Journey on the Estrada Real: Encounters in the Mountains of Brazil

Brazils Estrada Real is a road built in 1697 to bring gold and diamonds down from the mountains of Minas Gerais to the ports of Rio de Janeiro and Paraty. The road is still there most of it still unpaved winding through historic Baroque cities such as Congonhas Ouro Preto Serro and at the northern end Diamantina.As the 20th century rolled over into the 21st life along the Estrada Real was in many ways still in the 19th. Hoping to capture a way of life that was quickly ending Glenn Alan Cheney hiked much of the road. Along the way with the special perspective of a foreign Tocqueville he wrote about the culture geography history foods and people he observed. Cheneys style is simple informal friendly and informative and his observations are unique and insightful.