CITY COLOURSCAPE: Rio de Janeiro

BRAZILIAN BLUE

By Nurcan Tuzkapan 

I take a few deep breaths as I prepare myself for a 12-hour flight. Love to travel, hate to fly. "Think of the fun holiday ahead," I think to distract myself, as the plane lifts off.

"Welcome aboard to the direct flight to Rio de Janeiro," The airplane staff is wearing blue, not knowing that will be a preview of the colour that will inspire me in the weeks ahead.

Brazilian blue, I saw it everywhere. The clear sky, the beach stools, buses, letters, walls, T-shirts. Blue was everywhere and it looked amazing on tanned skin. I could write a whole separate story about a Brazilian tan, it's next level.

During my travels, I went on a boat trip with a group of friends. We went swimming and caught a lot of fish that day. The colour blue inspired me and despite its reputation I think it’s an uplifting colour, especially when it’s surrounded by sun. 

Thoughts of endless possibilities go through my mind when I stare into the deep blue ocean. She reminds me of how small we are and I always get a bit nervous before I go in. It’s the same feeling that I get when something excites and scares me at the same time. I always think: that’s my cue, that’s how I know when to jump.