Come on, let's twist again!

HH was tethered to his computer again all day, and everyone from our choir was tied up with family, so I wound up going on my own to a show by one of our choir monitors and her group. And am I glad I did - what a talented group of young people. Six of them singing a capella, with one of the singers occasionally picking up the guitar and a girl accompanying some of the songs on a variety of percussion instruments. The music was mostly from the north and north-east of Brazil, with a heavy African influence. Excellent and criative arrangements and very tuneful.

The venue was also very special, up in Santa Teresa, Rio's answer to Montmartre. I'm gutted that my photos didn't come out (Cannot display this file - and error 0x8000000a - guess it's a damaged card)? I'm glad that I stopped on the way to take a shot of these figures, perched above the atelier of a scrap metal artist - I've posted them before, will look back to find the link later. Sun and rain have taken their toll since last I saw them.

Anyway, to get back to the venue, it's called the Parque das Ruínas (Park of the Ruins , fairly obviously) and was once home to a remarkable woman, who held regular salons and played hostess to many artists. For years after she died it was left empty and decaying, before someone had the bright idea of stripping the walls back to the brick and building a metal stairway up through the middle. Now there is an outdoor amphitheatre on the ground floor and a small theatre, where the show was held, in the basement. And from every landing on the way up the staircase, there are spectacular views of the Guanabara Bay and the Rio downtown area.

I also paused on the way to get a shot of a house we once visited (extra photo), where a friend's father had his library of precious books up in the climatized attic, as well as a rooftop garden and other comforts. I'll never forget it.