We read in a BBC article that Buenos Aires and Montevideo are constantly trying to “out-Europe” the other so it was no surprise when arriving to socially progressive Montevideo felt a lot like…arriving in Europe. Vanished are most Latin American vibes and in its place are layers of Art Deco and neoclassical buildings, LGBTQ couples holding hands, polished and clean city…
In its early days, Spain owned a flourishing city called Buenos Aires. You may have heard of it. And, across the Rio de la Plata, actually an estuary, Portugal had a powerful fort in Colonia del Sacramento. Naturally, both Spain and Portugal desired control of this river because it provided access to the gold and silver found in Peru and…
While in Buenos Aires, we unexpectedly fell in love. When we visited the “Paris of South America” in 2016, we knew we found her attractive and wanted to return. But the truth is, in those ridiculously short two days, we didn’t even have a chance to bud a romance. But during our rendezvous in September 2023, we experienced some of…
Buenos Aires is one of those places that was easy for us to stay in for a month and not even have the need or desire to meander beyond its perimeters. It's packed with things to do, places to see, and an absolutely walkable environment. Whether simply living here and enjoying life, or "being a tourist," it's a one-of-a-kind dynamic…
From Petropolis, we hopped another daily budget-busting bus 4.5 hours to Tiradentes. The 8:00 am route from Petropolis to Tiradentes on bus line Peribuna cost $27.06/ticket, including a departure tax. Only cash was accepted at this station for some reason although credit card usage is typically widespread. We never got over the cost of buses in Brasil, when compared with…
São João del Rei is the grandest of the Minas Gerais mining towns and also one of the most functional, which was why we had to spend a night there en route to our next destination, Ouro Preto. (The only direct bus heading that way left at the always desired 5:00 am.) So, we snagged a hostel near the station…
More than 100 years before Australia or the US was having its crazy Gold Rush, Minas Gerais was well ahead of the curve. In fact, until the last order of the 18th Century, Minas’ mines were producing half the world’s gold. According to many, Ouro Preto is the crown jewel in the often overlooked former gold mining state of Minas Gerais.…
A thirty minute ($1.25) local bus ride from Ouro Preto’s main station will take you to Mariana, the oldest city in Minas Gerais founded in 1696 in a picturesque mountain setting. Despite this, it was far less hilly and less busy than Ouro Preto, and didn’t offer the same opulence. However this former state capital, offered a simple charm we…
