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We stand in line with all the other early morning passengers with their pillows and picnics and eventually jostle our way to the front and find our cariage. Despite booking executive class our carriage was pretty ordinary ie standard economy back home seating about 280 or so people although only around 30 used. However the point of this train journey is to see the Brazilian countryside and this we most definitely did.
As we travel through the state of Minas Geraise what we see in the main is very hilly ; sometimes mountainous and occasionally huge stone escarpments on the sky line. During the first half of our journey we passed by vast valleys with many hills in between which reminded us of the valley of a thousand hills in Natal. Here in Brazil the trees continue to grow up the hillsides. About midway was a lakeland area with large dark lakes surrounded by huge bullrushes and the occasional palm tree miles away from anywhere ; incomparable with any other landscape I've seen. In the main the land was deserted but we did see the odd small farm and pass through two or three small towns along the track. There was also a cement works and hydroelectric plant ...............Dad wants me to mention these esp. he also recons the goods trains we passed were taking iron ore to China...........how does he know? Don't know . Didn't ask!
One thing that was constant was how green and lush everything was. Constantly the countryside was dense, green and so very healthy looking.....mile upon mile of it and hardly used at all.
Then eventually we were in B. H. which we were very glad to see after 14hrs on the train. I think our guide and driver we're equally relieved (our train was an hour late) because they spotted us on the platform and had us manhandled into the car before you could say knife. Next thing we knew we were on our way to O. P. tyres burning.
O.P. looked very quaint and interesting as we entered which considering how tired we were boded well. It would seem the long detour was going to be worth while.
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John Brydon Yet another amazing travel experience for you both. A expert journal accompanied by wonderful photography. Hope you are enjoying this trip as much as we are!