Three words come to mind when I think of this place: HOT, HOT, HOT, MUGGY, MUGGY, MUGGY, SWEATY, SWEATY, SWEATY!!!! When we got off the ship around 10AM the temperature was close to 90 with humidity about the same, or higher! We were inundated with people wanting to drive us around, guide us, sell us stuff, etc. It was irritating. We already had our plan for the day and didn’t need their help.
Our destination was the Mercado Modelo, a market which, according to Frank, our onboard travel guide, sells the “whole damn 9 yards”. It was a big concrete structure which provided some welcome shade and was a little cooler and they did, indeed, sell everything. There were some beautiful sun dresses and I would have loved to try one, but trying something on with my sweaty body was beyond my capability just then.
Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and it’s a city of 3 million people, most of which are of African descent. Salvador is the closest Brazilian coast to Africa and there was a huge slave trade in the 1800’s so the culture is more African than Brazilian. The city has many hills and our second destination was the top of one of them, a place called Pelourinho. This is the old part of the city and really the only place that tourists come to see. There’s a wonderful elevator that takes people up to the top. The locals all use it and it’s quite cheap: 15 reals, which is about 8 cents. Up at the top the views are spectacular and many of the buildings are painted in pastel colors with white trim. There are a series of squares with fountains surrounded by churches and shops. Roaming the streets are beautiful African women dressed in traditional clothes which make them look like Mammy in Gone With The Wind. They are very cheerful and approach all the tourists to have their pictures taken; for money, of course. But we couldn’t resist them, they were so much fun.
The streets were all decorated with banners and brightly painted wooden structures. We didn’t know whether this was left over from Carnaval or a permanent decoration but it gave the impression of a light-hearted, festive place to live.
After two hours we decided to go back to the ship for a swim to cool off and decide whether to go back out. Somehow I knew that once we were “home” we wouldn’t leave again, and I was right. The ship put on a delicious outdoor barbecue that night so we sat there and ate and drank to our heart’s content.
We have a sea day today and tomorrow is our second and final Virtuoso tour in Recife.
Our destination was the Mercado Modelo, a market which, according to Frank, our onboard travel guide, sells the “whole damn 9 yards”. It was a big concrete structure which provided some welcome shade and was a little cooler and they did, indeed, sell everything. There were some beautiful sun dresses and I would have loved to try one, but trying something on with my sweaty body was beyond my capability just then.
Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and it’s a city of 3 million people, most of which are of African descent. Salvador is the closest Brazilian coast to Africa and there was a huge slave trade in the 1800’s so the culture is more African than Brazilian. The city has many hills and our second destination was the top of one of them, a place called Pelourinho. This is the old part of the city and really the only place that tourists come to see. There’s a wonderful elevator that takes people up to the top. The locals all use it and it’s quite cheap: 15 reals, which is about 8 cents. Up at the top the views are spectacular and many of the buildings are painted in pastel colors with white trim. There are a series of squares with fountains surrounded by churches and shops. Roaming the streets are beautiful African women dressed in traditional clothes which make them look like Mammy in Gone With The Wind. They are very cheerful and approach all the tourists to have their pictures taken; for money, of course. But we couldn’t resist them, they were so much fun.
The streets were all decorated with banners and brightly painted wooden structures. We didn’t know whether this was left over from Carnaval or a permanent decoration but it gave the impression of a light-hearted, festive place to live.
After two hours we decided to go back to the ship for a swim to cool off and decide whether to go back out. Somehow I knew that once we were “home” we wouldn’t leave again, and I was right. The ship put on a delicious outdoor barbecue that night so we sat there and ate and drank to our heart’s content.
We have a sea day today and tomorrow is our second and final Virtuoso tour in Recife.
long time since a post.... coming home soon?
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