A 25,000 kms drive around South America - Oct/Nov 2001

Starting and finishing on Copacapana Beach, Rio de Janeiro. Driving 25,000 kms through six countries: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Uruguay. One hundred cars: fifty classics and fifty 4x4's.

Day 2 - Ouro Preto

Slept well under mosquito net. Up early for procession into Ouro Preto. This was part of the required route and there was a checkpoint there. We heard later that some drivers missed it and were heavily penalised! All the town turned out to see us in the Town Square. Driving to the town square in Ouro Preto following Ahmad.


Welcome banners in the town square of Ouro Preto

 

The town square with the cars parked up.

 

Church of S.Francisco, Ouro Preto, which had beautiful ceilings.

 

Wandered around and talked to some of the local people and saw the local market.

 
We left the town and drove off to a hypermarket for supplies. Sorted ourselves out back at the hotel ready for tomorrow. Quite cool and foggy in late afternoon. Went for a walk and saw great swimming pool, games room and some rabbits. A nice hotel, in fact. However, the bar service was very slow and the food not too good. We ate with Colin and two Englishmen, one of whom was Anthony Ward, who is in chocolate! Then later we were joined by Sir Terence English, a heart surgeon and former doctor to the Queen, and Chris McGregor, a very pleasant Scottish doctor from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Early to bed for a 5am alarm!