Number 21 - Praça Mauá and Museu do Amanhã

The project to revitalize the port area of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Maravilha, reached a new milestone in September 2015 when the old square Praça Mauá was re-inaugurated after 4 years of rebuilding. In December 2015 the new museum, Museu do Amanhã - The Museum of Tomorrow - was opened, and a new public space was created, right in the middle of downtown Rio de Janeiro.

I came walking from Cais do Valongo along Avenida Venezuela, and when I arrived at the square it was love at first sight! The square was full of people, old and young, tourists, families, children playing, all of them enjoying the sunny afternoon and the beautiful and incredible scenery.

Lots of children (and some that were not children) had made the letters spelling #Olympic City into a playground. And the letters turned out to be even more beautiful from the back:

Praça Mauá has now got green grass and palm trees, and lots of open space to run, to ride a bike, to roller-blade and benches where you can just sit and watch life go by - as the Brazilians love to say.

There is even an area with food trucks and vending booths, where you can buy souvenirs.
But, the Museum of Tomorrow, the strange building (is it a shark? Is it a whale? Is it a boat?) built on the pier, completely dominates the scene.

I had come with the idea to visit the museum, but the long lines put the idea out of my mind, it will have to be next time!

I decided to just enjoy the afternoon and take some more pictures, and the strange building revealed that it has lots of crazy angles.

The incredible architecture puts on a show, but the incredible landscape certainly helps. Praça Mauá now opens up to the Guanabara Bay, and the view of the bridge from Rio to Niteroi is amazing.

The plan is to open a promenade along the bay, from Praça Mauá to Praça XV, a great idea! Cariocas already begin to get new views of their city, and they are enjoying it.

I sat for a while, watching the light change, feeling the sun on my face, and feeling happy, already looking forward to visiting the Museum of Tomorrow on my next visit. It is great to see that the eternal country of the future is is changing, creating new spaces and finding its own way towards tomorrow.