelourinho. This 72 meter high elevator was inaugurated in 1873 and transports about 30 thousand passengers daily.

Camera:  SONY DSC-P73
f/8,  1/320 sec. ISO-100

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Travel in Brazil: Recife (PE), 2005

Original size 1200×1600

RECIFE (PE)

In February 2005, I was invited to join a friend to visit the state of Pernambuco.
We went by bus, a travel that lasted more than thirty hours.
Nevertheless, the bus travel was an unforgettable experience: for me it was the first time to travel by bus more than seven hours (Nijmegen -London), and to witness the breathtaking Bahian landscape. Lush green, mountainous, sometimes arid, it seemed for me that the landscape was changing every kilometer.
We stayed in Recife during carnival. A multicultural carnival, with elements from African, European, and indian origin.
The picture shows a man in original and very colorful maracatu outfit. Even the dark sunglasses make part of it.

Camera SONY DSC-P73 f/10, 1/100 sec. ISO-100

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