Tiradentes/ Sao Joao Del Rei/ Tiradentes
Unfortunately we did not find a spot to put our camper during the day and for the evening in Sao Joao Del Rei .Also to get there, we have the choice, either take the bus or take a small tourist train.
Our choice is on the train but the timetables are not adapted to make a complete visit of the city ... so it will be the bus ... departure scheduled at 10 am which turns to be 10:45!!
Arrived on site after an uncomfortable trip , we find ourselves in a modern city, not very welcoming.
It was born with the gold rush and became a very important center of political ideas and trade in the eighteenth century.
We go to discover this city quite disappointing ; it does not have the charm of Tiradentes.
* Igreja Sao Francisco de Assis: Built in 1774, it is a magnificent work of art, remarkable for its stone and wood work. It is the first work of the master Aleijadinho in curved lines, with its square in the shape of a lyre, surrounded by a marble balustrade. With circular bell towers and carved soapstone ornaments, the church of São Francisco de Assis is one of the jewels of the Minas.
* Igreja Nossa Senhora Do Pilar: Built in 1721, the only church in the city with golden altars in fine gold. The baroque paintings inside are superb and the nave is composed of a magnificent set of painted and gilded woodwork.
After lunch, we return to Tiradentes by taking the tourist train consisting of a small steam engine and wooden wagons.
Quiet evening to prepare the rest of the trip
Tiradentes
Today we visit this colonial city founded in 1703.
It was named in honor of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, a national hero nicknamed Tiradentes who was born there. Joaquim was a political activist, who practiced various professions including that of tooth puller at the origin of his nickname.
After its foundation, Tiradentes became an important road relay for gold and precious stone convoys to Portugal.
The historic center is full of charm with its cobbled streets lined with small shops and old houses with very colorful facades.
The city is adorned with its Christmas decorations and mainly around the main square.
* Igreja Matriz de Santo Antonio : Built between 1710 and 1732, it is one of the finest examples of Brazilian baroque art, painted by Manuel Vitor de Jesus. It retains an 18th-century Portuguese organ. Its facade, all gilded and woodwork, was one of Aleijadinho’s last projects in 1810.
* Chafariz de Sao José: This 1749 fountain is made up of three different basins: a drinking water tank, a washhouse and an animal trough. The construction is reminiscent of a church. The spring that feeds the fountain is in the wood where an old stone aqueduct filters the water sent to it.
* Igreja Nossa Senhora Do Rosario Dos Pretos: Built in 1708 by and for slaves, it is the oldest church in the city. It is made of stone vaults and includes many paintings and images of black saints on the altars. Elements of the Catholic religion are mixed with those of African religions.
We return quietly to the camper for a late afternoon and quiet evening.
Tiradentes
We head to the province of "Minas Gerais" known for the gold rush during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
We drive during two days to reach our first destination. We take a winding autouroute that is not very well maintained and especially filled up by an incalculable number of trucks.
We cross a hilly region, very green. Little culture, we are only 900 m above sea level.
The weather was gloomy with some heavy rain on the first day and sunshine on the second. The temperature was pleasant at around 24°.
We land on the parking lot of a retirement home and make a first location towards the tourist office ...
We are greeted by a very smiling person who does not speak a word of English or Spanish ... We are surprised that Brazilian youth do not speak English.
Sao Paulo
Today, it’s a visit to a motorhome repairman that is scheduled.
Our fridge no longer works on gas, plus the maintenance of the coldness while driving by the battery of the engine is non-existent and the piazzo is HS ... a good overhaul is essential.
Before returning to Brazil, Christophe took advice from a camper specialist and bought the parts that could be defective.
On our return, we repaired the maintenance of the coldness and the piazzo ... it is a beginning. The gas remains the problem that we are not able to solve.
We take the road to the repairman in the traffic jams of Sao Paulo ...1 h 30 to do 27 km!!
We arrive in a suburb where we do not feel safe, but it is in this one that the garage is installed.
In 1 hour the repair is done: it was the thermocouple that was OUT.
When time comes to pay, our savior wants nothing ...!! ! Is that a joke? And no, he does not want to be paid ... We slip him some money to drink to our health ... Incredible.
Finally we take the road for the continuation of our odyssey.
Sao Paulo
We have an appointment at the storage at 10 am. We arrive early fearing traffic jams.
Finally the traffic is quite fluid and we arrive 1 hour in advance!!
Francisco leads us to his little workshop. Then begins a long wait, interspersed with the lunch pose.
In the meantime we taste our first "Pastels" a salty or sweet fried chausson ... a real delight.
4 hours after our arrival, Francisco inspects our companion.
Verdict: The the pivots that we changed in august are not the right ones!! This does not surprise us because since the change of these parts we felt a play in the direction.
Fortunately for us, a few streets from the garage a spare parts dealer has the right model.
After disassembly, assembly and testing on the road ... everything is in order.
We return to the truck parking lot in pouring rain.
Sao Paulo
There is no direct flight between Cancun and Sao Paulo, we are obliged to transit through a capital in South America.
We chose the company Avianca: Cancun - Bogota/ Bogata - Sao Paulo.
Our night will be short and especially lulled by the cries of a child throughout the trip.
Several international flights arrive at the same time as our flight, which results in a huge queue for passport control ... 1 hour to wait.
We get our 90-day visa and quickly go to the storage.
We are happy to find our camper after these 3 months of separation.
Before our return to France, we had agreed with the owner of the storage to make an appointment with his mechanic to carry out a complete overhaul of the engine.
It was agreed that it would come in the morning of our arrival. He will not ... The appointment is postponed until Monday ... we are disappointed ... The day before a weekend what to do? On our insistence he passes at 4 pm to make a quick check-up and adjusts the clutch.
We notice with him that the engine is moving a little and tell him that the direction is floating a bit.. We make an appointment for Monday morning at 10 am.
Not being reassured to ride in these conditions, we are looking for a bivouac not too far to spend the weekend ... We find on our favorite app a huge parking for trucks with all amenities.
We make a refueling then we reach the parking where we stay 2 days. The weather is not good: rain, overcast but pleasant temperature 24°
Cancun
We do not need any visa to travel to Brazil.
On arrival, we get permission to stay 90 days. However the rules are quite strict.
It is not possible to stay more than 3 months in a period of 6 months and it is necessary to wait 3 months before being able to return.
So we decide to spend 2 weeks in Cancun in a residence that we know well, before joining Sao Paulo.
Our friend Daniel takes us to Marseille airport the day before our departure which is scheduled at 6:45 am !!
Dinner at the restaurant and early bed ... wake up at 5:00 a.m.
Our route: Marseille - Frankfurt ... Frankfurt - Cancun
During our flight to Cancun we cross a zone of significant turbulences, which forces the crew to stop the lunch service for 1 hour...
Christophe is not reassured but everything is going well ... resumption of the lunch shifted.
Upon arrival we have to wait 1 hour our to get our luggage ... We then take a taxi which asks us an exhorbitant price. But at 8 pm and after 18 hours of travel we do not have the courage to negotiate.
Our days are identical throughout our stay: small river shuttle to reach the beach, installation at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, return to our apartment by foot (6 km) with a stop at the supermarket.
Our residence is part of a hotel group, which allows us to enjoy the facilities in each unit. So on the beach we benefit from a catering service, beachbeds ...
ROAD BOOK 164
MAVROS ODYSSEE
