Recife, Permanbucco, Brazil
30 November 2007- Friday
Recife, Brazil
Another Brazilian city I've underestimated. Again a high rise skyline as we pull into the harbor about 8am. WE had spent the night cruising at 10 knots and now that we are in the southern hemisphere the seas and wind are running against us. Buses waiting at the pier and I'm on bus one - driver's side for this tour (shopping type). We start off by visiting a town atop a hill called Olinda which has kept its Portuguese architectural style and is a UNESCO world heritage site. We leave the big bus and get into minivans because of the narrow streets, stop at a Cathedral where they ar having a graduation ceremony for the latest class of tourist police. There are some nice vistas of the harbor and then we get a brief dance demonstration - sidewalk style- run the gauntlet of tablecloth and bead sellers to another small church and then back to the minibus. Drive to a beach area on the south side of town a mini Rio, and park next to a 5 star hotel which also the local headquarters for Stern's- the gemstone dealer. Then drive around town past the old Dutch fort that is now a museum, and go to the former prison which is now a handicraft market and the cells have been converted to shops. The temp is 93 and humidity the same so I'm too whipped to return to town after lunch which I didn't finish until 2. We are docked at the commercial harbor and are surrounded by ships loading sugar. There are many sugar cane plantations in the area, although we didn't see one. The city center is on an island between 2 rivers and therefore there are a lot of bridges and naturally they call it the Venice of Brazil. I was impressed that they have preserved huge mangrove swamps that would have become land fills in Florida. Of course the city had plenty of slums next to rich areas. The guide said they are poor people but
not starving. Two 30 story buildings they are building near the waterfront which reminded me of the trade towers have a lot of hollow tile in their construction which I thought had been replaced by cinder blocks. It's the beginning of the reclamation of the old warehouse area for other high rise apartments. Ship sails at 445pm as sun is setting. Time for a quick shower and head for dinner- good meal as usual. Tonight we get a performance by Paul Adams "Funny Man" That I've seen on all cruises on this ship. Last time he said he was engaged to one of the clerks in the ships boutique- this time he's married. The Brits loved him, the Scandinavians didn't understand him, and the Americans were somewhere in the middle because he's really fast and uses a lot of limey expressions. Stayed and chatted with the folks from Canada and Wales since it was them that provided me with all the gin and
tonic. Eventually did an early fade out.
Recife, Brazil
Another Brazilian city I've underestimated. Again a high rise skyline as we pull into the harbor about 8am. WE had spent the night cruising at 10 knots and now that we are in the southern hemisphere the seas and wind are running against us. Buses waiting at the pier and I'm on bus one - driver's side for this tour (shopping type). We start off by visiting a town atop a hill called Olinda which has kept its Portuguese architectural style and is a UNESCO world heritage site. We leave the big bus and get into minivans because of the narrow streets, stop at a Cathedral where they ar having a graduation ceremony for the latest class of tourist police. There are some nice vistas of the harbor and then we get a brief dance demonstration - sidewalk style- run the gauntlet of tablecloth and bead sellers to another small church and then back to the minibus. Drive to a beach area on the south side of town a mini Rio, and park next to a 5 star hotel which also the local headquarters for Stern's- the gemstone dealer. Then drive around town past the old Dutch fort that is now a museum, and go to the former prison which is now a handicraft market and the cells have been converted to shops. The temp is 93 and humidity the same so I'm too whipped to return to town after lunch which I didn't finish until 2. We are docked at the commercial harbor and are surrounded by ships loading sugar. There are many sugar cane plantations in the area, although we didn't see one. The city center is on an island between 2 rivers and therefore there are a lot of bridges and naturally they call it the Venice of Brazil. I was impressed that they have preserved huge mangrove swamps that would have become land fills in Florida. Of course the city had plenty of slums next to rich areas. The guide said they are poor people but
not starving. Two 30 story buildings they are building near the waterfront which reminded me of the trade towers have a lot of hollow tile in their construction which I thought had been replaced by cinder blocks. It's the beginning of the reclamation of the old warehouse area for other high rise apartments. Ship sails at 445pm as sun is setting. Time for a quick shower and head for dinner- good meal as usual. Tonight we get a performance by Paul Adams "Funny Man" That I've seen on all cruises on this ship. Last time he said he was engaged to one of the clerks in the ships boutique- this time he's married. The Brits loved him, the Scandinavians didn't understand him, and the Americans were somewhere in the middle because he's really fast and uses a lot of limey expressions. Stayed and chatted with the folks from Canada and Wales since it was them that provided me with all the gin and
tonic. Eventually did an early fade out.
Labels: Barcelona to Rio
posted by DT at 12:04 PM
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