I had been fascinated by Curitiba since the 1970s, when the city leapt onto the
world stage thanks to the visionary policies of its then-mayor, Jaime Lerner. Lerner
shaped a phenomenally well-planned city with one of the best public-transit systems in
the world. With its social-welfare measures, its network of bicycle paths and recycling,
and ubiquitous parks, it is a Green's wet dream. The city does not disappoint: in fact,
you have to pinch yourself to realize you're in Brazil rather than, say, western Europe.
I.
Curitiba's wonderful bus system still seems futuristic, with its
tube-shaped platforms. We arrived on a Sunday night, and buses were still
running regularly well after midnight -- part of the municipal plan to keep
the city lively and vibrant outside business hours.
All photos are copyright 2006 by Adam Jones. No copyright is claimed for educational or other non-profit use if the author is credited and notified. For commercial use, please contact the author. Photos are also available in large-size (2272 x 1704), high-resolution versions suitable for printing and framing.