Ingo Latotzki Knihy

A city of tolerance under Frederic II, an imperial city under Bismarck, dissolved under the Weimar Republic, extremist during the terror of the Nazis, and punished at the end of the Second World War, Berlin has come out of the rubble at the end of the 20th century with a new strength. Symbol of the Hitlerian regime and of the most uncompromising communism, Berlin has metamorphosed into the capital of a unified Germany. In the past decade, Berlin has become the construction site of a new Reichstag, image of the German democracy, of futuristic buildings and incredible museums like the Pergamon or the Charlotteburg. Mythical sites such as the Alexanderplatz, the Unter den Linder, the arch of Brandeburg, the favourite esplanades of the Berliners, the Kurfurstendamn, breathe a new life and are illuminated once a year for the joyful celebration of the Love Parade. For these festivities, young people from all over the world come to express their passion for the city that has now become a symbol of joy and love.

Like so many other cities of South America, Rio is an urban sprawl containing some truly stunning contrasts. Yet Rio comes alive, really, for only two things -- soccer and the samba. According to tradition founded by the Portuguese navigator Andre Goncalves on 1 January 1502, declared the capital of Brazil by King John in 1763, Rio underwent major reorganization under President Alvarez at the beginning of the 20th century. Avenues and boulevards were laid out in a logic that added overall cohesion to the city. The greatest architects of the time and place were invited to make use of their talents. The houses merge with the tropical countryside, which features banana and sugar plantations lining the large bay that is dominated by the Pao de Acucar -- the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain. Rio is also famous for its wonderful beaches -- such as those of Copacabana and Ipanema -- on which the most beautiful women in the world tan themselves to a gorgeous golden colour wearing the skimpiest of costumes.Through colourful illustrations, Ingo Latotzki takes us on a guided tour of the city, from the areas of avant-garde architecture to the miserable shanties of the favelas -- all of which empty themselves of their inhabitants during Carnival, or when there is an important football match on at the Maracana Stadium. Like its population, Rio is a compound of all the colours, all the shades, between black and white.