How cool--a swimming pool that looks like a pond. Great design by Burle Marx & CIA LTDA.

Burle Marx and Cia LTD

Landscape Architects from Burle Marx and Cia LTD were gracious hosts in their office; showing us the broad scope of their commercial and residential work. We were amazed by the original Burle Marx art work that lined the hallways and offices. They also took us on a tour of a fantastic private garden near the Tijuca Forest.

Jardim Botanica

At the Botanic Garden in Rio de Janeiro, UD students in the Brazil Study Abroad Program will work with youth who participate in a landscape horticulture training program at the garden. This should be a great opportunity for UD students to learn more about Brazilian culture and "get their hands dirty."

Roberto Burle Marx Sitio

My favorite site in Rio de Janeiro was the Roberto Burle Marx Sitio. Roberto Burle Marx was a genuis. His amazing sweeps of tropical foliage, abstract art and wonderful outdoor spaces are captivating. I can't wait to spend more time exploring the Sitio when we go back to Brazil in January 2008.

After our lunch, we took these cable cars up to the top of Sugarloaf. One car gets you to the first mountain, where the view was great. The second car took us to the top of Sugarloaf where the clouds obscured our view. It still gave us a great perspective of Rio and Flamingo Park.

Here is a photo of Chad and Marcelo at lunch below the famous Sugarloaf Mountain right before we took the cable cars to the top of the mountain.

In January, 2008, three University of Delaware professors, Dr. Susan Barton, Dr. Jules Bruck, and Chad Nelson, RLA, will lead a group of students to Brazil. The tentative trip dates are January 3, 2008-Feb. 3, 2008. The group will spend time in Rio de Janeiro, the Pantanal, the Amazon (including a two day river cruise) and Brasilia. There is still space available in the program, so if you are interested in joining us, please check out: http://international.udel.edu/studyabroad/programs/database.asp?PWDID=458
On our first day full in Rio de Janeiro, we woke up and took a walk from Leblon to Ipanema. As you can see, the sights were breathtaking. The hotel we will stay in for the Rio portion of our trip is two blocks from the wide, beautiful beaches. The walk to the end of Ipanema is about 7.5K, so it was a nice way to start the day. This photo shows the trademark stone pattered walkway and the landmark mountain, Twin Brothers, leading us back to Leblon.