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| The Beans in Parque Lage & Edgar Bean in Maracanã |
Yesterday afternoon, after visiting Christ Redemeer, The Beans went to Parque Lage, a public park in the city of Rio de Janeiro, located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood at the foot of the Corcovado.
The land was formerly the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriella Besanzoni. During the 1920s Lage had the mansion remodeled by Italian architect Mario Vodrel, with interior paintings by Salvador Payols Sabaté.
In the 1960s the land became a public park, with walking trails through subtropical forest. The Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage and a café open to the public operate from the former mansion.
Later, the family visited the Estadio Mario Filho, aka Maracanã, because Edgar Bean wanted to know the most important Brazilian football stadium, place of unforgettable moments oferred by all the Brazilian football stars playing with their national team, especially Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pelé, one of the most important players of the history of this sport.
More information: Visit Rio
Today, it's February, 12, an important date if you live in Barcelona or you're a science fan. For one hand, Barcelona celebrates the day of one of its three patrons, Santa Eulàlia. The Grandma, who is a special fan of this Mediterranean capital although she's Andorran, has wanted to remember this virgin and has asked for the family to visit Nossa Senhora do Monserrate do Rio de Janeiro, a Benedictine abbey in Rio where another popular virgin is adored.
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| The Beans at Nossa Senhora do Monserrate |
The Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more commonly known as the Mosteiro de São Bento is a Benedictine abbey located on the Morro de São Bento in downtown Rio de Janeiro. The Mannerist style church is a primary example of Brazilian colonial architecture in Rio and the country.
The abbey was founded by Benedictine monks who came from the state of Bahia in 1590. It is still operational today, along with the Colégio de São Bento nearby. The college, established in 1858, is one of the most important traditional educational establishments in Brazil and claims many famous alumni. The abbey includes the Faculdade de São Bento, with courses in theology and philosophy that are recognized by the Ministry of Education. Theological studies at the monastery are also affiliated with the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome.
More information: Lonely Planet
For other hand, today is the 209th birthday of Charles Darwin the English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. Charles Darwin was in Brazil. He arrived in Salvador during the summer on February 28, 1832, after visiting Cabo Verde.
To homage this trip of Charles Darwin to the Brazilian lands, the family has decided to visit Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain, a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 m above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city.
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| The Beans climbing up to Pão de Açúcar |
The mountain is one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro.
The mountain is protected by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument, created in 2006. This became part of a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012.
The name Sugarloaf was coined in the 16th century by the Portuguese during the heyday of sugar cane trade in Brazil.
According to historian Vieira Fazenda, blocks of sugar were placed in conical molds made of clay to be transported on ships. The shape given by these molds was similar to the peak, hence the name.
A glass-walled cable car called bondinho capable of holding 65 people, runs along a 1,400 m route between the peaks of Sugarloaf and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes.
More information: Lonely Planet
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| Past vs. Present with The Grandma |
The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972–73 and in 2008. The cable car goes from a ground station, at the base of Morro da Babilônia, to Morro da Urca and thence to Sugarloaf's summit.
Meanwhile The Beans take advantage and visit this wonderful place and discuss about the occupational hazards of constructing an incredible structure like this on the top of a mountain, The Grandma takes profit and resolves some business in the Carioca capital before joining to the family on the top of Pão de Açúcar, a place very special for her, who as a great fan of James Bond and as a member of The Bonds family, can not forget Moonraker and the scene filmed here, in the bondinho.
More information: Interfaith Worker Justice (US)
Tonight, the family is going to enjoy the last night of carnival because they're going to travel to San Francisco, California, tomorrow morning.
A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.
Charles Darwin
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