OURO PRETO (MG)

Ouro Preto is the former capital of the state of Minas Gerais. More than three hundred years ago, it was founded as Vila Rica, a mining city that produced a lot of gold and gemstones, to be exported to motherland Portugal. Portugal wanted more and decreed heavy taxes for the villagers. At the end of the eighteenth century, the villagers revolted, led by Tiradentes. Tiradentes and his fellow conspirationists were captured. Most of them were partly pardoned, and sent into exile in African colonies. However, Tiradentes was hanged and then mutilated. As a homage, the principal square was named after him. In front is his statue, and the Museu da Inconfidência behind. It was a very cloudy day, the low clouds touched the mountain peaks in the region.

The picture is a compilation of separate images, joined with the help of Autopano software.
The original pictures were taken with a Canon PowerShot A540
f/4 , 1/160 sec.

ITAIPU BEACH (RJ)

From the center to Rio it is easy to take the ferry to cross the Guanabara Bay and visit Niterói.
Near the Ferry Station, one may get a bus to the beaches of Itacoatiara and Itaipu.
Small beaches, flanked by huge rocks. There are some bars and restaurants offering drinks and home-made food.
That day in August, a lost penguin appeared in the waves. Quickly the poor bird was drawn from the water by helping hands.
The fire brigade was alarmed, they arrived one hour later to rescue the penguin. That winter, about 400 lost penguins arrived in Niterói only. They later were transferred to the south of Brazil to be released.
That afternoon, we witnessed one of the most beautiful and colorful sunsets, that I have experienced in Brazil.
Gulls were flying low over the water, in the search of their daily meal.
The final minutes of daylight provided a colorful scene, from yellow turning into red.
No wonder that sunsets receive applause at Ipanema Beach, in Rio de Janeiro.

Camera: Canon PowerShot A540

f/5.5, 1/320