Brasilia: Home Made Caipirinha

Home made Caipirinha

The best way to try Brasil's national cocktail is to try the non-commercial version, by this, I mean, you must have some Brasilian friends who are willing to make the home made caipirinha. Luckily, on my detour trip to the nation's capital, Brasilia, I was hosted by a family who treated me like one of them. I had a blast here, really unexpected, but happy I made a stop in the airplane shape city (the pilot plan is intentional to honor one of Brasil's luminaries, Alberto Santos-Dumont, the father of Aviation).

Thanks to Flavio who made the Caipirinha

Anecdotal evidence revealed that caipirinha was intended as a treatment for Spanish flu. The original recipe apparently contained honey, garlic and distilled spirits (cachaça), which were used in small amount to hasten therapeutic affect against common flu and colds. Today, it is widely popular and varieties exist such as passion fruit caipirinha, strawberry caipirinha, caipisake and caipiroska.

Football theme inspired green carpet upon disembarking from the plane

Renovated Estádio Nacional de Brasília, played host to FIFA World Cup 2014

Palácio Itamaraty, the Foreign Ministry Building designed by Oscar Niemeyer

This building is also known as the Palace of Arches and is famous because of its round arches in unfinished concrete, which is consequently mirrored in the reflecting pool. In front of the building, you'll see a sculpture of Bruno Giorgi called the Meteor. Those five marble blocks symbolizes the continents. Interestingly, the front entrance has a car ramp reserve to the foreign minister that goes directly into his office.

Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida

The Cathedral of Brasília is seat of archdiocese of Brasília and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. It has 16 columns designed in hyperboloid structure and a 12-meter pool that surrounds the cathedral roof and helps in cooling down the temperature inside of the cathedral. Entering the cathedral is breath taking experience, it’s like passing through a dark tunnel only to emerge in a bright space with 3 huge angels suspended on steel cable dominating the roof of the cathedral. The cathedral has specially designed acoustic on the walls, try asking locals on how it works and you'll be pleasantly surprise. Don't leave the cathedral without visiting the smaller chapel which is accessible through the back of the main altar.

Palácio da Alvorada

This is the official residence of President of Brasil and was first use by then President Juscelino Kubitschek. Oscar Niemeyer also designed the building, which is a national historic heritage site. Inside the Palace numerous works of arts adorn the walls and corridors of this modernist style building. The sacred images of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Teresa Ávila, Bahia's tapestry and Botero's 2 women sculpture caught my attention. 

Supreme Court, part of the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Square)

Brasilian Congress, part of the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Square)

Brasilia host 124 embassies, and my trip would not be complete without a tour of the Philippine Embassy. Thanks to Consul Caryln Monastrial for the tour of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia.