It is my second Sunday in Flamengo, and it is more tranquil than last week’s; arriving was a turbulent day of reorganisation and throwing things away, so I could at least have a minimum quality of life to work in peace.

Now that everything has settled, this Sunday was special as I could do something I have not done for a long time: walk from Flamengo to Marina da Gloria. In the past, when I had the dogs and lived in Flamengo for about 20 years, I walked to Marina da Glória nearly every weekend, with or without them.

It is an extraordinary place, and now that the marina is under new management, it is even more beautiful, organised and well-maintained.

Yesterday it was raining, but this morning it is beautiful. Yesterday’s rain had cleared the sky, leaving a beautiful blue sky and a cool temperature, warm in the sun and cool in the shade; it was a perfect autumn day.

I left home at 7 am, a little later than usual, but it was Sunday; there was no rush; it was to enjoy the day. Yasmin was sleeping; I knew she and her mother would not be up until at least half past ten or eleven.

I first went to Carmen Miranda Park for a good workout that lasted more than an hour. I then passed by the convenience store inside the petrol station on Av. Rui Barbosa to have a coffee before going to Marina da Glória.

Again, when I lived in Flamengo, I would do precisely the same with the dogs; first, I would go to the park, then to the convenience store for a coffee, with the dogs waiting for me outside.

The convenience store seems busier than before, with extremely helpful waitresses who serve quickly and efficiently. However, the cashier who handles payments seems arrogant, with a chip on his shoulder: well, you cannot have everything.

I see this a lot as a foreigner, a gringo in Brazil, where some Brazilians have an adverse reaction to meeting foreigners, especially those who speak and understand Portuguese well, but I don’t mind.

I walked up Aterro, in front of the beach, towards the city centre and Marina da Glória; on the way, I liked to observe the scenery, the people, and the movement. Again, in Flamengo, the beach area seems cleaner and more organised nowadays than in the past, with even the stalls for selling drinks and snacks looking more professional than before.

The day was beautiful, and it felt so good to take in everything around me. It took me about 40 minutes to an hour to reach Marina da Gloria; it took longer because I stopped many times to take photos.

So many beautiful and exciting images and angles passed before my eyes and into my mind as I walked. A skilled photographer has an open mind and is always ready to capture a moment, no matter the circumstances.

And again, yet again, the marina seems to be better than before, more organised, cleaner and with an ambience of positivity, happiness, and affluence, not something dirty, disorganised, dingy or slovenly as it was in the past.

I stood in front of one of the piers, looking out to the horizon, admiring the landscape and the line of buildings from the city centre that run behind the marina, when suddenly a forty-foot sailboat swiftly came in, berthed and dispatched its guests in mere seconds and minutes.

I walked down to the slip to look more closely at the boat; the captain saw me and came over to talk.

He told me that he had modified the boat for day charter purposes. The boat was old. I knew the manufacturer when I arrived in Brazil thirty years ago; the new layout had made the boat more modern and practical, and he had done an excellent job. We talked for about ten minutes, and when he was ready to go, we said our goodbyes, and he sailed off.

I spent about an hour in the marina looking at boats and taking photos. When I finished, instead of returning home along the beachfront the way I came, I decided to go back inside along Aterro’s dual carriageway, which is closed on Sundays for the public to walk, ride bicycles, run, etc.

I bought some sparkling mineral water as it was hot and took some more photos. After an hour, I arrived home feeling happy and fulfilled. It was almost midday, and Nalva hadn’t gone to work yet; she had told me yesterdayshe would have to work this afternoon.

Yasmin had already given her mother her Mother’s Day gift, so everything was fine. Nalva had kindly prepared a simple but nice lunch for us before she left.

Late in the afternoon, Yasmin and I took Perola for a walk, which allowed us to talk. When my daughter and I spend time together, we communicate better while walking or doing something physical, especially outdoors. It was very enjoyable spending quality time with my daughter and Perola.

Back home, I saw some things online and felt happy for such a pleasant Sunday.

In bed by 9.30 p.m.

Thank you.

Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.

Richard

Photos by Richard George Photography

The post A Beautiful Sunday in Flamengo | Walking to Marina da Gloria and Enjoying the Scenery first appeared on The Long Gringo.