For more than a decade I’ve passed a monument (sometimes at outrageous speeds) on the Aterro do Flamengo that I knew nothing about. Renato and I stopped there on our downtown tour and I discovered that it is a monument to Brazilians who died toward the end of WWII (Brazil entered late on the side of the allies).
The monument comprises abstract geometric shapes, statues representing the three branches of the military and a reflecting pool.
A group of bright yellow-footed cranes leisurely preened themselves in the reflecting pool. 
It is somber, almost sterile place. The overcast weather seemed somehow appropriate. Inside is a museum that was closed in honor of the holiday. The dead, including the unknown soldier, are buried on the grounds.
Some of the walls display beautiful murals.
What originally caught our attention as we passed was a group of soldiers, including a band, practicing for the parade the following day.
This monument has an impressive view of downtown Rio. You can even see the Teatro Municipal.
As seen in the video below, traffic on the Aterro do Flamengo now seems tame, but I can remember being in taxis that seemed like they were going over 200 kph. In the late 90’s, the most underrated thrill ride in the world was telling a taxi driver in Zona Sul that you were late for a flight at Santos Dumont Airport.
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