CEU (College Students's Home of Paraná)

The CEU houses students from other cities, states and even countries that can't afford the rent of a place to stay during college times. It was inaugurated on August 11th, 1948. Last year a huge restoration was done by the Prefecture of Curitiba. Today almost 200 students live at CEU.

A door for Marilyn

Yesterday early in the morning, I drove around downtown looking for something to photograph. This gate at Sete de Setembro Avenue caught my attention. I parked my car, waited for the girl and dis the picture. The original image I have seen at MoMA.

The flowers of the Yellow Ipê

It is said that the time when the Yellow Ipê (Tabebuia Chrysotricha) blossom, it marks the end of the winter. The official beginning of spring is still a bit far and the mornings of Curitiba are still a bit cold, bus it is true that our afternoons are warmer now. Maybe the Ipês knows what they are talking about.
This picture was taken at Fagundes Varela Street.

Private Security

It is becoming more and more common to see private security companies and their agents on the streets due to the difficulty of the government in ensuring security for everyone, everywhere. 

The picture was taken at José de Alencar Street at Alto da XV Disctict.

Old headquarters of Clube Curitibano

The picture taken on the night of August 21st from the corner of Tobias de Macedo and John M.Garcez, shows the Generoso Marques Square and at the center of the photo and in the background, a bright building in the corner of Rio Branco and Flower Streets. This is an important building for the history of Curitiba. Inspired by the modernist movement, it was built where a mansion housed the Curitibano Club (the most important club of Curitiba). Property of the club, construction started in 1947 and completed in 1950. The club occupied the space until 1968 when it was moved to it current location at Agua Verde District. This building was an important landmark to all residents and tourists and was considered to be one of the most luxurious address in Curitiba.
The degradation engulfed the building in the 90s. In 2005 the building was bought by the J. Malucelli Group. The design and restoration of the building took two years to materialize and it was conducted in partnership with UFPR, professionals and students of engineering and architecture. 

Here comes the train!

This is another picture taken from the 5th floor of the Cajuru Hospital, this time showing a cargo train crossing the city. These kind of train crosses the Curitiba through dense urban districts causing lots of problemas like noise, pollution, traffic jams and eventually, accidents.

Mercês District

Due to a request, I went to Mercês District to make some pictures and today I will post about this important neighborhood of Curitiba.

Since the 18th century the inhabitants of this region are known for devotion to Our Lady of Mercy. In the 19th century, several families of German immigrants settled in the region. In 1929, the district won the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, built by Capuchin friars  in 1951.

This district is close to Curitiba Downtown where important avenues pass. Leaving those avenues, we will still find a neighborhood with very quiet streets and predominantly residential.

Saturday night at Tobias de Macedo Street

The region between the Tiradentes and the Santos Andrade squares always seemed a bit grim, especially at night, with its bars odd, "movies" suspects and cheap hotels. The Tobias de Macedo Street links both squares. But the group in the bar, do not seem to be worried about it, instead, they seem to be enjoying the company of each other very much.

Shy sun

Recently, the mornings of Curitiba have been so foggy that even the sun hides behind it. Later, once the fog is dissipated, Curitiba has a beautiful sunny day.

The photo shows the street Fagundes Varela on one of these mornings.

Romário Martins House

On March 23rd Curitiba gained back one of its most traditional exhibition spaces, specially dedicated to tell the city's history. After undergoing restoration works, the Romário Martins House was reopened with an exhibition and launch of a report that portrays the world of cartoons and caricatures in Curitiba in the first half of last century.

Cultural Foundation of Curitiba and the purple sky

The orange buildings at the center of the picture of the purple Curitiba is the headquarters of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba. The place was once a mill, a theater until the prefecture bought the building and installed the Cultural Foundation there.

Family stickers

The novelty in cars in Curitiba are the stickers representing the family of the driver. Based on these stickers you get to know if the driver is married, has children and pets. The driver of the photo is married, has two kids and two dogs. Moreover, another sticker tells us that he is studying economics at the Federal University of Parana. Other drivers also have stickers of their academies, language schools, etc. I think that it is too much information being passed so easily.

Worker on transit

It is the end of a cold working day, the bus is crowded, the journey will be long (just like early in the morning). There are few options of what to do during the trip, maybe a chat with the person by your side, listen to the music or a nice nap, just like the lady of the picture.

Three towers of the Cathedral

The photo shows three towers of the Cathedral Basilica Menor of Curitiba that is located at Tiradentes Square, Curitiba downtown. Church towers always seemed to be a place shrouded in mystery, where you can observe without being observed, where one can study without being harassed, or perhaps, it is just an empty useless space. The weather this day was great, not cloudy and not so cold.

Avenues and Railroad Tracks

Being in hospital is never an experience that could be classified as pleasant, but we have to do the best of what is around. I accompanied my mother to the University Hospital of Cajuru for a medical procedure and from the fifth floor of the hospital, where she remained under observation (she is at home now and felling great), I could see part of Curitiba by an angle that I did not know. Of course I took some pictures.

The photos show the Presidente Affonso Camargo and Dr. Dario Lopes Avenues, and the tracks leaving the railway station of Curitiba.

Under the Baron

Despite the square of the picture was named after Generoso Marques (the first republican president of Paraná), the statue that stands in the square represents the Rio Branco Baron.
The place is very nice to sit and enjoy the movement, the flower beds, the "Paço da Liberdade" or just for a chat with friends, as people of the photo, under the indifferent gaze of the Baron and his pigeons.

Botanical Garden at night

I have spotted the Botanical Garden of Curitiba at night from a higher point at Cristo Rei District. The strange purple color of the sky (I'm pretty sure that it was not quite like that the moment I took the picture) may be the interpretation that the camera gave to the sky due to the lack of light at that moment.

Cristiano Mascaro

Today I had the privilege of attending a lecture of Cristiano Mascaro, one of the most important Brazilian photographers, at SESC da Esquina Theater.

He defines himself as a pedestrian photographer who likes to insert himself in his object of interest and with a camera in hand, find the pictures that the place or the situation offers.

He is essentially an urban photographer, averse to the obvious (like a beggar photographed in an environment of luxury and ostentation) and in terms of equipment, he resisted as long as he could to digital and everything that comes along with it (memory cards, computers, external hard drives, backups, etc).

Coffee under the cold weather

I do not have my breakfast at Fran's Cafe at Espanha Square everyday, but every time I go there, this gentleman is there. As he smokes and the smoke-free law prohibits smoking within any commercial establishment, he was forced to have his coffee outside. Thus, even in very cold days, he takes the table on the sidewalk, has his coffee, reads his newspaper and smokes whatever his cigarette.

New York

LOVE sculpture at 6th avenue.

Flatiron Building at sunset

Roof tops of Chinatown from Manhattan Bridge.

The Rockfeller Center, the Atlas and the St. Patrick Cathedral

Bethesda Fountain at Central Park

Central Park from the Top of the Rock

Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock

Brooklin Bridge

New York Public Library

Gramercy Park

Manhattan from the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island

I was not planning to post pictures of my journey through New York City in this space, but since I do not know if I'll create a blog, how long will it take to organize the photos and since a very good friend of mine has asked me when would she see some of the photos, I will open only today a parenthesis and I'll post some photos taken by me in New York.

I apologize in advance for the clichê photos (eg Empire State), but since it is my first time in NYC, these photos were inevitable.

If I were asked to point out the highlights of New York that would be: the absolute sense of security that I have felt anywhere in this immense city; the efficiency of everyone; the architecture in every detail, the constant care to preserve that heritage; the museums and their collections, which we all know only by books; and the wonderful Central Park.

New immigrants

Curitiba has always received immigrants and has its history marked by their presence. Today the flow is much smaller than it once was. The couple of the photo at Flower Street seems to be from Brazil`s neighboring countries who commonly come to Curitiba to show their art (crafts or music).

Thalia Society

The Thalia Society was founded on April 4th, 1882 by eighteen German immigrants in order to accommodate their meetings, especially theater, arts and music.

The name Thalia came from the Greek mythology. Thalia is the muse of comedy.

Due to the tension generated during the First World War, the club started to be observed by the police and the government forced the club to change its name, its board and forced to adopt Brazilian characteristics and even that documents could no longer be written in German. The Verein Thalia then changed its name to Thalia Society on January 26, 1918. At that time all documents and books of its library written in German were destroyed.

In December 1942 the Thalia Society moved to its current address at Comendador Araújo Street.

The club carries out various cultural activities (such as the folk group Original Einigkeir Tanzgruppe) and it has strong participation in sports events in town and it is also well known for its parties and their dances.

Thalia is a club with its 128 years of existence and played an important role on the history of German immigration and the history of Curitiba.

Tingui Park

Tingüi Park was opened in 1994 with 380,000 square meters, the river Barigüi. It has lakes, covered wooden bridges, a playground, bike path and plenty of green area. A great choice of leisure in Curitiba.

Ukrainian Memorial is one of main attractions in the park (already posted here in blog).

The name of the Park is a tribute to Tinguis Indians who inhabited the region for the time of its colonization by the Portuguese. A statue representing the Tindiqüera chief of the tribe Tingüi, is placed at the entrance of the Park. The Indians Tinguis cooperated and provided services to European settlers.

The photo shows a family feeding ducks and geese of the site, along one of the wooden bridges in the park.

Marta Rocha Cake

The most famous cake in Brazil was created in Curitiba by a baker named Jesus Terzado to cheer up his wife, Dair Terzado, who was terribly sad because Marta Rocha, miss Brazil in 1964, did not won the Miss Universe Contest at that year. The cake was named after the miss and became a bakery classic all over the country. The picture shows the cake, right besides the strawberry cakes. It is really delicious.

Your eyes will shine.

The guy of the picture was at the taxi stop of Osório Square, smoking his cigarette, drinking his beer and looking to the infinite. Was he waiting for someone? Was he thinking of someone?

The translation for the sign is "Your eyes will shine more than the gift".

Pausing the report

The small reporting team of the major local TV station was at Tiradentes Square, where a serious bus accident occurred recently, patiently waiting for a bus full of tourists to follow its path so they could start their work.

Morretes and the cold

This picture of Morretes presents a nice view of the city with the Nhundiaquara River, the Nhundiaquara Restaurant and back there, the Morumby Chain. It is cold now, so it is the perfect time to visit Morretes and have a Barreado.

Skater in the cold weather

Another young skater on his way to the Jardim Ambiental skate park. It is very cold in Curitiba and it is not a great time for outdoor activities. Better be at home with a hot chocolate than on the streets.

Private prisions

I've noticed throughout the city a growing concern about security at homes and businesses.Many buildings are being transformed into fortresses with the installation of concertinas ("evolution" of barbed wire) and electric fences. In my house, which is in a residential neighborhood of Curitiba, I had to sacrifice aesthetics in favor of safety by installing an electrified fence, a result of the invasion of which I was the victim.

I have just returned from a city where the lack of security is now past and it was only possible due to a serious and incorruptible attitude of authorities who had the power to change the course of things. The zero tolerance policy for ANY kind of crimes and criminals, made New York a safe city in all neighborhoods, even those which in the films are presented as violent. If they can, it is also true that we could. What's missing?

Selling bubbles

It was not so cold in Curitiba (like today) when I photographed these two colored hair girls at Carlos de Carvalho Street selling bubbles. They seemed to be having fun.

The bond of the sweethearts

We have returned home after a long and tiring trip! What brings pleasure to a trip is the planning, the trip itself and the way back home. We had a wonderful time in New York but we were very happy to be home again.

And not to miss a post, I will post a picture of the archives. The girl of the picture appear in one of my posts during the last carnival in Brasil when a zombie walk took place at that time. The young couple was walking and talking at Flower Street connected to each other by a chain as if it was perfectly normal.