What I love about the serra is the climate, and with it the flora and fauna. Insert quick history lesson: Nearly all of Brazil's 7941 km's of coastline used to be Atlantic Rainforest, but thanks to European explorers and their lust for natural resources, well over 90% has been destroyed. Much of the serra, though, still has this rainforest, and it is beautiful. Unlike the surrounding sertão, which is plagued by drought, the Serra receives generous amounts of rain. The forests are lush and the flowers are beautiful. Driving through the dry dry sertão and then up into the lush serra feels like you have stepped into paradise. The rain, combined with the altitude helps to cool things down. People from the city like to go up into the mountains to 'get a little chilly', as they like to say. But don't worry, you can buy parkas there. And you might need it, seeing it gets down to 16 or 17 degrees at night!!
A typical centre square. Gotta love all the bright colours!
Public transit.
The road leading up to the highest point in the state becomes more... interesting... every time we brave it. This last time we went, we noticed this sign at the turnoff. "The next 5 km's are intensely dangerous".
A little chapel, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. That's bamboo on the other side of the road.
We have noticed this building many times before. We finally stopped to see what it was. It is a former Jesuit seminary and church, now used for retreats and rentals.
To build this church, they essentially chiseled away the top of a mountain (by hand). Then they took all the little pieces and constructed this building, stone by stone (by hand). No cement was used. It took 14 years to complete.
Alice in Wonderland sized flowers.
Photo credit: Outtafocus Photography by Karl Enns
No comments:
Post a Comment