Thais Leitão, Alana Gandra, Iolando Lourenço and Renata Giraldi Reporters Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – Air Force One left Rio de Janeiro and Brazil Monday (March 21) at 9:15 am.

The day before, Sunday morning found the president of the United States in a Rio hillside slum watching youngsters dance capoeira. As he left, the president waved at residents and threw kissed to onlookers. In the afternoon, there was a speech at the Municipal Theater exalting the shared heritage of two of the biggest democracies in the world and their common history. On both occasions Obama proved to be extremely popular (in the Cidade de Deus he even kicked a soccer ball around and at the beginning of his speech he greeted the crowd in Portuguese – to enormous, grateful applause).

Sunday night the Obamas went to the Christ the Redeemer statue, located 710 meters above the city on a hill called Corcovado (which means “hunchback”) where the view is breathtaking even without a full moon.

The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, said that Brazilians were impressed (“bastante impressionada”) with what they saw of president Obama and his family.

“On the other hand, the Obamas took away wonderful memories. They were enchanted. Enchantment is a Rio trademark,” said Cabral. “This is a city that is a great place to live, to work, to visit. We are a friendly people.” Cabral added that the Obama visit was a source of city pride – there were no problems while he was in town. “He went to a pacified slum with no problems. He went to the Municipal Theater that has been recently renovated and is really in great shape, pretty as can be. And he went to Christ the Redeemer, which was also recently renovated with new illumination.”

Eduardo Paes, the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, said that the visit was positive. “It was an honor. The Obama family were all deeply moved, especially at the Christ the Redeemer statue. When they first arrived it was cloudy, but then the clouds disappeared and they all got a splendid view of the marvelous city of Rio de Janeiro,” said the mayor.

In the afternoon, while president Obama was making his speech at the Municipal Theater, wife, Michelle, and the daughters visited Samba City to see what a carnival parade is like. The samba “school,” Unidos da Tijuca, put on a show for the visitors and showed them how the different percussion instruments are used. Michelle and the girls drank some coconut milk and were offered tropical fruit.

On at least three different occasions during his visit, president Obama bemoaned the fact that Chicago lost out to Rio de Janeiro in the dispute to host the 2016 Olympic Games. He admitted that former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva beat him. “I sadly admit I was defeated,” he said.

But Obama showed he was a good sport by promising to try to return to Rio to see the games. “If the games cannot be in Chicago, the best place to have them would certainly be Rio,” he said. And governor Cabral said he told Obama there were many reasons to return to Rio. “If he doesn’t come for the Olympic Games, he can still come for the World Cup.”

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Depois de visita de dois dias, Obama deixa o Brasil e segue para o Chile
Link - Obama, Michelle e filhas visitam o Cristo Redentor

Link - Barack Obama promete voltar ao Brasil em 2016 para as Olimpíadas