Now that we have the stress of Rio de Janeiro had left behind us, we could devote ourselves to the beauty of the landscape. Slowly but surely it was in Switchbacks uphill and with each altitude, the heat bearable. Even after 80 miles took us our road through the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (Organ Mountains). At a lookout point, we had a great look back at the Lagoa de Freitas and Corcovado, where we could even imagine the Christ statue. Everything was in the haze and saw from a distance like a lunar landscape.
The sight enchanted us so, while the actual sites, which would Órgãos (steeply ascending, slender pinnacles) almost fade into the background.
tropical forests and banana plantations dominated the landscape. Although Petrópolis the summer residence of the Brazilian imperial court and was accordingly exhibit has beautiful buildings, we leave the city on the left. We are currently not for big city feel. We drive by night to Teresópolis and there on the
Camping Quinta da Barra. We had what we wanted, comfortable temperatures and are the only guests in the huge grounds. All the others are indeed on the Costa Verde.
Now we are in the state Minas Gerais (General Mines). End of the 17th Century, this huge gold, diamonds, precious stones and semi-precious stone discoveries made. That was what was sought and was believed the mythical El Dorado to have found (again). Alone, 800 000 Portuguese left their home
try to find their fortunes. Immense wealth has produced some beautiful colonial cities. Even today, witness the Baroque churches and mansions of the former splendor, the crumbled too slow. Some of the most beautiful cities we visited.
Our first goal was São João del Rei . The city with a population of 80,000 is on 910 meters altitude in the valley of the Corrego Thurs Lenheiro and is the birthplace of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier called Tiradentes (tooth puller), executed in 1792 by the Portuguese, freedom fighter and national hero in Brazil. His death today is the April 21 National Day.
first flirted with Bernd Fumaça Maria (Maria smoking), an old steam engine that runs only on Saturdays and Sundays for the tourists. Because, unfortunately, was Tuesday, he had to make do with a look through the fence.
Determined we were on our way to a jewel under the palms, the Igreja São Francisco de Assis of 1774. We came for the first time Aleijadinho (the cripple) in contact, whose name we would hear in the near future very often. He was the biggest Brazilian Baroque sculptor and whose real name was Antonio Francisco Lisboa . Terrible disfigured by leprosy disease (without fingers, toes and teeth, only one eye and a distorted mouth) they chisel and hammer were attached to the stumps. Despite his severe disability, he created unique works of art and has been amazing 76 years old.
When Catedral Basilica de NS do Pilar of 1721
impressed by the gilded altar.
to the quite original Praça (square) Dr. Augusto das Chagas Viegas we can Solar (residence) of the Baroness de Itaverava and the Carmelite Church Igreja NS do Carmo admire.
The unlike most Baroque churches, with its many gold looks rather plain interior.
aim was to marvel at some more Igrejas and solar.
Then we drove into the town only 14 kilometers away Tiradentes . This was a completely different world. This had over the years hardly changed and is now benefiting from tourism. It feels like in an open-air museum. On the cobbled, hilly streets while cars drove well, but the road condition was just a walking pace and so here are the horse better means of transportation.
Everywhere tiny streets and beautiful restored houses.
Although the town has only 6,200 inhabitants, there are a number of churches. In the foreground we see the slaves built in 1708 Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos and was made in the background the main church of the village, the Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio , the outside facade of Aleijadinho.
falls inside the Rococo wood carving with its golden gleam in the eye.
With so many tourists may not be missing souvenir shops. I like especially the many women of all skin and hair colors that look everywhere so casually from the windows. I have to restrain myself much, so none of them found their way into the camper.
hour you can walk around here to hurt a non-circular walk from the feet and knees. This old bridge leads us directly to our overnight stay, the parking lot at the Rodoviária (bus station). There was no other choice and was confirmed by the police that we need not worry. Nothing happens to us and from 22.00 clock not a bus drove over and it was absolutely quiet here. We had the huge parking area, all for ourselves.
The next day was again a UNESCO world cultural heritage in the program and just in Congonhas do Campo , a town with no particular flair and yet it is the culmination of a journey through Minas Gerais. The reason is the Basílica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos . This extensive religious complex with the most important collection of stone works Aleijadinho is of course once again on the highest hill of the city. The streets were narrow and paved a real challenge for Burro. On the open terrace in front of the Basilica, we recognize the carved soapstone twelve biblical Prophets.
A close-up can be very impressive to recognize faces, was so famous for Aleijadinho.
below the basilica, there are six bands of the Cross where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding area.
Passions With a total of 64 sculptures of which were carved by Aleijadinho and Manuel da Costa Athayde (a famous church painter) painted.
another 50 kilometers further into the mountainous hinterland, with steep ascents and descents (we had expected me anymore since we get out of the Andes were), we visited another piece of cake: Ouro Preto the most important Baroque city of Brazil. 1698 Portuguese had discovered there in the area of rich gold deposits that were exploited by using slaves. Ouro Preto is a national monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, lived in the city of 200,000 people and was one of the largest cities in Latin America. Today, it has only 70,000 inhabitants. In the city there is very steep uphill and downhill, we got what we feel as the access to our overnight stay, the Camping Clube do Brasil investigated. The course was again just on the other side and we drove on narrow cobblestone streets to be gaining momentum to get stuck always so reckoning. But somehow we are then at the other end came down and landed well on the court. The was a little off and not connected to public transport, but quiet and nice. Besides us there was only a couple on the huge site with its beautiful flowers
and plants. Here we would stay a few days.
Everything about Ouro Preto is mountainous. Visiting the city is a sweaty Angel unit. First we had once again a beautiful panoramic view and could already spot some of the churches here with the Igreja NS do Carmo in the background.
order not to fall again with burro in the narrow streets, then we moved the next day only with a taxi. Our city tour we started as usual on the main square, Praça Tiradentes with the inevitable monument to national hero.
On the square are some beautiful colonial houses that today are mostly jewelry shops, souvenir shops and restaurants housed. The Chafariz (well) Praça de seems a long time to spit no more water.
At the Igreja de São Francisco de Assis referred to is as the main attraction Ouro Preto and contains some works Aleijadinho and Athayde, we could see very well that everything here is a little renovation . But who has received the money already so many churches and old houses?
individuals, however, all is well in the shot. There are an infinite number of lanes and paths in Ouro Preto.
located just outside and obviously in the poorer neighborhoods of the city's oldest church, the Igreja NS do Rosário dos Branco, with its separate bell tower
and a unusual cross on the forecourt. From which one has a good view of the living city, with its steep staircases. Even our taxi driver seemed to be here to feel a little uncomfortable.
We visited a few churches and then returned to the main church, the Matriz NS da Conceição, back with attached Aleijadinho Museum and his grave. Where there was strict on photography and camera and backpack were locked away. Here, then, only a picture of the outside with a view to which we previously visited Igreja Santa Efigênia dos Preto .
Near the church is the rather modest former home of Aleijadinho.
Another view in a nice street with the oh-so-strenuous Pavement.
The whole place is undermined by tunnels and we found the entrance to the mine Chico Rei almost in the center. Chico Rei was a tribal chief from West Africa, who toiled as a slave in a mine. There are a few adventurous stories of how he managed to obtain freedom. In any case, he was a rich man with his own mine and its own court in Ouro Preto. The mine is now marketed touristy, but according to guide not worth seeing and we have paid the visit as Bernd fully since the nose has Potosí mines.
The ladies are doing well, they can look out the window while we smoke the feet.
We spent the absence of society, rainy weather and remote location a very quiet New Year's Eve. As that in the rainy season so it rains down with rain for hours and then the sun is hot from the sky as if nothing had happened.
As the town Mariana is only 12 miles away, we took a taxi from the camping trip there. Mariana is the oldest city in Minas Gerais and was very nice to us. All attractions were within walking environment and the height difference was tolerable. Two hours were sufficient to visit us all. The tour began again at the Praça with the popular photo opportunity of the two churches Igreja NS do Carmo of 1784 and the Igreja São Francisco de Assis (think of the where this time no new Holy Name. We may soon no longer apart) hold. Here, too, and Athayde Aleijadinho were a good team again. Athayde is buried in the Assis.
Compared with the colonial buildings of the Casa de Câmara e cadeia is from 1782, which housed in the basement of a prison and now a museum.
interesting and adornments Weihnachtsäume. So the car with the rims and the CDs should be introduced at us or maybe not?
Nice corners and alleyways, has much to offer, this place enough
and sometimes a pretty little flower.
located in this building from 1770, the Museu de Arte Sacra Arquidoiocesano paintings by Athayde and works by Aleijadinho. Here, too, were Backpack and the camera closed. They know her well know them! Bernd gritted his teeth slowly, as much as we have already paid for admission and all fit on how the shooting dogs that one can not take a photo of the works of great artists.
In the Basílica Catedral da Sé he could then at least a picture of the organ from 1701. It has 1039 pipes, is of German production and of course still fully functional.
be honest, we had more time in Mariana can spend. Was there still so much to discover winding alleys. But we were after all the colonial cities of the past few days with its cobblestone paths become a little lazy ones and at some point then everything looks the same from one.
What is here, for example, looks like another church this time is "only" a train station. We said goodbye to Mariana and let us bring back to our island campsite.
After the holidays, it was then time for us to pull back further. Bernd had taken it into his head in Belo Horizonte, with 2.3 million inhabitants the third largest City in Brazil and the capital of Minas Gerais, go to a workshop IVECO to finally get the original replacement parts for Burro. The brakes gave to the mountain slopes are not good noises and Walter in La Paz had ourselves pointed out that the brake pads executed by him could only be a temporary arrangement in order to come to Brazil. Only in Brazil there are again Iveco and thus spare parts. We had a rough address and the workshop had to be somewhere in the city bypass. As expected, we could not find the same workshop and hardly anyone knew where it was just for now. But a truck driver with a truck with two flues knew his way, we were not that far away, only it was a bit complicated to find there and he could tell because of the language difficulties are not. So what makes a friendly Brazilians? He goes ahead and shows a one way and if it is also the first time to get on a shuttle that brings back one for a while and then winding back roads. Bernd all the way, had trouble with the insane traffic behind the huge truck that drove into on the fast track to catch up and that's saying something. In the workshop they took us too so even though they are a lot of trucks for repair there to dump. Since there was only time long faces. The brake pads the rear wheels were completely shut down and gives the brake discs and the same way, also had a wheel bearing gave up the ghost. At least she had all the parts there and could start immediately. Since the brake drum was always extended the hand brake was also demonstrated in a new and of course they also had an air filter for us. After 4 ½ hours we were 800 € poorer and Burro fit again. We then went to sleep only until the next gas station is open 24 hours. Amazingly, it was pretty quiet here, in spite of the many trucks which were outside of us still here.
Back on the ring road we saw a gas station and could finally our gas bottle . Fill Belo Horizonte was seen such a complete success.
reached after 90 kilometers we Barão de Cocais , another colonial town. In the village itself was not much to see colonial and Igreja Matriz de São João Batista was closed of 1764. So here we were soon ready. After 20 kilometers we were standing outside the entrance of the Parque Natural do Caraça . Our plan was to stay here. But the Park Service gave us a spanner in the works. It is strictly forbidden in the park to camp. At 17:00 clock you have to have him leave again, or stay in the expensive lodge of the convent. This is annoying, as there is a special feature are, namely, maned wolves. But which one gets in the evening to face and we must indeed be back out. We considered whether the admission is worth now for us, but now that we once were there, we wanted to at least see the monastery. 11 km we had to go to close, sometimes very steep and bumpy road until we could see from afar the monastery Caraça .
The neo-Gothic IgrejaNossa Senhora Mãe dos Homes is succeeding building a chapel from 1774. A 1968 fire destroyed the library and the boarding school building in which politicians and even President studied.
from the remains of the library then you have a museum made
where most exhibits are from Europe, such as sewing machines.
The maned wolves, we got only one picture to the face. In general it's kind of a tourist trap. Only those who stayed in the lodge, she gets to see and only because they are fed in the evening. Since we can not exactly go straight into a zoo.
Since we were not allowed to stay in the park, we drove just another 40 miles to the gas station next 24 hours. Here we could see once again how good we have it. In the truck slept six men. Have had an even course, had the plush bears will be removed and hoisted onto the roof and stored in other cars and distributed the next morning on the beds. We had 34 ° in the camper and want to know not only how hot it had to be in this oppressive narrowness well.
Although we had now seen so many colonial towns, Diamantina could not miss the last jewel on our trip. So we went on a trip in a karst and yet beautiful mountain scenery. We moved only under a height of 1262 meters, but the landscape was very different than before. Suddenly it was no more jungle, but only grass and rocks. The temperatures dropped significantly, what we did was not so disagreeable. 1729 diamonds were discovered here. The Portuguese crown declared a restricted zone around the spots to be better able to control exploitation. Carefully made, we parked at the bus station just in time Burro before it almost vertical, narrow and paved went down. The city was built in the 18th Diamantina Century and its impressive houses and churches, as it also brought individuals to fabulous wealth, of course, once again under exploitation of slaves. One of them was Chica da Silva , slave and courtesan of the monopoly over the diamond mines João Fernandes de Oliveira . Much to the annoyance of the other high-ranking personalities in the city gave the mulatto Chica da Silva Oliveira a palace with an artificial lake, pleasure gardens and fountains, and a theater. When he died Chica da Silva, the palace was torn down and filled the lake. To this day, however, is their original home.
One of the most beautiful churches, the Igreja NSdo Carmo, in the resort known as Chicas church. The more senior women felt it a disgrace that they had to kiss this Chica to church hands. The side altars are works of art once again Aleijadinho.
We were thrilled by the beauty Diamantinas. While here, also had the old town center are developed hard, but we found the trouble was worth it. There were repeated to discover beautiful, well-kept houses.
We could not have said that our best liked. Even the paved roads were not quite uneven as usual.
Here Igreja NS do Rosário dos Preto of 1728, which was once built by slaves in the foreground and the Chafariz do Rosário dates from 1787th
The Igreja NSdo Bonfim dos Militares does quite well in the charming streets.
We could not stop on our tour of the city.
Although We had considered making the trip to Diamantina anymore because this was a detour of 130 miles, then yes we had to go back again. However, we were happy to be at the end was here.
We stayed two times in a quiet gas station shortly before the entrance. But then it was finally enough with the colonial cities. We hoped that the annual peak flow had subsided a bit now and again made our way to the Atlantic. However, this time in the state of Bahia. Where should it be so, just imagine how Brazil is commonly as follows: sun, sea and Caipirinha. Let us times surprising.
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