Photo Post: You must be mine
When the sun comes out in Rio, things get very hot! If you have to stay out on the street for any amount of time, you’ll find yourself looking for some shade before long. This particular street in Copacabana has the shade situation pretty well covered.
Does anyone recognise this street? Here’s a clue: It was named after a Brazilian revolutionary heroine who was born in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina and who died in Italy.
Her future husband’s first words to her were “You must be mine” (I imagine he growled this while fixing her with his best look of smouldering desire…).
She was later described by one of her husband’s comrades thus:
[she is] an amalgam of two elemental forces…the strength and courage of a man and the charm and tenderness of a woman, manifested by the daring and vigour with which she had brandished her sword and the beautiful oval of her face that trimmed the softness of her extraordinary eyes
Anita Garibaldi
The owner of that beautiful face and those extraordinary eyes was Anita Garibaldi and if I had been her husband Giuseppe, I would have kept a close eye on that comrade of mine who seemed so besotted with my wife!
Hers is an interesting but sadly short story. Pregnant and suffering malaria, she died in her husband’s arms while fleeing from Austrian troops in Italy. She was just 27. She left behind not just 4 children, but also this rather magnificent quote:
Não tenha medo de viver, de correr atrás dos sonhos. Tenha medo de ficar parado.
[Don’t be afraid to live, to chase dreams. Be afraid of standing still]
You could argue that, beyond all his hyperbole, Guiseppe was the worst thing that happened to Anita.
On the subject of nice streets are you familiar with this one?
http://www.treehugger.com/culture/most-beautiful-street-world.html
Ha ha! That’s another way of looking at it Gritty!
I wasn’t familiar with that street (I’d be very interested to visit Porto Alegre one day) – looks like both streets were planned by the same people (though the PA one is more impressive for sure).
Have you seen A Casa das & Mulheres ? My parents sent the videos years ago to me. Many war scenes, of course many exaggerations but also an interesting version of Anita & Giuseppe’s story.
Hey Ana, I haven’t seen that. To be honest I’d never even heard of Anita Garibaldi until I saw the street name here and decided to look her up. I’m quite ignorant of Giuseppe’s story too – in England the strongest association many of us with with Garibaldi is as a biscuit (AKA squashed fly biscuits!).
The little I learned from Googling made me think “This would make a good film” – I will look this one up, thanks! :)
Giovanna Antonelli played Anita G in the Globo miniseries. Anita is quite well known in Rome and Italy. G. is the hero of two wrolds (South America – Peru & Brazil – and Europe) Man, she had a short and miserable life with G. Went through hunger and not even money for candles they had.
Italians are good at making biscuits and pastas in general. Have you ever tried biscoitos Bauducco? This is a Brazilian company founded by Italians in São Paulo state. Here’s a link to Bauducco company in English. http://www.bauducco.com/en/about/ . Thanks.
Mmmm, they look good! Far better than the squashed fly biscuits we have back in England! ;)
Tom,
Check this out (I think it’s happening in your neighborhood).
http://poro.redezero.org/intervencao/enxurrada-de-letras-2
Hey Gritty,
That’s pretty cool! I’m a bit confused though – is this happening now or did it happen back in 2004. Seems like it was a past project, but then it isn’t 100% clear. Either way, I like it! :)
I think the post is dated March 4, 2013.