Today the wake up was early – at 5 am. My host and charming Isabel took me to the bus terminal and at 6 am I was already on the bus heading to Belo Horizonte. It was a long way – 7 hours drive (93 BRL) In the landscape of green mountains. Normally they do it in 5,5 h, but there were traffic jam on the way – be prepared!
I decided to stay in Belo close to the bus station to make a side trip to old city of Sabara and back before continuing onward on Estrada Real.
I booked a inexpensive motel close to rodoviaria via the renowned booking.com. When I arrived, it became clear that it is not a motel but a brothel. I the reception they advertise proudly: to our guest we offer one condom for free! Red lights in the narrow corridors. Mirrors over the bed…
But I had no time to look for the other cheapie… I left my luggage and jumped on the city bus going to Sabara (5 BRL each way, 20 kms).
Sabara has a nice old town with churches, cobbled streets and little squares. I found the re Gold Museum located in the old mansion. It is not about the gold but about the methods and tools they used to mine it in tbe surroundings. Entry is free and the ladies in charge (no English spoken) were very happy to have the first foreigner on this day.
I returned in the late afternoon. Happy to have the shower, the tea boiled in the room and expecting that nobody will bother me in this brothel tonight… That’s’ budget traveller’s life….
