Sao Joao del Rei, Brazil - - - 27 to 29 Jan 2006
The Pousada Sao Benedito is OK for arriving in the late evening and departing early next morning,
but us not the kind of room we would want for a stay for several days.   The morning after our
arrival we walked about a block and found the "Hotel Colonial".  There we got a large room with
modern bath,  refrigerator, TV, A/C. Etc., for 84 Reais (US$42) per night.  The air conditioning
did have its peculiarities:  so I could turn the A/C on and off and adjust the thermostat the hotel's
management provided me with a stepladder.
Adjusting the A/C's thermostat at the
Hotel Colonial, Sao Joao del Rei, Brazil
Hotel Colonial, Sao Joao del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Shortly after checking into the Hotel Colonial we walked to the bus station and took the bus to the
town of Tiradentes, less than half an hour away.  The buses run every 30 to 40 minutes.   Tiradentes
is a really cute little picture-postcard colonial mining town with a little stream running through it.  
Practically all the restaurants and shops are tourist-oriented.
Our first visit in Tiradentes was the "Museo do Padre Toledo";  The museum in the large colonial
house featured artifacts pertaining to Toledo, an early Brazilian revolutionary hero.  Then we visited
the "Igreja Matriz de Santo Antonio, a church with a beautiful exterior and a dazzling gold interior.  
For lunch in Tiradentes we stopped at "Sabor do Minas";  nice decor, rice and beans good, but their
beef and sausage much over-roasted and dried out, and tough.
After taking a bus back to Sao Joao del Rei we stopped at a supermarket for snacks.
Next morning, Saturday,  we made a circuit walk of most of the leading churches but contrary to the
information in our guidebooks we found most of the churches closed.   In the afternoon we made
another round of the churches, with much better luck.  The churches are extremely ornate,encrusted
with gold and silver, each church seemingly trying to outdo the other.
Church on a hill, Sao Joao del Rei
Small church, Sao Joao del Rei
Church in central Sao Joao del Rei
Church interior, Sao Joao del Rei
We visited the "Museu Tancredo Neves", located in the furnished former home of Tancredo Neves,
who was elected President of Brazil in the 1980's at the end of a 20-year dictatorship;  he died
mysteriously before he could take office.  
Also went to the Museum of Sacred Art.  
There we saw a figure of an opulently
dressed angel such as we had never seen
before.
The following day, Sunday, we attended
Mass at the "Igreja de Sao Francisco
de Asisi", attracted primarily by the
excellent chamber orchestra and chorus
for which that church is well known.   
The church was full;  people were
dressed informally but neatly.  About
five priests participated in the
impressive ceremonies; women had
important functions.  An interesting
experience.
Main altar, Igreja de
Sao Fransisco de Asisi
Igreja de Sao Francisco de Asisi, Sao Joao del Rei, Brazil
We walked to the bus station and bought tickets for tomorrow's trip to Ouro Preto, another notable
colonial town.  Monday is a good day to move to another town, as it is the day most tourist attractions
are closed.
Our Sunday lunch was a block from our hotel at "Restaurant Rex", very good.   It is a buffet-style
"per kilo" restaurant in which the charge is determined by the weight of the food you put on your
plate.   This type of restaurant is quite common in Brazil and we went to them several times; perfect
if you want to sample different foods, especially if you can't speak the language and can't understand
the menus.
About one third of the auto fuel used in Brazil is alcohol made from sugar cane.  Every gas station we
saw sold alcohol fuel, as well as gasoline.  
At the gas station we met these fellows who seemed to be fueled by alcohol (from
a bottle).  We could not understand what they were telling us, but from the raised
hood it appears they're looking for the VW's engine.
Typical Brazilian gas station, selling
alcohol fuel as well as gasoline.
Below are a couple of panoramic views to Sao Joao del Rei, a beautiful colonial town.
View of Sao Joao del Rei, Brazil
Another view of Sao Joao del Rei, Brazil
Now for a couple of Sao Joao del Rei street scenes:
A motorcycle with sidecar for animals.  Pickups and deliveries by a pet service
company which does grooming, kenneling, washing, etc.
A new friend in Sao Joao del Rei