Rushhour

Rush hour in Portugal, "horário de pico" or "de pique," "hora do rush." With the floor to our carioca master Antonio Houaiss (1915-1999) — among other specialties, a dictionary-maker and encyclopedist —: the masculine noun rush, from the English, means “final effort, a runner's acceleration at the end of the race; a sudden influx of a great quantity of vehicles (= rush hour); a great collective flow aiming to achieve a purpose [...].” Well, that's what it came to be, in every big city on the planet, from the advent of the metropolis onward. In the morning and in the early evening. In the morning, it was always the worry of arriving on time, thoughts on the day's tasks. For many, including those hanging from the streetcar footboards, there was also the special care taken in carrying the lunchbox.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an urban scene. On the left side, there is a train full of people clinging to the railings, occupying practically the entire length of the vehicle. On the right, there is a large building with balconies and windows. The sky is clear, and power lines cross the air. In the background, other buildings are visible.

And in the early evening, on the way home, many of them, on those trams, were already anticipating what lay ahead... family, children, the evening routine. Others were thinking about that stop by the bar, for a good chat and, who knows, something more. Not to mention those who had already fulfilled the daily ritual (or nearly so) right there near work itself, before facing the tram. And whoever was hanging off the running board had to stay sharp; despite all the streetcar drivers' care, the risk -- let's admit it -- was considerable. Aside from this risk and the discomfort of those who rode hanging on and resigned to it, these images hold a certain beauty, in the sense of the vitality and uniqueness present in them. Each tram became cohesive; all the passengers thinking and longing for the same goal -- to arrive! And the streetcar driver was the guide, the leader, who throughout his daily routine kept learning, absorbing something about the passengers he carried; about the getting on and off the tram.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an urban scene with a crowded streetcar stopped on the street. On the left, there is a line of people waiting to board the streetcar, which is full of passengers. In the center, the streetcar has the number "2037" and the sign "Tijuca" above the driver. On the right, a person is walking on the sidewalk. In the background, there are old buildings with lit windows.

Rush hour and the peaceful night that always followed it were a memorable moment in Rio. But of course many people worked well into the night, so that the city kept running like a machine that never stops. In this photograph, the old streetcar 62 headed toward Méier – still spelled with a "y" at that time; a tribute to the old councilman Meyer, a Portuguese man from a family originally from Germany.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a nighttime urban scene. On the left, we see a crowd of people walking toward a train. In the center, the interior of the train is lit up, revealing passengers sitting and standing. On the right, the exterior of the train is visible, with the sign "MEYER" and the number "1825" prominently displayed.