Photos

This time, it’s a view from Leme beach, close to the Copacabana beach. It’s a calmer and more residential area, but it’s quite crowdy especially in the morning. And one can see what I find always great : this permanent mix of people coming from everywhere : poor or rich, white or black. This is the Brazilian nation.

Historically, this was the first sea side area were wealthy people settled in the 1930’s and now the buildings are quite high, blocking the sun at the end of the afternoon. That’s why wealthy people do prefer to live in new areas likeIpanema with small houses and lower building of higher standing.

Do you remember the song (“a garota de Ipanema” from Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moreas) ? This song was written in the 1960’s when the wealthy Cariocas started to settle in this area. This was the golden age of Bossa Nova and the Brazilian society, economy, sport, music and so on started to change a lot in taking a bigger and bigger part of the world village.

Nowadays, this Leblon area is a really nice place to have a sumptuous seafood or “Churrascaria” diner in the evening in front of the sea, hearing the waves and some nice samba rythme at the same time. When the diner is over, you will see a Capoeira demonstration with some luck, performed on the street by amazing kids. You will also have a snapshot of the brazilian poverty when looking behind these high buildings in the heights : the Favelas lights seem to be endless.

Original picture, curves and tones adjustments made, USM applied.