Like most modern cities, Vitoria closes off streets on Sundays so that the citizens can ride bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, or whatever they like. It's called Ciclovia in some places. It's brilliant. Here's a bit of what I saw in Vitoria last month.
Riding with a surfboard is nothing special in Brazil, but I love that he is towing the boy along with the rope.
Skateboards and bicycles are also standard fare in Brazil, but this is just spectacular.
I went to fantasyland. On a trip to Brazil for Cycle Chic/Copenhagenize work last month, I was invited to the city of Vitoria for a visit. I accepted happily and booked my flight from Sao Paulo. It was only once I arrived that I realised that I had no idea where on the planet I was. I hadn't looked at a map to see where Vitoria was located. I just bought the ticket and arrived there.
It was a strange sensation not knowing where I was. After having travelled the world for so many years, it felt odd. I still don't know if I was north or south of Rio de Janeiro. But it didn't matter. It was actually quite cool arriving in this beautiful city on the sea named Victory.
It was Dora, from Vitoria Cycle Chic, who invited me. She is one of the many passionate individuals in our Cycle Chic Republic who are using our Cycle Chic trademark to promote cycling positively.
Dora is a bicycle stylist. Her company - Bike Caverna - restores and redesigns vintage bicycles - and Brazil is a country with A LOT of vintage bicycles.
I was given this lovely bicycle to use while in Vitoria. And there were many more of her creations on our Cycle Chic bike ride on the Sunday:
And of course there was a bicycle ride. That is one thing we at the Cycle Chic Republic love to do.
It's a beautiful little city. Located on an island facing the Atlantic. Calm and cool and oh so Brazilian. A little pearl of a place that foreign visitors rarely experience.
It was a dreamy two days in Vitoria. Good friends, good food and lots of citizen cycling around.
Like many of my Brazilian friends, Dora uses her allocated parking spot at her flat for intelligent transport storage.
I have discovered Fantasyland. It left an indelible impression on me.