Driving the country roads – part IV – Duas Barras revisited

     A few months back I wrote a short series Driving the Country Roads, and one of the small towns visited was Duas Barras. Last week I took Marissa and Wendy (English/Brazilian friend) on a drive looking for a nice lunch and to show them this little town. I took a few more photos and thought you might enjoy just a little more than what I showed you last trip.

I kept thinking about our ‘rainbow’ Friday shoot-out and the metal, and the textures. This little place, so well preserved is a Mecca of eye-catching color and texture. The style is colonial Portuguese at its best. Wood frame windows, the use of natural stones and wrought iron just please me beyond description. The last time I drove over from Friburgo it must have been Saturday, this week it was a Wednesday and the school children were on their way back to school after lunch. The streets were full of people, walking, talking, sitting in the central square. No one seemed to pay me any attention while I nearly climbed a tree trying to photo some mushrooms at the base of its branches.                                                                                                                                    

   

    

  should I stop now…… no just one more row!

Driving the Country Roads – Part 2

Back tracking from Cantagalo, just outside of Bom Jardim there is a cutoff headed west to Duas Barras (RJ144). The drive on this road is very pleasant, gentle curves and grand vistas of coffee plantations and small farms.

There was not much in the way of traffic the day we drove that direction but we did pass a donkey cart or two and farm animals grazing along side of the road.

Bucolic

 

Duas Barras is a well preserved little town. It shows a lot of care by the town’s elected officials. From the small local bar to the city’s church on the central square, it was all beautifully painted. I guess that unless you are familiar with other cities, including Friburgo you can’t understand the impact of these buildings and the care they have been given.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         

                                  The church’s interior, as well as the rectory and gardens in the back, were one of the most beautiful I’ve seen anywhere (that means even in Europe / Italy) this is a real compliment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The towns people truly care for their church. (I know I take too many photos) The rest of the side streets were just as neat, we walked up and down them for nearly an hour enjoying the different styles and individual efforts made to make their home unique. After exploring the town from one end to the other we had lunch in an outdoor bar/restaurant one block off the main square and drove home in time for our afternoon nap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duas Barras is about a 1 hour drive from the center of Friburgo. Add one day to your visit here in order to see this charming little place.