Ferris Bueller
13-11-2007, 08:46 PM
A business trip took me over to Brasil last week with a couple of days in Sao Paulo. Thanks to a good friend I was able to visit the Morumbi cemetery - the final resting place of Ayrton Senna.
As is true for many NSX owners, Senna is a real hero for Brasilians and he remains an idol in Brasil. They refer to him simply as Ayrton - everyone knows who is being spoken about without the need for the surname. He is still spoken of with great respect and affection and they love it if you show some knowledge or appreciation of the great man. Tell them you own an NSX, and for me a significant part of the reason why, and you gain instant respect and kudos.
The guard on the gate of the cemetery must be used to the steady flow of tourists to the site and was only too pleased to usher us through the gates to the private car park. His hard face softened into a broad smile when my friend told him we were "Inglese" here to see Ayrton.
A few days before I was there the Brasilians had their "Day of the Dead" national holiday so the whole place was full of flowers which actually made it a quite nice place to be. Also, his grave was not behind barriers as it is normally.
I took a few photos while I was there. Excuse the quality, it was on my camera phone.
As you can see, it's in the middle of a very built up, although wealthy, area. All of Sao Paulo is crowded, this is one area of green in the middle of the concrete jungle; It's quite surreal really. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to go and pay my respects and enjoy a few moments of contemplation in what is a unqiue place. It's an experience I'll treasure forever.
RIP Ayrton.
As is true for many NSX owners, Senna is a real hero for Brasilians and he remains an idol in Brasil. They refer to him simply as Ayrton - everyone knows who is being spoken about without the need for the surname. He is still spoken of with great respect and affection and they love it if you show some knowledge or appreciation of the great man. Tell them you own an NSX, and for me a significant part of the reason why, and you gain instant respect and kudos.
The guard on the gate of the cemetery must be used to the steady flow of tourists to the site and was only too pleased to usher us through the gates to the private car park. His hard face softened into a broad smile when my friend told him we were "Inglese" here to see Ayrton.
A few days before I was there the Brasilians had their "Day of the Dead" national holiday so the whole place was full of flowers which actually made it a quite nice place to be. Also, his grave was not behind barriers as it is normally.
I took a few photos while I was there. Excuse the quality, it was on my camera phone.
As you can see, it's in the middle of a very built up, although wealthy, area. All of Sao Paulo is crowded, this is one area of green in the middle of the concrete jungle; It's quite surreal really. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to go and pay my respects and enjoy a few moments of contemplation in what is a unqiue place. It's an experience I'll treasure forever.
RIP Ayrton.