Lapa, Escadaria de Selarón

Rio! So colorful and full of life.  There was once an artist here, an eccentric man named Jorge Selarón.  The Chilean born street enchanter painted these tiles as a tribute to the people of Brazil. He began the project, unassumingly on his own steps until it seemed to take on a life of its own, and continued all the way down to the Arcos da Lapa. It seemed the daily painter of tiles had no end in sight as he expressed “This crazy and unique dream will only end on the day of my death.” He was indeed found unconscious on these very steps where he dedicated so many years of his existence  beautifying, only about a year ago.