The brazilian geographer Milton Santos once defined space as being the unequal accumulation of times. I like to visit old and historic sites and imagine how life has been happening since then.
On the first weekend of september we visited small towns on the border of São Paulo and Minas Gerais States, on the northeastern side of São Paulo.
We were based in a town called Socorro, located 132 km from our State Capital. The settlement started in the 16th century when the portuguese pioneers banished the native carajás indians. Most of the historic buildings though I most liked were built in late 19th century and early 20th (like the pink house in the first picture - 1892).
As I woke up early for a walk, I took the camera with me, and could take pictures all along the quiet and rainy town. One thing I don´t like about the brazilian historic towns is that for a long time, without recognition of its historic importance, many buildings were put down and replaced by modern constructions, with no architectural taste and value. That creates a strange mosaic of colors and shapes not pleasant to the eyes. It confirms though the definition of Milton Santos.
As I got closer to the main church in downtown, I stated seeing people arriving to the 7:00 AM catholic mass. I stopped at the square then, and kept myself for a time in the surroundings to watch them and see that life goes on very similarly all over in this part of the country. I didn´t want to go inside the church though because I was wearing running clothes and didn´t think it was appropriate. The slow walking of people and the friendly smile to say "Good Day" to everyone that crosses their way, including strangers and myself, indicate me that I am really close to Minas Gerais.
