One full week in Belo Horizonte was the least - and actually not enough - option for Deb to travel back in time and let memories get revived and vivid after such a long time since childhood, when her father's job assignment had kept the whole family there for several years. Meanwhile, everything and everyone has grown up. The city's high-rise building weren't that many, at least not embedding the gracious small Portuguese-style house still standing as a jewel since Deb's had packed her toys out for good. Friends, with or without wrinkles, are still in town and sharing time with them must be such a joy. Nothing better than being hosted to maximize the good time and share the daily life of locals!
Our coach ride to BH was the last long leg by ground transportation. The cab then left the Rodoviaria to take us to the Padre Eustaquio neighborhood in the dark and my GPS helped verifying that we were heading in the right direction, although leaving me a bit puzzled when the driver insisted that we had reached the desired street and building number. My marker was in fact slightly offset.
Our friend Marcio was the first of the family of four to give us a warm welcome as we found ourselves in their cozy attic. The outstanding hospitality is not just sensed here but always soaked with great company for our entire stay. They thought of a car tour around the city as a good breaker and we first headed to Mangabeiras, the city park in the Serra do Curral overlooking most of the sprawl. The Praça do Papa is a large opening near the Mirante, from where the "Nice Horizon" without high-rise buildings was first seen by European eyes. Next was the Praça da Libertade and the famous building by Oscar Niemeyer to keep company to the classic architecture of the government offices structure. Any good visit must include the Lagoa da Pampulha and the homonym odd church, another work from Niemeyer.
A small disappointment to Deb is that the Feira de Arte e Artesanato da Afonso Pena, which takes its name from the large city street that hosts the event, seems to have lost much of the charme of the bygone days. Lots of people anyway among the stalls selling crafts and home items.
The crowded indoor Mercado Central is still a great chance for people-watching, including their shopping and eating habits. Probably the best comprehensive spot in town for random souvenir and apparel purchases next to grocers, butchers and fishmongers.
- To be continued -
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