Brazilian F-1 driver Ayrton Senna da Silva (1960-94) was a respected driver whom we followed for a while. His statue at Copacabana Beach is the first thing we visit once in Rio de Janeiro.
… more pix n videos on Google Maps, TA
He won the F-1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991. Michael Schumacher (1969-) won 7: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. Senna’s death certainly made Schumacher’s win that much easier. Unfortunately, he died young, on the race track in Bologna, Italy, of skull fractures, brain injuries, and a ruptured temporal artery. Italian Air Force offered to fly his coffin home but his family chose the home airline. He received a state funeral. (Gisele Bündchen catwalked at 2016 Rio Olympic … it seems Brazil lacks talent, oh well.)
One item on top of our agenda in Rio de Janeiro is to visit his statue on the sidewalk to Copacabana Beach; facing the Copacabana Palace, reportedly the best hotel in town. It’s a live size, he stands on top of the podium that he had stood for more than 40 times in his short career. His left hand is holding a Brazilian flag.
His figure is slim, compare to his fellows we see in 2024. The inscription reads “O medo me fascina”, which Google translates to fear fascinates me.
RIP.
… the evening photo was taken at 7:52pm on Feb 12. Unlike the pristine condition in the morning, empty bottles are everywhere.
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