After a few sad good-byes for Andre, Raquel and Elron we hopped a bus to head a few hours North of Rio to visit the historical colonial town of Ouro Preto. The town was more beautiful than we had even expected with its steep 
(very very steep) cobblestone streets, churches, and museums. Although the rain joined us for the entire time we were there it was definitely a worthwhile visit, during which we basically just wandered around the town admiring (and getting a little wet).
We decided to take a visit to the Museo do Inconfidência to learn about the history of the city. The museum was pretty cool because it had been a jail up until the 1900´s. [No pictures allowed :( ] It had a lot of works of the very famous Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho along with lots of other interesting stuff. One night we also went to a very cool restaurant called Calabouço on the main street that was actually the ancient slave quarters of a mansion over 300 years old. The whole city was just full of history, which made it the obvious capital of the Minas Gerais province of Brazil. (I will note we also took the time to see the new Will Smith Hollywood blockbuster - one of the dumbest films we have seen in a while)
(we hit some religious goings-on and listened to an awesome gospel band)
This brings us to the next destination of our trip: the tiny town of Três Pontes. I will start by explaining the title of our blog. It is the slogan in Três Pontes - meaning, (more or less) ´We don´t have the sea/beach, so we have the bar´ - and partying and drinking is something these small-towners definitely know how to do...
(Please take note of my awesome single bang which resulted from the ´Elron Special Haircut´)
(very very steep) cobblestone streets, churches, and museums. Although the rain joined us for the entire time we were there it was definitely a worthwhile visit, during which we basically just wandered around the town admiring (and getting a little wet).We decided to take a visit to the Museo do Inconfidência to learn about the history of the city. The museum was pretty cool because it had been a jail up until the 1900´s. [No pictures allowed :( ] It had a lot of works of the very famous Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho along with lots of other interesting stuff. One night we also went to a very cool restaurant called Calabouço on the main street that was actually the ancient slave quarters of a mansion over 300 years old. The whole city was just full of history, which made it the obvious capital of the Minas Gerais province of Brazil. (I will note we also took the time to see the new Will Smith Hollywood blockbuster - one of the dumbest films we have seen in a while)(we hit some religious goings-on and listened to an awesome gospel band)This brings us to the next destination of our trip: the tiny town of Três Pontes. I will start by explaining the title of our blog. It is the slogan in Três Pontes - meaning, (more or less) ´We don´t have the sea/beach, so we have the bar´ - and partying and drinking is something these small-towners definitely know how to do...(Please take note of my awesome single bang which resulted from the ´Elron Special Haircut´)I think it is safe to say this has been one of the highlights of our entire trip. We were lucky enough to meet Alyece´s family friend, Ana Lucia,
who graciously invited us to stay in her house and meet her very large family. When we arrived in the evening (only an hour and a half late, with our bus breakdown) Ana Lucia was still waiting at the bus stop for us. We arrived in her house to be shown to our very nice quarters (definitely a step up from our normal hostel home) and come down to a feast that her two lovely maids had been preparing for us - with many of the family at the house to meet us. I can´t say we´ve been treated this good on our entire trip.
who graciously invited us to stay in her house and meet her very large family. When we arrived in the evening (only an hour and a half late, with our bus breakdown) Ana Lucia was still waiting at the bus stop for us. We arrived in her house to be shown to our very nice quarters (definitely a step up from our normal hostel home) and come down to a feast that her two lovely maids had been preparing for us - with many of the family at the house to meet us. I can´t say we´ve been treated this good on our entire trip. After dinner, Ana Lucia told us we must go out because it was Friday night - obviously. She also said she couldn´t very well take out two young girls without boys, and so her extremely gentlemanly younger cousins arrived to take us to the town´s happening bar, Adega.
(The boys: Andrè - best friend, and two of the cousins, Bruno and Pedro) 
The bar was definitely packed full with a live house band - playing the Beatles, oddly enough. We had a great time, we danced, and Alyece tried Pinga (an alcohol that makes tequila seem smooth) and after a few drinks, with Ana Lucia already having gone home, the boys escorted us back to the house.
The next day it seemed we did everything ´Brazil´ in one day. The family prepared a huge traditional ´Feijoada´ feast. This is a very famous Brazilian dish of beans and meat and rice that has a long history throughout Brazil.
At this point people came pouring in next door, and we met about 25 new family members that day. When we asked if they did this every weekend, Ana Lucia told us that although they got together often, (in fact much of her gigantic family - of 15 brothers and sisters and their families - has managed to all live basically on the same block), this was a very special occasion. When we inquired about what the occasion was they told us it was our visit :)
The bar was definitely packed full with a live house band - playing the Beatles, oddly enough. We had a great time, we danced, and Alyece tried Pinga (an alcohol that makes tequila seem smooth) and after a few drinks, with Ana Lucia already having gone home, the boys escorted us back to the house.The next day it seemed we did everything ´Brazil´ in one day. The family prepared a huge traditional ´Feijoada´ feast. This is a very famous Brazilian dish of beans and meat and rice that has a long history throughout Brazil.
At this point people came pouring in next door, and we met about 25 new family members that day. When we asked if they did this every weekend, Ana Lucia told us that although they got together often, (in fact much of her gigantic family - of 15 brothers and sisters and their families - has managed to all live basically on the same block), this was a very special occasion. When we inquired about what the occasion was they told us it was our visit :) After a huge lunch, Ana Lucia and her friend Marise took us to a coffee farm in a nearby town.
The farm was absolutely beautiful and we spent a few hours wandering around admiring the countryside.
(What Ana Lucia called ´the best berries in the world´ - Jabuticaba, which were, in fact, very delicious)
(Marise showing me the balance swing)
We also visited the coffee museum, where Ana Lucia explained to us the process of coffee production on the farm.
At the end of our visit we took a tour through the old house, turned hotel, before heading back into town.
(This house was built in 1905... Alyece is apparently trying to make a pose fit for that era)
The farm was absolutely beautiful and we spent a few hours wandering around admiring the countryside.(What Ana Lucia called ´the best berries in the world´ - Jabuticaba, which were, in fact, very delicious)(Marise showing me the balance swing)We also visited the coffee museum, where Ana Lucia explained to us the process of coffee production on the farm.At the end of our visit we took a tour through the old house, turned hotel, before heading back into town.(This house was built in 1905... Alyece is apparently trying to make a pose fit for that era)After the farm, we continued with our traditional Brazilian day and headed into town for the popular açai
. Açai is a berry from the norther Amazon which is very very popular to eat in Brazil because of its crazy health benefits. They freeze and blend the berries into a sorbet-like consistency. It is delicious and has a completely unique flavor and many Brazilians eat it everyday as a meal replacement.
. Açai is a berry from the norther Amazon which is very very popular to eat in Brazil because of its crazy health benefits. They freeze and blend the berries into a sorbet-like consistency. It is delicious and has a completely unique flavor and many Brazilians eat it everyday as a meal replacement.We both absolutely love it!
After this, we looked for a bank that would get us some money....without any success and then headed back to the house. After a quick nap we wandered to Tia Bel´s and Aroldo´s house (aunt and uncle) for more festivities. We continued with the traditional Brazilian theme and had a Churrasco (Brazilian barbeque) where we met yet more members of the family.
(Tia Bel and Bruno)This is nothing like a Canadian bbq, in that, it is many many different kinds of meat slowly roasted on sticks and served continuously throughout the night. This is(obviously) accompanied by a lot of very very cold beer.
(Gabriel explaining how Brazilians like their beer)
Apparently we have gained ourselves a bit of a reputation for enjoying a rum now and again......and while the entire family continued to drink beer, Aroldo brought us out a bottle of rum and some coke and insisted we drink. The boys never seemed to let our glasses get emptied either.
(Bruno making sure we didn´t get thirsty)
(Marise, Alyece, me and Ana Lucia at the Churrasco) As the drinks continued to flow it was not difficult to convince me to take a few dance lessons from the families best dancer, Gabriel....
Later Alyece joined in.
The night ended great with a few rums allowing me for a great nights sleep. ha ha.
Later Alyece joined in.The night ended great with a few rums allowing me for a great nights sleep. ha ha.Sunday, we had another huge lunch feast where we met even more members of the great big family. They had set up 3 long tables in their big pool house, but still, there were so many people we couldn´t all fit around the table and some ate in waves. After lunch, naturally, we had a nap in preparation to go to the bar at 6pm to get ourselves a table. (Apparently Sunday night is the big night to party in Três Pontes.) We hit Adega again, which was already completely packed at 6pm. 
(Bruno making me a flower)
(Bruno making me a flower)We had another great night full of dancing and laughter and met lots of the boys´friends: One of whom came over to us and said, ´I can´t figure out for the life of me.....Why are you here?´ Três Pontes, which is not on any of our Lonely Planet maps, or even on many maps of Minas Gerais in general, is in the middle of the countryside and we realized that they hardly ever see a tourist in the town - This explained why we were so popular in the bar. A lot of people were staring in confusion at the blue-eyed red-head in the entirely Brazilian populated bar.
(The boys´ beautiful friends - although they spoke almost no English they were wonderful to us and took us dancing multiple times and tried to introduce us to their older male english speaking friends) 
After again drinking copious amounts of Rum, the boys took us for a drive to look out over the town before once again escorting us home.
That leads us to today, which is sadly our last day in Três Pontes and our last day with all our new friends that we have made here.
(This last picture is for the lovely Brandino Lilgert, in honor of his 24th Birthday yesterday. We promised him (because we are closer to JC our homeboy) we would say a prayer for him, and in true Erin and Alyece style, have a rum and coke in his honor. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDINO - WE MISS YOU!)...Also a Happy Birthday to my big bro!! Hugs and Kisses Nick, Miss You!
Until Next Time....
2 comments:
Hmmmmmmmm... more rum nights and days for that matter!!
Hello Erin and Alyece!
It`s really nice to read some of your adventures, you sound like you`ve been having a brilliant time!
We`re in Salvador now, we came here after Olivenca near Ilheus, which was beautiful... here is bustling and mad and really good fun!
Here is our blog, finally, like we promised: www.ashandmegsbrazilianadventure.blogspot.com
Hope you`re having a good time, where are you planning on going next?
Much love and good luck on your adventuring :) x x x Ash and Meg :) from Ouro Preto...
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