On the radio

How many times have been the radio condemned to its extinction? Television would condemn it, the Internet would condemn it too, the new medias as well would condemn it. It is true that today the radio no longer occupies a prominent place in people's lives and in the decoration of their living rooms, but it is a communication vehicle that still exists and still resists the time. I think its main audience is between the drivers, like me, who tune in to 91 Rock (the best radio in Curitiba in my humble opinion) every morning and usually every time I get in my car.

The beautiful radio models in this photo, were photographed in the antiques fair in the Batel Soho. They are actually objects of decoration.

The Curitiba that still resists the concrete

I love to find in Curitiba at dynamic neighborhoods, filled with modern buildings such as Agua Verde district, quiet streets where it seems that the urbanistic rage has not yet discovered. This wooden house with gableboards, is located at Cândido Xavier street, between the avenues Iguaçú and Getúlio Vargas.

Japan Square

The Japan square is a 14,000 m2 public place of surrounded beauty. Its construction project was started in 1958 and completed in 1962, at the expense of the Japanese colony in Curitiba, supported by the Municipality of Curitiba. There are scattered around the square 30 cherry trees sent from Japan by the Japanese government in honor of the Japanese community rooted in Paraná and in the case, especially in Curitiba. Embedded in a stone, there is a plaque commemorating the arrival of immigrants from this ethnic group in Brazil.

José Borges de Macedo Square

The José Borges de Macedo square is a historical revitalized area that was created under a city ordinance of 1963, in honor of the first mayor of Curitiba (1853).
In 1994, the "Arches of Pelourinho" was built to houses newsstands, florists and a coffee shop and in 1996 the Erbo Stenzel sculpture "Maria Lata D'Água" was transferred to the fountain of the square.

Casa Romário Martins

The Casa Romário Martins was created due to the necessity of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba to implement a general information center on the city, and most importantly, starting a job of drawing attention to local memory. It was decided then that it would occupy the brick house built possibly at the end of the eighteenth century, located at the Largo Coronel Enéas. It is the second oldest building in the city and is also the last building the Luso-Brazilian architecture in the city. Today the building it is under restoration and its sidings have been transformed into support for an exhibition of cartoons by Chichorro Alceu (1896-1977), one of the most important cartoonists of Paraná.

Alfredo Romário Marins, born in Curitiba on December 8th, 1874, and died in Curitiba on September 10th, 1948. He was one of the main organizers of the movement which was named "Paranista" (from Paraná).

Reference: www.casadamemoria.org.br

Curitiba Mall

The building that now houses the Curitiba Mall is closely linked to the history of the city. The site was the headquarters of the Command of the 5th Military Region of the Brazilian Army. Designed in 1886, the construction followed the parameters of the military style of early 20th century. With straight lines and some details in semi-arches, particularly in windows that have large openings to keep the lighting. For its characteristics and historical importance the barracks became a unit of interest in historical preservation. In late 1989 the property was sold by the Brazilian Army to become the Curitiba Mall (opened September 25, 1996).

The Comb War

The Comb War (as it is known) was a protest that began on December 8th, 1959 in Curitiba. There was then a campaign to increase tax collection called "Your Coupon worth a Million”. The promotion was to gather proof of purchase tax and replace it with a coupon that would give the right to participate in a lottery to a million of Cruzeiros. A retired lieutenant of the Military Police of Paraná bought a comb in a store at Tiradentes Square and demanded the cupom to the Lebanese businessman Ahmed Najar, which was denied. There was a discussion between them, a melee and the lieutenant had his leg fractured. One hundred and twenty stores of Arabs, Jews, Italians and also Brazilians, but all known as "Turks", were vandalized in the region. The army took over control of the turmoil, emptying the surrounding area. The interference of the army led to the closure of predatory riot after three days.

Paranaense Museum

The Paranaense Museum was founded in 1876 by the judge and historian Agostinho Ermelino de Leão. Since December 2002 it occupies the new building, the Palace San Francisco, built during the decade of 1920 to be the house of the Garmatter family. The museum is structured to carry out projects and cultural activities, reaching various segments of society. It has laboratories, library, auditorium, and rooms for both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The Lighthouse of Wisdom

In order to diversify opportunities for access to knowledge and expanding the scope of formal education, community libraries have been built all over Curitiba to operate articulated to public schools, becoming reference points for cultural and leisure community. These libraries were called "Farol do Saber" or Lighthouse of Wisdom, evoking the famous Library of Alexandria. The Lighthouse of these pictures is called Miguel de Cervantes and it is located at Espanha Square.

José Bonifácio Street

It wouldn't be foolhardy to claim that the Jose Bonifacio Street was the first trace of the current design of the city of Curitiba. Next to the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Luz (The Basílica Cathedral) the street widened due to the houses that rose on both sides. Its extension is the same until today, since both churches (The Ordem Church and the Basílica Cathedral) in each extreme of the street still exist. This street was known as "Fechada" (or Closed) due to the construction of the a new church right on the street, preventing the free traffic, once the old chapel was demolished, . The current name was given in 1886, in memory of the Patriarch of the Independence: José Bonifácio.

Main source: Book "Ruas e histórias de Curitiba" by Valério Hoerner Júnior. Artes e Textos Publisher. Curitiba, 2002

Inside the Passeio Público

The "Passeio Público" (Public Promenade) is a reliquary of nature preservation at the center district of Curitiba, with approximately 70,000 m² and 35 points of interest.

It was inaugurated on May 02, 1886, during the government of the then provincial president Alfredo D'Escragnolle Taunay. The park has three lakes, and in each one there is an island.

Among the vegetation stand out eucalyptus, sycamores, oaks and ipe. It is a meeting point for children and adults. It has a playground, a zoo of small animals, aquarium, pedal boats, bar and restaurant and bicycle lanes.

Wacky Races in Curitiba?

Those who were born around 19(woodstock), might remember an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions called Wacky Races, with characters like Dick Dastardly or Penelope Pitstop. I believe one of those characters ran out of the series and it is driving around Curitiba, as you can see by the photo.

"As Mocinhas da Cidade" Fountain

The fountain at the junction of Cruz Machado and Alameda Cabral, honors the couple and country singers "Nho Belarmino and Nhá Gabriela". Both were very popular em Curitiba and everybody who ever lived in Curitiba knows the song printed on the tiles of the fountain.

The fountain is a Fernando Canalli's design with columns engraved with pine seeds, framing pictures printed on tiles of the couple and the verses of the song "Mocinhas da Cidade", immortalized by them and first recorded in the early '50s.

Commercial Association of Paraná

The Commercial Association of Paraná was conceived in 1889 at Curitiba, by the provisional governor of Paraná, setting the goals of the entity. Founded officially in July and August 1890, Ildefonso Pereira Correa, the Barão of Cerro Azul, was the first leader of the institution.

It is situated at the intersection of streets XV November and President Davis, just behind the building of the Federal University of Parana.

Generoso Marques Square

The name of the square is a tribute to Generoso Marques Parana (1844-1928), the 1st Provincial Republican President, elected by the Constituent Assembly of Parana in 1891. The Generoso Marques Square is surrounded by old buildings from the period of eclecticism, one of which bearing the inscription " Tigre Royal". Across the square stands the Paço da Liberdade. At that square we will also find the statue of the Barão do Rio Branco, a great Brazilian who during the first republican period (until 1930) resolved almost all issues of borders with other countries.

Dr. Zilda Arns and her last message in Haiti

The flags throughout Brazil are flown at half-mast in mourning for the death of the founder of the “Pastoral da Criança”, Dr. Zilda Arns Neumann, who died last January 12, 2010, because of the terrible earthquake which struck Haiti and its capital, Porto Principe. Dr. Zilda was at Haiti attending a conference in order to motivate the volunteers of the Pastoral in Haiti.

The governors of Paraná, São Paulo, Santa Catarina, the mayor of Curitiba, the chairman of the Federal Chamber of Deputies, the President of Brazil, several other authorities and especially the people, formed huge queues to say farewell to Dr.Zilda, being concealed in the Palace of Araucaria in the Civic Center of Curitiba.

It is a loss to be mourned not only in Curitiba or Brazil, but throughout the world, for people like her are very rare to find, with such kindness and selflessness on behalf of other human beings, especially poor children.

Her work and the “Pastoral da Criança”, founded in 1983, was responsible for saving thousands of lives of children from 0 to 6 years old. More than 1.9 million children and pregnant women in nearly 5,000 municipalities are assisted by the Pastoral, through its more than 260,000 volunteers. The volunteers start monitoring the children since pregnancy up to 6 years, through simple actions such as controlling weight and height, information about nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention, use of ORS and other information that have had an effect so crucial in reducing infant mortality among the children examined, that the attention of the world was caught and the program was implemented in over 20 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia. Whereas the universe of its performance, infant mortality was reduced to less than half in comparison to the national average, which is more than surprising because children assisted by the Pastoral are from the poorest parts of the nation.

In addition to the nomination of Dr. Zilda Arns by the Brazilian government for the Nobel of Peace Prize in 2006, Dr. Zilda Arns received several national and international awards.

It is therefore a person to be remembered, admired and above all, to be followed. Certainly her more than 260 thousand volunteers will follow in their mission to save children's lives, offering, at no charge, information, quality of life, healing and love.

Best photo of the year 2009

Well, I'm no professional photographer, but I was very proud to have taken this picture. I believe that great photos, sometimes depend on being in the right place at the right time. In this case, due to a traffic light, I stopped my car right next to this crew.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Leão Júnior Mansion

The Mansion Leão Júnior is considered a historical and architectural heritage of Brazil. It was built in the late nineteenth century (1866-1907), in neoclassical style by Cândido de Abreu, to house the family of Agostinho Ermelino de Leão Junior, an important Herbalist of the erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) cycle in Parana. The house, one of the most luxurious built in Curitiba, had doors, windows, panels and carvings in Pau-Brasil (Caesalpinia echinata Lam), glass and porcelain imported from France and Belgium.

The Leão Júnior Mansion is located at João Gualberto Avenue - Juvevê district in Curitiba.

The Mignon Bar and The Triângulo Bar

The Mignon Bar occupies the current address since 1946 and it is a traditional meeting point of Curitiba. Among its culinary options, we can find is the "pork with green sandwich (Pernil com verde)", which recipe comes from the founding family, brought directly from Calabria and never revealed.

The Tiângulo Bar was opened in 1934. Its'popular name is Hot Dog, due to its peculiar light sign. The triangle of neon, with the dog in the center, continues to illuminate the façade of the bohemian curitibanas nights.

From the tables of both bars at the Flower street (Calçadão), you can have a good cold beer with friends, have a snack and watch the crowd up and down the street.

Luiz Xavier - The shortest avenue of the world

Luiz Antônio Xavier was born in Curitiba on December 21, 1856. He was the first elected mayor of Curitiba and he was extremely popular and accessible.

Under his administration, Luiz Xavier has endowed Curitiba with paving, gardening and made an important contribution to the development of water services and sanitation. He ordered the alignment of XV de Novembro street and Osorio Square, transforming a moor into an usable and integrated space.

At this spot, the road became wider, thus unintentionally; he had created the shortest avenue in the world. Still in life, Luiz Xavier saw this avenue been named in his honor, but by an act of pure flattery, the name Luiz Xavier was evicted to please the then president Getúlio Vargas, and thus, for almost twenty years, the street was named João Pessoa.

Only after the death of Vargas (in 1954), the road reverts to its original and fair name: Luiz Xavier, but unfortunately, he didn’t witnessed this fact, since he died in 1933.

Source: Book "Ruas e histórias de Curitiba" by Valério Hoerner Júnior. “Artes e Textos” publisher. Curitiba, 2002.

General Iberê de Mattos - Bacacheri Park

The Bacacheri Park in Curitiba, was opened on November 05, 1988 and it occupies an area of 152,033 square meters and has several options for leisure and recreation: soccer and sand volleyball, pic-nics, dog walking, barbecue grills, playground, artificial lake and woodland with many native plant species.

It is located (as the name suggests) at Bacacheri District and it is the main green area of the surrounding districts.

Zacarias Square

The place once known as "Largo da Ponte", was due to a wood bridge of planks over the then great Ivo river. Over time, the river began to exhale stench, determining its channeling.

The square was paved, gardens were built and it received in 1870 a beautiful fountain, which served to collect water by slaves of wealthy families. The fountain was a landmark in the city, representing an improvement of life quality for the population of Curitiba. The site came to be called "Largo da Fonte" (Fountain Square), until it received its current name, Zacharias Square, after the first president of the province of Curitiba, Zacarias de Goes e Vasconcellos.

Source: Book "Ruas e histórias de Curitiba" of Valério Hoerner Júnior. "Artes e Textos" publisher. Curitiba, 2002.

Books sale!

Besides the handicrafts of the Largo da Ordem Fair, we will also find the shops that sell used books at low prices and also the famous pads that are extended on the floor and where well kept books as exposed and sold for very attractive prices.

The old beetle

Returning home from work on a rainy day, near the end of Presidente Kennedy Avenue in the Rebouças district, I stopped at a traffic light and saw this scene that has a touch of nostalgia. An old car stopped in front of an apparently abandoned factory of metal artifacts. I have captured the image and I tried to research at the internet something about this company but I found nothing.

By the way, it is very common to find in Curitiba old beetles. There are still a legion of fans of this strange little car.

José Maria Santos Theater

Built in 1890, it housed up to 1956 the knitting factoring of Hoffmann family. Renovated in 1970 and undermined by a fire in 1980, the building reopened in 1981 as a Samba Factory and in 1982 as theater. It was named Classe theater and later Treze de Maio theater. Protected by its historical interest for the municipality in 1988 and seized in 1989, it has been reformed and reopened with the current name.

Source: Fundação Cultural de Curitiba

Jose Maria Santos was born in Guarapuava on 12 December 1933, but he preferred to say to everyone that he Lapeano since he moved to Lapa with his family very young.

Already in Curitiba in 1958, he founded the Dramatic Independent Cia. In 1971, after a presentation of "Lá", at CEFET, he offers himself to the director to create a theater group with students of that institution. In this school, he remains until his death on January 3, 1990.

He was the first and only actor of Paraná to receive a national award of cinema without ever having left the Paraná. He received the "Kikito de Ouro" for best supporting actor at Gramado Festival for his role in the movie "Aleluia Gretchen" of Silvio Back.

Night view of the Boca Maldita Clock

The photo shows the night vew of the place where Luiz Xavier Avenue meets Osório Square.

This place has always been an important open air stage for major events in Curitiba, both artistic and political, as the historical protest of 50 thousand people on 12 January 1984, launching the “Diretas Já”, a popular movement demanding direct democratic elections, culminating in 1985 with the end of 21 years of military dictatorship in Brazil.

The old and the new

In a corner (in this case the crossing of the streets Visconde de Nacar and Carlos de Carvalho at Curitiba downtown), at a glance and a quick click, an image contrasting two different realities. A modern bus full of hurried people probably rushed to their commitments and at the same time without any hurry, an elderly man walking quietly in the crosswalk, with his purchase, following his path.

South view of Curitiba from the observatory

Finishing the views of the districts of Curitiba from the observatory, the south view shows the following districts: Agua Verde, Batel, Bigorrilho and Vila Izabel.

The algae that used to give a greenish tinge to fresh water, took the ancient inhabitants of the region to name the river that cut their farms the name "Água Verde“ (Green Water).The first name of the region, "Colonia Dantas”, was due to the fact that there resides in the last century, many Italian families.

There are two versions for the origin of the name of the neighborhood Batel: the first is linked to the fact that a family known for Batel resides on that region. The other version dates back to a traditional religious festival, where once, a small boat (Batel) sunk.

The term that most closely matches the name of this district is Bigorrilha due to the owner of a brothel. The everyday language of the residents have "masculinized" the term, arising the Bigorrilho name. Some argues that the district was named Bigorrilho due to a Ukrainian called Bigorela.

Vila Izabel district was previously formed by an extensive forest that was frequented by hunters and fishermen. Over time, the inhabitants transformed the forest in a large crop of corn, beans, rice and other cereals. The business conducted by travelers has caused a significant development of this neighborhood.

The Cable Car of XV de Novembro Street

The cable car ("Bondinho"), one of the landmarks of XV de Novembro Street or the Flower Street, the heart of Curitiba, was installed in October 1973. Since then, it has hosted an area of recreational activities and art for children from three to ten years old, under the responsibility of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba.

In 2005, after a year and a half of no activities, the trolley went through some reforms in commemoration of the then 312 years of Curitiba.

Unfortunatly since November 2008, cultural activities and recreation in the cable car were discontinued due to lack of space, according to a spokesperson of the Cultural Foundation. The classes of painting on paper were transferred to the Public Promenade.

Southwest view of Curitiba from the observatory

At this direction, the observatory gives us the view of the following districts: Campina do Siqueira, Campo Comprido, Mossungue and Seminario.

The name of the district Campina do Siqueira is the result of combining two distinct historical facts, that the time undertook to relate. Campina (meadow), depicts the geographical aspect of the region from which stretched a beautiful plain covered by vegetation. The second part of the name comes from Antonio Sebastião Siqueira, a Portuguese immigrant who arrived here in the early nineteenth century.

The origins of the Campo Comprido brings us back to the time of the Portuguese empire allotments. The lands of the current quarter would be included in the former allotment of Baltazar Carrasco dos Reis, 29 June 1661. The occupation of the region is subject to the creation of the neighboring colonies of Orleans, Santo Inácio, Dom Augusto, Rivière and Dom Pedro, in 1876.

The Mossunguê as well as their neighborhoods - Campina do Siqueira, Orleans, Campo Comprido, Santo Inácio and Bigorrilho - came along the old path of Mato Grosso (current BR-277). The intense mineral exploration along this road contributed to the establishment of numerous warehouses, which served as warehouses for travelers, drovers and the first residents of the region, the first families who came from Italy.

The name Seminário (seminar) has its origin in the fact of there being located the old Boarding School Seminar, whose cornerstone was laid in 1877 with the presence of Bishop José de Camargo Barros, now called College Paranaense.

Happy 2010

Happy new year everybody. May your dreams come true in 2010!!