Designer, photographer, director, producer and cinematographer, all at once, are just some of the talents of hyperconnected Batman Zavareze; Currently, he is best known as the curator of successful art and technology festival Multiplicidade, where artists for the last 11 years have been carrying out experiments and demonstrations wit different technological resources (the 2016 edition is in July, make a note). “My life is completely digitised, hyper mega connected. I can only travek with two laptops, a smartphone, a tablet wit HD ports and a back up of everything. I am a “digital nomad.” But there comes a time when all of this gets tiring... I have to shut down the machine. I have started having an offline day every fortnight. No screens, not connected to anything and preferrably with electricity at all,” he reveals. Since disconnecting is sometimes necessary, check out our guide to remain off the grid.
Arte and landscaping are the main attractions at the house where architect and plastic artist Burle Max lived. Located in the West Zone of the city, surrounded by lush native vegetation, it is a complete day out. “Visiting the park is always incredible. After, you have to have a dip in the sea at Grumari (beach), followed by a late lunch watching the sunset at Bira, sipping a caipirinha with some exotic fruit,” Zavareze says. “It’s best to go against the current of people going to the beach early in Barra or Recreio, leaving the South Zone from about 3pm.”
This island situated in the Guanabara Bay, a 50minute boat trip from Rio, is like a journey back in time. “Paquetá for me is like Venice in Italy, where there are no cars so it seems like they are living in a different century. The town is a bit run down, nothing there is sophisticated, but the attraction is changing your rhythm and sculpting time as soon as you leave the boat. I usually go for a bike ride with the kids, have a picnic or read a book.”
Aside from the extensive Carioca coast, the city’s waterfalls are an excellent alternative during sweltering Rio days. “A trip to Paineiras to bathe in the waterfalls there used to be a mustdo activity, but since the source has dried up I have migrated to further and lusher location. When it rains, I let a couple days go by and I go to Alto da Boa Vista with accompanied by one of the reserve’s guides to visit the waterfalls.”
Address
: Estrada da Cascatinha, 850, Alto da Boa Vista
Between São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca, heading up Estrada do Joá, you will come tothis small stretch of sand, accessible via a small stone path. It is best to arrive early to get a parking space within the condominium and grab a good spot on the sand. “Joatinga is tiny, it reminds me of some places in Búzios. If i get a guest pass to the (nearby) Costa Brava Club’s natural swimming pool, I’ve also hit the jackpot,” he says.
Opened in 2015 in the centre of Rio, the French Consulate library, has a collection of over 30,000 books and documents for your perusal, as well as a programme of events. “This is the most charming library in Rio at the moment, perfect for research, study and for writing and listening to music with its extensive French repertoire, as wellas promoting a programme of french gastronomy and wine events. If I am working in Centro, this is also a good place for collaborative work. Oh wait! This was supposed to be during my days off...” he concluded with a smile.
