Up for my usual sail-in photos…. Great skyline… Then Ann, Cathy and I caught the first shuttle for the port terminal where we met our guide for the day. Recife’s old town is jam-packed full of imposing architecture and colorful colonial buildings. Many of the buildings date back from the 19th century. As we traveled around, you quickly discover why Recife is nicknamed the Venice of Brazil...with over 50 bridges crisscrossing the canals and waterways. Today, we started our tour of the old town at Marco Zero, a monument on the spot where Recife was founded by the Portuguese in 1537...We walked down Bom Jesus Street, which once was the center of the Jewish population in Recife. The synagogue and Jewish cultural center are still located here. We visited Pernambuco Embassy, an exhibition center featuring the famous giant carnival puppet dolls from Olinda. The giant dolls, represent famous people such as singers, football players, actors, presidents, etc. Other highlights included; Arsenal Square, Republic Park, St. Isabel Theater and the Governors Palace. We paid a visit to the Casa da Cultura, an arts and craft marketplace that has been converted from the old prison. Next, we stopped at the expansive Boa Viagem beach area, the city’s central stretch of sand, surrounded by upscale condos, restaurants, shops, and bars. Leaving the beach, we went to the sister city, Olinda, just a short drive from Recife. Olinda is famous for its pastel-colored houses, quaint colonial buildings and churches... the entire historical center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Whitewashed colonial churches are a dime a dozen in this quaint little town, from dainty little neighborhood shrines to grand cathedrals like the Alto da Se Cathedral, Franciscan Cathedral and Convent and Misericordia Church...Unfortunately, many of the churches and monuments were barricaded to deter Carnival vandalism and certainly not conducive to picture taking. I did climb the panoramic tower for some nice views and we were able to visit Saint Benedict Church and Monastery. On our return to Recife, we visited Fort Brum, it was built in 1631 under Dutch rule and rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1690. It was another very, very hot day in Recife.
