this is not your typical tourist guide to Sete Lagoas

okay, so i'm in this place called Sete Lagoas, and i have no idea how to pronounce it. it's somewhere in Brazil, and honestly, i just checked and it's 20.05°C there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the air feels like 20.38°C, which is basically sweater weather but also not, you know?

anyway, i'm here as a *digital nomad, which basically means i work from my laptop and pretend i'm living my best life. the humidity is at 87%, so my hair is doing that weird frizzy thing, and i'm not mad about it. it's part of the charm.

i heard from a local at a cafe that the best coffee in town is at Cafe do Centro. apparently, it's been around since forever, and the owner still uses a vintage espresso machine. i went there, and yeah, it's legit. the espresso hit me like a truck, and i loved every second of it.

if you get bored, Belo Horizonte and Lagoa Santa are just a short drive away. i haven't been yet, but someone told me Belo Horizonte has this amazing street art scene. i'm planning to check it out tomorrow, maybe.

i also stumbled upon this weird little shop called Lojas Americanas. it's like a mix between a dollar store and a tech shop. i bought a portable charger for like $5, and it's been a lifesaver. the reviews online said it was sketchy, but i'm here to tell you it's not. or maybe i just got lucky.

"the caves here are haunted,"

someone whispered to me at a bar. i don't know if they were drunk or just trying to scare me, but i'm intrigued. i'm planning to visit Gruta Rei do Mato tomorrow. apparently, it's a cave system with stalactites and stalagmites that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie.

the food here is wild. i tried feijoada at a place called Restaurante do Zé, and it was so good i almost cried. it's this traditional Brazilian stew with beans, pork, and all sorts of magic. the reviews said it was "okay," but i'm telling you, it's a religious experience.

i also met this guy who said he's a marathon runner and he runs through the streets of Sete Lagoas every morning. he told me the best route is along the Lagoa da Pampulha*. i'm not a runner, but i might just walk it tomorrow and pretend i'm him.

the vibe here is chill. like, really chill. people are friendly, the pace is slow, and i haven't seen a single tourist. it's like this hidden gem that nobody talks about, and i'm here for it.

i'm staying in this Airbnb that's basically a treehouse. it's cute, but the Wi-Fi is trash. i've been working from cafes, and it's been fine. the owner said the internet is "better at night," which i think is code for "it doesn't work at all."

anyway, if you're into off-the-beaten-path places, Sete Lagoas is worth a visit. it's not flashy, but it's real. and sometimes, real is all you need.