Zeca Camargo: in each new country, I will think of Glória Maria – 02/15/2023 – Zeca Camargo

Today, arriving at Santos Dumont airport to return to São Paulo, a woman stopped me to say that Gloria Maria and I were her greatest inspiration. Again.

I had heard this ultra-generous praise countless times before, but since his sad farewell last February 2nd, they have intensified. Consequently, extending your absence, but above all renewing a little desire that you know well…

When people look for me to talk about the inspiration that Gloria and I are, they are talking about travel. And nothing could make me more proud.

As we worked together on “Fantástico”, especially in the first decade of this century, and as we had the same passion, traveling, this association in the viewers’ imagination was inevitable. But our connection went far beyond passports.

Of course, we always joked about who had seen more places in the world. Right off the bat, I want to say that Gloria is the absolute champion, even talking about the top 114 countries I’ve visited. But that’s not the whole story.

The correct number of trips she made varied from obituary to obituary I read, but it certainly exceeds 150. No, she hadn’t gotten to know all 193 nations currently recognized by the UN – when I wanted to “get her out of my mind” , I would ask, joking: “But to Tuvalu, Gloria… have you already been?”

This micro country I visited in 2003 was off her list, I was sure of that. Even so, she answered me defiantly: “I’m almost sure it is.” It all ended in laughter.

Glória, as far as I followed, also did not know other little-visited corners of our planet: Tonga (where I went in 1999), Bangladesh (2010), São Tomé and Príncipe (1998). But the list of amazing places where she and I had stepped isn’t much longer.

Nigeria, Iran, Russia, Jamaica… At each stopover, Glória lent her charisma and offered viewers not just a postcard, but an experience. I was already traveling on my own before joining TV Globo. But I cannot deny that the way she conducted her reports paved the way for me to create my reporting style.

And many times she also inspired me. For example, I had never been to Thailand before she did a very colorful series about that country for “Fantástico”. And even India, which I know so well, from Glória’s articles seemed to me to be another country.

Whether it was wearing luxurious saris, on a ritual fishing trip in Lagos, running away from a bear in Canada or experiencing perrengue on the Trans-Siberian Island, Glória was the owner of the place where she arrived.

And, aside from the friendship, that’s what I miss most about his death: his way of getting around. A good comfort is knowing that she planted that seed. Have you seen Nataly Gabrielly’s Instagram, @viajesemlimites? Then…

She is a 27-year-old young woman from the east side of São Paulo who is traveling around the world. She wants to be the first black Brazilian woman to visit all the countries. And guess who her inspiration is?

I wrote here on my own Sheet, when Gloria died, that I had lost a rival. But I think it was not clear that our dispute was not about stamps in the passport.

It was to see who was more hungry for the world. Because the most precious thing you can take with you on a trip is your curiosity. And Gloria Maria had plenty of that.

That’s why I give my word here: in each new country that arrives, I will always remember my “competitor” with enormous affection. I wish I could do this 79 times by the end of my life!

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