Despite the discovery of gold, Paraty has never displayed the opulence seen in other mining towns in Minas Gerais. Instead, its charm comes from the simplicity of its tiled-roof houses and its white-washed churches. In places, the high tide floods the cobblestones, which residents claim gives them a good clean. After night falls, a constant stream of tourists wanders through its lively streets, stopping at stalls selling pasteis. In the morning, as the sun beats down, the city slowly recovers from the excesses of the night before.