Only 24 hours left in Brazil for me. We are back in Rio, ending our stay on a luxurious note at the Sheraton. We got here the day before yesterday after a week in Belo Horizante with Phil’s friends Sandra and Niels.

We had a great time exploring the old gold towns of Ouro Preto, Mariana and Sabara. Ouro Preto is very touristy but for good reason. The churches are amazing, both inside and out. They are covered in gold from the surrounding mines, one of which we went into. It was about as I expected it would be hundreds of feet underground but we got a great tour and explanation of the methods used until the mine closed in 1941. After a heavy rain storm years ago the bottom of the mine filled with water and now there is a lake that people can go diving in. In total 35 tons of gold, as well as unknown amounts of silver and arsenic were taken out of the mine that we were in.

Our stay with Sandra and Niels was great. They have a one year old son who was fascinated by us. Niels happens to be Danish so he is trying to teach his son Danish and it was neat to watch Philip help with that. It was a week filled with adventures including a trip to the biggest market in Latin America on Sunday morning and lots of soccer games.

Phil flies today at midnight and will be home for a few hours before coming to get me on Friday morning. We have had a great stay at this gorgeous hotel and it is so surreal that I will be back in Northampton in such a short time.

Pictures are of Ouro Preto and friends.