Hola from Brasilia, the federal capital of Brasil!

When I applied for my Brasilian visa in Buenos Aires in Argentina, one of the consul staff asked me why I was going to Brasilia as in her words, "for a tourist, there is nothing to see". Fortunately, I was still granted a visa, albeit a very short one for 17 days! It seems I am destined to visit Brasil again in the future to see Salvador Bahia and Iguassu Falls!

In the 1860`s an Italian priest Dom Bosco, dreamt about a planned city in the middle of Brasil. People from all over the world and Brasil would come and live and work in this city. The images in his dream were so vivid that he recorded details and plans afterwards. In 1960 the city of Brasilia was inaugurated. The city would be shaped like a bird/aeroplane, the head/cockpit would house government buildings and the wings would be areas for residential and services. Dom Bosco did not ever visit Brasil, however his name lives on here.

The Sanctuary of Dom Bosco is a beautiful church with azure blue windows from floor to ceiling on four sides. The glass is murano glass from italy and it really captures the light in a special way...sending pale blue and voilet hues across the church. As a consequence it is very calming and peaceful. The Dom Bosco foundation also sponsors a college, school and many other community institutions.

Also visited the Goodwill Temple which is an eight sided pyramid with a huge crystal at the top. The crystal filters and cleans the light coming into the Temple. The temple also has a large marble spiral in the middle of the main gathering area and a basement that is like an Egyptian tomb.

The city´s Cathedral is also architecturally wonderful. On outside it is shaped like a crown, with bell tower outside shaped like a chalice and on left side a stone which looks like the bread. The church has no pillars inside ...it is a dome of coloured glass with three aluminium angels hanging from ceiling.

Oscar Niemeyer, architect and designer based in Rio, designed the Cathedral and also the parliamentary buildings,the presidential palace, the new museum (still under construction) and the opera theatre. His style incorporates very clean lines and curves. In many ways reminiscent of 1960´s buildings in Canberra.

There are no traditional street names in Brasilia, only ´zones´and´`block numbers´. All the hotels are located in the Hoteleiro zone, shops in another, residential in the ´wing areas´. There are not many pedestrian crossings either, so it´s a challenge crossing the main thoroughfares!

The introduction to visitors to Brasilia from the chief of the convention bureau includes easy access to President and political leaders to officiate and welcome international conventions and events to the city (sound familiar?).

The landscape in this part of Brazil reminds me of the northern rivers area of NSW. The soil is a rich red colour (rich in clay and iron), trees are bushy and similar to jacaranda (but with yellow flowers). I understand that the Brasilia area is fairly self sufficient now. In the early days food had to be brought in from other areas of Brazil as the soil (without improvement) did not support crops.

I cant help but think that the lady in the Brasilian consulate in Buenos Aires must have been from Rio de Janiero as I have really enjoyed time visiting the area of Brasilia!

STOP PRESS.... ELVIS PRESLEY (or someone resembling him) was performing at the local shopping centre in Brasilia on the afternoon I visited. His stage was adorned with 1950´s Mustang cars and other paraphernalia. Long Live the King of Rock and Roll!