Amazing bridges

Bridges are fascinating. In Holland we have all kinds of bridges. Beautiful small old bridges over canals…. When the sun gets low in the evening the light might even come under a bridge.

The bridges of Paris are famous… Like the Pont Neuf (nothing new there, it is the oldest bridge of Paris – 1578-1604). 

And the elaborate Pont Alexandre III (Art Nouveau style – build for the World Exhibition in 1900).

Now the smaller bridges are  easy to catch on camera, but larger bridges are more difficult. The famous Charles Bridge of Prague took two shots…. 

The same with the bridge in Rotterdam.

Look at the little elegant Tango dancing sister in Buenos Aires… The Puente de la Mujer.

For taking a picture of an extremely large bride I need luck. In Turkey I tried to take a picture of the famous bridge over the Bosporus. On the boat trip it was raining. When driving over, there was a truck in front of us…..

In most cases it is forbidden to walk on large bridges. You cannot park a car near enough anyway. I remember trying to take a picture sitting in the back of a car while driving over one of the large bridges in Denmark years ago. When I saw the pictures I wondered about the lines… I hadn’t realized there was the heating in the rear window.

Flying over the Bridges in Denmark in freezing weather was a great opportunity.

Finally a portrait of two glorious bridges in full length.

This is the bridge in Denmark between the islands of Fünen and Sealand....

And this is the masterpiece between Denmark and Sweden over the Öresund. 

 Yes I was very lucky!

Bridge in Rotterdam

When it rains in São Paulo…

                                                                             …….just take the metro.

Did you think this is a metro station? Look at the space. 

I am amazed by the space under ground in São Paulo. Above the ground São Paulo is often congested, but just a bit down…..

The red line

  

The yellow line

The metro in São Paulo is really nice to look at as “a space”. It is also a place of art and culture. 

Consolação metro station

These panels in Consolação metro station are by Tomie Othake. On the Internet there is even a  map to show where you can find works of art in the metro of São Paulo.

Republica  metro station

The hart of São Paulo is the Praçá de Sé with the main cathedral. There is also the central metro station. It is where the red line crosses the blue.

Piano waiting for action

Sé main station

A lot of art in the Sé station. Pity I Couldn't  find the name of the artist that made the mural. 

Exhibition of different artists at Sé

The statue is by Alfredo Ceschiatti ( some English text ) a very famous Brazilian sculpturer.

You almost forget that there is a train to catch .......

When we were there, we were in a hurry and just saw a few things. But I think it is worth to go to São Paulo, wait for the rain (it will come!) and go down into the metro to enjoy the many things of beauty…..

... or just for some peace and quiet.

Know more about the Metro São Paulo.... 

Let’s take the bus!

In Brazil you normally take the car. At least when you don’t go to far, because then you take a plane.

No train? No! In Brazil there are no passenger trains between cities…. The fist time I heard this I couldn’t believe it. I had seen the movie “Central do Brasil”… and there was a train! But later I found out that that was a local one. In and around the lager cities are nice metro’s and local trains, but between cities: No trains! Not yet. But soon……we are waiting for the Rio – São Paulo High-Speed Rail!   

And then there are people who don’t drive or don’t posses a car, or the young or the elderly, or the foreigners…. They take a taxi, or they take the bus. 

The last years we have tried a lot of buses (being a foreigner in the company of a non-driver). I can tell you the bus system in Brazil works! Between cities the buses are luxurious; the holiday-coach type of bus. They are very comfortable and have reserved seats. If you go on the real far stretches they even have buses, where the chairs go very far back and there is some support for your legs. They are much better to sleep in than airplanes. Take your own pillow!

When you get onto the bus (the inter cities) you first fill in your ticket with your name and number of your passport or identity card. Before climbing in you have to identify yourself to the driver.

This pictures is a bit vague, because it was taken from a another bus .....

The intercity bus stations in Brazil are like a mix of train stations and airports in Europe. There are many different bus companies and you have to know where to buy the tickets. To me it seems that finding the right company is a bit of a gamble….. 

São Paulo bus station

The large bus stations, like the main station of São Paulo, have a lot of facilities. Some, like the one in Maringa, have a lot of green.

 Others are just mainly concrete like Taubaté.

But concrete can be painted…. And then you know you are in Taubaté, the capital of books for children……

The smaller ones are more severe. It is interesting to see the differences. The traditional blue!!

We1l, let's go to the platform.... the bus is leaving!

We wish you a Merry Christmas......

The Stephans Dom in the center of Vienna -Austria. 

Hiding an office building behind a Christmas jungle.  Avenida Paulista in São Paulo - Brazil.

Santa, sitting in his big hat at the Shopping, waiting for children from Taubaté - Brazil.

A street in the center of Vienna - Austria

Children singing Christmas carols in the center of Curitiba - Brazil

Even the normal trees have Christmas leafs... Vienna - Austria

Christmas tree in Florianopolis - Brazil

Christmas Market in front of the City Hall in Vienna - Austria

Nativity scene in the center of Florianopolis - Brazil

Cosy Christmas corner in München - Germany

Samba Santa for sale in São Paulo - Brazil.

Christmas market in front of the City Hall in München - Germany

All work is done.... Pfffff the heat in Brazil asks for a beer.

Happy New Year!

First there was Antarctica… then “The Pinguim”

Before going to Ribeirão Preto I read somewhere that “The Pinguim” (the penguin) is one of the most famous beer houses in Brazil. I was curious…. Although not drinking beer myself…. 

At the crossing of “Duce de Caxias” and “Alvares Cabral” is the Praça de XV Novembro. It is the hart of Ribeirão Preto. Here you find the Theater Dom Pedro II, that was build in 1920. It was almost demolished to build a supermarket….. It has a modern ceiling by the Japanese-Brazilian artist Tomie Othake. The old one was destroyed in a fire. 

Right next to the theater is “The Pinguim”.  It all began when the Antarctica Brewery Company opened its first factory here in 1911 in RP. This lead to the opening of several bars.  The Pinguim bar opened in 1936. On the outside the building is embellished by little plaques with a penguin and the date 1936.

We arrived at the Pinguim around 9 on a Saturday evening. And we were not the only ones…. it was full! Luckily we didn’t have to stand long in the queue before we could enter. 

Inside it is interesting; to say the least. The inside has a “grand café” feeling about it. 

The first thing I noticed was that the beer tank has an iceberg on top. (I saw this later also at the Brahma Bar in São Paulo.) They only serve “chopp”- draft beer; ice cold!

The bar has a lot of what the English call “period features”. I already mentioned the plaques outside. You cannot miss this huge tableau, made of brownish tiles picturing the beer house.

Above the tap, on a kind of balcony, there amongst some beer barrels are two penguins looking to the visitors of the bar.

The tables have penguin feet. 

Just look around and the penguins are everywhere…..

 I had a caipirinha…. How could I even think they would have wine…….

 More about Ribeirão Preto  in Wikipedia