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Background: Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.

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By TED46
September 26th 2009

Saturday & Sunday in Brazil South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Church near the Fair

Saturday Well, Friday night I was visited by the ghost of Montezuma. I can only think of one reason, the salad that I ate in Ouro Preto. I was already not feeling great at dinner and maybe that is another reason why I did not spend enough time checking the dinner bill. This is the only day on our trip that I did not take a single photo. I took many on Sunday so I have decided to do a double day blog. Since I was not feeling well we waited until late morning before leaving the hotel. We walked over [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 25th 2009

Black Gold in Brazil South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto

Wise photo worth $40

Friday We had planned pretty much the same today as we did on Thursday. But as you would have read, we did nothing on Thursday. So, when we woke today we decided to venture out of town. It was time for me to drive again in Brazil. Up to now we were taxied around or with Maria. So, we headed out to find a rental car agency, which we did by 9:30am. This became another test of my Portuguese but it worked. We rented the car for a day. Then we drove on the 'road to Rio' for about 60 miles [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 24th 2009

Thursday in Belo Horizonte South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

mini-IMG 7380a

Thursday Nothing much on this day. We slept late and then went to the tennis club. There was no one around. The men's spa opened at 3:30pm so we just took in the sun, read and waited. I chose a different masseuse. I was glad that I did since the first one just about killed me. After Minas we returned to the hotel for a little rest and then met Maria and Gilberto at 68 La Pizzeria. This is a hot spot for the chic and we had to add it to our list. Maria ran into many of her friends [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 23rd 2009

Cruzeiro vs. Pameiras South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Restaurant Contemporanea

Wednesday Today was meant to be a rest day. We have not been doing much lately and that’s worn us out. Actually, our plans were to go to Minas early, get some sun and a massage and lunch. But we seem to have caught the Atlanta disease, rain! Well, not rain but heavy overcast. So, we did not go to Minas at all. We stayed around the hotel until lunch when we walked down to the Restaurant Contemporanea. It is a neat little boutique restaurant with nice a menu. We were surprised to see fruit growing in a courtyard tree. Upon [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 22nd 2009

Twelve Years Ago... South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Jackie is happy

Tuesday I hear that it has rained a little in Atlanta while we have been gone. I guess the drought is over there. Maybe the lake will finally get filled and people will be able to water their grass. But you need to know that we had rain too. It rained for about one hour on Monday afternoon. Then on Tuesday the day started out with a few clouds and stayed that way most of the day. It didn’t actually rain but it threatened to and that put a damper on our plans to spend the day at Minas Tenis. So, [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 21st 2009

Georgia on My Mind South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais

Laundromat

Monday The plans for the day were to return to Minas for some sun and another massage. Jackie wanted to have her "maos e pes" done too. That's fingernails and toenails, or a manicure to you. Plus, it was time for a trip to the Laundromat. So, we walked a couple of blocks to a nearby laudromat and washed all of our dirty clothes in 90 minutes. It cost $17BRL or about $9US. Call me cheap. But with the savings I can pay for a full massage every day for the remainder of our trip. Later in the morning we took [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 19th 2009

Great weekend in Belo Horizonte South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Minas Tenis Clube

Saturday & Sunday Wow, we had a great weekend. I have lots to report and pictures to share. On Saturday we took a taxi to Minas Tenis about 9:30am. We thought that would be early enough to find nice a place to set up for a few hours with lawn chairs, table and umbrella. Wrong! On the weekends, you really need to arrive about one hour earlier to claim a spot. That‘s something that we knew before but forgot. Tomorrow when we go we’ll get there earlier. The club is spectacular. It has over 20,000 members and four locations. The club [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 18th 2009

Mercado Central & Minas Tenis Clube South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Condos in Belo

FRIDAY We had lots of fun today. For the first time in a week we did not have to get up early to see the doctor. We slept late and awoke to another beautiful day in BH. We decided to walk down to the Mercado do Central. It is about 1.5 miles from our hotel but the weather was perfect for a long walk. On the way we passed the Laundromat that our concierge had recommended and checked it out. Our plan is to return next week for self service. Maria says there is a nearby Laundromat so we will check [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 17th 2009

Quite day in Belo South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

Tom & Jackie in from of Governor's palace

Thursday Another day started with a trip to the Docs. Jackie got almost all of the stitches removed and looks pretty much back to normal. Except she looks like a teenager. I hope he did not misunderstand me when I told him in my poor Portuguese that I wanted her to look like when I met her. Maybe he thought we went to the same high school. Anyway, we walked back from the clinic to the hotel. The weather here is wonderful. Each day starts about 66 degrees and heats up to about 85. And the humidity is low. There is [View Full Entry]

By TED46
September 16th 2009

Belo on Wednesday South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Belo Horizonte

A gift for my baby

Wednesday We had another quiet day starting with an early morning visit to Doctor Taranto’s office. After returning to the hotel we rested until about noon when I walked down to pick up my laundry at the 5-a-Sec (this is pronounced in Portuguese as Cinc-a-Sec). I chose to carry the clothes there since it appeared that the hotel rates were too high. I found out on Tuesday when I dropped them off that the rates were about the same. What we had was normal for about one week: 12 pair of underwear, 3-pair blue jeans, 1-pair pajamas for Jackie, some tee [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais