Brasilia is a great learning experience in many ways. Design and built from the scratch in the late 50’s with Lucio Costa, Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx as the main design leaders, Brasilia is one of the few cities of the World with such a story, others are St. Petersburg, Washington, DC, Canberra, La Plata and Putrajaya. Some love it, others hate it, uhave2go! and discover it yourself! Fernando

Curitiba is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the largest and one of the most important cities of Southern Brazil, being a cultural, political and economic center. Although I went there with the main objective of visiting Oscar Nuiemeyer’s museum of contemporary art, I found a very interesting cultural atmosphere, great parks (like the Botanical Garden above) and very good public transportation, which includes lanes on major streets devoted to a bus rapid transit system. The buses are long (bi-articulated), and stop at designated elevated stations, complete with disabled access. Used by 85% of Curitiba’s population, this was the source of inspiration for the TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia, as well as the Orange Line of Los Angeles, California, and for an upcoming transportation system in Panama City, Panama. Fernando

This beautiful spaceship landed after architect Oscar Niemeyer probably had a futuristic dream about a building inspired by brazilian women and Rio de Janeiro’s sensual landscape. You take a bus from Rio, cross a bridge and get to Niteroi, a nice small town with more beaches to enjoy. For sure this museum, and the view of Rio mountains, Corcovado and Pao de Azucar, from the unique inside space, was unforgettable. Fernando