The bronze of Bridget Bardot is worn shinny by the caresses of drunken men leaving a nearby bar.  From the worn casting on the couch it is evident that this street sculpture was more than central to the history of Buzios.  The statue gave the illusion of life to the town.  The Bardot name was appended to restaurants, barbers and bars.  The promised coupling of a Hollywood image with the tides of this place, these beaches, this fishing village created hope.  The carnival character knocking at the gate speaks of a desire to belong.

The bronze statue of Bardot is the work of Cristina Motta as is the casting of the three fishermen at the tide line.  The image of the traditional life of Buzios is embedded in the tides of the ocean as was their living.  The nets, hats, footing and water hint that this bronze may not be polished at closing time.  The fish in this ocean may be more sustainable than the mermaid.

The oxide sands are covered with folk swimming and cooling and sunning — seeking a reprieve from a difficult life.  The burnt cacti on the hills, the dust, the falling-apart trolly hint at hard times.  Razor wire and security guards scream hard times.  On the beach the swimmers break the surface.

This could be just another tourist town if the future was clear.  The wonderful mystery is nailed to the directional sign.