Natasha being swamped by gemstone sellers at the entrance to 22 Rua Minervino de Castro Pinto, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais

OK, first let me just say that Natasha is not really being "swamped" -- she is a relatively experienced buyer, well known there, and the stone sellers on this, the most important of the streets where gems are sold in Teófilo Otoni, are a very polite bunch. Times are rough, business is down, they are an anxious lot.

The sellers on the street or in the praça are there because they never made it big or got that lucky break or they couldn't manage success when they had it or maybe they are there trying to sell someone else's stones on commission. In any case, one needs to respect the fact that they are there trying to make a living just like the next person. Unfortunately, over 90% of the time, they will show you inferior stones.

On that street, there are two unassuming but very important buildings where gem dealers have their offices.

More later...