Brasilia is... nice.

Last week I hopped on a plane to spend 56 hours in Brasilia.  I went to the embassy for training, gathering as much information on running a nursing clinic as I could: I took 150 clinic photos to my dismal 10 city/architecture photos and blew through two pens trying to contain the information blasted at me.  I wrote, scribbled, copied, memorized. I listened, gestured, and flopped my arms around, feeling my heart nearly explode when I tried to navigate government paperwork. When I wasn't obsessing over how much gauze or how many hypodermic needles I'd need or whining about the cold (60F) weather, I quite enjoyed my time spent in Brasilia despite the fog and rain. Weather conditions were so bad that when we landed the plane needed a second go-around after bouncing off the ground, unable to stop. 

View from the Melia 21 Hotel. Apparently the tower has restaurant inside. 

All websites I found on touring the city pointed to the same TV tower to purchase a city-bus tour ticket, I figured it would be so easy to find. However, no ticket office nor anyone could be found. They'd been lost to the fog and dreariness so I opted instead for Belgian beer at Jack's Pub and fancy-pants hotel chocolate. To my surprise I discovered the chocolate nearly took care of my desire to sight see, as they had printed the most famous land marks right on them.

I recommend both the bar and Melia 21 for a swanky hotel experience. However I do not recommend eating late night gas station shawarma. Or early evening shawarma for that matter. It was not so great and spent several hours regretting my choice. Overall, I got to enjoy a drive over the JK Bridge and an early morning walk to the Cathedral before heading back to Recife. At risk of sounding disdainfully boring and lacking in creativity, it was... nice. Brasilia is a nice city. Quiet and nice. 

Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge 

In front of the TV tower. Who doesn't love Brasilia?

St. John and Pink Hoodie Girl.  

Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida