Arrival:
Last Thursday I left the fine fall weather of Cleveland, Ohio, and after over nighting in Miami, then laying over in Manaus (in the Amazon), I finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro at 9:30 pm Friday. This is a long trip. Only one hour time difference but an entirely different hemisphere: from autumn to spring in one day.
I was unable to see much of the city in the dark on the drive in, but was delighted by my hotel - the magnificent Copacabana Palace, designed by French architect Joseph Girein in 1923.
A long list of celebrities have stayed there, including Michael Jackson, Walt Disney, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Diana, and Luciano Pavarotti. Oh, and Steve Tyler was there at the same time - we saw the paparazzi to prove it. This is an old world hotel - beautifully appointed, decorated with beautiful botanical prints and fresh flowers throughout.
I hadn't had dinner so we ordered room service and of course the star was the beautiful fruit - something that would accompany us throughout our stay in Rio.
Though not much was visible, the air felt delicious - I could feel all the airplane shriveled cells of my body plump back up in the warm, tropical and not too humid air. Through our window was a view of the beautiful 25 meter pool and beyond, somewhere, the ocean...not yet visible.
All that remained was to sleep off the trip and get started the next morning. Note the botanicals above and next to the bed. Interestingly, door knobs are all placed a foot higher than in the US. Taller people? Shorter arms? To stay in proportion with the high ceilings?
I tried to find out about the artists who had done the hundreds of prints throughout the
hotel and was only able to learn that the botanicals were painted by
the Demonte women, who lived in Petropolis, the summer mountain retreat of
the rich. Rosalia and Sylvia were sisters, and Lydmilla was Rosalia's
daughter. None of them were formally trained. I am sure there is an
interesting story there somewhere.
Last Thursday I left the fine fall weather of Cleveland, Ohio, and after over nighting in Miami, then laying over in Manaus (in the Amazon), I finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro at 9:30 pm Friday. This is a long trip. Only one hour time difference but an entirely different hemisphere: from autumn to spring in one day.
I was unable to see much of the city in the dark on the drive in, but was delighted by my hotel - the magnificent Copacabana Palace, designed by French architect Joseph Girein in 1923.
(web image)
A long list of celebrities have stayed there, including Michael Jackson, Walt Disney, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Diana, and Luciano Pavarotti. Oh, and Steve Tyler was there at the same time - we saw the paparazzi to prove it. This is an old world hotel - beautifully appointed, decorated with beautiful botanical prints and fresh flowers throughout.
hanging garden outside our window
I hadn't had dinner so we ordered room service and of course the star was the beautiful fruit - something that would accompany us throughout our stay in Rio.
Though not much was visible, the air felt delicious - I could feel all the airplane shriveled cells of my body plump back up in the warm, tropical and not too humid air. Through our window was a view of the beautiful 25 meter pool and beyond, somewhere, the ocean...not yet visible.
All that remained was to sleep off the trip and get started the next morning. Note the botanicals above and next to the bed. Interestingly, door knobs are all placed a foot higher than in the US. Taller people? Shorter arms? To stay in proportion with the high ceilings?
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