#2 City on hills

As I told in previous blog, the first impression of Belo Horizonte was nothing special but after 2 nights I moved to another hostel, just 2km away from the first one and I saw another face of the city. City was built in 19th century to be the capital of Minas Gerais state - as the whole state - in the hills.

Main avenue - Avenida das Amazonas

Wherever you want to go in this huge city, you have to beat at least two hills. First day in new hostel I went to the main city attraction to Freedom square (Praca de Liberdade) - and I could see, why it is the main square in Belo Horizonte - many fountains, palm trees, many people just chilling there, some of them singing, dancing samba - everyone relaxing. Seeing that made me more relaxed too.

Panorama of Freedom square

Praca de Lberdade - Freedom Square

On the northern side of the city is also one very nice place to visit - Pampulha lake. It took me and my host here more than 1 hour to get there, but it was worth it. We stepped from bus directly in front of stadium Mineirao - the place where Germany won Brazil 7 to 1 at last world cup in 2014. There was match of Cruzeiro team and fans were gathering like 3h before the match. Next to stadium is smaller stadium Mineirinho - in front of which there was some market (it was Sunday) and where I could taste a lot of Brazilian Sweets. The most impressive was nectar made from sugarcane in front of me - like they were putting wooden sticks into the machine and squeeze the juice out of them. Then we went to the lake - nice lake, a lot of families, first feeling of nature after few days, I also saw lake animals - Capivaras and very strangely build church of Saint Francis of Asiss.

Mineirao stadium

Church of Saint Francis of Asiss

Capivaras - lake animals

For the night drinks and hanging I highly recommend Savassi area of the city, with many bars and relaxed people. 

For me, this was first city in South America so I did not know what to expect. I saw a lot of different perspectives of the city, but at the end I can conclude I felt mostly safe and the city is worth of visiting, maybe for 3 or 4 days. 

Now I am in Foz do Igaussu and blog from this amazing part is coming soon!

Best regards,

Simon

#1 Flying forever and first impressions about Belo Horizonte

On Tuesday,19th of July, my big adventure finally started. I was planning that for more than 8 months, but until last day, I was not nervous and almost everything I felt was excitement. Then last night sleeping at home suddenly I could not sleep, I fell strange from inside. Very special thank to one of my friends, who is always trying to keep my head on the right track, so I prepare my head for this adventure. When the last day at home finished, all goodbyes were said, my father and my brother drove me to Budapest airport.

From Moškanjci via Budapest airport via London Heathrow and via Miami International to Belo Horizonte it took me more than 36 hours, more than 20 hours in air. During that time I went through one of my fever episodes - I was too afraid to tell my mom that, she would be too worried - so somehow with help of phone and few friendson the other side I managed to come here safely and well. But when I arrive here, another shock - no baggage - hope it comes soon (still waiting), I have some things in there that I am emotionally attached.

Budapest - London - Miami - Belo Horizonte

Airport here in Belo Horizonte on first sight does not look big, but when do you have to take the bus from terminal 3 to terminal 1, it is really big. Nonetheless, this is 3rd biggest city in Brazil and has more citizens than whole Slovenia. Then I had to take the bus from Airport to citycentre and despite I was crazy tired it was really interesting to watch city - some new culture. For me it was shock, to see a lot of people sleeping on the streets and in the middle of the parks, a lot of dirt lying all around, big holes on the roads... All this is something new to me, also language - although people are veeery nice, rarely who speaks English. But I think the basics of language I will know in few days. 

Mercado Central - there you can find everything

Today, I visited Mercado Central - no.2 on TripAdvisor list for BH - and it was amazing to see what they have there inside - from cats, dogs, chickens, big turkeys to all the food, clothes, even I counted 7 or 8 protein shops to restaurants - so I had first Brazilian lunch - it was said to me, Minas food (Minas Gerais is the region here) is really tasty and I tried FEIJAO TROPEIRO - mixed beans, pork, some vegetables and rice and it was really good and cheap.

Feijao tropeiro - tasty brazilian dish

I hope my baggage comes soon, so I can start enjoying this country even more, first impression is positive and I am sure it will be only better - there is only 15 days till Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. Can't wait.

Blending in with Brazilian colours! 

Best Regards from Belo Horizonte, 

Simon Ranfl

   

Why, while drunk, geolocation in your head is not where it should be?

In contribution to my very dear friend - The Queen!

Alcohol, to be more specific - ethanol, is one of the most common drugs used on the world. People are drinking alcohol from when they are around 15 and basically until they die. It is the cheapest thing on the market and legal to abuse. Sometimes, when you drink too much, you have problems locating yourself, you lost your compass, you do not know where you are or where you are going...

You are not sure where you are... 

I mean, this happens usually when you have memory loss, but you are still standing and having fun, not knowing about it. I have few examples from source, who do not want to be named, of that and I think the main thing about it is, that there should be a location where you have been earlier that day and it made a big impression on you.

...because you have drunk too much.

For that I have two stories from my source - you are somewhere, but you think you are at the other place far away. At first there were parties both times, good parties and if I use slovenian expression - you have to look too deep in your glass - so you have to be really drunk. And then usually your friends are looking for you and calling/texting you. First time it happened two years ago - they have worked that day at one event at some place called Gomila, where is a big sightseeing tower. After that, they went to party in neighbour village and they have a lot of fun. That person was really drunk and went home on his own. His friends were calling him, because he was not at proper route but walking on his own somewhere off road. When friends finally reach him on his phone, he was in his home village, but he still thought that he was at that Gomila, because it made big impression on him! Nowadays this is always funny story to discuss about.

Gomila sightseeing tower

The more interesting thing happened 2 weeks ago - they have been to bachelor party and in the night he thought he was at eastern part of Slovenia in town called Slovenska Bistrica, although he was really in the far west Slovenia on Italian border next to river Soča. But the party began in Slovenska Bistrica so the brains made the same impression as before. He was actually thinking that he was near home, so he text his brother to leave him house keys somewhere. 

Soča river

It is scientifically proven that alcohol inhibits the central nervous system, so when you drink too much it inhibits your orientation too. Luckily this is not happening to often. 

Sometimes you just lost your compass and just walking follow your nose, but do not worry - in 99,999% you will come home safe!