Blogs from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, South America - page 5

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South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto » Lavras Novas July 11th 2007

Lavras Novas is an extremely pleasant little town on the side of a hill. All the buildings are different colors. Because we went in the middle of the week, there weren't too many people, but it was a pleasant day none-the-less. We spent much of the day at an outdoor cafe owned by Milly, a lady with a welcoming smile. I also found the souvenir shop that I had seen pictures of on the internet - and the prices were very fair too! (And of course I had lots of giggles at the cow.. horse.. mules as they walked up and down the street going about their daily business. Mark had never thought much about it, it was a small town after all!) There were lots of little fires in the hills as we left, again, ... read more
On the edge of town.
Going about its business.
Mark with a local passing by.

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto July 10th 2007

After catching a flight from Brasilia to Rio at 7:20am, catching a 9am bus into Belo Horizonte, and arriving to Mark's apartment around 10 - it was time to prepare to head to Ouro Preto. Ouro Preto is a thriving, colonial style city that began as a gold mining villiage. It is very hilly - and beautiful. I was pretty shocked to see cars zipping around on the VERY steep hills, but it's just a daily thing here. My visit to Ouro Preto actually had significant spiritual overtones. Hundreds of pounds of gold are plated on the walls of the churches, something so awe-inspiring that even had they allowed pictures, wouldn't do any of it justice. What stood out to me the most was a single little girl. I was sitting on a pew in one ... read more
Pousada villa Rica
In the Gold Mine
VERY steep streets!

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto May 10th 2007

After Itacare, and a night in the worst excuse for a hotel in Brazil, we took a very early flight to Ouro Preto, a charming ex-colonial town with lots of nice architecture, churches (dripping in gold!), and plenty of steep hills! We spent 3 lovely days visiting the town, museums, churches, trekking for a day and enjoying a concert one night. We met some really nice people too, tourists as well as Brazilians, and spent lots of time talking about our respective travelling experiences.... read more
Enjoying a drink in our favourite cafe
Ouro Preto
Trekking in Ouro Preto

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto February 24th 2007

Hey Hey, I am now back in Sao Paulo on my way to an Island called Ihla Bella after spending the last week in Rio and Ouro Preto having an amazing time. Carnaval could not have been mroe fun.. we had an absolute ball. After leaving Salvador I was not dissapointed with the Awesomness of Rio. It truly is a beautiful city, not because of the buildings but simply the landscape. Tunnels connect suburbs under hills, there are lagoons.. amazing beaches and a huge protected national park all in the central area. The big Jesus man sits on top of the hill in this national park. The first 2 days there I spent with my parents in another swanky hotel, we went up to see the Corcodova (Big Jesus Man) and checked out a really nice ... read more
Giant Water Lillies
Big Jesus Man
Carnaval Time

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto February 22nd 2007

Ouro preto is inland from rio and is a former mining town. we took a 7 hour overnight coach ride over night, the roads were so bumpy that we couldn't sleep for more than 10 seconds. We got ourselves a room in hotel dampo checking in at 6am. Boy they were pleased to see us. After catching up on some Zzzz we took a wander etc. We could only take one night at the hotel where your wet things seem to get wetter and the sound of communal peeing became a bit of a distraction. So we found a much nicer hotel and spent 2 more nights in beautiful O.P. Elliott managed to go out without a hat or sunblock and got some nasty burns. Silly fool ended up with peelage that made him like 'Michel' ... read more
Lush views
Choo choo train from our room
Band stand and abs

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto February 18th 2007

Minais Gerais-Ouro Preto, Conginhas, Belo Horizonte and Tiradentes Highlights: Charming towns and people rainforest and waterfalls beautiful architecture Local cuisine Things to work on: signs on the roads. Who knew there is an ouro branco and preto. pot holes. One tire lost and several near misses Their Beans. Delicious but very offensive to anyone around you. We are headed down South tomorrow morning for ten days. Feliz Carnaval to everyone! Liz and Cristiano ... read more
Hiking in Tiradentes
Tiradentes
Tasting the local cuisine

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto September 13th 2006

Etter et par dager paa reisefot er vi kommet til Ouro Preto. Her ble det i sin tid funnet gull og edle steiner, hvilket dannet grunnlaget for fremveksten av denne byen. Her er det kirker, gamle gruvearbeiderskoler, universiteter, kafeer, museer; alt i gammelkolonialsk stil (bygget av portugiskerne ved hjelp av slaver paa 1700-tallet). Den ligger imellom aaser og fjell inne i landet i delstaten Minas Gerais, og har cirka 45000 innbyggere (i sentrum). Det er en utrolig fin by som vi dessverre ikke faar anledning til aa nyte fullt ut. Grunnen: vi er blitt syke. Det har vaert en del ruskevaer rundt omkring paa vaar reise, og som tidligere nevnt tar ikke brasilianerne isolasjon og denslags saa hoeytidelig. Vi har vaert smaafoerkjoelet i perioder, men naa har feberen kommet, og Siri har faatt besoek av en ... read more

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto July 21st 2006

Oi gente! This is my first entry in my Travel Blog, so get excited! After a good 30 hours straight of traveling, I made it all the way from Atlanta to Washington D.C. to São Paulo to Belo Horizonte to Ouro Prêto--my first destination. Arriving at the hostel at 1:00 in the morning, I wasn´t quite sure what was going on, but at breakfast the next morning I talked with a Brazilian named Dávide. Later on he invited me to go see the city with him a few other people. As it turned out, they were a big group of graduate history students (20 or so) from UNESC, a college in Santa Catarina, taking a trip to see the city. I was immediately adopted by them and we had even seen the sights with a free ... read more
Churrasco!
A ceremônia de baptismo
Igreja de _________

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto July 17th 2006

After the tears of my leaving party I headed to Minas Gerais on the overnight bus. Another joyous trip sitting beside some bloke that encroached on my space and snored in my ear the entire 7 hour trip. To add to the ambience I was sitting opposite the toilet which was being frequented by numerous people with travel sickness!! Arrived into Ouro Preto and 6.10am - a little tired. Kate and I found the bakery and had some breakfast then started our sightseeing at 7.30am as recommended by the guidebook. We did have 23 churches to visit after all! It's a really pretty place. Cobbled streets and nice buildings but a lot of hills. By the time we were ready to get the bus I don't think there was a hill we hadn't been up and ... read more
Capela do Padre Faria
Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto July 13th 2006

Not as spiffy as Tiradentes, but cozier than Ouro Prêto, Diamantina’s location in Minas’ outback has its benefits. It is a five-hour ride into the highlands north of Belo Horizonte. The only way to continue on the track of common destinations throughout Brazil is to double back to Minas’ capital. The coach cuts through semicircular mountains of pointy, barren rock face. Minas’ interior remoteness resembles a cross between western Nebraska and County Galway. Wind and water have eroded the reddened iron-rich earth to create formations not unlike the Badlands of South Dakota. The relative wealth of Minas Gerais has dissipated; life arduous here. Common comforts for those living in the countryside are fewer. Public transportation allows people to go to market, see loved ones, and get to class. Without the Belo Horizonte-Diamantina bus, thousands would be ... read more
Local Hospital
Diamantina
One of My Favorites




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