It rained in Rio, or as they say in Portuguese, “hained in hio”.
In Niteroi the Niemyer MMA and Rio itself look gorgeous through the mist. Some special treats – the 16th century library; an impromptu Schubert serenade sung by a good Argentinian soprano in the metropolitan cathedral; Gregorian Chants at the Benedictine monastery of Sao Bento; then sunlight at last, from Cristo Redentor.
We bused overnight to Ouro Preto, a hill town and baroque delight, built on the blood of slaves and preserved in extraordinary detail by happenstance. Aleijhandino masterpieces everywhere.
Then a flight to Recife via Brasilia. Brasilia is as silly as its name – thank heavens Australia’s founding fathers didn´t call Canberra Australia-ia. I took photos of curved concrete seats in the airport and felt I had really seen into Niemyer´s soul.