Discovering a New Horizon: A Taste of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
The beautiful Brazilian horizon is not the only attraction of Belo Horizonte ([http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/destination_guide]), even though it's what inspired the name of this splendid city, the capital of Minas Gerais state. Did you know that Belo Horizonte, or Beagá, as locals fondly call it, is also the Brazilian capital of bars?
There is a huge number of bars all across the city, giving you many options for a cool beer, caipirinha or cachaça (a Brazilian kind of rum). You can also get appetisers and good food in a multitude of places where people enjoy going out and meeting or making friends.
The most popular Brazilian beer brands are Brahma and Skol, neither of which is very strong compared to European beers. You'll notice Brazilians sharing a cold bottle of beer, especially when the weather is hot, in short lagoinha glasses that can hold only a 190 millilitres. It's the perfect way to ensure that your beer doesn't get warm! A 600-millilitre bottle costs about 3 Brazilian reais.
If you aren't much of a beer drinker, some of the best cachaças -- like Seleta, Vale Verde and Germana -- are produced in Minas Gerais state. One shot in a bar may vary from 3 to 5 reais. Most foreigners prefer to try them in mixed drinks, such as caipirinhas. Traditional caipirinhas are made from cachaça, ice, mashed limes and sugar. Check out how to make one ([http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=zOOEar1woto]).
The average cost is 7 reais. They can be quite strong, so it's best to have some appetisers as well. Popular choices include carne de sol e mandioca (dried, salted beef and manioc) and linguiça e torresmo (pork sausage and hard fried bacon). Both average about 15 reais a portion.
One special place we recommend to all travellers is the Mercado Central, perfect for people of all ages, with friends, family or alone, for a drink or just to taste typical regional Mineiro dishes like pão de queijo (cheese bread rolls) and feijão tropeiro (beans with sausage, manioc crumbs, onions and eggs). Don't miss the chance to drink a beer standing at the tiny and one-of-a-kind bars, where the waiters are eager to serve you another local specialty: fÃgado acebolado (cow's liver with onions and zucchini). Of course, if you prefer shopping, you can choose from over 400 stores.
There are lots of handicrafts on sale at the Mercado Central (http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/shopping). During the weekend, the Mercado Central is very busy; on Sunday, it closes early, at 1:00 pm. Be sure to leave enough time to get lost inside and then seek out two notable curiosities. First is the elevator lady, Therezinha, who possesses perhaps the most hospitable smile in Belo Horizonte. (She works only during the afternoon.) No matter how bad your day may be, she inspires you to spend the rest of it in good humour. Second is the two bars located face-to-face on the ground floor: Bar Zé da Onça and Bar da Tia.
On busy market days, be careful as you pass by them along the balcony that forms a corridor next to the stairs; a waiter might be lurking on one of the benches behind the balcony and try to put a beer in your hand before you can blink!
For more information about Belo Horizonte, including accommodations, tours, activities and lots of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: Intex-Soluções em Turismo's Vitor, Ramon and Wallace at http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/.
There is a huge number of bars all across the city, giving you many options for a cool beer, caipirinha or cachaça (a Brazilian kind of rum). You can also get appetisers and good food in a multitude of places where people enjoy going out and meeting or making friends.
The most popular Brazilian beer brands are Brahma and Skol, neither of which is very strong compared to European beers. You'll notice Brazilians sharing a cold bottle of beer, especially when the weather is hot, in short lagoinha glasses that can hold only a 190 millilitres. It's the perfect way to ensure that your beer doesn't get warm! A 600-millilitre bottle costs about 3 Brazilian reais.
If you aren't much of a beer drinker, some of the best cachaças -- like Seleta, Vale Verde and Germana -- are produced in Minas Gerais state. One shot in a bar may vary from 3 to 5 reais. Most foreigners prefer to try them in mixed drinks, such as caipirinhas. Traditional caipirinhas are made from cachaça, ice, mashed limes and sugar. Check out how to make one ([http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=zOOEar1woto]).
The average cost is 7 reais. They can be quite strong, so it's best to have some appetisers as well. Popular choices include carne de sol e mandioca (dried, salted beef and manioc) and linguiça e torresmo (pork sausage and hard fried bacon). Both average about 15 reais a portion.
One special place we recommend to all travellers is the Mercado Central, perfect for people of all ages, with friends, family or alone, for a drink or just to taste typical regional Mineiro dishes like pão de queijo (cheese bread rolls) and feijão tropeiro (beans with sausage, manioc crumbs, onions and eggs). Don't miss the chance to drink a beer standing at the tiny and one-of-a-kind bars, where the waiters are eager to serve you another local specialty: fÃgado acebolado (cow's liver with onions and zucchini). Of course, if you prefer shopping, you can choose from over 400 stores.
There are lots of handicrafts on sale at the Mercado Central (http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/shopping). During the weekend, the Mercado Central is very busy; on Sunday, it closes early, at 1:00 pm. Be sure to leave enough time to get lost inside and then seek out two notable curiosities. First is the elevator lady, Therezinha, who possesses perhaps the most hospitable smile in Belo Horizonte. (She works only during the afternoon.) No matter how bad your day may be, she inspires you to spend the rest of it in good humour. Second is the two bars located face-to-face on the ground floor: Bar Zé da Onça and Bar da Tia.
On busy market days, be careful as you pass by them along the balcony that forms a corridor next to the stairs; a waiter might be lurking on one of the benches behind the balcony and try to put a beer in your hand before you can blink!
For more information about Belo Horizonte, including accommodations, tours, activities and lots of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: Intex-Soluções em Turismo's Vitor, Ramon and Wallace at http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/.
