Brazil Day 9 - Arrival in Itabirito

After leaving São Paulo by bus the previous evening at 10:00 PM, we arrived in Itabirito the next day around 8:00 AM. With its population of about 50,000, the city is considered one of the smaller cities in Brazil. The host families were eagerly awaiting us and even though we were all very tired from the long, sleepless bus ride, we were excited to meet them.

After enjoying a delicious meal and a shower with our host families, we gathered at the buses at 1:00 PM and drove to nearby Ouro Preto. There, we were greeted by a German couple who has been living in the city for 40 years, who showed us around. Unlike Itabirito, Ouro Preto relies solely on tourism. The name translates to 'Black Gold' because over the years, the iron ore accumulated on the gold veins, giving it a black color. The small shops mainly sell the typical crystals and gemstones of Ouro Preto, and many of us stocked up on them.

At around 6:00 PM, we arrived at one of the city's 14 churches. There, we were treated to a small snack and then had a rehearsal in the church. Since a Mass celebrating Saint Mary was still taking place before our concert, we didn't perform until later. However, it was very interesting to observe the ceremony, and the wait was worth it as we were once again rewarded with standing ovations. However, this meant we arrived back in Itabirito quite late and fell asleep exhausted.