Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, hot, sunny, and slightly overcast.
It is Friday, and I feel slightly relieved, even though it has been a good week. I am tired and want to wake up tomorrow without worrying about classes. For the past two to three days, we have been experiencing a heat wave with temperatures almost reaching 40°C.
It is boiling. It is terrible to try to sleep without an air conditioner. I have a fan, set at 45° in the direction I lie, which helps dissipate the heat and keeps away the Perna longa mosquitoes. These mosquitoes make our lives a living hell; if one is in the same room as you, you will not have peace for the rest of the night.
You can only fall asleep through sheer exhaustion. Lastly, I have noticed with myself and others that we get so used to the sound of the fan whirring that it is almost impossible to sleep without its noise.
I have tried to fall asleep without it, but I eventually find myself turning it on and then being able to get some rest. The weather forecast for the weekend is predicting a lot of rain—a complete 180° turn from what the weather is like now. I have also found out that Alock, the Brazilian pop artist and composer, will be performing on Copacabana Beach in front of Copacabana Palace Hotel to celebrate the hotel’s 100th anniversary.
Two years ago, I went to see a play about the history of the hotel. The play was held in the hotel’s newly refurbished theatre, which faces Avenida Nossa Senhora da Copacabana at the back of the hotel. The front of the hotel, including the entire facade facing the beach, its reception and car park, the famous Pergola restaurant and a small line of fashion shops.
An enormous swimming pool is located behind the Pergola restaurant, running from the front to the back of the hotel. Beyond the pool is the famous hotel annexe with suites and balconies overlooking the swimming pool, the beach, and the hotel grounds.
The founder of the Copacabana Palace Hotel was Mr. Octavio Guinle, who passed away in 1968. His wife eventually sold the hotel to the American businessman Mr. Sherwood in 1989, as he had been in love with the hotel since the 1950s. Under the new ownership, the hotel underwent various refurbishments. About 4-5 years ago, the Louis Vuitton group purchased the hotel.
The hotel’s theatre had been closed for over 30 years before Louis Vuitton bought it four years ago. Since then, it has been completely refurbished, and now the theatre is spectacular. I attended the opening with Katia to watch a play about the hotel’s story. The play itself was better than I expected.
However, the theatre’s interior is fantastic, with its white marble floors, walls, ceiling, and green velvet-covered seats. It was extraordinary to witness how something can be beautifully restored even today, particularly in a country like Brazil. It goes to show that it is simply a matter of wanting it, making it happen, and having the money.
The beach in front of the hotel is extensive and long, stretching from the street to the seashore. The hotel itself is an iconic establishment within an already iconic neighbourhood. Copacabana is probably the most famous beach and neighbourhood in Rio, Brazil and one of the world’s most renowned urban beaches. The hotel is located on Avenida Atlantica, in the middle of Copacabana, offering a privileged location.
Over the years, the beach in front of the hotel has hosted numerous shows featuring performances by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2, and many other bands and artists. Temporary massive scaffolding stages and infrastructures were constructed on the beach in front of Copacabana Palace for these events.
In the 1950s, the hotel’s main event room, known as the Golden Room, hosted shows for many Hollywood stars, such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, and others. The New Year’s Eve party held there has traditionally been the most important New Year party in the area, if not in all of Brazil, for the high society, the rich, and the famous.
With the hotel now part of the Belmond Group, owned by Louis Vuitton, a lot of money has been injected into it to make it one of the most important hotels in Brazil, South America, and the world. The aim is to bring it back to its former glory.
Let us consider how things will be in the future with the rain, security, and the problems in Rio and Brazil now. Let us also think about Copacabana. Although Copacabana is a famous and historically important neighbourhood in Rio, it is not the most exclusive.
Regarding exclusivity, Ipanema and Leblon are much more refined and exclusive than Copacabana. Copacabana is a bit run-down despite its historical significance, just like Rio.
Rio is extremely dangerous nowadays, especially for public events with hundreds and thousands of people attending. It is complicated and takes away from the essence of any show, which is to have a good time. I used to go to many shows in the past, but now I do not.
I do not know if it is because I am getting old or because I know the possible risks involved, which I did not consider before. Nowadays, such shows do not interest me anymore. Let us hope it is a success, and nobody is hurt.
I finished teaching at 6:00 pm, then went to the supermarket with Nalva in the evening to buy some things, including wine. I had a couple of glasses before going to bed.
In bed by 11:00 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
