I spent the month of June living in Brazil. I traveled to Rio, Recife, Campina Grande and João Pessoa. I will focus in this entry about João Pessoa because it is considered one of the "greenest" cities according to my web searches, and the best information I have gotten about how this honor was bestowed is that it's linked the Embassy of Brazil in the UK, and that the city came in second to Paris. If anyone has further information on this, please let me know.I do know that it is the easternmost point of the Americas at 34º47'38"W, 7º9'28"S (I find that Wikipedia is always helpful for such statistics as this), and it is known as the place "where the sun rises first." The city's promotional video (here in english) is a bit slow-paced for my taste, but it effectively publicizes what I experienced: a vibrant, dynamic, historical city.
I was able to visit Alamoana, a luxury condominium complex, (photos) with one of the premier investors (a member of the family I stayed with in Brazil). The site was still in the early stages of construction when I visited, but the lots were mostly sold. It is a beautiful area (next to a beautiful forested area) and the amenities are noteworthy: a marina (which the sun almost poetically sets behind), a pool, work-out facility and club, and very near proximity to the city amenities João Pessoa offers. Here are some of my favorite shots from my visit to Alamoana:
