Salvador, Recife, FdeN Day 5
Salvador, Recife, FdeN
Day 05 - Friday, December 16, 2011 - Flight from Salvador, Bahia, BR to Recife, Pernambuco, BR; City Tour of Recife and Olinda
Susan and Bob agreed to meet us for breakfast at 7:30 before we left the hotel for the airport at 8:30. We paid our bill and thanked the desk staff for all of the help they had given us during our stay.
Having been to the land of famous cacao in Bahia, Gennie had a piece of chocolate cake for breakfast. She said it was the best she has ever eaten which prompted Bob to join her. Susan and I stuck to the traditional breakfast of bread, meat, cheese and coffee.
Our taxi driver Bartholomeu was waiting for us at 8:30, ten minutes earlier than expected. We quickly said goodbye to our dear cousins as they go back to Sao Paulo this afternoon.
When we got to the entrance to the airport and the roadway covered with the beautiful bamboo canopy, the driver stopped so I could get out and take a few pictures. The bamboo was planted during WWII to camouflage the aircraft.
The airport check-in was easy and as we were so early, we were the only ones in line for the TAM flight to Recife. Because the flight originated in Buenos Aires, it was considered an international flight and we had to wait until 12:00 to go through security.
The flight was just an hour and the aircraft was not full so we had a little room to move around. Gennie transferred to a window seat so she could take a few photos of our takeoff and landing.
When we landed in Recife at 1:14 (Standard Time) we could tell we were in a warmer climate. The temperature was 96° and the humidity was 70%. Our guide Silvia was right there waiting for us after we got our bags.
Carlos the driver put our bags in the trunk and we were off on our next adventure. Silvia was wonderful! She was so lively and energetic and with obvious pride in her city.
We went right to the hotel, checked in, and turned on the AC. Then in 15 minutes we were back in the lobby and ready for our tour of the city. Carlos negotiated the heavy traffic and Silvia gave us a history of the area and current information about the city of 3 million people.
Construction and restoration are going on everywhere in the city. Lula, the former president of Brazil was from this state of Pernambuco and he put lots of money in Recife. There are many construction and tourist related jobs and with three the World Cup games being played here in 2014, a new stadium is also being built.
Recife is on the coast and made up of three islands. It was the home of a vital port sending coffee, rice, coconuts, grapes, oranges, and pineapple to the world. The Capibaribe River is an important trade route to the interior.
On our walking tour we visited several unique sites in the town, the first being the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue. There is a long history of the Jewish people coming to Brazil with the Portuguese and establishing the banks and commercial centers.
We continued our walk and Carlos picked us up at strategic locations. Recife has 149 bridges, all with a story! Each of the islands is connected by a beautiful bridge – reminding us of Venice without the gondolas.
The next stop was the Golden Chapel built in 1696. Because it was so dark, photography was difficult, but at least I was able to try. After the church we visited the Casa de Detenção, the old prison. Now each cell is a gift shop or souvenir store.
After our visit to the three islands we continued to Olinda, just north of Recife. We listened to a choir of children practicing for a Christmas concert and then walked around the colorful homes in their Colonial style of architecture and bright colors.
Olinda has 22 churches and 11 chapels. Every time we saw one, Silvia would give us a little of its history or describe an important event. In our Chevy we climbed to the top of the highest peak which was 39 meters.
A local church guide told us about the Monasterio de Sao Bento. It was the second Benedictine Monastery in Brazil and also housed the first law school in Brazil. We bought a fresh yellow coconut to drink – supposedly not as sweet as the green ones but very high in potassium.
It was beginning to get dark at 5:30 as they are not on Daylight Savings Time and are on western edge of the Atlantic Time Zone. We rode to the top of an observation elevator for a panoramic sunset view of Recife and Olinda.
We concluded our city tour at 6:45 and decided to go to a restaurant that Silvia recommended right next to our hotel.
It was a self-service buffet with a pizza; all you can eat rodizio. The waiters bought many varieties of pizza and pasta. There was also a salad bar, all for 15 Reais.
We came back to the hotel and I took a few night photos from our balcony. We have a corner suite; kitchen dining room and bedroom with a view of the city on one corner and the Atlantic surf on the other. Too bad we are not here more than an overnight stay.
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure Apartments Recife Navegantes
Comments
Hi Mr. and Mrs.Garcia, Thanks for your comments about Recife /Olinda and about my work;that was very kind of both of you.Believe me It was a great pleasure to work for you. Best regards,
Post a Comment!Gennie, I loved that you had chocolate cake for breakfast. If I had been there, I would have eaten a piece right along with you!
Elementary School Choir, Olinda, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil (1:12)
Bamboo Canopy to Airport
Our Guide Silvia
Green Coconuts
Monasterio de São Bento, Olinda
Recife at Night
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