USA-Ghana, digging deep
In Belo Horizonte today most people did not even know the USA was playing a match against Ghana until there was a game on the television sets in every bar. As we left this morning on a day trip to explore the mining state of Minas Gerais, the game was always on my mind. The closer we got to game time, the more my nerves started to kick in. I was confident that the US team could win tonight, but Ghana has been our nemesis now for too long so the reminder of this was always present.
As we left Ouro Preto to come back to Belo Horizonte in time to watch the match, I was super excited. Until we hit traffic. And more traffic. And then the news that the highway we were on would be closed for at least an hour. Would I miss the match?? This could not happen! I was in Brazil…..
The morning started off with a descent into a mine. No better way to wake up than to take a creaky old mine coaster down deep into the ground.
Mining countryside
A roller coaster?
Lots of quartz and other minerals
The gang 315 meters below
The state of Minas Gerais has many jewels, but one of them is Ouro Preto, a UNESCO Heritage Site. My father visited this town back in the late 50s so it was fun to be there the day after Father’s Day to remember him and some of the incredible photos that he took. It was hard to find the sites of some of the photos since parts of the town have changed so much in the last 50+ years.
The main plaza
Igreja Sao Francisco de Assis
Igreja N. S. do Carmo
Back to the USA-Ghana soccer match. I did end up missing the first half of the game due to the overturned truck. Frustrating, but at least I knew the US was up 1-0 at halftime due to our driver’s WhatsApp contact who kept her informed of the score. We did make it back to the apartment in time to see the disappointing goal by Ghana which was followed by the incredible Brooks header to seal the victory and the 3 points. Definitely needed!!!
