In Botafogo, beauty grows by floors. As you go up, Botafogo changes, like from dark to light, from white to black, from day to night.
You start with a ugly, noisy, a little dirty, messy thing. Then take a lift from any building on the Praia, climb to the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th floor, open your eyes, look out and, an unforgettable phenomenon, you open yourself to the Paradise. The most beautiful panorama you can imagine, “the” postcard view, in fact.
The vision that you will love your entire life. The still black sea (ok, it’s black from pollution, but I love Botafogo), the winding, soft sugar loaf, a velvet, a rug (the Bondinho is very expensive, true, but I love Botafogo), huge streets full of lights and cars like busy ants (yes I know, crazy pollution and don’t try to drive out at 6 o’clock on a rainy afternoon! I love Botafogo!).
And then the people, little ones, thousands, thousands, colorful, small, noisy, busy, beautiful, happy people; Niteroi, the lights of Niteroi, the ships, the boats of the Yacht Club, the runners, who practice along the beach, who sells fruit, who drags the popcorn cart (I know, a crazy mess, but I love Botafogo!).
And the wonderful, divine, Christ. That’s it, divine. Along the Praia, when you cross the São Clemente. Up there, simply divine. Take a moment, stop for a while, and go up to the twelfth floor. Welcome to the Paradise!
