12-13.06.2015
Belo Horizonte
On the way to the city yesterday I had the "chance" to see "my first favelas". I started to discuss with the lady next to me, who thought that if I speak Spanish, I can pretty sure understand the Brazilian Portuguese, and she felt confident to speak to me for hours. I didn't want to disappoint her so I was listening with a smile and always telling her "sí, sí", while understood less than 25% of everything.
After arrival we took the metro to the city center, and from there - as I was advised by an other travel-mate - took a taxi to the room I rented. The taxi driver was happy to have the chance to give my a sightseeing tour, until I took my mobile and started the GPS application, than after realising his intention, I said to him "No quiero ruta turística, vamos directo!", while showing him fastest rout advised by my device. However, it was a nice try. :-)
In both days I was wondering in the city in the morning and in the afternoon again, putting a siesta into my schedule. I am not 25 anymore. :-) I have to say that BH is much prettier than Brasilia but still lacks "history" and "feeling". A local guy said the has not seen any tourist since the footbal World Cup, which is probably an exaggeration, but not that big one...
Today I took a local bus, and I realised that 2m behind the driver there is metallic door supervised by a ticket-controller. Quite efficient, nobody could escape paying. Nice...
I was today passing by the fancy, posh part of BH called Mangabeiras, on my walk to the Praca do Papa, which has a beautiful view to the city. I was worth climbing up to the hill. I will share a photo of it. Tomorrow at 8 o'clock I am leaving to Ouro Preto by bus!