LIFE IS HECK. . .

[trilingual]

After meaning to for ages, I finally checked out the branch of Confeitaria Colombo in the Copacabana Fort, at the Ipanema end of the beach. You need to pay R$2 to enter the fort (now a military museum staffed by some rather toothsome examples of the Brazilian military -- full access to the exhibits is R$4). A few yards farther on you'll come to Colombo's outpost, with umbrella-shaded tables set up under the trees along the sea wall. The view over the water of the entire sweep of Copacabana can only be described as pornographic. No city should be allowed to be so seductively gorgeous! On a sunny day, it's sheer heaven.

 

The café offers only a limited menu of light sandwiches, salads and snacks (similar to the menu served on the ground floor of the main restaurant, downtown) including afternoon tea. The famous savory and sweet pastries from downtown are available. Business is booming this summer. The hostess said that they're so swamped they're not going to take any reservations until the high season rush is over at the end of February. Meanwhile, though, she said they're usually not mobbed during the day. Beginning around 5:00 p.m. the throngs start appearing, jockeying for spots to enjoy the sunset, so plan accordingly. I got there around 1:30 and was seated almost instantly on a beautiful summer Sunday. The view from the cafe is pretty much this one, except you get the entire arc of the beach in real life!

 

http://www.maria-brazil.org/newimages/copacabana.jpg