Le regard de l'Aviateur

Its impossible to escape History walking through Rio. Not too far from my home walking Rua das Laranjeiras, I stumble upon an aviator reading details on his plane and about his feat, under a model of of the  flying boat  Savoia-Marchetti S.64 - a single-engine, single-spar wing, wooden biplane aircraft powered by a single Isotta-Fraschini Asso 500RI, 373 kW (500 hp) engine mounted between the upper and the lower wings.

Carlo Del Prete was a pioneer aviator of the 20’s who together with Arturo Ferrarin flew the "Santa Maria" - a Savola Marchetti S64, between Monticello, close to Rome, Italy and Touros, close to Natal, Brazil in the year 1928. The 7,188 Km span was covered in 49 hours 19 minutes - a world record in direct flights.  There was great commotion in Italy as well as in Brazil.

Treated as heroes in Brazil, Carlo and Arturo stayed on for a while and later flew to the capital at the time,  Rio de Janeiro, where they were received with honors. Carlo Del Prete eventually died in the air flying an S62 which crashed in Guanabara Bay in August 1928. Carlo was held as a hero in both Italy and Brazil as well as a symbol of approximation between both countries. They had planned a visit to Rio Grande do Sul where large Italian immigrant communities exist. The plane for this trip was not well prepared and as a result, it crashed over the Bay of Guanabara, falling from a height of 40m, where Del Prete suffered many severe bruises and exposed fractures on both legs. He was rescued by a passing boat but died as a result of gangrene infection after unsuccessful treatment of the multiple injuries he sustained. A full account of his story (in Portuguese) can be found at The peaceful sculpture in Laranjeiras marks the site where  the two airmen received their homage at the Italian Embassy.

Traxler’s Blue Frangipani

Bernhard Traxler is becoming an ‘old’ friend of mine... basically its his long  blond hair turning gray... but also because I have known him over the years, and  feel close to his way of reporting nature in his works of art... I was initially attracted to this Austrian born ‘hippie’ of the Hippie Fair in Ipanema because of a fly on one of his canvases... Well, I though it was a fly, a common housefly sitting on what struck to me as a very, very small canvas, maybe about 5 x 5 cm. As I approached to examine the insect, other small objects popped before my eyes on other Lilliputian canvases, such as a recently extinguished match stick, small butterflies and so on... Very realistic, and all very tiny, painted with the help of some magnifying glass which belonged to a grandfather in Austria...! We, at the university, did not accomplish the level of detail Traxler managed, even though operating modern powerful Zeiss lens-mounted stereoscopic binocular dissecting scopes ! I took Traxler down to look at these one day and he exclaimed ‘That’s not fair ! ‘ ...

Traxler is creative and mutating... Fortunately, I got a hold of one or two copies of his ‘nautical chart watercolours of Rio’  phase where  he etched in with watercolours, in stark perspective discrepancy to the original navigation chart, the geologic marvels of Cidade Maravilhosa along the coastline, including Gavea Rock, the Corcovado (where Christ the redeemer statue is mounted) Sugar Loaf and so on... What an insight...

Traxler's view of the universe (from his hammock)

Now, its the Blue Frangipani...Why not? That’s what irritates me! These artists look at the same things we scientists do, but can come up with a totally marvellous and more interesting, entertaining not to mention decorative depiction of natural biological beauty. Even using just one colour! And all this done from a view from his hammock in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro... it’s humiliating! Best thing is - he can actually sell the product of his insight while we have to chase grants....

By the way, for those like Terri, looking to contact Bernhard, try this email: bernhardtraxler@ig.com.br

Blogging with Brau

Braulio de Nazaré and little friend Maria Eduarda

 Brau (Braulio de Nazaré) is our old time friend and former crew champ of Botafogo Football and Crew Club in Rio de Janeiro. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him and 'Prince' Luis Sacopan, head of Quilombo Sacopan, and his little grandchild Maria Eduarda. 

Luis Sacopan is not only head of the proud Sacopan people, but also an accomplished musician,  a local 'pagodeiro' (Rio roots samba style) and master of the Sacopan carnival band known as 'Rola Preguiçosa.' Our lunch  meeting was 'assisted' by 'Scooby-Doo' the resident canine, better known to neighbors as 'O Psicopata'...

Prince Luis Sacopan and Princess Maria Eduarda

O 'Psicopata'

So, over Tia Tininha's wonderful medium-rare done contra-filé, loose white rice, very honest  not watered-down black beans and sauteed freshly cut mustard leaves on garlic, I got updated on the local ecology happenings and misadventures of the Quilombo's inhabitants such as the close encounter with an unusually large live specimen of Boa constrictor (no photo available) which just 'happened' to descend into the Quilombo's patio (probably looking for some fresh free-range and live chicken), and the forest fires of last month - which sent neighbors scurrying out of their homes in the next door 'Chácara' condominium just above the Quilombo. Torrential  rains earlier this year left huge erosion scars on the hillsides above and around Quilombo Sacopan.

 

 

 

 

The city council has restored, to a limited extent, the the terrain from the erosion caused by recent rains. It claims the planted grass will help contain future landslides... Hmmm.. I'm not too convinced this will really work...It looks promising where the grass is in open sunlight, such as on the hillside next by, but  in areas closer to the quilombo, i.e. in the midst of the forest, sun-loving grass is not doing very well,.

 

A visit by a friendly British agronomist is soon due, and we'll see what he will propose...

Pip, Pip, Hooray!

Finally, (baby) Pip is around and believe it or not, smiling! He does seem to have a very peculiar sense of humor, probably acquired locally in Southampton.... Initially, I had my doubts as to if he was really ever going to smile, but Carolina reassured me saying it was just a question of time, before he could properly focus his little eyes... And sure enough, the day has come, and now that he can focus on our faces, he apparently thinks we are hilarious! Judging from the Dad and Mom's smiles, there should be no problem... But he is definitely a determined little guy! I noticed he does like to listen to people, and specially French, in the kitchen, where he seems to enjoy the aroma of Yvonne's cooking with Radio Monte Carlo playing in the background. He says 'Obrigado' to Pia, Bitty, Denise, Maria Lúcia and all of Vóvó Lolô's fan club and Thank You to all those who sent him a mountain of presents which make him look and feel happy! Carolina has now set up a number of 'stations' around the house to have this restless little guy enjoy himself with different scenarios, toys and distractions... Otherwise, as with most little guys his age, it's feed & sleep! (not to mention other also important functions...)

2 Cousins

Thomas, the Designer, Pedro, the Architect to be... At home, discussing projects for the future close and near, such as taking off to Australia for a course in Environmental Architecture, and building new products with composite materials. Fine times!

Big Day!

Well, here we are, the Big Day has come, where the efforts of years of study invested finally have come to the successful conclusion of a higher degree...!

So from today (Aug 5, 2010) Thomas is now officially a certified Designer, by UniverCidade a well known accredited higher education establishment  in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The ceremony was short, but functional and gave all the opportunity to leave relatively early to commemorate with their family and friends... which we did with Ana Luiza, at Giuseppe's Italian ristorante ,  downtown.

 After, all that was left, was to go back home on the subway, and relax... Tomorrow will be a new day!

Carpe Diem !

Matsuda Rides Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRk7xjVpZ1E

For a great bike ride in the bright sun, you need more than sunscreen. Thus, in their 150 km ride from Visconde de Mauá to Barra do Piraí, Thomas Scott and Leandro Egito, (T&L) put on their special protection gear basically comprised of a light canvas hat for Leandro, and a pair of Matsuda specs recovered from uncle Michael's trash bin, and duly restored by the Aspiring Designer - Thomas...

It all started with the need to deliver a young, however reluctant to cooperate, crossbred mare, descendant of Arabians and Quarter Miles from Fazenda Arvoredo in Barra do Piraí to its new owners 'up the slope.'.. A transport truck was contracted to carry not only the mare, but also the bikes and their riders to Visconde de Mauá,  a secluded mountain village mostly known for its hippie / alternative lifestyle population, high altittude  (1400 to 2700 m ), lucky enough to be equally distant and far away from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro .  The fact that its nice cool climate with plenty of  waterfalls and options for  wholesome organic meals does  make it very attarctive.

You might think biking basically 'downhill' would be a cinch, but in this summer of 2010 which has been an unusually 'Global Warming' type of summer, marked with daytime temperatures usually above 35 C  and frequently above 40C, it was not. This demanded of our bike riders a little 'survival strategy' - much like reptiles in deserts , T&L- took cover under the available bushes during the hottest hours of the day, biking by night and early mornings. The Maglite - as a bike headlight, was another such adaptation. Choosing back roads from point A to B, T&L were able to capture some interesting shots along the way, many of which show a typical rural Brazil  still existent but unknown or forgotten by most city dwellers.

Some of these takes edited and posted by Leandro on YouTube  include big black leeches trying to harvest 'city food' from T&L exposed body parts as they dipped in the creeks to cool down,. the occasional owl, old fazendas (plantation houses) and country food give a taste of the road trip. A little 'Santeria type' sanctuary found by a roadside waterfall - is also a perfect reminiscent that Brazil is still very sincretic in its religiousness - The Black Virgin, (N. S. Aparecida) the patron saint of Brazil....  All this, accompanied by great music can been seen in their YouTube posted video in two parts,

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRk7xjVpZ1E
Part 2  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbXqC4uTvqM