Road to Beauty Day 5: Strolling Around the Lovely Streets of Ouro Preto

Surrounded by Beauty

On a quiet day in the streets of Ouro Preto, one of Brazil's main historical cities, the L'equipée girls have decided to relax and enjoy discovering the architectural treasures of Minas Gerais.

Yesterday's journey from Tiradentes under the pouring rain had been an ordeal. Louise B was so tired, she could barely drive straight, so the girls ended up deciding not to take the Golden Road they had so looked forward to exploring.

Today, after a good night's sleep and a lazy morning in bed, waking up in Ouro Preto is a breathtaking experience. The view from any window is simply gorgeous. The white facades of the colonial houses with their colorful windows hang onto the green hillsides.

The girls decide to enjoy the sunshine, now that it's back, by taking a walk along the charming sloping streets of the city, with all its baroque churches. Still exhausted, Louise B has decided to stay in the guesthouse, especially since she has had to answer the urgent call of one of her patients in Paris.

Carpe Diem

Led by Cindy and her need to go shopping, the other girls have been bargain hunting in the tiny jewelry shops and listening to the tales the sellers have been telling them about the stones from Minas Gerais. Cindy tried to haggle for one on the cheap, but it didn't work.

The humidity and heat were making the air sweltering, so the girls tried to escape inside a comparatively cool café. They sipped coconut water (a local habit 100% adopted by the group), and clumped around the single fan. It was time to eat, so, like proper Frenchwomen, they talked cooking around a purely local dish: a bean stew, the famous "feijão tropeiro."

Yesterday's encounter with Tanea Romao had impressed them. Sharing, enjoying the flavors—it was unforgettable. And then there is Tanea's personality, so warm and smiling. In the words of the ladies, "a truly beautiful woman!"

They can't wait to try the recipe Tanea was kind enough to share with them: "Biscoito de Polvilho." (See below for recipe.)

Like the day before, with the afternoon came the rain, and right at the time when the girls had intended to get back on the road. They decided to wait a bit before taking off, but the rain didn't stop and then it was nightfall. Rain and darkness? Not the best mix for five girls on their motorcycles—especially for Louise D: "I don't see very well in the dark, and I like to go to bed early."

Fried Biscoito de Polvilho Kitanda Brazil

Ingredients

½ kg of bitter manioc flour

½ glass of cold water

½ glass of sunflower oil

3 eggs

100 g of grated half-matured cheese

1 table spoon of fubá (corn flour)

1 table spoon of salt

Method

1) Put the manioc flour in a large bowl and add the cold water.

2) Work the dough until its volume doubles.

3) Heat the oil and scald the manioc flour.

4) Knead the dough well.

5) Add the eggs, one by one.

6) Add the grated cheese and the corn flour.

7) Mix everything until the dough reaches rolling point.

8) Add salt, if necessary.

9) Oil your hands and roll the doll into small rings.

10) Put the biscuits in cold oil, as the oil heats, the biscuits will fry without bursting.

11) Brown the biscuits and dry them in paper towels.

Keep following the L'équipée girls' quest to discover what beauty means around the world at the Road to Beauty.