South America: Ouro Preto

Greetings
Another day, another beautiful city. Today we left Tiradentes and travelled with our wonderful guide, Celia, to Ouro Preto. Along the way we made several stops, the first in a small town famous for their dessert, a "jelly roll" filled with milk pudding-dolce leche (not as sweet as what we get in Canada-creamier and more milky). It was very good, we also picked up some lovely coconut sweets, one with dark sugar and peanuts and the other just plain. The Brazilians love their sweets, today was a sugar rush day!
We then stopped in Cogonhas, as small mining town which is famous for its carvings and church (yes, believe it or not, a church!). It is famous because Aleijadinho (the little cripple) did all the carvings for the church and the Via Sacra ( the story of Christ, with sculptures housed in separate little buildings).
Aleijadinho was a gifted sculptor who made many sculptures for the churches in Minas Gervais (the state where most of the mines are-gold mines in the 17 and 18th centuries). His carvings are so lifelike, it is amazing, every little detail down to the veins in Christ's hands. He is even more famous because many of the carvings were done after he lost his fingers and legs (below the knee). It is believed that he suffered from leprosy. He did many of his carvings with the tools tied to his arms! I am not a religious person, but I was truly moved by the beautiful lifelike carvings that he did. Every detail including buttons and designs on clothing were included. He carved the story of Christ in several vignettes which are trulying amazing. You can see other carvings (of the less important figures like the soldiers) done by others (as he was getting old and more infirm by then) which are good, but nothing like the carvings done by him. He carved the twelve prophets which stand on guard outside the church. My favorite is Daniel with the lion. There is also Jonas and the whale.
He carved the alter for the church, Bom Jesus Matosinho which is amazing. The angels faces are so lovely, with every little detail is amazing. He was gifted.
We then travelled to Ouro Preto which means black gold (the gold was covered with a black oxidized layer). It is a well preserved colonial town from the gold rush days. The old town is nicely kept with beautiful buildings and lots of churches, I know its hard to believe. I do not think that it is possible for a view not to include a church. They had them for important rich whites, not important rich whites, middle class whites, poor whites, mulattos, and slaves (the slave churches are very beautiful and the alter and artwork was done by famous artists of the time). In Sao Francisco de Assiz , Aleijdainho carved the alter, he was amazingly prolific. He dedicated his life to his work after he became ill.
There are many neat little shops and museums. They have a couple of chocolate factories which make amazing chocolate. We stopped for ice cream and chocolate, it was very good. They make a chocolate with cloves and cinnamon, a very tasty combination.
We watched the sunset from the top of our hotel with a church in the background.