sketches and spray: a messy day in uberaba
i was wandering down rua XV with my sketchbook, the sun hanging low like a tired drumhead, and suddenly the humidity hit me like a wet sponge slapped on my forehead. i just stepped outside and the air feels like a lukewarm bath, kinda clingy, making my shirt stick to my back like cheap glue. *Uberaba has this weird way of feeling both sleepy and buzzing at the same time, especially near the old railway yard where the walls scream with faded tags and fresh stencils.
someone told me that the little cafe on esquina da rua São Paulo serves the strongest coffee in town, but i heard that the owner sometimes swaps the beans for chicory when the supply runs low - a rumor that kept me guessing as i nursed a cup that tasted like burnt caramel and regret. i laughed when a local whispered that the mural behind the bakery was painted by a visiting street artist from São Paulo who left overnight after a bar fight, though i can’t confirm if the paint still smells like cheap wine.
if you feel the urge to stretch your legs beyond the city limits, the rolling hills of Araxá and the quiet lakes of São Gotardo are just a short pedal away on a borrowed bike, perfect for chasing sunsets or dodging stray dogs that think they own the sidewalks.
i grabbed a quick bite at a spot flagged on TripAdvisor - TripAdvisor link - where the plates looked like they’d been staged for a food magazine, though the waiter warned me that the feijoada can be a bit too salty for newcomers. later i checked Yelp for a late-night snack and found a tip about a hidden pastel* stand near the mercado that only opens when the moon is full - Yelp link - and sure enough, the vendor handed me a greasy parcel that tasted like victory after a long day of tagging. i also found a handy events board on Eventbrite - Eventbrite link - that listed a weekend jam session perfect for sketching crowds.
here’s the map to keep you from getting lost in the maze of alleys:
and a few shots i snapped while wandering:
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