By Doug Gray, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – A long-awaited win has come for a Carioca side as Flamengo put away Santo André on Saturday, but for Botafogo and Fluminense the 2009 campaign continues to go from bad to worse. Botafogo registered their eleventh draw of the season in a thrilling 3 x 3 encounter with Grêmio at their Engenhao Stadium on Sunday evening, while Fluminense chalked up their twelfth defeat – a result which leaves them a point adrift at the foot of the table and no less than eight points from safety. Short of a minor miracle from Renato Gaúcho’s team, Serie B football beckons next season.
Leo Moura celebrates his penalty for Flamengo, photo by Daniel Zappe/VIPCOMM.Flamengo 3 x 0 Santo Andre
After three defeats in a row, Flamengo were finally graced with the sound of cheering fans during a fine first half performance at The Maracanã on Saturday. Back to full strength without Adriano in attack, the experienced Petkovic led the way, crossing for Denis Marques to head home the opener on eight minutes. The half was interrupted by a light failure that sucked some rhythm out of the two teams, but another fine Petkovic pass deep into stoppage time drew a penalty for Flamengo which Leo Moura put away in the absence of Adriano.
It wasn’t until stoppage time in the second half that Zé Roberto completed a slightly flattering scoreline for the raça rubro-negro, but all that mattered for the fans were the three points that see them back up to eleventh in the league and just seven points away from the top four.
Botafogo 3 x 3 Gremio
Another feast of goals for Botafogo ended however in another missed chance to get three points as they left it late against Grêmio on Sunday. With their fans desperate for a win, the players looked unsettled until Reninaldo gave them the lead on nineteen minutes, beating Grêmio goalkeeper Victor at the second time of asking. The lead lasted less than five minutes when the lively Jonas equalized, and the players left the pitch to boos and jeers at half time.
Within seconds of the restart all was forgiven as Victor Simões’ pace put him through and he beat Grêmio’s Victor in style, but as has happened so often this season, the defense was once again made to look leaky and within half an hour goals from Souza and another from Jonas had given Grêmio a 2 x 3 lead. With two minutes left on the clock Botafogo eventually secured a point, Leandro Guerreiro’s deflected shot creeping in by the left post, but the team remain in eighteenth place, two points from safety and with a lot to do to avoid a tense end to the season.
Santos 2 x 0 Fluminense
New signing Gum was drafted into the center of defense for Flu and Santos were without suspended star striker Kleber Perreira. Despite good early signs, within moments of the kick off Kleber’s replacement Andre was a whisker away from opening the scoring, latching onto a Madson cross but shooting over. Though Fluminense responded well and almost scored themselves straight away, the rest of the half was spent hanging on by a thread, and Rafael had to be exceptional in goal. Just when it looked like the scores would somehow still be level at the break, a controversial free kick was headed in at the far post by André and Santos were on their way.
Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho's job is on the line once more, photo by Marino Azvedo/Photocamera.
The second half was characterized by some poor play from both sides, and the result never looked in doubt. It was finally sealed by Ganso on the half hour, sending a George Lucas free kick beyond Rafael to make the final score 2 x 0. The next round will see some interesting relegation battles as Botafogo travel to Sport on Saturday and Fluminense host struggling Nautico on Sunday. Flamengo will hope to secure back-to-back wins when the take on Atlético-PR.
By Karen Shishiptorova, Contributing Reporter
Praia da Reserva, photo by Cacaroto_photo.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Claiming the position of Rio’s first boutique villas, Disegno Condo Villas are soon to be launched by Ximenes Consultoria Imobiliária and Incorporadora PR Figueiredo in Barra da Tijuca, in Rio’s West Zone. The properties are located a five-minute drive from the Praia da Reserva beach, near the Marapendi Lake.
Reserva is an environmentally-protected area and construction is not allowed within its immediate surroundings. A celebrity favorite on weekends due to its pristine, private sands, this beach is a rugged affair, great for surfing and shallow-rod fishing.
The exclusive complex will be launched on September 14, with a cocktail party at the upscale Hotel Fasano in Ipanema. In a phone interview, Paulo Ximenes, the real estate company director, noted an increase in foreign investment in the Rio de Janeiro market in the past eighteen months.
“It began when Brazil acquired the foreign investment grade [from Standard & Poor’s in April 2008]. At the peak of the economic crisis, the worldwide market came to a standstill,” he added. “But things have picked up again, back to the original pace,” he commented, stating that “ten percent of the R$1 Million-plus properties in the country are being sold to foreigners.”
The complex is being marketed to foreign buyers with a full-page color ad to be published on September 14 in The New York Times. The caption reads: “Think Fast. 22 Exclusive Units Only.” Ximenes stated that one third of the homes have already been sold.
Barra da Tijuca, photo by www.pbase.com.
The boutiques are housed in a sophisticated condo of 22 units – ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 square meters each. The condominium is inspired by minimalist architecture trusted to the De Fournier Associates and will be built by Construtora Wrobel, while landscaping takes Rio designer Burle Marx’s trademark style as its model.
Rich in wood and large glass panes, the complex also boasts water-use optimization facilities and solar energy. IHouse was selected as the electronic house automation company. Each unit is pre-wired to furnish an a la carte menu of the “smart” product line, such as smart shower, smart control and smart eye, all included in the basic package. Similar to adding applications to a smart phone, home owners can pick the services that best suit them, adding anything new or needed along the way.
The villa comes with its own private club at Piazza Disegno, where there will be tennis courts, an outdoor and indoor heated pool, barbecue areas, chauffeur sitting room, a movie theater and a snack bar among other amenities.
Managed by Promanade Premium Gestão de Negócios Imobiliários – one of the country’s top residence, condo and hotel management companies – the Disegno Condo will offer a complete service package, on a pay-per-use basis, including small repairs, maid, laundry, concierge and courier services.
Paulo Figueiro, of Incorporadora PR Figueiredo, stated that even before the official launching, the Disegno site has been accessed by foreign internet users from countries such as Denmark, England, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland.
The villa is situated a thirty-minute drive from Zona Sul and around an hour to downtown Rio, depending on traffic conditions. Prices will range between US$1.25 Million and US$2.1 Million. According to Ximenes, it is an affordable investment for foreign buyers given the location, quality and services offered by the the Disegno Boutique Villas. “It is a step beyond plain luxury. It is nature-driven and sophisticated, with discretion in mind,” he added.
By Nicholas Storey, Contributing Reporter
Salvador beach, photo by www.salvador-bahia-brazil.com.
BAHIA – Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahía and has an international airport with extensive connections to the rest of Brazil. Flights coming from North America and Europe are two hours shorter than those going to Rio de Janeiro. There are thirteen flights to Salvador per week from thirteen countries.
Salvador has an infrastructure typical of a modern city. It has a stunning historic center and is a major tourist destination, famous for its Afro-Brazilian culture and cuisine.
The area boasts one of Brazil’s largest coastlines, stretching 932 kilometers. The many beaches offer diversity in terms of flora and fauna. Some are calm and ideal for diving and fishing while others with stronger waves are sought after by surfers.
Recently, Bahía has attracted large-scale investment. It is not uncommon to see back-to-back resorts and condominiums offering golf, sailing, fishing, diving, riding and trekking facilities to name a few. They also have their own shops, banks and medical services. Typically, a condominium apartment costs US$150,000 and a house on a large plot over 2,500 square meters would cost between US$1Million to US$1.5 Million.
Property advertised for sale by www.alexanderrichards.co.uk includes a three-bedroom house in Salvador fifty meters from the beach available for R$190,000. There is also a chance to build your own house from R$350,000 on a lagoon in a condominium with a private club, tennis courts, a large swimming pool, kids’ club, sauna, fitness center and water sports facilities.
A five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with an ocean view close to a PGA golf course on a plot of over 1,000 square meters is available for R$420,000.
At the upper end of the scale there is a house on a 20,000 square meter plot including a five-bedroom, five-bathroom house with the possibility of an artist’s studio and guest house as an extra. The asking price is R$700,000 and it is located 45 minutes by ferry from Salvador in a perfect hideaway.
Carnival in Salvador, photo by www.worldpicturesblog.com.
Property advertised by www.propertybond.co.uk includes a one-bedroom apartment for R$99,000 in a condominium away from the beachfront and a similar apartment on the beachfront for R$180,000. Such condominiums come with a gym, pool, spa and restaurants.
Some developers are offering apartment hotel properties for those on retirement visas; a one-bedroom apartment would typically cost R$180,000 on the beachfront.
Away from the condominiums, a three-bedroom apartment off the beachfront costs R$190,000. A cashew farm of 28 hectares can be yours for R$300,000. A small nine-bedroom pousada (bed and breakfast) is available for R$550,000 with grounds of 1,200 square meters.
Praia do Forte is a popular area for eco-tourism. It is family-oriented and offers many dining and shopping options and is favored as a middle-class holiday destination. Luxury, beachfront, three-bedroom, three-bathroom, air-conditioned apartments are available for R$695,000 in a large condominium.
There are also investment opportunities available such as an eight-bedroom pousada for R$1.2 Million and a small apartment hotel with fifteen apartments for R$1.8 Million, with the possibility to take over existing contracts with European tour operators.
By Joshua Rapp Learn, Contributing Reporter
Ilhéus, photo by www.delbianco.com.br.
BAHIA – The streets of Ilhéus were quiet as our bus coasted in from the terminal. The side streets appeared run down and at night the numerous house-covered hills loomed ominously around us. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”, I wondered out loud to my friend Adrian just before the bus driver indicated our stop had arrived. She pointed down a dark street with a smile.
We stepped off the bus apprehensively and made our way towards the center of town at a brisk pace. It only took two blocks before the dimly-lit streets began to reveal beautiful colonial buildings, their colors glowing under the street lamps.
I was skeptical at our first choice of lodging. The place looked poorly-kept with rather dubious sorts leaning against the wall in the shadows. “We are only here to help the tourists,” a toothless man grinned as he took a swig out of a plastic cup of cachaça.
Surprisingly, he kept his word ten minutes later when I slipped out of the window of our second-storey room to snap a few photos. “It’ll kill you!”, he shouted in concern as I moved to rest my lens on a monumental tangle of electrical wires.
Having missed the opportunity for a sudden power boost, Adrian and I decided to seek inspiration elsewhere. We followed the sounds of live forró to Bar Vesúvio – the drinking hole of Ilhéus’ most famed resident, writer Jorge Amado. Amado was brought up in the city and although he only wrote some of his earliest works here, it was the subject of several of his books set in the days of the great cocoa plantations that ruled Bahian land and politics in the early half of the twentieth century.
View from Amado's window, photo by Joshua Rapp Learn.
We woke the next morning to a glass of sweet cocoa juice and then made our way through the pedestrian streets to the museum that had been Amado’s house in the center of town. We had the misfortune of entering behind a loud group of school kids.
Admittedly, we were annoyed until the tour guide’s presentation began to unravel in the simple speech appropriate for eight-year-old children. Nonetheless, the Portuguese surpassed our linguistic abilities and we left the museum none the wiser.
After wandering among the colorful period buildings of the center, we had to choose between visiting a chocolate factory and going to the beach. The climbing sun seemed to answer our dilemma.
“Chocolate melts in the heat,” I reasoned as I slung a towel over my shoulder. A 45-minute bus ride did nothing to change my opinion. We crossed a high bridge replete with views of the hills and multi-hued houses of a city cut into rounded sections by the Rio Cachoeira. The bus bounced along the coast until we could hear the waves crash on the beach at Olivença. As we looked out past the surfers at the crashing sea, I couldn’t help but think of Amado’s book, Home is the Sailor.
By Contributing Reporter, Aaron Smith
Vivi striking a pose in Central Park, photo by Aaron Smith.
USA: New York, New York; a name so good they say it twice. NYC has had several different names over the years; in the beginning it was known as New Amsterdam when the Dutch controlled the area.
First as slaves and later as refugees, Brazilians made up some of the earliest immigrants to what was to become the city, dating back as early as the 1600s. One of the first names for the earliest settlements of New York City, was Geit Stad, which is Dutch for ‘Goat Town’. This was later mispronounced by the British as Gotham. Bob Cane, the creator of Batman, later revitalized the name with the invention of Gotham City, NYC’s fictionalized alter-ego.
But it wasn’t parallels of superheroes that had Vivi skipping down Madison Ave. It was rather her all-time idol, Carrie from Sex and the City, as she listed off locations from the series. Manolos, Prada, Channel, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry were some of the icons Vivi pursued in all of uptown’s consignment shops – where she secured second-hand bargains at a fraction of their retail value.
Meanwhile in downtown, I sought out the world’s best hotdog and pizza slice while casing out tattoo parlors. After dragging Vivi through the tough terrain of Central America, it was her turn to take the initiative, and she was in her element in this concrete jungle. I have to admit though, after watching Vivi shop, I also got swept up in the mania – helping her rummage through the racks and buying myself an Armani jacket.
Vivi even exclaimed as I unearthed a Stella McCartney handbag from a box, “My God you are like my gay best friend, every girl’s shopping dream!” Not the thing a future husband expected to hear.
Even the traffic signs have attitude, photo by Aaron Smith.
New Yorkers say one of the best things about the city is that the world comes to them. The global pinnacle of urban development, NYC is not only a shopper’s Mecca but also the world’s cultural and financial capital. From Wall Street where mirrored towers scrape the sky, to the theaters of Broadway, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim, The Natural History Museum, the bustle of SoHo, China Town, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, the lights of Times Square and the tranquility of Central Park – the list was dauntingly endlessly and dizzyingly impressive. The buzz of this city that never sleeps was nothing short of electric.
New York has had a reputation of being a dangerous place, where its inhabitants are rude and unfriendly. Today nothing could be further from the truth. We took late-night strolls through Central Park where buskers crooned and actors performed free renditions of Shakespeare and where every New Yorker would go out of their way to help with directions and offer a “you have a good day, now…”
However, they do have a rough, good-humored banter with each other. An example was our friend looking for a space to park his car in the street. He looked up to the sky, “Gawd if ya give me a space I promise I’ll pray to ya everyday.” A minute later when it appeared, he added “forget it, I just found one.”
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Senhor and Senhora Smith are from different worlds; he, Aaron Smith, an Australian travel writer, still idolizes his childhood idol, Indiana Jones, and she, Viviane Silva, is a sassy Carioca ‘Sex in the City’ girl. They have decided to embark upon a trans-continental four-month honeymoon BEFORE they get married, from Bogota to New York, the Far East and Australia by bus, boat and donkey. Follow them along the Gringo Trail – it’s an epic Clash of the Titans journey to (hopefully) marital bliss at the end of the road.
For more info on Aaron’s writing check out: www.jetsetvagabond.com
To read Viviane’s blog go to: www.varaujo.wordpress.com
By Jayme Monsanto, Contributing Reporter
Rubens celebrates his career's tenth victory at the European GP at Valencia Spain, photo by Brawn GP.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello won the European Grand Prix on Sunday, ending a personal five-year drought. The race was disputed on the Valencia Street Circuit, in Spain. The victory was the tenth of the 37-year old driver’s long career, and the hundredth time a Brazilian driver claimed the top spot of the podium in F1 history.
“What a fantastic day. I am so delighted with the win after what was a really tough race out there. It is a weekend that I will never forget. Even after five years, you don’t forget how to win and the feeling is so good!”
Before the start of the race, all signs pointed to a McLaren victory, since the team had the two higher spots on the starting grid, Hamilton on first and Kovalainen on second. The Valencia Street Circuit is known as one of the F1 tracks where overtaking an opponent is both difficult and dangerous. Barrichello started the race in the third position, but his determined and aggressive driving, along with team Brawn GP’s perfect strategy and top performance won him first place.
While the McLaren cars chose a lighter strategy (less fuel, more speed, but more stops), Brawn GP’s strategy was a heavier one (more fuel, less speed and less stops).
“Although we were fueled heavier than the McLarens, I knew that I would have to push really hard throughout the race. My engineer Jock was great today, he really encouraged me and helped me to maintain the pace, and the team did a fantastic job with two excellent pit stops.”
With the strategy, Rubens was able to overtake the McLarens in their pitstops.
Rubens dedicated his victory to fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa (Ferrari) who is recovering from brain surgery after a loose part flew off Barrichello’s car during the Hungarian GP qualifying and struck the Ferrari driver in the helmet. Rubens had the words “Felipe, see you back on track soon!” written in his helmet.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me and this victory is dedicated to the whole of Brazil but particularly to my great friend Felipe Massa. I hope he is back racing against me soon.”
Barrichello's Brawn GP in action in the Valencia Street Circuit, photo by Brawn GP.
The race proved to be McLarens’ as well, with Lewis Hamilton in second place and Heikki Kovalainen in third.
Jenson Button, Barrichello’s teammate who leads the championship, came in at a disappointing seventh. The two points he won were essential to the championhip dispute, however, as his direct opponents of Red Bull Racing were out of the scoring zone: Sebastian Vettel withdrew due to an engine failure, while Mark Webber finished eighth as he lost the seventh position to his rival Button.
After the ten races so far this season, the Brawn GP team leads the Constructors’ Championship with 126 points. Jenson Button leads the Drivers’ Championship with 72 points, and Rubens’ victory got him back into the second place with 54 points. The RBR drivers have the third and fourth position in the season: Mark Webber has 51.5 points, while Sebastian Vettel has 47.
The next race of the season will be the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, August 30, at Spa, Belgium.
