Praying from the window

The old lady was praying from the window of her apartment with a rosary in hand, during the procession of Corpus Christi. A beautiful demonstration of faith.

Today ends our journey through NYC. At the end of the day we will embark back to Curitiba and to the cold. We are happy to have made an unforgettable trip and also because we are coming home.

The flowers of the Flower Street

Keeping the flowers theme, the trees of Flower Street also blossom. The flowers look like the cherry blossom but as far as I know, the cherry trees as concentrated at Japan Square only, as a gift of the Emperor of Japan.

Yesterday we had a bonus in NYC watching the Broadway at Bryant Park for free. Awesome! Today we are going to SoHo, Tribeca, Village.

Cherry blossom at Japan Square

Right before we depart for our trip (by the way, it is rainning today in NYC) the cherry trees of Japan Square bloom. The square itself is beaultiful and it is even more with these flowers.

Interesting the fact that the color of the girls`s bag matches the color of the flowers.

Schedule for today (if the rain permits): Flatiron and Gramercy districts.

Barigui Park: black birds.

The picture presents some dark birds on a dark bush at the middle of the lake and back in the picture, a lonely man doing his exercises.

We are at the middle of the second week of our trip. Today we are going to the Brooklin.

Barigui Park: the thinker

The lonely guy of the first post of this series of Barigui Park after a long walk, was at the other side of the park, still lonely. It seems he had a lot to think of.

Barigui Park: on wheels.

Early in the morning you will only find people at Barigui Park that are there for walking or running. Later when the fog is gone, come the ones on wheels.

Barigui Park: Gym

At Barigui Park you can match you desire to exercise and your desire to be at the park on a sunday morning at one of the public gyms. There is always a crowd of people around this place.

Today`s schedule: A Harlem tour and a service at Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Barigui Park: the houses

Few people in Curitiba can have the Barigui Park as their backyard like the people that own the houses of the picture. The one in the second picture is really beautiful.

Schedule for today: Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden.

Barigui Park: jogging.

I have noticed that people who takes good care of their health, do not bother if it is too hot or too cold to exercise. This day was very cold when I arrived and there were crowds of people walking all around.

Today`s schedule: Upper East Side, The Guggenhein and The Met.

Barigui Park: trees and bridge

The bridge and trees of the picture are close to the Candido Hartmann Avenue where I have parked my car that day. The mist was already gone at that time.

It is our fifth day in New York and everything is just fine. We are having a great time! What a city!!

Barigui Park: Birds

There`s a place by the park restaurant where the birds get together before the sun dissipates the mist. I don`t now if there are there for the food, mutual protection or to discuss the strategies of the day.

Barigui Park: Family

The Barigui Parke hosts not only the sports people but also families, just like this little one, registering the first winter of their son.

Barigui Park: The lonely reader

The lonely reader was alternating her attention to the book and to the people practicing Tai Chi not far from her.

Barigui Park: It`s Super Man!

The little Super Man was running freely with no Lex Luthor Jr or Cryptonite to bug him!

Barigui Park: The guy and the mist.

I have capture some photos of this guy walking around in the mist of Barigui Park.

The lady of the Suissa Gallery

During my wanderings through the commercial galleries of Curitiba downtown, at Suissa gallery, I have spotted this lady of extreme elegance taking care of this little shop that makes copies of keys. I made a discrete movement showing my intention to take her picture to which she responded with a slight and polite nod. Since I was in a hurry, I did not had the opportunity to meet her, but one day I will be back to meet her properly.

Tonight we will embark for a period of 15 days of vacation. If all goes well, at our destination, I will keep posting, but to make things easier for me, I will post about one topic only: The Barigui Park. On a cold Sunday morning I visited the park and got astonished by its beauty and I took a lot of beautiful photographs that I will share with you next days.

The commercial galleries of Curitiba: Asa and Osório galleries.

ASA GALLERY

The Asa Gallery is the only one with three access points: by Osório Square, Voluntários da Pátria Street and Dr. Carlos de Carvalho Street. I have lived at Asa Building for over 12 years, so this gallery is the most familiar for me. Hairdressers, Pubs, Travel Agency, a variety stores and three blocks (residential and commercial) guarantee a huge daily movement for the gallery. One of its most known trustees was Dr. Zarur (deceased), responsible for the peculiar visual which remains in the gallery. The gallery opened in 1954.

OSÓRIO GALLERY

Gallery General Osorio has 33 stores such as beauty salon, internet café, antique shops, natural products, computer shop, optics, clothing, jewelry and Xerox copies. It links the Osorio Square to Dr. Carlos de Carvalho Street. I remember that at this gallery a huge remote control car model trail existed, which was mounted where there is now a food court. In this gallery operated the barber shop (which no longer exists) that my father attended for decades until his death his barber. The oldest merchant of Osório Square is Mr. Nelson Lehmkhul for over 35 years repairing watches in place.The building belongs to the Demeterco family, neighbor and former owner of the still existing Mercadorama.

The commercial galleries of Curitiba: Ritz and Minerva Galleries

MINERVA GALLERY
I am not sure, but I think the gallery was named after an old Minerva Pharmacy that used to exist on its entrance. The Minerva Gallery is smaller and wider than the others, and therefore, very well lit.

RITZ GALLERY
It is the only gallery with two levels (a stair connects both levels). There a great myriad of services is offered: notary, tourist agencies, clothing stores, bank, clinics and more. There even a karate academy existed, whose sensei was my physical education teacher at college.

The commercial galleries of Curitiba: Tijucas Gallery

The Tijucas Gallery (Luiz Xavier Avenue, 68) is the best known and frequented gallery in Curitiba not only by the notary Marques (opened in the 60s) or to be the access to the the commercial and residential building which gives its name to the gallery, but also because it is the Boca Maldita’s gallery and offer its official coffee at “Cafe da Boca”, which was opened in 1965.

Who lives in Curitiba long, must remember that every day at dusk, a lawyer at the window of his office, used to offer to the city a trumpet presentation. Those who lived close by have become accustomed to that sound and it was very common to see people standing under Tijucas, looking for the musician.

The gallery offers lawyers office, medical clinic, dental, pharmacy, real estate, cafeteria, lottery, shop for perfume, cosmetic, seamstress and tailor, in fact, the only tailor I ever visited in Curitiba used to work in this building. The Tijucas since the 70’s as a bastion of tailors. Among them we will still find Mr. Ferdinando Nardelli, a 74 years old tailor, working at Tijucas since 1958. There are only 18 taylors still working at Tijucas.

The commercial galleries of Curitiba: Suissa Gallery

I will start today a series about the commercial galleries of Curitiba downtown. For nearly 20 years I lived in downtown and it is virtually impossible to move through the city center without passing through, stop and get some product or service offered by these galleries, which may be considered without a shadow of doubt, the forerunners of the malls in Curitiba. The diversity of products and services is larger than in a mall, the space is democratic, the prices are competitive and compared to other street stores, it is safer.

There are dozens of galleries in Curitiba, but here I will address only those which is or were part of my life and my history, spaces where I have circulated on the way home from college, from my English school or from anywhere else.

These galleries were considered by the main newspaper of Curitiba (Gazeta do Povo), another among the “50 reasons to love Curitiba”.

Suissa Gallery.
The Suissa Gallery (Marechal Deodoro Street, 262), has electric supply store, restaurant, money exchange, tourism agency, computer shop, health and beauty products, clothes (men and women), electronics, jewelry, home and garden shop, office and school supplies, food, games.

Been a reference point for any resident in Curitiba, the Suissa Gallery was opened in October 12th, 1962, at that time known as Alberto Bolliger Gallery, serving only one store: The Casa Suissa, selling appliances, furniture, toys and electrical equipment. The store still remains in the gallery, selling electrical equipment under the administration of another family. The Bolliger family administrate gallery as a whole. Since 1977 the gallery was open to other stores.

Traffic agents and street races

The municipality of Curitiba has a variety of street racing through the city of Curitiba, with the support of various associations of street racers. Many occur in the region of Alto da XV and Bacacheri districts. Last Sunday, several traffic agents were prepared at Fagundes Varela and Augusto Stresser street, next to what appeared to be the organizers of the event, waiting for the passage of the runners.

The Diabolo Juggler

The picture shows another juggler of the streets of Curitiba, this one was at the corner of 13 de Maio and Barão do Cerro Azul Streets. The device he was using is a diabolo and the street sign seems to indicate the path that the object will follow.

Diabolo is an ancient toy from China, famous throughout the world, it can be considered an evolution of the Chinese yo-yo. It is made by joining two semi-spheres reversed, that should be handled and balanced by a cord driven by two sticks. With the diabolo, an experienced player can make hundreds of tricks.

Chatting at Boca Maldita

The photos, taken on a Sunday afternoon, show for what purpose the "Boca Maldita" was conceived: to bring together old friends, stop for a few or several minutes and talk about everything and everyone and after that, go back home updated.

At Beto Batata of Alto da XV District

Yesterday after a failed attempt to access the Cana Benta Bar (totally crowded), we went to Beto Batata, which had its facade remodeled. As always, the atmosphere was very nice, the swiss potatoes were very good, we had a good beer and the two musicians, a pianist and trumpeter, created a special mood to the moment.

The silk floss tree of Viviam Calopreso Braga Square

Last Sunday morning on my way to Barigui Park, I passed by Vivian Calopreso Braga Square at Juvevê District. The heavy fog and the lawn of the square completely covered with silk floss, created an uncommon visual in Curitiba. I had to stop to record the moment.

One of the most familiar faces of television journalism in Curitiba during the '80s, was the journalist Vivian Calopreso Braga. In the square that bears her name in Juvevê, there is a sign where you can read the following: "This square honors the Curitiban journalist Vivian Calopreso Braga (1959-1991) whose professinal life was guided by ethics and truth."

It's Fun Time

Every weekend the city of Curitiba through its Municipal Secretary of Sports and Recreation promotes in the public spaces of Curitiba, recreational events called "Brincadeira tem hora" (something like "Fun time") providing ping-pong tables and various boards games for the population, just like in the picture taken at Boca Maldita.

APAE's June Festival

The APAE (Association of parents and friends of exceptional) of Curitiba is a philanthropic, nonprofit association, founded in October 6, 1962, aiming to provide care to people with learning or multiple disabilities, from infancy to old age, offering assistance in the fields of health, education, social and work, aiming at the full development of their capabilities and also to promote their integration with their society, fighting for the guarantee of their rights.

In Curitiba APAE consists of five schools that offer free consultations in the areas of education, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, medicine, hydrotherapy, physical education, music therapy and nutrition, providing more than 800 daily attendance in their schools.

Before the period of June festivities got too in the past, I decided to make this post with the photos that were taken by me at the APAE’s June Festival, which happened in the agricultural school in Santa Felicidade on June 13th. All schools presented their “quadrille” . The children portrayed by me are from CEDAE (which serves children from 0 to 6 years old), whose headquarters is at Alferes Angelo Sampaio Street, 1597 in Batel district.

APAE does a wonderful job that ennobles much all professionals who work there. I've had a lot of contact with the CEDAE and I can say that it is a fantastic experience to know their job and to meet and to be moved by these lovely, lovely children.

Night photographers of MON

Two students of the Omicron intermediary course of photography caught on a practical class of flash light on a Monday night at MON.

Unfortunately practical classes at night at MON are no longer possible because the museum administration has banned access to the site after 7 p.m.

Castello Trevizzo Restaurant

Two restaurants of Santa Felicidade catch your attention for their architecture, the Siciliano Restaurant (with its facade imitating a Roman ruin) and the Castello Trevizzo.

Administered by the Trevisan family, who works in the restaurant business for over 55 years, the Castello Trevizzo Restaurant was inaugurated in October 23rd, 1991 and works within the standards of Santa Felicidade which means Italian food. It is very popular for wedding receptions.

Brazil 1 x 2 Netherlands

Unfortunately our team fell against the Netherlands! It is the end of the World Cup for Brazil, our team did not know how to escape from a disadvantaged position in the second half, after a first half in which completely dominated the Netherlands' team.

Every brazilian will now seek someone to blame, starting with Dunga. At least, I did not end up with the bad impression of the last world cup (that was really a shame). I think our team did the best with the players that Dunga took to South Africa (if Dunga took the best players, that's another story).

Well, for now there is no other alternative but to shelve the banners, trash all vuvuzelas and wait for 2014 here in Brazil!

Theme day: Refletions

The picture shows a young couple enjoying a warm winter day in Curitiba at the MON. The weather in this period of the year is known in Curitiba as "Veranico" (something like little summer), which is a period of the winter time when the temperatures are nice enough to avoid heavy clothes.

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