Belo Horizonte and the 2014 World Cup

Aerial view of Belo Horizonte

Third most important industrial pole in the country, Belo Horizonte is recognized for its important personalities such as writers, musicians and politicians. In its surrounding areas, you find the cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas do Campo and Tiradentes, which hold stories from the cycle of gold and the baroque influence in Brazilian art. The city is also famous for its innumerous bars where you can try a delicious local cachaça, the typical Brazilian drink, and appreciate the tasty Minas Gerais food.

 Liberty square 

Via Cristina, one of the famous bars, where the visitlor can taste several blends of  Brazilian cachaça

Ouro Preto hills 

The soccer rivalry in the city is polarized between Cruzeiro, symbolized by a fox, and Athletico, also known as "Galo". The América Futebol Clube, a traditional sports owner in the state of Minas Gerais, is the third force.

The Minas Gerais fan is very passionate. The city is already breathing to preparation for 2014, and has a countdown clock to the beginning of the world cup in Liberty Square, an important cultural pole of the city.

Mineirão stadium

The temple for the fervor of local fans is Governor Magalhães Pinto stadium, called the Mineirão. A stage for big games since 1965, and with a capacity to house 62,160 fans, it is scheduled to host a semi-final of 2014 World Cup on July 8^th. Other relevant matches in the group stage will take place in this arena.

June 14^th  – Saturday - 01:00pm - Colombia x Greece (group C)

June 17^th  – Tuesday -  01:00pm  -  Belgium x Algeria (group H)

June 21^st  – Saturday - 01:00pm - Argentina x Iran (group F)

June 24^th -  Tuesday - 01:00pm  - Costa Rica x England  (group D)

June 28^{th –} Saturday -  01:00pm -  1^st group A x 2^nd group B (round of 16)

July   8^th  – Tuesday - 05:00pm - winner quarterfinal group 1  x winner quarterfinal 

group 2  – semifinals 1

Two members of World Champions´ club have a place in this city. Argentina brings its tradition and unquestionable Messi and England lands in Brazil with the hope to perform in a high level to become, again, a protagonist.

The speedy, strategist and unbelievable Argentinian star Messi in action

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais State

                                                               Belo Horizonte - downtown - photo by Marcus Desimoni - Portal da copa

                                               Panel designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyr for the Church of Saint Francis of Assis

Third most important industrial pole in the country, Belo Horizonte is recognized for its important personalities such as writers, musicians and politicians. In its surrounding areas, you find the cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas do Campo and Tiradentes, which hold stories from the cycle of gold and the baroque influence in Brazilian art. 

Ouro Preto hills

Detail of  barroque art from Brazilian artist Aleijadinho

Barroque churches in Mariana, 12 km or 8 miles away from Belo Horizonte

The city is also famous for its innumerous bars where you can try a delicious local cachaça, the typical Brazilian drink, and appreciate the tasty Minas Gerais food. As more than 8.000 producers of the liquor are established in the State of Minas Gerais, the cachaça tasting is one of the stars of the authentic itineraries that business travelers or international visitors can choose in the neighborhood of Belo Horizonte.

Cachaça production in a farm close to Belo Horizonte 

Authentic Brazilian food at Chafariz Restaurant in Ouro Preto 

The soccer rivalry in the city is polarized between Cruzeiro, symbolized by a fox, and Athletic, also known as “Galo.” The América Futebol Clube, a traditional sports owner in the state of Minas Gerais, is the third  force.

The Minas Gerais fan is very passionate. The city is already breathing to preparation for 2014, and has a countdown clock to the beginning of the world cup in Liberty Square, an important cultural pole of the city.

The temple for the fervor of local fans is Governor Magalhães Pinto stadium, called the Mineirão. A stage for big games since 1965, and with a capacity to house 64,000 fans, it could host six games during the World Cup.

Mineirão stadium

CACHAÇA, THE PRECIOUS DRINK OF BRAZIL

It doesn´t matter the region or city you are in Brazil, caipirinha will be always the most popular cocktail that the Brazilians are crazy about and keep as a national treasure. Perhaps the reason is related to the simplicity of the ingredients or because the mix of them seems to blend so perfectly.  Everybody has its own recipe. It all starts with the lime. We have four different types in Brazil, however the medium size Tahiti or the tiny Galego are the best ones. Then you should consider that the sugar is refined and comes from sugar cane. Lots of crushed ice is fundamental. However the secret touch is given by the cachaça, the authentic Brazilian drink.

Sold in every supermarket or tiny grocery store in Brazil, the cachaça can be found in hundred of labels and bought by a cheap price. However as higher is the quality, as better will be the final taste. Nowadays cachaça has reached another level economically and commercially. Nevertheless that was not the reality in the past. Introduced by the Portuguese colonizers in the sixteenth century when the sugar was the most important trading product, the drink  was distilled by African and Brazilian-born slaves in sugar mills. This is why till now the most expressive distilleries are still located at the same regions where the production took place up to the 18^th century. Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro State and several cities in the states of Minas Gerais and Pernambuco are references for the hand-made production and family businesses that devote their personal care to the whole process. For centuries the drink carried the burden of being consumed only by poor people. It took a long time to the locals to break the prejudice and leverage the cachaça to the level of a national icon.

In 2004 with the arrival of the Sagatiba brand and the further investment and promotion in the international market, the scenario started to change and helped the drink to be recognized domestically and abroad.  The outcome was the sale of the Brazilian brand to the Italian group Campari in October of 2011.   

The acquisition of another well-known Brazilian brand,  Ypioca, by the British company Diageo made last June is an evidence that there are huge opportunities for the growth in emerging markets. Producer of Johnnie Walker whisky, Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka, Diageo is the world´s leading  manufacturer and distributor for premium alcoholic beverages. “Brazil is an attractive, fast-growing market for Diageo with favourable demographics and increasing disposable incomes,” Diageo chief executive officer Paul Walsh said in his statement.

The city of São Paulo has plenty options for cachaça tasting. If you are visiting the city and would like to taste a premium one - like the Salinas brand, or the caipirinha cocktail , include a break at Veloso Bar, located at Vila Mariana neighborhood, in your agenda. Tiny and constantly crowded, the place has been awarded as one of the best gastronomical options in the metropolis for several years.

Souza, the barman, is like a human machine of making a traditional caipirinha using lime. You can also try the other options made with tasty Brazilian fruits as passion fruit, jabuticaba (Brazilian berry that it is found only here), caju (the fruit that originates the cashew nuts) and mandarin with a local type of chili (pimenta dedo de moça).

Crédito: Gabriel Oliveira/ guia da semana

In a duo, we generally drink cachaça or caipirinha with yummy Brazilian appetizers. At Veloso it is difficult to choose among delicious options as the awarded creamy shredded chicken balls or the fried rice balls with a hint of peperoni sausage.

After coming back home, maybe you would like to share with your friends and relatives the Brazilian way of preparing the cocktail. So here is the basic recipe with some tips:

1. Ingredients: one lime,  2 heaped spoon of cane sugar, crushed ice and a shot of good cachaça
2. Wash the lime an roll it under a table or board to loosen the juices
3. Some people peel the lime firstly, but it is not absolutely necessary
4. Cut the lime into 4 quarters and slice out the white center bits to avoid bitterness
5. Cut the quarters in the middle again, so you will have eight pieces
6. Drop the lime into a glass and add the fine cane sugar
7. Crush the lime and sugar together with a pestle to get an homogeneous mix – that is one of the secrets of the cocktail – never use other accessory to do it
8. Add the crushed ice
9. Fill with the cachaça and stir up. If you it is too strong for your taste, just add more ice.

Next September the Expocachaça 2012 will take place at the Food Market in the city of São Paulo. Beyond the development and expansion of business, the event will also promote the cities of Belo Horizonte and Terras Altas, in the State of Minas Gerais, as one of the great destinations in the country for ecological, historical and cultural tourism, including cachaça tours. 

Veloso Bar – R. Conceição Veloso, 56  (close to Ana Rosa subway station)

www.velosobar.com.br – phone: 11  5572-0254

Tuesdays to Fridays – from 5:30pm to 12:30am

Saturdays– from 12:45 to 12:30am

Sundays – from 4:00 pm to 11:00pm

Expocachaça 2012 – www.expocachaca.com.br

INHOTIM, THE GOLDEN MINE OF ART, BUILT BY A BRAZILIAN

INHOTIM? What is that? Is that a name? Never heard of it. True for some people. For other ones a jewel kept in secret, when they have time to travel to the countryside of Minas Gerais State, at southeast of Brazil. If they like art, they won´t miss. If they enjoy nature, they know it will worth.

Imagine a huge park surrounded by astonishing nature with lakes and charmingly landscaped gardens, add several works of art  - sculptures, paintings, installations, drawings, videos or photographs from significant international contemporary artists. Mix everything with a trained and committed team of co-workers and young native labor force, an efficient organizational structure and that it is. Is it?? Fortunately not, because I am talking about an endless experience, difficult to put into words if we consider its uniqueness.

View from one of the lakes with the installation of the Brazilian artist Helio Oiticica in the background 

What differentiates INHOTIM from other galleries in the world is exactly the way the space is democratically conceived and meticulously designed to dazzle all kind of visitors, from the baby to the elder, from the student to the curator, from the housewife with kids to the businessman, from the easygoing fellow to the demanding customer.

Tunga, Cildo Meirelles, Helio Oiticica, Amilcar de Castro, Adriana Varejão - references in the history of Brazilian contemporary art, share the environment with renowned international  artists like Zhang Huan from China, Chris Burden and Matthew Barney from USA, Cardiff & Miller from Canadá, Olafur Eliasson from Denmark, Guiseppe Penone from Italy, amongst others. Some of them came to INHOTIM to analyze, develop and produce the work of art specifically for the site.

"Viewing Machine" by the Danish artist Olafur Eliasson

 The internal view through the work of art of Eliasson

Curious about something that you do not have a clue what represents? You will not feel lost in space. If you don´t have any theoretical background about art, stakes with trilingual technical explanation will help you to interact or even be inspired by the work.

"Troca-troca", by the Brazilian artist Jarbas Lopes

You won´t see people with the usual audio phones you see in other traditional museums. The philosophy is to promote the eye-to-eye experience. Sharing ideas and insights is the purpose of the trained guides who lead groups to explore the area considering the artistic or botanical approaches.  

The famous installation "Beam Drop"  of the American artist Chris Burden (link: bit.ly/VkS0H)

However art would never reach the highest standard and glamour here if we disregard the environment. Surrounded by a powerful nature, represented by hundreds of palm trees, pieces of the Atlantic forest mixed with the Brazilian savannah, you will feel involved by pleasant sensations of well-being and integration. Moreover it is inevitable to refresh your mind and soul or simply enjoy idleness in one of the several corners of INHOTIM. Strategically located they are furnished with the spectacular eco-friendly wooden pieces created by the Brazilian designer Hugo França, who has maximized the innate features of pequi trees, originating in Brazil´s Atlantic forest. 

 

Tired of walking a lot? Golf carts can help you to reach the highest place or the art piece set up in the opposite side and also works as an unforgettable memory for kids.

Hungry? Fancy and modern restaurants with whimsical food offer buffet system or menu a la carte will compell you to complement the experience with the flavored Brazilian gastronomy. However considering all types of visitors - and budgets, the park also has a cafeteria where you can grab snacks with a premium coffee, a hot dog booth and even a pizza place.

Tamboril Restaurant 

A general concern in open huge spaces, the restrooms are located all over the site, often supplied by toilet paper, soap and a delicate decoration ornament. Cleanliness and care that are not unnoticed by the visitors.

Behind the scenes, there is the mind, the heart, the hands and also the money of  Bernardo Paz, a Brazilian former executive from the mining field and open-minded entrepreneur, who decided to transform his huge farm in a magic space in the 80’s. Influenced by his Brazilian friend and famous landscape architect Burle Marx, he started to improve the landscape design of the lush gardens. Next step was to follow the advice of Tunga, another close friend, by choosing art as the ultimate hook to instigate and surprise the visitors. The building of art pavilions, installations and the deep contact with artists was a consequence. Nowadays surrounded by a sharp team of curators, landscape architects, designers, engineers and devoted professionals, the INHOTIM INSTITUTE, that covers an area of  94 ha (about 232 acres), employs around 900 people and receives thousands of visitors monthly, being the majority of them students from public schools in the region.

Low profile, Paz can be found strolling in the middle of the gardens, welcoming his famous international guests or having lunch at one the good restaurants in INHOTIM. By talking to him personally, I got the confirmation that the boutique hotel for high-end guests should be finished in a year and a half. A hostel, a venue for events and an airport are also forecast for the future.

His personal dream of building an Art Disneyland, where people can spend three to five days, is not impossible to come true. By reconfirming the proverb that the eye and presence of the owner is crucial to get the engine working accurately, he pursues his goals of boosting art, of revering and preserving the biodiversity, of generating education and jobs for the local community and of showing a remarkable and innovative face of Brazil, that all of us are proud of.

MORE INFO:

INHOTIM is located in the city of Brumadinho, 60 km away from Belo Horizonte, capital of State of Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil.

BY AIR:  the offer of air flights from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cities to Belo Horizonte is huge and easy to book.  From Belo Horizonte, you will need ground transportation to reach Brumadinho however the journey takes time, considering the traffic and the highways.

If you are taking an helicopter, you should contact INHOTIM firstly to land in its own path.

BY CAR:

São Paulo - Belo Horizonte - 586 km - about 8 hours

Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte -  434 km - about 6 hours

Belo Horizonte - Brumadinho - 60 km - about 1,30h

HOTELS: With a population of 35.000 inhabitants, the city of Brumadinho has been changing since INHOTIM has been established in the region. Budget accommodations should be found in the city easily. Sophisticated hotel structures are 20 minutes to one hour distance by car. INHOTIM´s website - www.inhotim.org.br gives plenty of information concerning accommodations. 

INHOTIM is also a fantastic complementary destination for the ones who have visited the historical cities of Ouro Preto, Diamantina or Tiradentes, in Minas Gerais State. The contrast between the eighteen century baroque art and architecture from these historical itineraries and the contemporary scenario and exuberant landscape of INHOTIM  makes the trip a knowledgeable, intriguing and unprecedented destination in Brazil.

Eliana Souza,  the Brazil Business Tourism Specialist for C Level executives. www.spintours.com.br  eliana.souza@spintours.com.br