Best of Brazil: From Parked Landmark to Public Library

Yesterday I posted this picture on Instagram and Facebook, with the caption “Look closely”:

And to be honest, it is not hard to focus on what is going on in the foreground and miss the 727 casually parked next to a gas station.

I’m publishing this as a “Best of Brazil” post because this illustrates one of the best qualities that seems to come naturally to Brazilians – repurposing old things.

In this case, there are two derelict 727s that sat for over two decades (!) at the São Luís airport. As they were right next to the main highway going in and out of town they became somewhat of a landmark to people arriving or departing.

Recently, however, they were both purchased and removed. I don’t know the whereabouts of the other one, but the one in the picture was transported to the interior city of Vargem Grande – about three hours from the capital. There it has been parked, and, according to locals, will eventually be turned into a public library.

Vargem Grande is on the way to the little town where Itacyara’s sister and brother-in-law live, and that is how I happened to get this picture. I also got a closer look, and took a few more pictures:

Here is what the final project will look like:

And finally, this video from the Instagram account of the Vargem Grande city hall shows how the plane was taken apart, moved to the city, and reconstructed.

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And be sure to read the action-packed adventures of Missionary Max: Missionary Max and the Jungle Princess and Missionary Max and the Lost City.