Early drive around town before the crowds descend. Pity it was very grey and not much light so photo opp limited. Off to the township of Mariana….my accommodation was off the beaten track and was also quite an effort to find, but really worth while once I got there. Passed a few colourful but dirt poor towns lined on the hillsides of the approach into the Mariana township….

Recanto Aguas de Minas, my Pousada…A family business, with teen age son and daughter translating into English for their parents…really comfortable bed, luxurious towels, onsite parking and a spacious shower, with universal signs for hot and cold water. Perfect!

Weather improved heaps, with a sunny afternoon, so explored the little town of Mariana, the oldest city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. I remembered that there was a mine (tailings) dam collapse here last year, with over 500 people needing to be relocated and over 20 dead. The down stream city of Governador Valadates, with 278,000 people, was left without fresh water supplies for a week.

It used to be the capital, founded in July 16, 1696. Ouro Preto took over, then finally Belo Horizonte. Mariana retains the characteristics of a baroque city, with its churches, buildings and museums. 

Much more ‘chilled’ than its sister town Ouro Preto! A delight to visit.  But I do have to point out the old stone whipping post to which slaves and miscreants were tied and beaten…uggh!

Then, a return to Ouro Preto in the afternoon, to get better photos than possible this morning.