These chapters cover Ouro Preto and Diamantina, two beautiful and well preserved historic cities of Minas Gerais, minimally affected by modernity and both a UNESCO world heritage site.
To gather material for this presentation, I spent a few days in the Estrada Real during the first week of August, 2009. It was a renewed pleasure since I love both cities and longed to return. I wanted to see the landscape, to explore the details of the Baroque architecture in an open air museum, where every façade has a story and one is engulfed in history. And, of course, I wanted to feel the hospitality and to savor the delicious regional cuisine!
Colonial towns have personality, lots of charm and they are meant to be explored with patience and an eye for the detail, in order to enjoy the experience slowly, comme il faut! Like savoring a good wine! You are now invited to come with me for a quick tour of two extraordinary examples of a lifestyle lost in time.
Bon voyage, Oscar
Oscar Ribeiro
Bromeliário Imperialis
Rio de Janeiro, September 2009