Churches of Brasil

On November 12, 2009 the MTFSO was also Churches, formal and informal.  And after revisiting that post, I wondered how I could top it.   What new churches I could show you?   In February of this year, I featured one of my favorite churches to photograph in Friburgo Centro,  the one severely damaged by the January 12th floods,  so I’ve decided I have to take you farther away.  If nothing else comes of this MTFSO at least I got to spend several hours looking through older posts, reading what I’ve written about Brasil and thoroughly enjoying myself. 

I looked through many photos in the archives looking for just the right church to feature this week.  The churches, that I’ve seen, in Brasil are nothing like the great cathedrals of Europe but the are in their own way just as beautiful.  Often they have two steeples and are painted white with blue trim.  These are ‘Portuguese’ churches.  If you drive north and a little east of Nova Friburgo you can find the small town of Santa Maria Madalena.   Traveling through country dotted with rolling hills and small farms,  you finally wind your way into this clean, neat little community.  The church is literally the center/ the highlight, the purpose for this town.  (If you have a moment check back through my links to read more about these towns and their churches.)  This church as a distinctively Scandinavian or German flavor. 

 

 

   

   

  

As we walked around the town, which was around the church I could see the steeple from nearly every angle.  Front to back, top to bottom a beautiful town and church. 

Just for fun...

I need to back track a couple of weeks to show you something.   While in Houston it wasn’t all work and no play.  By now you all know Camillo and I better than that.  We ate, and danced, and I drove a NEW CAR.

Camillo’s son (the oldest, lives in Houston) put on order and has received his new car: The Volt by Chevy .  What a sweet car.  Still to expensive for the average car buyer, coming in at over 40k, this car steps away from the ‘hybrids’ in style and concept.

Not arguing energy use, or workability, or usability – just look at the difference in body style  from the  Air-powered car conceived in India.  and the Volt

I am excited about the headway made in designing and completion of these cars, moving them into the market is a break through worthy of note.    Chevy needs to bring the price down on the Volt, but this is real progress in giving consumers a choice beyond the gas guzzlers / carbon belching cars in our past – one that looks good too.  Camillo wouldn’t buy one for me and bring it to Brasil.. , I begged to no avail,  plus by the time we paid import tax and  shipping we would be nearing 90K in costs – Sorry we just can’t do it.  I look for info that this car will begin to be made in Brasil but nothing.  So I will have to wait.  but did get to test drive and get a first hand demo of its features..... The car has a heavy, solid feel, maneuvers well,...... I want one.....

    

 

Anyone want to buy my 8 year old Audi?  only 60K KM with auto transmission.....

ManMade Circles – Triangles – Squares In Rio

 Circles in cloth Triangles at play  Squares in abundance 

Can you find them all?

Can’t go home again?

My first husband, two young children and I moved to Houston in August of 1975.  Is that right?  Does anyone remember for sure.   We lived for 4 years in an apartment south of the I-10 and west of Wilcrest.  In 1979, we moved into our first home, north of 4 lane I-10 freeway and east of the two country lane road called highway 8.  I took my 8 & 9 year old for ice skating lessons at an ice-house that was surrounded by a large parking lot and empty fields just south of this intersection.   Barely more than thirty years has passed but this area has gone through massive changes. 

During the years living in this area, the I-10 was widened, lengthened, and widened again.  Highway eight became a divided 4 lane road, then the toll road was completed up the center and opened in 88 or 89.  And then it was widened again, and taken all the way around Houston.  The ice rink was torn down and a mall built, Town & Country Mall.   It had a Lord & Taylor, a JC Penny’s, and I think,  a Macy’s and Dillard's -  despite these big name stores the mall never took hold.  In the mid 90s,  south of the mall a new ‘outside’ shopping was put in.  It thrived.  About 5 years ago (or more?) there was talk about making the mall a medical office park,, then that idea stalled.  

This trip home Camillo and I were invited several times to the ‘city center’. 

The old empty mall has been torn down.  They left all the parking garages, and built a few more.  City Center is now where the mall stood.  There are apartments, and high end townhomes, a conference center Hotel, and restaurants, many with outside seating, and clothing stores of the artsy kind.  In less then 40 years what was my section of hometown Houston no longer exists.  I can’t say that this is not all improvements.  The city center is where people can live, and like in a small town, walk out of their apartment to have a glass of wine, or a beer while listening to music.  They can eat in fine restaurants or sit with a coffee and a sweet, or go to a movie, then walk back home again.  Practically in the center of the metropolis of Houston is now a small hometown.  I think the idea / concept is a great one.  What we love about Ipanema is that we can walk out our door to see a movie or to eat a great meal.  The government in Houston hasn’t built a dependable mass transit to get to work, but they have begun to make it possible to live and play in the same place.  This is no longer my Hometown, but is a hometown none the less.

Back Rio one more time

Camillo’s grandson Alex and Marissa at the Sunday brunch, merging our two families for a short time.   Alex plays basketball and Marissa Volleyball, and they both are competitive and play with the heart.

Our ten days in Houston were fast and furious.  I saw Patty and Marissa only 4 times and I am sorry about that.  It just isn’t the same to go and stay in a hotel, not in Patty’s home.  When in her home, the contact is daily, I quickly become part of the household, and by the end of the month or so I stay there, we are all glad to see me go home.  This time there was some..... sadness at my leaving.   I don’t know if sadness is the right word.  Here in Brasil they use SAUDADE.  This doesn’t really translate to one word in English – it means missing you, sadness, homesickness all rolled into one word – a word with great meaning.

While in Houston I planned on walking each day while Camillo was in his meetings.  I ended up not walking at all.  Between rain when I had time, and a long list of extras to do I didn’t make it to the parks for exercise and photos.  I did find a new point and shoot and took some photos to try it our, and got the Samsung I bought at the end of last April, sent off to see if the one year warrantee will get it fixed.  If they fix it, I will keep for a backup camera..... More about that need later. 

This visit we were up in the I-10 and Hwy 6 area.  This is our old stomping ground, and even though I have been through it in recent years, I’ve not been around and around like this visit.  The improved Katy Freeway (local name for I-10)  it is now 16 or 18 lanes across, with a toll road in the center, and/or a HOV lane.  No mass transit  like a train or tram with it though..... so in 10 years it will be once again obsolete.  I have to admire though the overpasses and the effort to beautify the monstrosity.   The pilasters under the overpasses are arched and at the interchange between I-10 / The beltway 8 is a marvel. Camillo said, ‘it is beautiful, but where is the graffiti?  Americans have no sense of ART.”   Of course, he was referring to the graffiti in Brasil, on every wall, overpass, and high ledge.  In contrast Houston looks almost too sterile in its cleanliness.   Just went through my photos..... no pictures of the beltway overpass ($*%*&)(),  the one below was taken at Hwy6, from the car window, on a cloudy day, no color, but along the access road in each area of town, there are different colors and emblems.  the 3rd photo was taken in Rio, below a major highway.  (**Brasil doesn’t have beautiful highways nor high budget deficits**)

  

We managed to see on basketball game and one volleyball game, eat in a lot of restaurants most of them good, if not great – how tight my pants are tells me I managed to eat plenty if if not really good.  I ate at ‘sweet tomatoes’ twice – a wonderful soup and salad bar, had two hamburgers, and one hotdog.  for now I am happy.  More later.