Are We In Tropical Europe?

Overview
After spending the first night in Curitiba and reuniting with one of the Brazilian students from UNIMEP, the group is up early to visit an environmental institution called Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente or UNILIVRE. Focusing on the environment and sustainability in both rural and urban areas, students at UNILIVRE complete an array of certificate programs. The school itself is set in a beautiful natural area and the architecture blends seamlessly with its surroundings. After attending a lecture that provided the students with a background on the city of Curitiba and UNILIVRE, everyone gets back on the bus for a city tour. Curitiba has a rich cultural history as it was originally founded by Western Europeans. This is reflected in the architecture, attractions, and population of the city. Being the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná, Curitiba has always been "a city with a plan" and serves as a model of sustainable urban development and planning across the world. After the city tour, the group attends a lecture at Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento Urbano de Curitiba (IPPUC). There the group learns of the innovative initiatives being undertaken in Curitiba in the realms of transportation, growth management, green space, recycling, and zoning. In stark contrast to Sao Paulo city, growth and design in Curitiba seems controlled and planned, and their citizens are compassionate and compliant. After a long day, the group gets some free time to explore before heading back to the hotel in anticipation of another day of travel.