Darwin is back to Brazil 173 years after he wrote the famous quote "On the 19th of August we finally left the shores of Brazil, I thank God, I shall never again visit a slave-country", in a marvelous exhibit in Rio de Janeiro. Although many things still remain the same, the country has somewhat evolved since his first arrival.

Darwin is back on a lighter tone, in his own exhibit, sponsored by several financial and cultural institutions in Brazil, organized in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History . The exciting expo is unmissable and has already toured in several important cities like New York, Chicago, Toronto.

The exhibit depicts a summary of his life and theory in 7 main themes:

A Wold Before Darwin
The Yong Naturalist
A Trip Around the World
The Idea Takes Shape
A Life´s Work
Evolution Today
Endless Forms the Most Beautiful

Read below an introduction excerpt from AMNH original exhibit home-page:

Happiest at home with his notebooks and his microscope, he shunned the public eye. Controversy made him ill. This brilliant observer of nature kept his most original and revolutionary idea under wraps for decades. Yet today, two centuries after Charles Darwin's birth, nearly everyone knows his name. What did Darwin do, and why does he still matter so much?



Keenly observing nature in all its forms—from fossil sloths to mockingbirds, primroses to children—Darwin saw that we all are related. Every living thing shares an ancestry, he concluded, and the vast diversity of life on Earth results from processes at work over millions of years and still at work today. Darwin's explanation for this great unfolding of life through time—the theory of evolution by natural selection—transformed our understanding of the living world, much as the ideas of Galileo, Newton and Einstein revolutionized our understanding of the physical universe.

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection underlies all modern biology. It enables us to decipher our genes and fight viruses, and to understand Earth's fossil record and rich biodiversity. Simple yet at times controversial, misunderstood and misused for social goals, the theory remains unchallenged as the central concept of biology. Charles Darwin, reluctant revolutionary, profoundly altered our view of the natural world and our place in it.

Charles Darwin looked closely at life. The vast and marvelous diversity of life on Earth, from barnacles to butterflies, ostriches to orchids, made him curious. Countless species, living and extinct—why so many? Some were only slightly different from one another-what could explain that? Each organism so beautifully adapted to its environment—how could it happen?



With persistence and passion, Darwin set out to find answers. He conducted experiments. He read widely and corresponded with fellow naturalists around the world. And he studied the evidence using simple tools, at times little more than a microscope or a magnifying glass. Darwin looked closely—and we saw the world in a new way.

Darwin Exhibit in Rio is presented at "Museu Historico Nacional" ( Historic National Museum ), located at Praça Marechal Ancora, at Rio ´s city Center. The Expo goes on until May 4th and entrance costs R$ 15,00.

NORMAL OPERATING HOURS:

Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday , Sunday and Holidays : 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Monday: Closed

After you are done with Darwin´s expo, check the Museum store as well. They sell several items like T-shirts, notepads, mugs, turtle and iguana toys worthwhile checking out.

If you want to buy Darwin in Rio Exhibit produts on-line, there is also new website.

Don´t miss this great chance to visit the exhibit and stay in a apartment in Rio.

Darwin ´s expo will move on to São Paulo May 4th, where it will be presented until July 15th, at MASP Museum at the Av. Paulista, 1578, São Paulo.


Belavista Brazil Carnival is a non-commercial blog devoted to wonders of Rio de Janeiro, with a focus to the Brazilian Carnival. Our sole objective is to describe how Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is magically created, its artists, dancers and musicians that make up the world’s largest show. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns

You have finally decided to come to Rio, but do you know what to do? There are inumerous interesting things to do in Rio, like the Corcovado- Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, and the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. But what about Samba after carnival is over? Now Carnival in Rio is never over: Read below a recent "invention" within the tourist industry in Rio:

Samba City in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, became one of the most looked after tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. It occupies an area of 114.000 sq. meters, built in the port district by the City Hall, at Rua Rivadavia Correa 60, Gamboa, a district neighboring downtown.

Even the choice of its location was carefully planned for the thematic city: The area where the Samba City was built was considered to be a "Sacred Ground" in the beginning of the century, since the Carioca samba was originally born there.

The triangle, which includes the districts of Saúde, Santo Cristo and Gamboa has a great concentration of the City´s popular culture, notably the personalities and entities, linked to the Carioca Carnaval.



The design of Samba City forms a geometrical figure, with factories surrounding the main square. They seem like parts of a group, linking hands, forming a large circle. It is as if the world of the samba were embracing its ancestors, who were around here during the 17th and 18th centuries, bringing the art of African dance and music, to be incorporated today to Brazilian cultural traditions.

The thematic city will transform Samba School activities into a permanent practice. More than a tourist attraction, Samba City has become a production center of genuine Brazilian art.

SOME OF THE NUMBERS OF SAMBA FACTORY

. gates measuring 10m wide by 7.5m high allow the passage of the allegoric floats fully assembled.

. Sewing ateliers, hat fashioning room, adornment room and the workshops for polystyrene and fiber glass modeling are located on the highest floor of 2.700m2

. A cargo elevator services all four stories.

. The 12m high ceiling ( void ) assure that the allegories can be assembled in their real size.

. From an outside sidewalk, the visitor will go through all factories, watching the allegories construction from an 8m high balcony.

PERMANENT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

There are varied activities during the week at the Samba City.

If you need more infomation, please call the phones: (21) 2213-2503 or (21) 2213-2546 or access their site at www.cidadedosambarj.com.br.

We are sure you will have lot´s of fun visiting this magical world of Samba in Rio.

Belavista Brazil Carnival is a non-commercial blog devoted to wonders of Rio de Janeiro, with a focus to the Brazilian Carnival. Our sole objective is to describe how Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is magically created, its artists, dancers and musicians that make up the world’s largest show. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns