Tambor do Salgueiro

Apologies for all that follow this blog regularly but it has been though to keep the rythm during last week. Carnival hit Rio de Janeiro and its visitors very hard this time, giving us only sunny and beautiful day. We got lost a little bit, have to admit that and so did our official reporter that was in charge to feed this blog with photos


O GRES Academicos do Salgueiro is the champion school of samba of this Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2009. Salgueiro last championship was in 1993 and they arrived second last year just after plurichampion Beija-Flor. The theme for Salgueiro was the Tambor (drum) and its history coming from Africa. Thanks to our friend Peter and his blog APREX, with whom we got kidnapped together in one of the city s streets"blocos", for the inspiration of this post.

Favela tour

One of the most successful tour in RIO is a visit to a Favela, which is in fact a normal district without much support of the municipality. The visit is organized by a couple of very serious and professional Agencies, Marcelo from Favelatour and Marcio from Be a Local are showing this part of RIO to the visitors from many years with the total respect and support of the local community.

During the visit you ll be able to know from close 2 different types of Favelas, the very famous Rocinha, consider an example of how the uncontrolled urban developement has taken over in Rio together with a smaller one where the municipality has intervened with electricity supplies and street civic numbers. Anyway the experience is really important if you want to really know the city and the cariocas. Thanks to our reporter Valentina for the pictures....

Arquivo C38 - vernissage

Viradouro Samba School

Arquivo 08

Castelinho38 first art exhibition of the year is happening on next friday 13th of February, with a selection of artists who have left a mark during 2008.
It s time for our gallery to get a feedback of the new talents that came throught and prepare the schedule for 2009.
The opening will have some special cocktails and greatest sound with surprise DJs.

Praca XV - Flee Market

A saturday morning classic program in RIO is visiting the Flee Market just passed the Praca XV ( Square 15th of November) under the expressway that cut the citycentre by the sea.


Collectioners, curious and tourists are among the public that every Saturday gather in the shade of the horrible modern structure in order to find the greatest deal.

Here you can find almost anything, in almost any condition....from brand new to very used staff, imported, ancient, postmodern or futuristic things. The visit really worth a tour around the busy stands.

Sometimes the best presents to bring home are coming from this place, C38 recommend arrive there early in the morning with an easy Tram ride and a short walk in the quite city centre, it closed at around 14hs. Do not miss it!

Summer Time

While the tropical summer of RIO is at his best, with very hot days and sudden rain showers, our guests are enjoying the days at Castelinho38, either at the bar for a cup of cappuccino or playing with our pets. Few days ago the thermometer on Ipanema beach was saying 44 degrees, there is no sun protector that can handle this!

Here there are some pictures of our guests of the months of January while taking the best out of their last days in Brazil. Sabrina still together with our female dog Samba and Bruno trying up some heavy weight lifting in the lawn of our garden.
Not to forget the pleasure of having two very special guests, for the first time together in Brazil.
Grandmother Roberta and cousin Valentina. Will they be ready for Carnival time?

Yemanjà Day

The 2nd of February, according to the African religion is when worshiper of the Goddess of the Sea pay tribute to Yemanjà. If you happened to be on the beach you ve probably noticed a lot of flowers on the shore.

This is how the Goddess looked like in the sea of Ipanema today late in the afternoon, when we devotes to her pay her respect and ask for favors.

Iara was there with us, she just moved back to Brazil with her mum Bela, after many winter season in England without Yemanjà and her hot waters.
Iara is also the name of the princess of the river in the popular brazilian tradition.

For sure Iara felt very confortable in the arms of Goddess Yemanjà and it has been a unforgettable time we have spent together in this very special day.