Today we went to Museu do Amanhã and the museum of contemporary art. Rather then take cabs to get there, we used Rio’s public transportation including the metro, the ferry, and the new tram system. There weren’t many tourists, so we really got to see how the people of Rio get around. The works… Continue reading →
Today, we visited the Burle Marx Studio where Isabela, the director and daughter of Haruyoshi, gave us a tour and explained many of their designs. She pulled out sketch after sketch, showing us the intricate designs of gardens, parks, yards, and city sidewalks. The most poignant moments were when she showed us how certain spaces… Continue reading →
Today we hiked Sugarloaf mountain. Our class hiked up the first peak and then took the cable car to the second. We went up by a combination of steep steps and rocks. Once we reached the top of the smaller portion, it was surprising to see many stores selling everything from fruit to souvenirs. We… Continue reading →
We rented bikes from a shop around the corner from our hotel and set off on a leisurely ride to Flamingo Park. It was difficult dodging cars and runners, but we managed to make it to our destination. Flamingo Park was designed by Roberto Burle Marx and it is considered to be one of his… Continue reading →
Today we traveled by bus to the Burle Marx sitio where we got to see his work, along with where he lived and where he would have parties with his friends. We got to see the different types of plants that he brought from various countries which was very interesting. The reason he fell in… Continue reading →
Today we visited the Jardim Botanico, a beautiful oasis within the crazy city of Rio de Janeiro! The Jardim Botanico is one of the oldest gardens in Brazil, which started in 1808, 210 years ago! This garden contained thousands of different species of plants, from cacti, succulents, bromeliads, lilies, trees, shrubs, palms, and many others.… Continue reading →
We were all very excited to arrive in Rio late last night after a full day of traveling. This morning we walked around the city a bit to learn how to get to the beach, laundromat, grocery store, and bank machines. Following our orientation we had class for a few hours, then a free afternoon!… Continue reading →
Our last day in the Amazon was one of the busiest. It was packed with activities including morning hiking, an afternoon canoe trip, and a night hike. We took a boat to a trail used strictly for night hiking. Hiking in the night gave us both a totally different perspective on the rainforest that we… Continue reading →
Today was spent looking closely at wildlife and immersing ourselves in the Amazonian environment. By doing this, we were able to notice the smallest details that make the Amazon… the Amazon. Our morning started out with hikes across different areas of the forest. On Tristan’s hike, they were able to see the elusive Uakari monkey.… Continue reading →
We started our day off by visiting one of the local communities near the reserve. One community member, Sandro, has been giving tours for 20 years and told us that the community we were in is only about 6 years old. They have to relocate every few years, because the area of the reservation that… Continue reading →
