Campo de Sao Bento

This beautiful park is just 3 blocks from Cecilia and Will's apartment.  Campo de Sao Bento is my favorite place to visit.  Cecilia and I took Daniel for a walk on Sunday morning, and I thought you might like to see what it was like.

A Welcoming Path

There's an Artisan's Fair every Saturday and Sunday in the park.

Woven by Hand

Bright Balloon Bouquet

Balloon Animals of a Different Sort

Balloons and Booths

Meeting a New Friend

Daniel soon tired of the Fair and C sat with him in a cool shady spot to nurse.

Not a bad place to pause for a meal!

I took the camera and explored.

This tower stands at one entrance to Campo de Sao Bento.
The park is huge--covers probably 6 city blocks in Icarai.

Love this fence made of tree limbs.

Paths and Clearings

Backlit Beauties

One of the ponds attracts Herons, Ducks, Geese,
and Pigeons.

Portuguese Tower

From a Path

Breezy shade made the morning pleasant. 

This tree called my name!

Gnarly

Sculptural

Just after I snapped this picture
a big hummingbird came to feed
on these bright red blooms.
He was about 5" long and dark fluorescent blue-green.

Textures

Tropical Lace

Towering Texture

Bromeliads growing on the Limb Fence. 

Green, Green, Green

Spike

Cousin of Bird of Paradise?

What's a park without pigeons? . . .

 . . . and squirrels . . . no, monkeys!

He's about the size of a toy Yorkshire Terrier
with a tail that goes on for miles.

The Brasilian equivalent to our menacing squirrels.

Great face--a little haunting, actually.

Look at that t a i l!

Purple Carpet

Tiny Lily

Beyond Campo de Sao Bento
you can see surrounding homes and apartment buildings.

Heliconia

Bromeliad in Bloom

Can you believe this?

Love the camouflage colors and texture.

So cool!

Velvety olive-colored bark peels off to reveal
smooth buttery-tan wood.

Another name for this Heliconia is Bishop's Hat
or Chapeu-de-Bispo

Feathery Blooms

Palm and Stucco

Verde e Vermelha

In the Gringa's opinion, if you're planning to come to Niteroi, you need to spend as much time as possible in Campo de Sao Bento.  The Artisan's Fair adds the benefit of browsing and shopping on Saturdays and Sundays.  But any day is beautiful there.