The model city

Trip Start Apr 01, 2005
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Trip End Dec 29, 2005


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Wednesday, May 18, 2005

I had missed my last direct bus to Iquacu, so I decided to find a non-direct route. Curitiba is the major city on the way to Foz, so I put myself on a 6-hour bus at 10:30pm. Unfortunately, we were on-time and I found myself in the Curitiba bus terminal at 4:30am. There were no morning buses to Iguacu, so I bought a 9pm ticket, left my bag at the luggage storage, and waited until sunrise to go explore the city.

I've met people from Brazil, Japan and the USA that are all studying urban planning in Curitiba. The city is one of the best organized and cleanest in the world, and people worldwide view it as one of the best "quality of life" cities in South America. I would have to say I agree. After arriving at 5am, and hung around the bus terminal until dawn, I spent one long day exploring this state capitol. I loved the Rua das Flores street, Brazil's first commercial street to be closed to traffic and become a pedestrian mall.

Oscar Niermeyer is probably Brazil's most famous architect. He designed the planned city of Brasilia that later became the capitol. His work tends towards the grandiose with large flowing buildings, dramatic curving lines, and expansive open spaces. The Curitiba museum took up a couple city blocks, and is dominated by a giant eye-shaped tower. It's by far the most impressive man made spectacle of my trip so far, and made this layover day in Curitiba well worth the trouble.
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