Been to Belo Horizonte Brazil? (crime, life, country, travel)

[ABQSunseeker]

I will be going to Belo Horizonte in April. Will be using it as a springboard for visiting Ouro Preto, Diamantina, and other old mining towns. Anyone been to Belo? What's it like? Brazils third largest city.

[arr430]

I found that whole area to be pretty ininteresting stops in a huge country that keeps on going forever. You see nothing on the all-day bus between cities, which look like Akron. But the old centers of some small cities are compact and pleasantly oldish. The equivalent of a US small town seems to be absent from Brazil.

[SLIMMACKEY]

Belo is nice. If you have been to any other large Brazilian metro areas you will see it has a but of its own distinct flavo..like the other. Its not a beachy city like rio, even though they are in close proximity for the most part

[ABQSunseeker]

Originally Posted by SLIMMACKEY

Belo is nice. If you have been to any other large Brazilian metro areas you will see it has a but of its own distinct flavo..like the other. Its not a beachy city like rio, even though they are in close proximity for the most part

Thanks for the info. I'm using it to jump out to Ouro Preto, but Belo looks fairly nice. Will be staying in Lourdes area. Most of my trip will bring me to Rio for the 2nd time, and Sao Paulo for first time. My main concerns about Brazil are the high crime levels in its cities, but i lived in NYC for years when it was very unsafe.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by ABQSunseeker

I will be going to Belo Horizonte in April. Will be using it as a springboard for visiting Ouro Preto, Diamantina, and other old mining towns. Anyone been to Belo? What's it like? Brazils third largest city.

I like BH. For the large Brazilian cities, I think Belo Horizonte has the kindest and warmest citizens in the country - along with Goiania.

[SLIMMACKEY]

Originally Posted by ABQSunseeker

Thanks for the info. I'm using it to jump out to Ouro Preto, but Belo looks fairly nice. Will be staying in Lourdes area. Most of my trip will bring me to Rio for the 2nd time, and Sao Paulo for first time. My main concerns about Brazil are the high crime levels in its cities, but i lived in NYC for years when it was very unsafe.

Im from the states and live in Rio.....Belo vibe will be a smaller version of Sao Pauolo. Sao Pauolo is like NYC....major metropolis. That lifestyle there is very metro, unlike Rio where I am. Rio is more SoCal.....as far as crime, be careful in SP when out at night. Dont share drinks with any pretty girls. Rio, same thing...and be very aware on the beaches. And dont make a habit of walking around with your phone in your hand. Someone will snatch it in broad daylight. But overall, you should have a good time. 3 different cities with different vibes.

[Suesbal]

Is there a Belo Verticale?

[ABQSunseeker]

Originally Posted by SLIMMACKEY

Im from the states and live in Rio.....Belo vibe will be a smaller version of Sao Pauolo. Sao Pauolo is like NYC....major metropolis. That lifestyle there is very metro, unlike Rio where I am. Rio is more SoCal.....as far as crime, be careful in SP when out at night. Dont share drinks with any pretty girls. Rio, same thing...and be very aware on the beaches. And dont make a habit of walking around with your phone in your hand. Someone will snatch it in broad daylight. But overall, you should have a good time. 3 different cities with different vibes.

Thanks for the heads up. As a former New Yorker i am a careful traveler.

[Sage 80]

Belo Horizonte is a nice city, but nothing special. It’s definitely not a destination.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by arr430

I found that whole area to be pretty ininteresting stops in a huge country that keeps on going forever. You see nothing on the all-day bus between cities, which look like Akron. But the old centers of some small cities are compact and pleasantly oldish. The equivalent of a US small town seems to be absent from Brazil.

That's an interesting observation.