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.

Street-Copacabana

This tunnel of trees in Copacabana ensures that you won’t have to worry about finding a shady spot.

 

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!

anita-garibaldi

Anita Garibaldi, full name Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro di Garibaldi (a fine Brazilian name!).

 

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]

 

10 replies
    • tomlemes
      tomlemes says:

      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).

      Reply
  1. Ana Fonseca
    Ana Fonseca says:

    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.

    Reply
    • tomlemes
      tomlemes says:

      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! :)

      Reply
      • Ana Fonseca
        Ana Fonseca says:

        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.

        Reply

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