Blogs from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, South America - page 4

Easter is taken quite seriously in Ouro Preto. In fact, they produce a whole programme of events for Semana Santa. It was a privilege being there and watching what goes on. Good Friday In the evening we got wind of a procession taking place. We followed the crowds out to the other side of town to one of the many churches dotted around. There we saw the church illuminated in somewhat garish yellow and green. Outside a huge stage had been erected for a recreation of the crucifixion, complete with Roman centurions and a large group of wingèd angels. It was like being at a pop concert or a political rally, but the sight of the candy floss sellers brought you back to Earth with a bump! The mass went on a long, long time and ... read more

We are staying in Ouro Preto, but that’s the next blog! From there you can take a wonderful steam train ride out to nearby Mariana on the Trem da Vale. It only operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so time your visit well! The trip begins at Ouro Preto train station which has been nicely restored and also houses a small museum. As well as various artefacts, there are interactive displays (also in English!) and a model railway for the real enthusiast. It’s only to see though, not to play with! You can, however, play with a variety of musical instruments in the “environmental-acoustic car”. The steam train, Smoky Mary, was built in the Czech Republic by Skoda but we didn’t quite catch how it ended up in Brazil. There wasn’t too much English commentary or ... read more

From Belo Horizonte I went to spend a few days in the former portuguese colonial town of Ouro Preto. Yes - another UNESCO world heritage site - Brazil is not all about Rio and carnival. During the gold boom in the 18th century Ouro Preto (portuguese for black gold) was one of the most populous towns in Brazil (100, 000 people compared to 20,000 in Rio). The rich source of gold in the town meant that many baroque artists were attracted to the town. The result is the fabulous architecture present in the town today. The picturesque twon is nestled among the green hills of Minas Gerais. I spent a few days wandering up and down the VERY STEEP cobblestone streets, admiring the buildings and soaking up the atmosphere of this very tranquil town. I did ... read more

Last night, after an 11-hour bus ride (yes, 11 hours!!!), I returned to São Paulo from Ouro Prêto, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. After spending New Year at the beach, I thought it would be a good idea to head inwards and get a different taste of Brazil. I still cannot get used to the distances though. Minas Gerias is as big as France and luckily there are night buses because I really cannot imagine what a day trip of 11 hours by bus would be like!! I'm glad I chose to visit Ouro Prêto in Minas Gerias because I totally fell in love with the history of the place. Here's a bit of it from my Lonely Planet guide book: "Sometime around 1695, groups of explorers from São Paulo began to make regular ... read more

My most recent excursion from the city limits of BH was to the quiet colonial town of Ouro Preto. This town of about 66k people is known for its windy streets and beautiful churches. The name Ouro Preto (black gold) reflects the major role the town played in the Brazil's gold rush in the 18th century. It was quite a contrast to the major metropolitan feel of Belo Horizonte and much needed escape from the polluted air. As we approached the city it was hard not notice the churches spread across the city. From my other travels in Latin America it was unusual to see a town this size with more than two churches . Not only does Ouro Preto have 13 churches, but they are all elaborately designed, each with its different flavor. Inside ... read more