Brasilia Baby

Instead of a red carpet boarding the plane…

The Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia. Could be ready on time. The outside still needs to be completed. Brasilia's top local team only plays in division 3….

First game on 15 June between Switzerland and Ecuador.

Oscar Niemeyer designed cathedral.

Very cool and futuristic from the inside. A bit of spaceship/ Star Trek feeling. Wish the bathrooms were just as impressive…

Another Oscar Niemeyer creation. His own museum which, unfortunately, was closed.

Still closed, however, an enthusiastic vendor was trying to enrich my life with souvenirs. Negative!

I really like the design. Futuristic and playful. In stark contrast to slightly chaotic
Sao Paulo.

Ministry of Sports; Most likely the building where Romario rules. 

Park of Power as I called it. All the ministerial buildings with corrupted politicians, consisting of ex. movie stars, singers, murderers, semi-successful models, athletes, clowns...

The Congress. Also one of Mr Niemeyer's master pieces. During the World Cup uprisings last year,  students threw molotov cocktails into the building as well as managed to break in and made it up to the roof. Protesters were dancing on top of building, which has come to be strongly synonymous with corruption.

In Congress, Romario has managed to have a bill passed guaranteeing parents with children diagnosed with Down's Syndrome a monthly allowance, though one of Romario's six children was born with Down's Syndrome. He is considered to be one of the less bad congressmen. 

Politicians, elected to Congress, are entitled a staff of 25 people financed by public means, which makes the Brazilian Congress the world's most expensive second to The US.

The main purpose of the visit. The Swedish Embassy and my passport appointment. A cute cottage in comparison to the other embassies that offered high walls and barbed wire.

All in all. I had a great day in Brasilia. A spacious and clean city with a clear blue sky but I am very happy to call Sao Paulo my home.