Mona Lisa is in Copacabana and she's not at the beach!

Join Mona Lisa on a tour of a 1947 Copacabana apartment. You'll get a glimpse into cultural insights most celebrities would never know about — dirty laundry

Mona Lisa was all set to go on her trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil until she contracted Covid a few weeks before. Bummer. But being the trouper that she is, she decided to soldier on. The good news is she wasn’t sick for very long. The bad news is her plans to be consistent with her schedule were derailed. 

Mona Lisa knows that her fans are always anxious to hear about her latest escapades but she just couldn’t muster the energy. "Hey everyone!" she calls out to her adoring public. "I'm sorry I can’t share anything for a while." 

The fans start to murmur among themselves, disappointed that they won't get their weekly dose of Mona Lisa. Just then, one of her biggest fans steps forward. "That's okay, Mona Lisa," he says. "We'll still love you no matter what." The rest of the fans quickly agree, and Mona Lisa can't help but smile at their devotion. 

Fast forward: Mona Lisa recovered from Covid, packed her bags and was off to her next adventure. She had the time of her life on her trip to Brazil with its vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes. She ate all sorts of delicious traditional foods, danced in the streets and visited some amazing museums. It was a fun time, but ultimately she was happy to be back in the States and ready to share her stories with everyone. Stay tuned for more coming in the months ahead!

An adorable 1947 apartment in Copacabana

I've always loved visiting Brazil. I’m pretty sure I talk way too much about this country. But this isn't just a country to me; it’s where my mom is from and where practically my entire family lives.

It’s also a special place that I can’t help but feel its energy coursing through my veins — the culture, people, music, architecture, passion and romance are addictive!

This trip was especially meaningful and a long-time coming. Lots has happened since I was there last. It felt good to be home.

But enough talk; let me show you my cousin’s apartment in Copacabana.

I digress. My obsession with architecture.

I’m a little obsessed with architecture. This obsession must have started when I was young. Going into old or custom-built homes fueled my curiosity. What was this used for? Why did they do this? Who lived here before? How did they live? Every time I entered one of these homes it felt as if there was something to learn from their history and stories about what people did in the space before.

I crushed on and was influenced by my Brazilian grandmother’s homes, West Tennessee farmhouses, victorians and antebellum homes and a childhood friend’s custom-built home in Martin, Tennessee. (Lyn Franklin Hoyt, I’m talking about you again. Are you reading this?) And don’t forget, all those historical homes my dad took me to see on our summer vacations.

Copacabana, the neighborhood and the beach

Copacabana is a neighborhood located in the South Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Copacabana is one of the most famous beaches in the world, and for good reason. The 2.5-mile-long crescent-shaped beach is iconic. The juxtaposition of these incredible rock formations and the ocean make for an amazing backdrop that will leave you speechless! Check out the world cam to see Copacabana in real time.

Copacabana living: a vintage apartment tour

My cousin’s apartment in Copacabana was built in 1947. Each apartment at the Shangri-La has its own social entrance from the vintage elevator. Most apartments and homes in Brazil have two entrances, one for social and the other for service.

Look at those shiny parquet floors. Makes me want to put a sheen on my own.

Notice the air conditioning unit in the dining room. Most homes do not have central heat and air. They're expensive to run, so you might only turn them on when it's super hot outside or in your bedroom at night during the hottest days of summer. It can be brutal. Sweating while taking a cold shower is not unusual.

@monalisanashville

Doing laundry in Brazil

When it comes to washing clothes, there are a few things that Americans and Brazilians tend to do differently. In Brazil, maids typically do the laundry for families instead of the individuals themselves. While this might sound luxurious, there are some downsides that Americans would probably have a hard time adjusting.

Washing machines still only have one temperature option — cold — which means that the dirtiest clothes have to be soaked in a bucket of boiling water and soap. The buckets are then placed by a window so that the sun can help clean them before going into the washing machine.

The laundry room, or área in Portuguese, is an important part of any home in Brazil. It is usually located in an area near the kitchen, and is often outfitted with large windows to allow clothes to dry quickly. In addition, the laundry room usually has a sink for hand washing. This room feels very open and sun-filled.

Dryers are not widely used in tropical countries due to the heat and cost to run them. Instead, laundry is usually hung on a ceiling pulley laundry rack next to big open windows to allow the clothes to dry more quickly.

Laundry, the never-ending chore, is a big part of a Brazilian maid’s regular routine. Maids usually come one to three times a week and work for the entire day. Clothes are washed and hung out to dry one day and then taken down and ironed the next which include sheets and towels in addition to clothes.

It may come as a surprise to Americans, but in Brazil it is customary for women to wash their undies themselves in the shower every day. Underwear is generally not put in the washing machine with other clothes.

So when you’re in Brazil don’t count on washing those jeans at 3:00 P.M. and expect to be able to wear them out at 5:00 P.M.

A story of family love

photo: rvonkruger.com.br

Alzira and her family

“My mother was born in 1903. She studied at the Baptist School in Rio de Janeiro before going on to pharmacy school, which was extremely rare for women at that time. In her class there were only three other female classmates.

She married my father in 1942. Again, this was completely unheard of to marry this late in life and have two children in her forties.

My father, who did not learn how to read or write until the age of 19, was invited by a missionary, from the interior of the state of Minas Gerais, to work and study at the Baptist School in Rio de Janeiro. It was at this school that he met and fell in love with my mother, who was working as an internist.

My father majored in pedagogy (education) and also taught in many schools and universities. He wrote 22 historical and biographical books about people like Abraham Lincoln and Tiradentes (a Brazilian national hero).

I also have a degree in education and have worked in both private and public universities. I went to graduate school at UERJ (University of the State of Rio de Janeiro), a public research university. It is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country. After I graduated I was invited to work at the university where I stayed until I retired.”

Aunt Dala, Alzira and Uncle Luciano, (center) Uncle Luciano and Aunt Dala’s pharmacy graduation photo, (right) Lucianinho, Ana Helena, Alzira’s neighbor, Alzira and my mother, Belzinha.

Aunt Dala was my mom and her siblings favorite. I believe every single one of them lived with her at some point in their lives.

In 2022 the family love continues. Like her mother, Alzira is by far one of our family’s favorite relative. Everybody loves her. I think maybe I love her the most though.

More on my adventures with Alzira to follow in this continuing Rio de Janeiro Series over the next few months.

Alzira and Carlos make the loveliest couple. Alzira’s son Pedro and his wife Bia with their children Catarina and Gabriel, Gabriel and Alzira in Nashville and of course, a photo of Alzira and me in Rio.