South Zone: Ipanema shots

Ipanema is a noble area in Rio, part of the South Zone, where rich people live. Politicians, actors, businessmen and women. All the money that you can have is there and around.

homens de negócio

O impressionante são as conversas. Around me, people, apparently, don't have much to do. It's almost like a soap opera. They talk about parties, they laugh, they say good things and bad things about people they know. Smiling all the time. The sun is boiling hot and the wind is a little cold. Foreigners everywhere. Europeans, Americans. Nobody is sad, not even the poor. They are not so poor, in fact. They have necessities, but, well, who doesn't? Certainly, the Ipanema high society doesn't.

E na orla, uma onda movia vários grupos, de homens e mulheres. It's called "altinha". Translating is difficult, in this case. It would be something like "ball high". You cannot let the ball fall down and you may use everything, but your hands. It's one of the first games a child plays, before really starting in a match. They start with parents, friends and they also have as exercise, when practicing for matches.

Boys and girls share the area, no problems with that. It's a harmonious acquaintanceship. Most of the time, at least.

"Hey you, what do you see?
Something beautiful, something free?
Hey you, are you trying to be mean?
If you live with apes man, it's hard to be clean"

- Marylin Manson

Watchout! You can step on someone's work. Yes, the shore is taken by street art, hand work, hours and hours of dedication to get the best shape. Of course, not everything is cool, but give them a look and see for yourself the efforts of these people. After all, you have money, you foreigner, what is the problem with buying something nice and also help people to keep working as free workers? Better than a world full of suits and ties and prozac.

não tão na contramão

all photos by Avati Castro