New Years Brazilian Style

[Guest dreynsol]

Here are some photos and videos from Copacabana/Ipanema at New Years.

The videos were posted here before but maybe some of you haven't seen them yet. They require Windows Media Player.

 

Hope you enjoy e

Prospero Ano Novo

 

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/050101_copa/copa01.jpg

 

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/050101_copa/copa02.jpg

 

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/050101_copa/copa03.jpg

 

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/050101_copa/copa06.jpg

 

Ipanema 1

http://www.chrisgeary.co.uk/international/RioBrazil_NY2004/video/HighQuality1.wmv

 

Ipanema 2

http://www.chrisgeary.co.uk/international/RioBrazil_NY2004/video/HighQuality2.wmv

 

Ipanema 3

http://www.chrisgeary.co.uk/international/RioBrazil_NY2004/video/HighQuality3.wmv

[trilingual]

This year's fireworks display went a bit awry. For reasons not yet understood, a thick, opaque cloud of smoke formed at the barges from which the fireworks were launched, rising ever higher into the sky and towards the shore until it largely blotted out the view of much of the display from onlookers on the beach. It was quite eerie, really, and a shame because there was constant "oohing" and "ahhing" of the initial part of the show, before it was obscured.

 

One theory is that it was a freak weather condition that made the smoke gather, rather than be dispersed. It was a still night, with no discernible breeze, a very mild temperature and pretty high humidity. They're speculating that combined to create a kind of inversion that trapped the smoke in one place. The company that mounted the show is mystified; they've run a number of big fireworks displays at international events and never had this problem. A mayoral inquiry is under way, the consipiracy theorists are busily at work, and the makings of yet another Brazilian "novela" are all falling into place!

 

Even so, it was a beautiful evening, with some two million people peacefully occupying Copacabana Beach alone for the big event. The celebration was perhaps a bit subdued, as there was a moment of silence for the victims of the Asian tsunamis, which have been the top of the news here as everywhere else in the world. Many tons of food, medicine and clothing, in addition to money, have been donated in Rio and across Brazil to help the survivors, and at least three planeloads of relief supplies have already been sent from Brazil to Thailand and Sri Lanka.

 

Meanwhile, unobscured displays took place along the shoreline throughout the vast Rio metro area (Barra, Ipanema, Lagoa, Flamengo, Niteroi, Ilha do Governador, etc.) attracting millions more. Similar New Year's festivities took place in cities and beach towns all along Brazil's thousands of miles of coastline, from Porto Alegre to Belem, where additional millions of Brazilians and foreign visitors welcomed in the New Year. São Paulo also got in the spirit: the city's iconic Av. Paulista was closed off for an entire day of shows and celebrations, with another 2 million people peacefully sharing in the beginning of a New Year to music and fireworks.

 

Brazilians understand all about adversity (they have more than enough of their own!) which makes it all the more impressive and moving that an entire nation of more than 180 million people can stop for a moment, from one end to the other, to celebrate peace, love, hope and the sheer joy of life. There are some lessons about living the rest of the world could learn from Brazil!

[Guest Gringo]

From your lips to His ears...:+

[+ Axiom2001]

Muito Obrigado, gents! I wondered when something about this annual momentous event would appear here. Currently I anticipate and sincerely hope to be there during New Year of 2006!!

[BillyZ]

Axiom,

 

You probably know this, but let me offer a reminder...

Hotels get booked very early for the New Year's period.

And they triple or quadruple the prices!

 

At the end of October, my favorite hotels on Copacabana

Beach were all booked for New Year's week. I was able

to get into Atlantico Copacabana (at triple their usual

price). So you probably cannot start planning and making

reservations too soon.

 

A hotel with a rooftop view can also be a superb place

to watch the fireworks, after you've explored the crowd

of millions on the beach. Of course, this year the view

from hoteltops was far superior to the beach (due to the

absence of wind blowing the low clouds of smoke away at

the beach).

 

Despite the added expense, New Year's in Rio is something

I'm really glad to have done -- once. Prospero Ano Nova!

[+ Axiom2001]

BillyZ-- I truly appreciate your advice. If I definitely decide to become a part of this experience-- I'll make my reservations within the near future. Muito Obrigado- Um abraco- Axiom