Maurício Levi, resident of Tijuca and artisan Cléber Mendes/Agência O Dia
Published 04/21/2024 00:00
The essence of Rio is revealed in its neighborhoods, where pride and a sense of belonging are intertwined with the identity of Rio’s residents, such as in Tijuca and Ilha do Governador, in the North Zone of Rio. On the 12th, the Hospital Maternidade Paulino Werneck , on Governador Island, was reopened after more than 10 years closed, which will allow the birth of new islanders again in the region. On social media, Mayor Eduardo Paes took the opportunity to raise the question: between Tijucanos and islanders, who has the greatest sense of belonging and the most fervent love for their roots?
On the busy corner of Praça Saens Peña, in Tijuca, there is a piece of Tijuca’s history: the Flores Cariocas kiosk. Maurício Levi, a proud Tijucano, carries decades of family history on his shoulders. “I was born in Méier, but I was raised here in Tijuca, since my family has had a flower shop here for 60 years, I was part of this neighborhood. This neighborhood has always welcomed me my entire life”, says Maurício, whose eyes shine when talking about its roots deeply intertwined with the neighborhood.
The legacy of floriculture began with Dona Moreninha and her daughter Elzi. “My grandmother dedicated her life here, she and my mother,” she says. Over the years, Flores Cariocas has become more than a flower shop. “That’s what makes me still embrace this idea of staying here, because we have become a reference here in the neighborhood”, highlights Maurício.
Maurício’s family history is what motivates him to stay in the region. Despite having part of his family in the United States, he maintains a connection with family tradition and legacy. One of the things Maurício likes to do most is have coffee at a neighborhood restaurant, where he has a private table. He considers this his outdoor office and enjoys meeting new people and expanding his network. “It was a neighborhood that in the past was considered noble. And this nobility is maintained when dealing with people. I think Tijucanos are very polite people. So, this makes coexistence easier”, he highlights.
For Maurício, Tijuca is much more than a neighborhood. It is a meeting point of tradition, history and resilience, where flowers tell not just the story of a family, but of an entire community that values its roots and celebrates its identity.
Rafael Antônio Santos da Silva, 41 years old, works selling coconuts and became popularly known around the neighborhood as Coco Tijucano. “There are 31 people living here, I like Tijuca, there’s everything here, like the Tijuca Forest, the proximity to the beaches in the South Zone or even other neighborhoods in the North Zone. There’s a bank, there’s a shopping mall, there’s a store”, he lists Rafael.
Administrator Ricardo José da Luz de Deveza, 50 years old, is also a longtime resident of the neighborhood and spends every day at Coco Tijucano. “I’ve lived here for about 20 years, I really like Tijuca because of its accessibility, it’s close to everything, close to Maracanã, close to the beach. Furthermore, I like being here for the dogs, I have two, Kiara and Raj, who are the people’s favorites. Every morning I walk around the neighborhood with them and they even drink coconut water. It’s a very good place, everyone is very friendly here. Even though there’s a lot of violence, I still live here. through Tijuca is inexplicable”, he says, proudly.
Gari Gelma Rosa da Silva, 53 years old, lives in the Salgueiro community and also works at Praça Saens Peña. “I’m proud because I was born and raised here. It’s also close to everything, we take the subway and we’re already there in the city or in Barra. Ah, it’s good to live and what I like most about here and I see it when I’m The fountain is sweeping, I like watching the birds that pass by, I think it’s very beautiful”, says the Tijucana woman.
The residents of Ilha do Governador, known as islanders, have an unshakable pride. And this feeling manifests itself in many ways, but perhaps none of them have the unmistakable aroma of popcorn that has been popular for over 15 years in the Cacuia neighborhood. Paulo Henrique, 52 years old, is one of those islanders who not only loves Ilha do Governador, but also found it a source of support for his family.
“I was born here, at Hospital Paulino Werneck, and was raised on the Island. For me, it is an exemplary place due to the freedom that residents have to be able to walk around peacefully with their cell phone in their pocket, a situation that we don’t see outside of the Island. It’s a neighborhood that I love. This is a place where everyone talks to each other and ends up becoming a family”, he declares, highlighting the welcoming and safe environment that characterizes the region.
Paulo worked as a valet at the VIP parking lot at Ilha Plaza Shopping. However, the search for a more stable life led him to change course. “I stopped to reflect and saw that there was no point in wearing a suit, all elegant, but having a complicated situation at home. That’s when I sat down with my wife, Conceição, and started investing in popcorn”, he says.
The entrepreneur soon found support from local traders and his family to continue with the store and later legalize the stall. With dedication and friendliness, he conquered the region.
Professor Rodrigo Manuel Aguiar Brito, 46 years old, has lived in the region since he was 2 years old and is proud of it being a peaceful place. “It’s a very quiet neighborhood, it used to be more so, but compared to other neighborhoods, it’s still quiet and having that feeling of security is also important. And here in Praia da Bica it has this cooler air, for example. I live nearby from the beach and fishing here with my father and I have good memories here. I like the island, like most people like the island and don’t want to leave here, right”, comments Rodrigo.
Driver Raphael Esteves, 38 years old, has always lived on the Island and is proud to belong to the region. “The feeling of security here doesn’t compare to any other place I go. Here I can stay at a bus stop for an hour or two in the morning and nothing will happen to me. I don’t need to leave here for anything. I have fun here and I work here. Islanders here can go out for a walk, in a very relaxed way. Go there to a bar, to the mall, to the square and the cuisine here has it all and is one of the strong points here in the region”, highlights the resident. island.
