Blogs from Pernambuco, Brazil, South America - page 11

OH MY GOD WE´RE HERE!!!!!! This is nearly the last leg of the trip and one I have waited for since I was small! We are in Recife in east Brazil (look on the map) where my uncle Albert and his family have lived for nearly 15 years. It was a nightmare journey from Miami- first there were some amusing security issues leaving the USA where Dan and I had a special search!, then we had to change in Sao Paolo making it a 17 hour journey overnight. The chaos and disorganised SP airport was horrible, but we and our bags arrived safely- something we thought wouldnt happen! so we were knackered when we arrived for lunch with the family. We are lucky to have my aunt Dayse off this week to act as our tour ... read more

Technically I'm not writing this from Fernando de Noronha, as I'm now in Maceio. However, I never had time to write my blog while on the island because the internet is so expensive. For those who don't know, Fernando de Noronha is an island approximately 500km off the coast of Brazil. After spending five days there, I have to say its pretty fantastic and I don't even dive or surf, which are two of the main reasons for visiting. I went on a tour arranged for me by Dolphin Travel in Recife. This meant that two of my full three days were occupied. The first morning was spent on a boat tour round the island. The only problem was the tour was in Portuguese, luckily I found some a couple of Americans to act my ... read more

After spending over 14 hours travelling, I finally made it to Brazil. I can't really complain about my journey, except for the extra hour spent in the sky between Lisbon and Recife. My pousada (guest house in brazil) decided to welcome me with a caipirinha (a cocktail), which definitely helped after all that travelling. I'm currently in a town called, Olinda, which is down the coast from Recife. Olinda is pretty beautiful, full of palm trees, churches and art shops / galleries. I'll put up some photos later. Its quite hilly, which makes it difficult to explore when your body is adjusting to the heat and a new time zone. Its also surprisingly easy to get lost! My first travel buddy is an American called Will, who arrived at exactly the same time as the me. ... read more

sind nach João Pessoa also in Jacumâ, genauer gesagt in Carapibus gelandet, einem verschlafenen Doerfchen mit wunderschoenen, fast menschenleeren Straenden, Klippen, Buchten, tuerkis-gruenem Meer,... also wieder einmal ein wunderschoenes fleckchen erde - davon gibt's hier in brasilien ja genug! naechste station war dann die stadt olinda. nicht zu unrecht haben die portugiesen, als sie das erste mal diese schoene fleckchen erde betraten, ausgerufen: "O, que linda área para uma cidade!" auch wir sind beeindruckt von der schoenheit dieser stadt: 20 kirchen, enge verwinkelte gaesschen, palmen, gruenflaechen, renovierte haeuser, strand... diese stadt hat einfach charme. ausserdem hat hier der carneval, der sogenannte "pre-carneval", schon begonnen und die stadt in eine einzige party-meile verwandelt. alles ist auf der strasse, eine parade jagt die andere, alles tanzt zu samba, frevo und mar... read more

The Northeast of Brazil is known for it´s beaches - white sand, swaying coconut palms, blue-green water, massive dunes, giant capital cities of festivals and sleeping fishing villages. But this is merely the crust. The mass of the Northeast begins only a few hundred kilometers inland; as you pass, the vibrant green of the coastal strip fades, the rolling hills transformed into rocky crags. In places, the horizon stretches indefinitely, a flat landscape of twisted shrub and cacti in wide variety. There is little water here. Occassionally one sees a small lake or a muddy puddle. More often it is only the memory of water - a dry river or creekbed of red earth. It´s hot and dry, literally an oven. My mouth is sticky and my throat cracks. My nose is dry and my eyes ... read more