Posts tagged Brazil

Fratelli Rossetti: Iconic Brera Loafers Discover Sao Paulo…

Fashion Outfit Post 3 Comments

Dear fashionistas, welcome to the second fashion story in the series from South America on the Mr.M blog. April, as well as the following months, will be dedicated to one unusual continent – South America, I will show you the countries that I had the opportunity to visit and I am sure that you will enjoy it and want to spend your vacation in one of the destinations. At the very beginning of this fashion story with the Italian luxury footwear and leather goods brand Fratelli Rossetti, I would like to thank The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), local ministries of tourism, national organizations, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) and other countries were created, as well as numerous fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read during this series of posts, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

Posts from Brazil were created with the selfless help of The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Visite São Paulo and Hotel Emiliano.

If by any chance you missed some of the previous travelogues and fashion stories from Brazil or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, a Wonderful City of Fun and Hedonism… (Travelogue)
  2. Brunello Cucinelli: A New Dose of Refined Spring Elegance…(Fashion Story)
  3. Letters from Brazil: Carnival in Rio, Discover the Magic of the Biggest Show in the World! (Travelogue)
  4. Letters from Brazil: Copacabana Palace Hotel, the Jewel of the Most Famous Beach in the World… (Travelogue)
  5. Letters from Brazil: Feel the Charm of Sao Paulo Skyscrapers with Hotel Emiliano… (Travelogue)

The pictures for today’s fashion story were taken at one of the most famous tourist attractions in Sao Paulo – Museu do Ipiranga. The Paulista Museum of the University of São Paulo, better known as the Museu do Ipiranga is a Brazilian history museum located near the site where Emperor Pedro I proclaimed the independence of Brazil on the banks of the Ipiranga Stream in the southeastern region of the city of São Paulo, then the “Caminho do Mar” or road. It contains a vast collection of furniture, documents and historically relevant works of art, particularly related to the era of the Brazilian Empire. The most famous work of art in the collection is a painting by Pedro America from 1888 called “Independencia ou Morte” (Independence or Death).

A few months after Brazil’s declaration of independence, people began to propose a monument at the place where the declaration was made, although they were not sure what kind of memorial structure to build. Finally, in 1884, the Italian architect Tommaso Gaudenzio Bezzi, who was hired to develop the project, chose to build a building in an eclectic style similar to the French Palace of Versailles with impressive and perfectly landscaped gardens and a fountain.

We start today’s fashion adventure with old well-known friends of the Mr.M blog – Fratelli Rossetti. This Italian footwear brand that I’m sure everyone recognizes for their comfortable shoes that are made from the highest quality materials Fratelli Rossetti footwear is fantastic for the reason that this brand makes classic shoes that are elegant and simply unbeatable, shoes for all time! You had the chance to see their most famous model, the Brera, in my Jordan fashion stories.

What is the story of this brand? In the middle of the 20th century, more precisely in 1945, Mr. Renzo Rossetti started his story from scratch, where he worked alone to cut leather for several types of sports shoes. His shoes were sold at the famous Brigatti store in Milan, one of the few remaining stores of its kind in the city. After a few years, Fratelli Rossetti saw success, but, wanting to develop further, they transferred the brands and equipment for this special production to Atala Sport in Padua.

So they decided to start their story again from the beginning and decided to switch to the production of classic shoes. Those were the years between 1952 and 1957, which witnessed the orientation and acquisition of new skills in the creation of women’s ballet flats and elegant, simple men’s footwear characterized by extremely flexible and high-quality workmanship. All this led to the creation of a small collection of men’s shoes with contours that differed from the various styles sold at the time. Renzo Rossetti consequently engaged in work that demonstrated his aesthetic sense and artistic perfectionism.

The story of the Fratelli Rossetti company is an inspiring story of a successful Italian family business that opened its doors in 1953. This is not just an ordinary company story, but a family story: the founder, Renzo Rossetti, and his wife, Lisetta, were dedicated to their work all their lives. The Fratelli Rossetti company is currently run by the second generation of the Rossetti family, the brothers Diego, Dario and Luca, who, due to their different roles and by developing their own different skills, have successfully brought their company to its 60th anniversary, always in search of quality and united by their passion with strict respect for tradition.

Fratelli Rossetti has a long tradition of “big little innovations”. In this company, tradition and quality have always gone hand in hand with insatiable curiosity and commitment to innovation. From the introduction of tassels and the invention of shoes designed to be worn without socks, to stylistic innovations and the launch of the “masculine” style, to the application of colors in unique chromatic shades. It was Renzo Rossetti who emphasized the importance of embracing new materials, styles and shapes: as early as the 60s, he was already experimenting with different color combinations on leather. Today, the company continues its research and development activities thanks to the knowledge of its craftsmen and the creative spirit of the styling department.

Fratelli Rossetti in its collections for men has timeless classic lines that you can find all year in their offer, some of the models are: Brera, Brera Sport, Hobo Sport, Yacht, La Giusta. 

In today’s post, I present one of the iconic Brera models. Brera is the bohemian quarter of Milan where, in the sixties of the last century, sculptors, painters and writers struggled to leave their mark with a new language and new forms. The liberal and cosmopolitan spirit was the source of inspiration for “Brera”, a moccasin with tassels, a style revolution in a country that is just rediscovering its joy of life. Brera combines different materials and colors as a true work of art. The special composition of materials and shapes makes moccasins a successful chapter in the history of Fratelli Rossetti.

Today you have the opportunity to see the famous Brera moccasins in brown color made of soft open-weave leather with evenly spaced holes in the upper part. Special high-quality processing and production. These moccasins have a hand-dyed leather sole. The shoes are handmade in Italy, like all other Fratelli Rossetti shoes.

If you want to stay freshly updated and find out which models of shoes and leather goods the Fratelli Rossetti brand has in its offer, visit their official online store and follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.

OUTFIT

Shirt: Brunello Cucinelli

Trousers: Brunello Cucinelli

Loafers: Fratelli Rossetti

Today I will present to you my favourite fashion pieces from the Brunello Cucinelli SS25 collection that are made to last for seasons and years with the guarantee that you can leave something of exceptional quality to new generations to come with a timeless cut that will always be fashionable. Each manufactured piece is designed so that it does not follow blind trends, but on the contrary remains its own and consistent with the style of timeless elegance and refinement. Brunello Cucinelli is a brand that cherishes the values of “quiet luxury”, that’s why you’ll never see an aggressive brand logo on their clothes, leather goods or other fashion accessories, but the design and material will tell the story for themselves.

Brunello Cucinelli is an Italian luxury fashion brand that sells menswear, womenswear and accessories in Europe, North America and East Asia. The company was founded by Mr. Brunello Cucinelli in 1978. Mr. Cucinelli started his fashion house in 1978 specializing in Mongolian cashmere clothing for women. Today, the company owns 94 of the 124 stores worldwide. A few years ago, more precisely in January 2017, the company launched its online web store.

Mr. Cucinelli controls and manages the brand through Fedone Srl. Cucinelli’s family fund owns 57% of the company’s shares, and has also set up a special fund for the benefit of his daughters, Camilla and Carolina, to guarantee the proper handover of his eponymous company. This is an inspiring fashion story about a family.

An impressive fact is that the company headquarters is located in a 14th-century castle on top of a hill in the middle of Umbria, an area known as the “green heart” of Italy. Brunello Cucinelli donates 20% of profits to its charitable foundation and pays workers wages that are 20% higher than the fashion industry average. Also interesting information is that the employees of the company have extremely flexible working hours and that e-mails are not allowed after working hours. This is one of the few fashion houses that have such good working conditions, which is commendable in today’s age of classical capitalism.

My outfit today is decorated with two pieces of clothing from the latest Brunello Cucinelli collection for Spring – Summer 2025, and they are this beautiful unusual shirt, one side of which is a solid colour drape, while the other side is beige with brown tassels that you had the opportunity to see in the previous fashion story from Rio de Janeiro, but this time I combined them with silk pants of a classic cut. This is a new shirt model, which drastically deviates from the classic offer of Brunello Cucinelli shirts that can normally be found in the Brunello Cucinelli collection, it is special and original, ideal for men who are looking for a new expression of art. Light summer pants are something I really like to wear and I usually wear linen pants, but this time I decided to bring some slightly dressier silk summer pants. With this model of pants, my heart was won by the interesting narrow cut and color.

If you want to stay updated and find out what iconic Italian fashion house Brunello Cucinelli has prepared for us this fashion season, follow this brand on social media: Facebook and Instagram.

My dear fashionistas, we have come to the end of the second spring fashion story from South America in the heart of Sao Paulo, where together we discovered the beauty and brilliance of Italian craftsmanship with the cult brand of footwear and leather goods Fratelli Rossetti, elegance and prestige with the luxury Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli, partners with whom fashion stories are a real adventure. I sincerely hope you got some inspiration for your ideal spring outfit!

See you soon and continue our fashion adventures from South America on the Mr.M blog! How did you like my outfit today? I really tried my best to prepare today’s post with lots of love and I hope you like it!

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or any message for me, you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. I’ll see you soon!

With Love from São Paulo,
Mr.M

This post is sponsored by Brunello Cucinelli and Fratelli Rossetti brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.

SHARE THIS POST

Letters from Brazil: Feel the Charm of Sao Paulo Skyscrapers with Hotel Emiliano…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. April, as well as the following months, will be dedicated to one unusual continent – South America, I will show you the countries that I had the opportunity to visit and I am sure that you will enjoy it and want to spend your vacation in one of the destinations. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue, where I will try to convey the beauty of Hotel Emiliano, as well as the exciting Brazilian city that many say is the city of skyscrapers – Sao Paulo, I would like to thank The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), local ministries of tourism, national tourism organizations, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) and other countries were created, as well as numerous fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read during this series of posts, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

Posts from Brazil were created with the selfless help of The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Visite São Paulo, Hotel Emiliano as well as numerous local partners that will be mentioned later.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues and fashion stories from Brazil or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, a Wonderful City of Fun and Hedonism… (Travelogue)
  2. Brunello Cucinelli: A New Dose of Refined Spring Elegance…(Fashion Story)
  3. Letters from Brazil: Carnival in Rio, Discover the Magic of the Biggest Show in the World! (Travelogue)
  4. Letters from Brazil: Copacabana Palace Hotel, the Jewel of the Most Famous Beach in the World… (Travelogue)

Sao Paulo is the capital of the state of Sao Paulo, as well as the most populated city in Brazil, America, and also in the western and southern hemispheres. This city has significant international influence in commerce, finance, art and entertainment. São Paulo is the largest urban area by population outside of Asia and the most populous city in the Portuguese-speaking world. How did this city get its name? The city’s name honors the apostle Paul, and the people of the city are known as paulistanos. The city’s Latin motto is “Non ducor, duco” which translates to “I am not led, I lead.”

São Paulo was founded in 1554 by Jesuit priests, the city was a center of bandeirantes during colonial Brazil, but only became a relevant economic power during the Brazilian coffee cycle in the mid-19th century, and later consolidated its role as a major national economic center with Brazil’s industrialization in the 20th century, which made the city home to the largest Arab cosmos, the Italian cosmos. of the world, with ethnic settlements such as Bixiga, Bom Retiro and Liberdade and people from more than 200 other countries. The metropolitan area of ​​the city, Greater São Paulo is home to more than 20 million inhabitants and ranks as the most populous in Brazil and one of the most populous in the world. The process of conurbation between metropolitan areas around Greater São Paulo also created the macrometropolis of São Paulo, the first megalopolis in the southern hemisphere, with more than 30 million inhabitants.

São Paulo is the largest urban economy in Latin America and one of the world’s largest financial centers, representing about 10% of Brazil’s GDP and slightly more than a third of the GDP of the state of São Paulo. The city is the headquarters of B3, the largest stock exchange in Latin America by market capitalization, and has several financial districts, mainly in the areas around Paulista, Faria Lima and Berini avenues. São Paulo is home to 63% of established multinational companies in Brazil and is the source of about one-third of Brazil’s scientific output. Its main university, the University of São Paulo, is often considered the best in Brazil and Latin America. São Paulo is among the top 100 science and technology clusters in the world. The metropolis is also home to several of the tallest skyscrapers in Brazil, including Alto das Nacoes, Platina 220, Figueira Altos do Tatuape, Mirante do Vale, Edificio Italia, Altino Arantes Building, North Tower and many others.

The city is one of the main cultural centers in Latin America and is home to monuments, parks and museums such as the Latin American Memorial, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, Pinacoteca, Cinemateca, Itau Cultural, Ipiranga Museum, Catavento Museum, Football Museum, Museum of Portuguese Language and Painting and Sound Museum. Sao Paulo also hosts relevant cultural events such as the Sao Paulo Jazz Festival, Sao Paulo Art Biennial, Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Lollapalooza, Primavera Sound, Comic Con Experience and the Sao Paulo Pride Parade, the second largest LGBT event in the world. São Paulo has also hosted many sporting events such as the 1950 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, the 1963 Pan American Games, the São Paulo Indy 300 and the NFL Brazil Games, in addition to hosting the annual Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix and the Saint Silvester Road Race.

What should you visit in Sao Paulo? The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Paul (Portuguese: Catedral Metropolitana de Nossa Senhora da Assuncao e Sao Paulo), also known as the Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brazil. Its current and seventh metropolitan archbishop is Dom Odilo Pedro Cardinal Scherer, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on March 21, 2007 and installed on April 29 of the same year. The construction of the existing Gothic Revival style cathedral began in 1913 and was completed four decades later. It was ready for its dedication on the 400th anniversary of the founding of the then modest villa of São Paulo by the chief or Casico Tibiricha and the Jesuit priests Manuel da Nobrega and José de Anquieta. Despite its Renaissance-style dome, the Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo is considered by some to be the fourth largest neo-Gothic cathedral in the world.

The Municipal Market of São Paulo (Portuguese: Mercado Municipal Paulistano or Mercado Municipal de São Paulo) is a large public market in São Paulo. The market building was designed by architect Francisco Ramos de Azevedo and opened on January 25, 1933 as a wholesale and retail facility specializing in fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, spices and other food products. The market is located in the Mercado neighborhood, the name referring to the market, in the historic center of São Paulo. It is located near the Tamanduatei River in the old Varzea do Carmo, a river floodplain now primarily used as Dom Pedro II Park. The market was officially named Mercado Municipal Sao Paulo in 1995.

The first floor of the market is occupied by traders with stalls, while on the second floor the mezzanine serves as a restaurant. Mercadao occupies 12,600 square meters and has about 1,500 employees working in various jobs. What the guide told me as interesting is that over 450 tons of food in more than 300 boxes pass through this market every day.

The facade of the Municipal Market is the work of Felisbert Ranzini, an Italian-Brazilian who worked in the architectural office of Ramos de Azevedo. Mr. Ranzini, who also helped build the San Francisco Law School, used a mixture of Ionic and Doric columns on the Municipal Market building. The massive columns allow for large glazing areas in the market which in turn provide a large source of natural light.

The market building is famous for its 72 stained glass windows, arranged in 32 panels. These stained glass windows are the work of artist Conrado Sorgenicht Filho and his office Casa Conrado Sorgenicht. This artist is known for his work on the windows of the Sao Paulo Cathedral and 300 other Brazilian churches. Unlike the stained glass window produced as a sacred work, the market windows depict various aspects of food production in the greater São Paulo region.

Paulista Avenue (Avenida Paulista in Portuguese) is one of the most important avenues in São Paulo and represents the modern heart of the city. This incredible avenue stretches for almost 2.8 kilometers and runs from northwest to southeast. The northwest point is Praca Marechal Cordeiro de Farias at the intersection with Rua da Consolacao, while the southeast point is Praca Osvaldo Cruz at the intersection with Treze de Maio, Bernardino de Campos, Desembargador Eliseu Guilherme and Dr. Rafael de Barros. The main intersections are on Rua Augusta, Rua Haddock Lobo and Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio. Parallel to this street are Cincinito Braga, Joaquim Eugenio de Lima on the Bela Vista/Paraiso side and Alameda Santos and Coronel Oscar Freire on the Jardins side. Avenida Paulista cuts through parts of the neighborhoods of Paraiso, Bela Vista, Jardim Paulista, Cerqueira Cesar and Jardim America, ending in Higienopolis.

The headquarters of many financial and cultural institutions are located on Paulista Avenue. As a symbol of São Paulo’s center of economic and political power, it has been the focus of numerous political protests beginning in 1929 and continuing into the 21st century. It is also home to a large shopping area and the most comprehensive fine art museum in South America, the São Paulo Museum of Art. Being one of the highest points in São Paulo, it is full of radio and television masts, primarily TV Gazeta. Paulista Avenue is the main hub of the city’s metro and bus lines.

Tenente Siqueira Campos Park, better known as Trianon Park, was opened on April 3, 1892, just one year after the opening of Paulista Avenue. It was designed by the French landscape artist Paul Villon. Trianon got its name because of the Trianon restaurant that opened in 1916, founded and founded by the brothers Vicente Rosati and Luigi Rosati, Italian immigrants in the premises of Belvedere da Paulista located in front of the park, where today the São Paulo Museum of Art is located. The owner of the elegant bar and restaurant chose the name derived from the Grand Trianon Palace in Versailles, which was owned by Marie Antoinette, because of the similarities between the buildings. From 1911 to 1914, during the administration of the Barons of Duprat, the architect Ramos de Azevedo developed the project for the so-called Belvedere, built in 1916 and demolished in 1951 to make way for the first edition of the São Paulo Art Biennale.

The park was purchased by the City Hall with the financial assistance of the City Council in 1911, and 20 years later, in 1931, it received its current name in honor of one of the heroes of the Revolution in the Copacabana Fort, during the Tenentist Rebellion of 1924, Lieutenant Antônio de Siqueira Campos.

The Paulista Museum of the University of São Paulo, better known as the Museu do Ipiranga is a Brazilian history museum located near the site where Emperor Pedro I proclaimed the independence of Brazil on the banks of the Ipiranga Stream in the southeastern region of the city of São Paulo, then the “Caminho do Mar” or road. It contains a vast collection of furniture, documents and historically relevant works of art, particularly related to the era of the Brazilian Empire. The most famous work of art in the collection is a painting by Pedro America from 1888 called “Independencia ou Morte” (Independence or Death).

A few months after Brazil’s declaration of independence, people began to propose a monument at the place where the declaration was made, although they were not sure what kind of memorial structure to build. Finally, in 1884, the Italian architect Tommaso Gaudenzio Bezzi, who was hired to develop the project, chose to build a building in an eclectic style similar to the French Palace of Versailles with impressive and perfectly landscaped gardens and a fountain.

The Independence Monument of Brazil (Portuguese: Monumento a Independencia do Brasil) is a granite and bronze monument located in Independence Park in close proximity to the Paulista University Museum (Museu do Ipiranga). It is also known as the Ipiranga Monument (Monumento do Ipiranga) or the Altar of the Fatherland (Altar da Patria). The monument is located on the bank of the Ipiranga stream, at the historical place where Prince Regent Pedro (later Emperor Pedro I) proclaimed the country’s independence on September 7, 1822. The monument was designed and built by Italian sculptor Ettore Jimenez and Italian architect Manfredo Manfredi to celebrate the first centenary of Brazilian independence in 1922.

Inside the monument there is a crypt and a chapel. The crypt was built in 1972 to house the remains of Emperor Pedro I (also King of Portugal as Pedro IV) and his wives, Maria Leopoldine of Austria and Amelia of Leuchtenberg. The crypt was consecrated as a Catholic chapel, as requested by the head of the Brazilian imperial family at the time, Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza. He agreed to allow the remains of his ancestors to be transferred to the monument on the condition that the site be dedicated as a Catholic burial place, with a Catholic altar, where masses could be celebrated. The remains of Pedro I and Amelia of Leuchtenberg were transferred from the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza in Lisbon; while Maria Leopoldina was moved from the imperial mausoleum of the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Rio de Janeiro.

To end this travelogue, I would like to give you an honest recommendation and review for a hotel you can stay at in Sao Paulo. During the trip, the hotel where we stay is very important to all of us, because the hotel is our home in the new destination and therefore it is very important to choose a good hotel in each destination. During my stay in Sao Paulo, Hotel Emiliano was my home, adorned with style, comfort and a beautiful atmosphere in the modern heart of Sao Paulo.

Located in one of the most charming and trendy neighborhoods of São Paulo, Hotel Emiliano is located in the heart of the Jardins (Garden District) on Oscar Freire Street, which is also a symbol of the city. The hotel is surrounded by shops, art galleries, renowned restaurants, cozy cafes and large offices. It is located just two kilometers from the two main financial centers of the city, between Paulista Avenue and Faria Lima Avenue.

During my stay in Sao Paulo, I had the opportunity to feel the charms of comfort and luxury of a special type of Hotel Emiliano suite, called the Emiliano Suite. This apartment covers an area of ​​84 m², which is divided into an apartment and a living room. This exquisite suite features an LCD TV with DVD system as well as a 5.1 digital home theater located in the living room. There is also the possibility to relax in your favorite bath and watch movies because the LCD TV is located above the bathtub. At Hotel Emiliano, you always have access to high-speed WiFi.

The bathroom is decorated with Carrara marble with pressure showers. There is also a separate English Victorian style bath. Japanese seats with temperature control and electronic bidet. For complete comfort and enjoyment, there are Egyptian cotton sheets and Hungarian goose down pillows, as well as a Charles Eames armchair and an Italian leather sofa. What delighted me were the unusual windows and of course the King size bed.

Feel authentic Brazilian hospitality as Hotel Emiliano provides a unique and unforgettable experience, offering exclusivity and sophistication in every detail: through personalized service, a selection of special amenities, exceptional cuisine, a comfortable, minimalist decor, which combines designer pieces and artworks and the magnificent Cocoon art piece in the lobby by artist Siron Franco. Every detail is designed to provide more comfort and make you feel at home. The butler team is always attentive to meet and anticipate your every need. Located in the heart of Jardins, on Rua Oscar Freire, an address that is also a symbol of the city, the hotel is surrounded by art galleries, renowned restaurants and various shops, for easy access to what you need when you find yourself in São Paulo.

The Emiliano Hotel team always strives to provide all guests with an outstanding experience that will make their guests feel valued, behaving responsibly and in harmony with society and nature. In an environment of continuous learning, the Hotel Emiliano team constantly strives to awaken the potential and talent of each team member, so that the competition sees them as an inspiration for better further work and development of services.

In the next post, I will delight you with a fashion story from Sao Paulo, so that we will once again enjoy the beauty of this Brazilian metropolis, which is famous for its skyscrapers.

My dear travellers, we have come to the end of this fourth special travelogue from Brazil where we enjoyed a review of the Emiliano Hotel in a series of travelogues about Brazil where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Visite São Paulo, Hotel Emiliano in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of local culture and the beauty of everyday life in São Paulo. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Brazil.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

It is an honour to have the opportunity to cooperate with many companies and businessmen in the tourism sector and I would like to thank once again the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Visite São Paulo and Hotel Emiliano for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to feel the beauty of this unusual Brazilian culture in a completely different way and to feel the beauty of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro.

How did you like my story about Sao Paulo and the presentation of Hotel Emiliano? Have you had the chance to visit Sao Paulo and beautiful Brazil so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from São Paulo,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR(National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Visite São Paulo and Hotel Emiliano and other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

SHARE THIS POST

Letters from Brazil: Copacabana Palace, the Jewel of the Most Famous Beach in the World…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. April, as well as the following months, will be dedicated to one unusual continent – South America, I will show you the countries that I had the opportunity to visit and I am sure that you will enjoy it and want to spend your vacation in one of the destinations. At the very beginning of this travelogue about Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel, I would like to thank the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), local ministries of tourism, national and city tourism boards, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) and other countries were created, as well as numerous fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read during this series of posts, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

Posts from Brazil were created with the selfless help of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel.

Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel is one of the most luxurious historical hotels in Rio de Janeiro, which represents the real gem of the most famous beach in the world – Copacabana. It was designed by the French architect Joseph Guiret, and was opened on August 13, 1923. This hotel is owned by Belmond Limited. It has 243 rooms, of which 116 are luxury rooms and 127 suites in the main and annexes. The hotel has been declared the best hotel in South America several times, including in 2009 when it won the World Travel Award.

What is the history of this amazing hotel? The Copacabana Palace was built by Octavio Ginle and Francisco Castro Silva in the period from 1919 to 1923. year, on the initiative of President Epitasio Pessoa, who wanted Rio de Janeiro to have a large hotel to host eminent visitors attending the International Exhibition of the Centennial of Independence. The federal government granted the developers tax breaks and they received a license for the casino.

The hotel was the first large building on Copacabana beach, facing Avenida Atlantica, which had just been completed in 1919 by the engineer Paulo de Frontin. French architect Joseph Guiret drew inspiration from two famous hotels on the French Riviera: Hotel Negresco in Nice and Hotel Carlton in Cannes. The structure was built by the engineer Cesar Melo e Cunha.

The Copacabana Palace Hotel was opened on August 13, 1923, months after the exhibition closed, due to numerous delays in construction, caused by difficulties in importing Carrara marble and Bohemian crystal, as well as complex foundation works that required a special depth of fourteen meters, as well as the lack of modern technology and experience in the country for such construction. During the construction of this hotel, there were major problems with violent underwater water that destroyed Avenida Atlantica in 1922, causing damage to the lower floors of this hotel.

The opening ceremony was attended by the French singer, actress and star Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois, who was known by her stage name Mistinget. Despite having “the most beautiful legs in the world”, she is forbidden to show them at the party. Because of the delayed opening, President Arthur Bernardes tried to revoke the casino hotel license in 1924. After a 10-year legal battle, the Guinle family won the case. The hotel’s casino proved essential to the hotel’s success for decades to come.

This exceptional hotel witnessed many events, and one that is still remembered today is May 23, 1928, when President Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa was shot in this hotel by his lover, the 28-year-old Italian marquise Elvira Vichy Maurich. President Lewis was hospitalized, with what was officially shared in the media at the time due to “appendicitis”. Four days later, the young marquise was found dead. From the police report, the public could conclude that it was a suicide. A few years later, in 1934, the hotel added a swimming pool. While 4 years later, more precisely in 1938, the hotel’s “Golden Room” was officially opened, in which the French actor, cabaret singer and entertainer Maurice Chevalier performed.

In April 1946, President Eurico Gaspar Dutra banned gambling in Brazil. The casino was converted into a concert hall, and the hotel underwent a major renovation, designed by the architect Vladimir Alves de Sous, and the renovation was completed in 1949. Supervised by engineer Cesare Mello e Cunha, the renovation increased the hotel’s capacity by adding a side pergola and a rear annex.

The capital of Brazil was moved to Brasilia in 1960, and the hotel experienced an unexpected period of decline in guest visits, as more modern resort hotels overtook it in the 1970s. This hotel faced demolition in 1985, however the Copacabana Palace was declared a cultural asset, registered at the federal (IPHAN), state (INEPAC) and municipal (SEDREPAHC) levels.

Sometime later, in 1989, the Guinle family, represented by José Eduardo Guinle, sold the hotel to James Sherwood, chairman of Sea Containers, a London-based shipping company with a 42% stake in Orient Express Hotels, which took over management of the hotel. Sherwood renovated Copacabana Palace at great expense. What happened more recently is that in 2014, Orient Express Hotels changed its name to Belmond Limited and the hotel was renamed Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel. Belmond was sold to luxury goods conglomerate LVMH in 2018.

I managed to find out some interesting facts, which is that the guests of the Copacabana Palace Hotel were famous people like Walt Disney, Marlene Dietrich, Ginger Rogers, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Mansfield, Paul McCartney, Janis Joplin, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Princess Diana, Carla Bruni, Halle Berry, Lana Del Rey, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.

During my stay in Rio de Janeiro I had the distinct honor and pleasure of staying in one of the Penthouse suites that have full ocean views. Everyone who is familiar with the service of the Belmond Hotel knows that their penthouse suites represent a real crown jewel in the realm of hotel luxury. During my stay of a few days, I was able to discover what the ultimate enjoyment looks like at the top of one of the most glamorous resorts in Rio de Janeiro. Each of the suites has a private terrace, and the interior of each apartment is decorated with works of art and fine French fabrics that you will enjoy at first touch. What delighted me was the large marble bathroom that has a separate bathtub and a separate shower.

What can you expect in the Penthouse Suite? What will surely meet your expectations are a king size bed, perfectly decorated marble bathrooms, a private pool and a sun terrace, the size of these apartments starts from 105 square meters and you have the service of a personal butler. Enjoy a range of luxury services when staying in these suites, including access to the exclusive sixth floor pool, VIP welcome amenities with Moët Chandon champagne, as well as daily sunset canapés and a fully stocked bar with complimentary soft drinks replenished daily.

In Copacabana Palace Belmond hotel, you can feel the real nightlife and the beauty of Copacabana cuisine. Celebrating cosmopolitan Rio, Copacabana Palace flavours immerse you in the vibrant culture of Brazil and beyond. Try authentic South American food at Pergula, or indulge in Pan-Asian delights at Michelin-starred Mee Restaurant. I decided to enjoy an Italian feast at Ristorante Cipriani, which also has Michelin stars, but I didn’t forget to add a non-alcoholic cocktail to my Brazilian adventure at the Piano Bar, and I must admit that it was an exceptional pleasure.

I have to admit that I was blown away by the depth and richness of the Northern Italian flavours of Ristorante Cipriani, which proudly holds a Michelin star since 2019, while the menu of celebrated chef Nello Cassese is an extraordinary mix of cultures.

In the next post, I will write about São Paulo, an exciting Brazilian city that many say is the city of skyscrapers. What can definitely be said about São Paulo is that it is a megapolis, the largest city in Brazil and America, the largest in the southern hemisphere. This city is the cultural, social and economic center of modern Brazil.

My dear travellers, we have come to the end of this third special travelogue from Brazil where we enjoyed the review of the Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel in the series of travelogues about Brazil where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the UN Tourism, EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of local culture and the beauty of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Brazil.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

It is an honour to have the opportunity to cooperate with many companies and businessmen in the tourism sector and I would like to thank once again the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to feel the beauty of this unusual Brazilian culture in a completely different way and to feel the beauty of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro.

How did you like my story about Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel and the presentation of the Brazilian iconic jewel of the most famous beach in the world that adorns the heart of this unusual city in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Rio de Janeiro or maybe some other city in Brazil so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from Rio de Janeiro,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR(National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel and other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

SHARE THIS POST

Letters from Brazil: Rio Carnival, Discover the Magic of the Biggest Show in the World!

Adventure Travel 8 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. April, as well as the following months, will be dedicated to one unusual continent – South America, I will show you the countries that I had the opportunity to visit and I am sure that you will enjoy it and want to spend your vacation in one of the destinations. At the very beginning of this travelogue about Rio Carnival, I would like to thank the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), local ministries of tourism, national and city tourism boards, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) and other countries were created, as well as numerous fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read during this series of posts, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

Posts from Brazil were created with the selfless help of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Carnaval Experience, as well as numerous local partners that will be mentioned later.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the largest open-air party in the world, visited by several million people around the world every year. It is the manifestation by which Rio has become recognizable at the world level and therefore the carnival gets better every year due to the possibility of bigger budgets that samba schools invest in their performances every year. You are probably wondering what the organization of this famous outdoor party looks like?

The Carnaval Experience team is here to give you an exclusive peek behind the scenes of the organisation of the Rio Carnival! During ten years of rich experience, the Carnaval Experience team has perfected the organization of special tourist visits for all interested visitors who want to feel a unique and authentic experience suitable for all ages! The Carnaval Experience team came up with the idea to present the universe of Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, to allow all visitors to see and feel the magic of the creation of a show like Carnival in Rio, as well as the history of Samba and Carnival itself.

This was made possible by the non-governmental organization Pimpolhos da Grande Rio. In partnership with its “mother school”, Academicos do Grande Rio, the Carnaval Experience team opens the doors of the Carnival’s playful universe for the general public to be enchanted by the characters of this beautiful world cultural manifestation. Pimpolhos da Grande Rio is a children’s samba school and non-governmental organization. Their mission is to promote social integration and education through carnival. The Carnaval Experience tourism program is part of the Pimpolhos da Grande Rio pillar of socio-economic sustainability and arises from the need to ensure the continuity of socio-cultural projects.

The Carnaval Experience is the only tour that allows you to peek behind the scenes of the Carioca Carnival, the most famous carnival in the world all year round, if you are unable to visit the carnival. When you’re in Rio, you simply have to experience Samba! This special tourist tour shows the artistry and imagination of all those who deeply believe and invest their true love and passion in creating the magic of Carnival and allows you to peek behind the scenes of the biggest show in the world! Allow yourself to live a unique and authentic experience, exploring behind the scenes, secrets and familiar people who make preparations for the parade.

During the tour, you will witness the process of creating and manufacturing floats and more than 3,000 costumes for the parade. Guided Tour of the 2022 Carnival Champions Warehouse – Samba School, Grande Rio. This tour offers an exhibition on the history of samba and carnival. Finally, don’t miss the opportunity to dress up in exclusive parade costumes, feel the rhythm of samba and enjoy the delicious caipirinha that is there to welcome you.

What you can expect from this Carnaval Experience tour:

  • Guided tour of the Academicos da Grande Rio warehouse – one of the main samba schools (30 min).
  • Lecture in the exhibition room: you will learn a little about the history of samba and carnival parades (20 min).
  • Entertainment: dressing up in costumes from previous parades and taking photos (20 min).
  • A taste of samba: Caipirinha welcome (10 min).
  • Little samba class with one of their dancers! (10 min).

Have you ever wondered how the preparation calendar for the Rio Carnival works? Do you know what it looks like behind the scenes? After completing a small carnival school with the Carnaval Experience team, I will try to explain to you step by step the conceptual creation process, as well as the organization of this world spectacle!

All fans of this world sensation called Carnival in Rio know that this parade takes place every year in February or March at the Sambadrome Marquis de Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro. Many people from Europe think that the Carnival with beautiful costumes takes place in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, that was once upon a time, but today all the main activities of the carnival and the presentation of the samba school are held exclusively at the Sambadrome. What you must know is the fact that Brazilians are extremely proud of this event and that for them it is not just an event but a way of life. Carnival in Rio represents a real explosion of emotions, colors, glitter and joy! What many do not know is that the preparation of the production for the biggest show on earth lasts all year long. Preparation for the next Carnival begins immediately after the Carnival is over and it looks something like this:

MARCH

Immediately after the last held parade, samba schools evaluate what worked and what needs to be changed for the next Carnival. In addition, work begins on the dismantling of floats and other used materials from the last carnival. During this period, samba schools also define what will be used and what will not be used during the next Carnival. Materials for recycling and sale are separated.

APRIL and MAY

During this period, the plot of the next carnival is chosen and the samba schools start the carnival planning process again. In short, the plot of the carnival consists of a story and a theme.

JUNE

Schools already have conceptually ready, sketched and drawn costumes and allegories.

JULY, AUGUST and SEPTEMBER

During this period, schools have already made samples (trial versions) of costumes and floats (parade floats). During this period, one can already see how the next carnival is slowly taking shape and getting its new form. If you visit a samba school with the Carnaval Experience team during this period, you can see the secrets and surprises of samba schools. I would just ask that you remember not to take pictures of the floats.

OCTOBER

The beginning of carnival fever in full swing: the official samba plot is chosen and filmed. Essays Begin and take place in samba schools as well as on the street. They involve community members who will parade: you have to have the samba theme on the tip of your tongue, be willing, excited and have a lot of love for the associations!

NOVEMBER

The beginning of the reproduction of costumes and sculptures, as well as the painting of fantasies and allegories.

DECEMBER

The production of costumes begins with an emphasis especially on those that will be on top of the floats and are very luxurious, opulent and special.

JANUARY and FEBRUARY

These are the two most intensive months during the organization of the carnival due to production work and numerous rehearsals that are in full swing. And then it’s time to start the parade!

Finally, after all these efforts and this extraordinary dedication, the samba schools can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for a moment. The sense of duty is fulfilled!

This festival, which takes place every year before Lent, is considered the largest carnival celebration in the world, with over two million people a day on the streets of the city. The first carnival festival in Rio was held in 1723.

A typical Rio Carnival parade is filled with parties, floats and decorations from the many samba schools located in Rio (approximately more than 200, divided into five leagues/divisions). A samba school is composed of a collaboration of local neighbors who want to attend the carnival together, with some kind of regional, geographic and common origin.

There is a specific order that each school must follow when registering for the parade. Each school starts with the “comissao de frente” (which means “Front Commission”), that is the group of people from the school that appears first. Made up of ten to fifteen people, the comissao de frente represents the school and sets the mood and style of their presentation. These people have choreographed dances in elaborate costumes that usually tell a short story. After the “comissao de frente” is the first float in the samba school, called “abre-alas” (“Opening the wings”).

Next come the Mestre-sala and the Porta-Bandeira (“Master of Ceremonies and Flag-bearer”), with one to four couples, one active and three spares, to lead the players, including veterans of the old guard and “ala das baianas”, with a battery of drums at the rear and sometimes a brass section and guitars. This brass section was included in the early 20th century as part of a more diverse musical ensemble that began to be offered at that time.

How did the Rio Carnival come about? The origins of the Rio Carnival celebration date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Carnival was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese colonizers between the 16th and 17th centuries, manifesting itself initially through the ‘Entrudo’, a popular festival where public games and carefree derision ran rampant through the streets. Over time, the festival acquired other ways of expression, such as the use of masks and costumes. O Moleque by Lima Barrett, depicts the emergence of a costume originally used in carnival, tracing its European cultural roots. The costumes are symbolic of the political and cultural themes of the time, which were then integrated into the carnival. The popularization of entertainment among the poor also contributed to the appearance of carnival societies created by the monarchical elite.

In 1840, the first masquerade ball was held in Rio, and polka and waltz were in the center of attention. Later, in the early 20th century, the Samba and Batucada rhythms classically associated with the Rio Carnival were introduced by Afro-Brazilians and Pardos, adapting various cultural inputs to create a new musical genre. During this period, Carnival assumed its position as the most popular festival in Brazil.

During the 1920s and 1930s in Rio, samba schools began to become popular as a way for the blocks to increase their legitimacy and prevent police oppression. Blacks at the time were often harassed by the police for any street carnival activities due to the city’s attempt to become a European-style capital at the time.

There was no carnival in the period from 1915 to 1918, due to the First World War, as well as during the period 1940-1945. because of World War II. This event was once again canceled with strict warnings against clandestine celebrations in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and postponed to 2022 for similar reasons. The carnival is back with a bang in 2023.

The previously existing traditions of ‘Entrudos’ and other popular festivities such as ‘ranchos’ and ‘Cordao Carnavalesco’ dating back to the Empire would eventually be combined into carnival blocks by the 1920s and evolve into their final form – the samba schools of Rio.

The Estacio de Sa, together with the Portel and the Estacao Primeira de Mangueira, first paraded in the city in 1929. All three were former carnival blocks that were transformed into schools with professional staff and city support. A little later, in 1930, seven schools were already operating in the city. With the works in Avenida Presidente Vargas, the parade moved there, and from 1942 to 1945 the parade was held in Sao Januario.

From 1952, temporary audience stands were assembled annually, and in 1961 paid tickets debuted to take advantage of growing international and national interest and increasing tourist arrivals. In 1974, due to subway construction, the parade was held on Avenida Presidente Antonio Carlos, from where it was also broadcast on color television for the first time. In 1978, the parade was moved to Avenida Marquis de Sapucaya – Sambadrome, where it remains until today. In 1983, the then Governor Leonel Brizola commissioned the architect Oscar Niemeyer to design a permanent local stadium for the parades in the same area, because until then the stands were still temporary and only assembled and disassembled for the event.

With the increase in the number of participating schools making the parade longer and tiring for the public, in 1984 the parade was split into two dates and categories: Friday evening to Saturday morning for the lower schools and Sunday evening to Monday morning for the main schools, including the more recognizable ones. That year, the school of “superchampions” was also announced after the parade of champions that took place the following Saturday, who had been awarded for the best results of the previous competition nights. Since this practice has never been repeated, Mangueira remains the only samba school ever to receive the title and dignity of “superchampions” of the annual event. Portela is the samba school with the highest number of championships.

Special Group schools under LIESA parade on two days (Sunday and Monday), while A series schools parade on Friday and Saturday under LIERJ, which also has a B series, which parades on Holy Tuesday. Both organizations were under the banner of AESCRJ before it lost its organizational rights, which also allowed the establishment of new organizations such as LIESB and Samba e Nosso for lower level divisions. The Golden Division (Serie A) champion school, who progress directly as participants in the Special Group for next year’s carnival parades, run on Carnival Monday, while the Special Group champion parades once more on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday.

As of 2018, the LIESB handed over the management of the E Series and its schools to ACAS, who now manage it as an entry-level organization for samba schools, in 2020, the C Series (Silver Division) fell under a new organization, LIVRES, with LIESB managing the divisions above and below it.

Since the main parade takes place at the Marquis de Sapucai Sambadrome and the balls at the Palace and Copacabana Beach, many carnival participants are in other locations. Street festivals are very common during Carnival and are very populated by locals. Elegance and extravagance are usually left behind, but music and dancing are still extremely common. Anyone can participate in street festivals. The gangs are very familiar with the street carnival, especially since you don’t need anything to join the fun except to jump in. One of the most famous groups in Rio is Banda de Ipanema. Banda de Ipanema first formed in 1965 and is known as Rio’s most outrageous street band.

Rio de Janeiro is “submerged”, almost “invisible” and this appears in full intensity during the carnival. Although it was clearly noticed only during the carnival, this city is occupied (especially in the central part) to a large extent by actors who play, sing and dance in different locations, giving a new meaning to their daily life and their relationship with the public spaces of the city. Incorporated into every aspect of the Rio Carnival are dance and music. The most famous dance at the Brazilian carnival is the samba. The samba remains a popular dance not only at the carnival, but also in the ghettos outside the main cities. These villages keep alive the historical aspect of the game without the influence of western cultures.

Music is another important part of all aspects of carnival. According to Samba City, “The samba carnival instruments are an important part of Brazil and the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, sending out irresistible rhythms and rhythms that explode the audience in a colorful fantasy festival of dance revolution!” The samba found in Rio is the Batucanada. “It was made out of a rhythmic need to allow you to sing, dance and parade at the same time.” This is why the batucado style is found in most of all street carnivals in Rio.

Street parades, blocks and gangs take place throughout the city of Rio during Carnaval, the most famous and largest carnival celebration in the world. More than 300 gangs can happen at any time. While the biggest street party takes place in front of the Sambadrome, the biggest organized street dance is usually found in Cinelandia Square in downtown Rio. During the 2012 Carnival, more than 2 million revelers took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to participate in the Bloc of Cordão da Bola Preta. According to police estimates, more than 5 million people attended the block during the 2012 Rio Carnival and no crime was reported.

When the Sambadrome was built in 1984, it had the side effect of taking street parades out of the city center into a specific ticketed performance space. Some samba schools have since been motivated by a plan that focuses on reclaiming public space and using the carnival tradition to occupy the streets with parades or blocks. Many of them represent the local community of the area, but they are open to everyone.

Several of Rio’s street carnival blocks that hold parties are affiliated with the Federation of Carnival Blocks of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FBCERJ), founded in 1965.

In the next post, I will write about the Copacabana Palace Hotel, which is a representative of classic Brazilian luxury located in a refreshing natural environment. This exceptional Belmond hotel allows you to relax in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, which you should consider if you decide to visit Rio de Janeiro, the most colorful pearl of the South Atlantic Ocean. My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this second special travelogue about Rio Carnival in the series of travelogues about Brazil where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. 

Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Carnaval Experience, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of local culture and the beauty of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Brazil.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

It is an honour to have the opportunity to cooperate with many companies and businessmen in the tourism sector and I would like to thank once again the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), Carnaval Experience and EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to feel the beauty of this unusual Brazilian culture in a completely different way and to feel the beauty of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro.

How did you like my story about Rio Carnival and the presentation of the Brazilian center of entertainment and hedonism that adorns the heart of this unusual country in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Brazil so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from Rio de Janeiro,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR(National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil, Carnaval Experience, Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel and other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

SHARE THIS POST

Brunello Cucinelli: A New Dose of Refined Spring Elegance…

Fashion Outfit Post 4 Comments

Dear fashionistas, welcome to the first fashion story in the series from South America on the Mr.M blog. April, as well as the following months, will be dedicated to one unusual continent – South America, I will show you the countries that I had the opportunity to visit and I am sure that you will enjoy it and want to spend your vacation in one of the destinations. At the very beginning of this fashion story with the Brunello Cucinelli fashion house, I would like to thank the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), local ministries of tourism, national and city tourism boards, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) and other countries were created, as well as numerous fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read during this series of posts, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

Posts from Brazil were created with the selfless help of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), EMBRATUR (National Tourism Organization of Brazil) – Visit Brasil and Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel.

The pictures for today’s fashion story were taken at one of the most famous tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro – the Selaron Stairs (Portuguese: Escadaria Selaron). Escadaria Selarón, locally known as “Lapa Stairs” (Escadaria da Lapa) because it is located in the “Lapa” neighborhood, is a set of world-famous stairs in Rio de Janeiro. These stairs are the work of the Chilean artist Jorge Celarón who did it as a sign of gratitude to the Brazilian people, for accepting him nicely. Almost more than 30 years ago, in 1990 to be exact, Mr. Selaron began renovating the dilapidated steps that ran along the front of his house.

At first, his neighbors mocked him for his choice of colors as he covered the stairs with fragments of blue, green and yellow tiles, the colors found on the Brazilian flag. It all started as a hobby and because of his great love for art and painting, but soon this venture became a real obsession. During the renovation of the stairs, Mr. Selaron ran out of money, so he kept selling his paintings to finance his work. It was a long and exhausting job, but he completed his idea, eventually covering the entire flight of stairs in tiles, ceramics and mirrors.

Running from Calle Joaquim Silva and Calle Pinto Martins, officially known as Calle Manuel Carneiro, the steps extend through the Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. There are 215 steps 125 meters long that are covered in over 2000 tiles collected from over 60 countries around the world. As soon as one part of the stairs was “finished”, Mr. Selaron started working on another part, constantly changing it so that it is an ever-evolving work of art. Mr. Selaron considered the work “never finished” and claimed that “this crazy and singular dream will only end on the day of his death.”

Initially, the tiles for the works were collected from various construction sites and piles of urban waste found on the streets of the city, but later most of the tiles were donated by visitors from all over the world. Of the over 2,000 tiles, 300 were hand-painted by Selaron depicting a pregnant African woman. Many wondered why she was the muse for his work and on one occasion he stated that it was one of his problems from the past, there is no more information about his work.

Many curious passers-by and tourists admired this creative endeavor of artist Selaron during the day, while during the night hours he guarded the stairs from drunkards and selflessly received compliments for his work. He really loved those steps in front of his house because they were his home. At any time of the day, you could find Mr. Selaron hard at work, beautifying this poor part of town. There are many legends about his death, some say that he was killed by his assistant a young boy who joined him in working on the stairs, while some say that he was killed by a drunkard and that numerous burn marks were found on his body. The body of this artist was found on January 10, 2013 on the stairs in the early hours of the morning.

Today, the Selarón steps have become the second most visited tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro and I strongly advise you to go there and enjoy the beauty of colors and unusual street art.

Today I will present to you my favourite fashion pieces from the Brunello Cucinelli SS25 collection that are made to last for seasons and years with the guarantee that you can leave something of exceptional quality to new generations to come with a timeless cut that will always be fashionable. Each manufactured piece is designed so that it does not follow blind trends, but on the contrary remains its own and consistent with the style of timeless elegance and refinement. Brunello Cucinelli is a brand that cherishes the values of “quiet luxury”, that’s why you’ll never see an aggressive brand logo on their clothes, leather goods or other fashion accessories, but the design and material will tell the story for themselves.

Brunello Cucinelli is an Italian luxury fashion brand that sells menswear, womenswear and accessories in Europe, North America and East Asia. The company was founded by Mr. Brunello Cucinelli in 1978. Mr. Cucinelli started his fashion house in 1978 specializing in Mongolian cashmere clothing for women. Today, the company owns 94 of the 124 stores worldwide. A few years ago, more precisely in January 2017, the company launched its online web store.

Mr. Cucinelli controls and manages the brand through Fedone Srl. Cucinelli’s family fund owns 57% of the company’s shares, and has also set up a special fund for the benefit of his daughters, Camilla and Carolina, to guarantee the proper handover of his eponymous company. This is an inspiring fashion story about a family.

OUTFIT

Shirt: Brunello Cucinelli

Trousers: Brunello Cucinelli

Loafers: Fratelli Rossetti

An impressive fact is that the company headquarters is located in a 14th-century castle on top of a hill in the middle of Umbria, an area known as the “green heart” of Italy. Brunello Cucinelli donates 20% of profits to its charitable foundation and pays workers wages that are 20% higher than the fashion industry average. Also interesting information is that the employees of the company have extremely flexible working hours and that e-mails are not allowed after working hours. This is one of the few fashion houses that have such good working conditions, which is commendable in today’s age of classical capitalism.

My outfit today is adorned with two pieces of clothing from the latest Brunello Cucinelli SS25 collection, namely this beautiful unusual shirt, one side of which is a solid light taupe colour, while the other side is beige with brown cuffs and linen trousers. This is a new shirt model, which drastically deviates from the classic offer of Brunello Cucinelli shirts that can normally be found in the Brunello Cucinelli collection, it is special and original, ideal for men who are looking for a new expression of art. Light summer pants are something I really like to wear and I usually wear linen trousers, which was the case during this trip through South America because of the high temperatures. With this model of trousers, my heart was won by the interesting cut and colour.

If you want to stay updated and find out what iconic Italian fashion house Brunello Cucinelli has prepared for us this fashion season, follow this brand on social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Today’s fashion adventure ends with old well-known friends of Mr.M blog – Fratelli Rossetti. This Italian footwear brand that I’m sure everyone recognizes for their comfortable shoes that are made from the highest quality materials Fratelli Rossetti footwear is fantastic for the reason that this brand makes classic shoes that are elegant and simply unbeatable, shoes for all time! You had the chance to see their most famous model, the Brera, in my Jordan fashion stories.

What is the story of this brand? In the middle of the 20th century, more precisely in 1945, Mr. Renzo Rossetti started his story from scratch, where he worked alone to cut leather for several types of sports shoes. His shoes were sold at the famous Brigatti store in Milan, one of the few remaining stores of its kind in the city. After a few years, Fratelli Rossetti saw success, but, wanting to develop further, they transferred the brands and equipment for this special production to Atala Sport in Padua.

So they decided to start their story again from the beginning and decided to switch to the production of classic shoes. Those were the years between 1952 and 1957, which witnessed the orientation and acquisition of new skills in the creation of women’s ballet flats and elegant, simple men’s footwear characterized by extremely flexible and high-quality workmanship. All this led to the creation of a small collection of men’s shoes with contours that differed from the various styles sold at the time. Renzo Rossetti consequently engaged in work that demonstrated his aesthetic sense and artistic perfectionism.

The story of the Fratelli Rossetti company is an inspiring story of a successful Italian family business that opened its doors in 1953. This is not just an ordinary company story, but a family story: the founder, Renzo Rossetti, and his wife, Lisetta, were dedicated to their work all their lives. The Fratelli Rossetti company is currently run by the second generation of the Rossetti family, the brothers Diego, Dario and Luca, who, due to their different roles and by developing their own different skills, have successfully brought their company to its 60th anniversary, always in search of quality and united by their passion with strict respect for tradition.

Fratelli Rossetti has a long tradition of “big little innovations”. In this company, tradition and quality have always gone hand in hand with insatiable curiosity and commitment to innovation. From the introduction of tassels and the invention of shoes designed to be worn without socks, to stylistic innovations and the launch of the “masculine” style, to the application of colors in unique chromatic shades. It was Renzo Rossetti who emphasized the importance of embracing new materials, styles and shapes: as early as the 60s, he was already experimenting with different color combinations on leather. Today, the company continues its research and development activities thanks to the knowledge of its craftsmen and the creative spirit of the styling department.

Fratelli Rossetti in its collections for men has timeless classic lines that you can find all year in their offer, some of the models are: Brera, Brera Sport, Hobo Sport, Yacht, La Giusta. 

In today’s post, I present one of the iconic Brera models. Brera is the bohemian quarter of Milan where, in the sixties of the last century, sculptors, painters and writers struggled to leave their mark with a new language and new forms. The liberal and cosmopolitan spirit was the source of inspiration for “Brera”, a moccasin with tassels, a style revolution in a country that is just rediscovering its joy of life. Brera combines different materials and colors as a true work of art. The special composition of materials and shapes makes moccasins a successful chapter in the history of Fratelli Rossetti.

Today you have the opportunity to see the famous Brera moccasins in brown color made of soft open-weave leather with evenly spaced holes in the upper part. Special high-quality processing and production. These moccasins have a hand-dyed leather sole. The shoes are handmade in Italy, like all other Fratelli Rossetti shoes.

If you want to stay freshly updated and find out which models of shoes and leather goods the Fratelli Rossetti brand has in its offer, visit their official online store and follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.

My dear fashionistas, we have come to the end of the first spring fashion story from South America in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, where together we discovered the beauty and brilliance of Italian craftsmanship with the cult brand of footwear and leather goods Fratelli Rossetti, elegance and prestige with the luxury Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli, partners with whom fashion stories are a real adventure. I sincerely hope you got some inspiration for your ideal spring outfit!

See you soon and continue our fashion adventures from South America on the Mr.M blog! How did you like my outfit today? I really tried my best to prepare today’s post with lots of love and I hope you like it!

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or any message for me, you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. I’ll see you soon!

With Love from Rio de Janeiro,
Mr.M

This post is sponsored by Brunello Cucinelli and Fratelli Rossetti brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.

SHARE THIS POST

My Side of the World: Sonja Lapatanov (Part 2)

Adventure My Side of the World Travel 4 Comments

My dear travellers, how are you today? Welcome to the new post from the special section “My Side of the World” which successfully managed to win your hearts in a very short time on the Mr.M blog. I hope that we will continue to travel the world together with our famous adventurers and discover some new and unexplored parts of the world.

This post is a continuation of the interview with my dear guest Sonja Lapatanov. If you want to read the first part of the interview and remind yourself of some unusual destinations or just to enjoy the beauties of the world throught the lens of one of our most famous ballet artists, choreographers and adventurers, visit the link.

Easter Island: Ahu Tongariki.

11. Did you go to the same destinations again and did you happen to be disappointed with something that had previously delighted you or that you were delighted with something that seemed ordinary to you for the first time? Should you turn around the second time when something thrills you at first sight or should the experience not be spoiled by a replay?

Sonja Lapatanov: Unfortunately, I am not able to “repeat the class”, although I would gladly do so. I’m looking for new destinations, because time is not waiting for no one. The situation on our planet is worrying. There are more and more forest fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, epidemics, general dissatisfaction, accidents, wars, riots… The years of dangerous living have arrived! That is why I will repeat the old destinations maybe in the next life.

Tibet: A prayer wheel around Lhasa city.

12. People usually think that so-called exotic travel takes a lot of money. How have you organized all these trips over the decades? Have you ever traveled to the end of the world with just 100$ in your pocket?

Sonja Lapatanov: I gave up every luxury and through travel, I invested in myself. It is a great treasure, which no one can steal from me. Today, travel is expensive, but young people are doing well, because they can organize everything themselves via the Internet.

Nepal: Pokalde peak ridge at an altitude of 5000 m.

– They just need to know what they want and where they want to travel. I’m an adventurer, but I’m not a backpacker and I wouldn’t spend the night in a hostel and I would hardly go to the end of the world with 100$ in my pocket. Today, that amount could not cover travel expenses, accommodation, or the costs of a two-day stay in a tourist place in our country!

Patagonia: Glaciers and icebergs in the Oneli Lagoon.

13. What is the most exotic type of transportation you used during your trip?

Sonja Lapatanov: I flew by helicopter in Laos, piston planes in Nepal, a balloon over the Tanzanian and Kenyan savannas and a para-glider from Brajić to Slovenska plaža in Montenegro!

Sudan: At the top of the holy rock Jebel Barkal.

I sailed the seas, lakes and mighty rivers throughout Asia and Africa, rode tuk-tuks and rickshaws, in India, South and Central America half-decomposed buses, along with chickens and goats, sat on the roof of the Andean railway, on the backs of various animals.

But the real adventurous adventure was canoeing and extreme riding on zip-line cables, through the treetops of giant trees in the jungles of Malaysia and Guatemala.

Tahiti: A Dolphin Kiss.

14. I know from my experience that travel is actually learning about the culture and history of a nation. Whose culture impressed you the most?

Sonja Lapatanov: Ancient civilizations left an invaluable cultural and historical heritage to the human race, so it would be unfair to mention only one, so I single out the fascinating Mayan and Khmer culture, the culture of Myanmar, Egypt, Libya, Algeria…

Namibia: Namib Naukluft National Park, Dead Vlei.

15. Did some of the trips disappointed you in the sense that you expected much more from that country, but then you collided with reality and realized that sometimes good advertising is responsible for the overestimation of a certain destination?

Sonja Lapatanov: There is no trip that has disappointed me. I choose them carefully. I do not follow the tourist fashion, but my adventurous spirit. My curiosity and adrenaline addiction knows no bounds, while the desire to adventure and discover the still not so commercialized parts of the blue planet is immeasurable. However, in a way, my expectations were not met by China. It is a modern country and that fact seems to have fallen hard on me.

Northern Thailand: In the company of female members of the Aka tribe.

– I thought I would enter the world that Pearl Bak wrote about, or the world of Mao Zedong, with columns of cyclists and uniformed people, who practice Kung Fu and Tai Chi in the early morning hours. The expected images of idyllic landscapes with bamboos and pandas, green rice fields, fairy-tale cone-shaped hills of Gilina painted on silk, are remnants of some ancient times, which have passed.

Kenya: On the shores of Lake Nakuru.

– The reality is different. Somewhere far from the metropolis, there are villages and rice fields, the Great Wall of China, and in Beijing, the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, a hutong district in traditional Chinese construction with an inner courtyard and a Peking duck. I was late to visit China before the big changes.

Patagonia: Punta Tombo

16. Is there a country where the pictures you remember are more beautiful than the ones from the postcards?

Sonja Lapatanov: Indisputably; French Polynesia-Tahiti, Bora Bora, Morea, Huahin…

Sudan: Pylons in front of the temple of the goddess Mut, below the rock of Jebel Barkal.

17. Which distant country would you say is most similar to Serbia and why? Is there still our mentality somewhere or are we still unique?

Sonja Lapatanov: Serbs are unique, but when it comes to temperament and joy of life, there are similarities with Mexicans and Irish people.

Japan: In Tokyo with a rickshaw driver.

18. When did you feel the need to convert travel into travelogues? Has any country particularly encouraged you to do that?

Sonja Lapatanov: In the late nineties, I started writing reports for newspapers and magazines, and then a few years later, my friends encouraged me to turn my travelogues into books. They stay, and newspapers and magazines are thrown away, they told me. Since then, I have written seven books of travel prose, and an eighth is in preparation.

Papua New Guinea: With members of the Huli people.

19. Do you remember the feelings when you wrote the first book? The moment you typed the last word on a keyboard and realized you had written your first book. Can that excitement be compared to any destination?

Sonja Lapatanov: Admiration, when you hit a dot on the keyboard after the last word, is an indescribably beautiful feeling.

With sharks in the waters of the Pacific

20. If you had to choose only one determinant, what would you say to the question of who Sonja Lapatanov is. A ballerina, a passionate traveler or a writer?

Sonja Lapatanov: Three in one! Everything happened at the right time and now it exists and lives in me.

Sudan: Gates are a sign of prestige among residents of Sudanese villages and towns.

My dear travellers, I hope you like this post in column on the blog “My side of the world” and that you enjoyed it with my guest today. We will continue our trip around the world in a few days with some new guest

I would recommend you to take a look at the other pictures that dear Sonja set aside in the gallery especially for us to see what kind of beauties our earth hides.

Madagascar: Hanging out with a lemur.

If you have a suggestion whose side of the world of famous world travelers you would like to discover, you can write to me below in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page. See you soon with another interesting story!

Best,
Mr.M

  • Easter Island: A kiss with a moache
  • Easter Island: With a moai on the Rano Raraku volcano
  • Uganda: On the hemisphere
  • Uganda: Termite Tasting
  • Tunisia: In the Sahara with a desert fox
  • Togo: Voodoo market
  • Sudan: In the Nubian desert, the camel is man’s best friend
  • Sudan: An attempt to climb a pyramid near the Jebel Barkal rock
  • Sudan: Meroe site
  • Senegal: The westernmost point of the African continent
  • With a lion in Kassel National Park
  • With cheetahs in Kasela National Park
  • Patagonia: Among the icebergs on Lake Argentino
  • Papua New Guinea: In the Sepik River region, some tribes believe they are descended from crocodiles
  • Papua New Guinea: With the girls from the Sepik River
  • Panama: A member of the Kuna tribe
  • Namibia, Walvis Bay: Dialogue with a Young Pelican
  • Namibia: The village of Himba people
  • Namibia: With a member of the Herera people
  • Namibia: With a grandmother from Township Mondes
  • Namibia, Namib Desert: Dead Vlei
  • Namibia, Namib Desert: Tropic of Capricorn
  • Namibia: A game of shadows in the Namib Desert
  • Namibia, Etosha: Salt Pan
  • Namibia: Children of the Himba people
  • Mali: With the Tuaregs in Bamako
  • Mali: Afternoon rest on the asura in Gene
  • Madagascar: Baobab Avenue
  • Kuwait: Famous towers
  • Costa Rica: On coffee beans
  • Kenya: With lioness Heidi
  • Somewhere in South India
  • Paradise in South India
  • India: Golden Temple in Amritsar
  • Dubai: Burj Al Arab the most famous 7 star hotel in the world
  • Brazil: At Iguazu Falls
  • Benin: Visiting King Agola Agba
SHARE THIS POST