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Published: February 18th 2008
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Brazil
Recife After a few hours sleep I arose to see the Christmas day sunrise over the ocean in Copacabana. I was meeting Lara in her old home city of Recife in the northeast of Brazil. I arrived a few hours prior to her and her friend Eduardo was nice enough to pick me up from the airport. We did a drive-by tour of Recife's beach and it's Old Town before Lara arrived midafternoon.
Christmas night we met up with Eduardo and a bunch of other friends - including Cynthia who attended my birthday bash in Rio - and went to a bar close to the beach to celebrate. Being my first Christmas away from home it was great to spend it with a lovely group of people.
We went a couple of times to the beach in Recife and after Rio it wasn't at all impressive. It is one long stretch of sand with high-rises across the road casting their shadows onto the beach. Recife is mostly occupied by apartment buildings. One thing I loved about the beach in Recife is the thing that is has in common with all beaches in Brazil - it is lined with palm trees.
Brazil
Recife The name "Recife" means "reef". This is because there is a shelf of rocks close to shore that is visible at low tide. I never managed to see this as we were never awake early enough.
My favourite part of Recife is the Old Town. It has a good feel to the place. Beautiful old buildings built in the Portuguese and Dutch occupation. I visited this part of Recife in the day and during the night, and got something different out of it both times. To me Recife is best represented at night. Particularly at this time of year there were coloured lights everywhere. On buildings, in trees, and even the smelly waterways on the main roads look pretty at night with the windows wound up.
As well as Christmas I spent New Years in Recife. It was a great night. The road that runs along the beach is blocked off to traffic and is filled with crowds of people drinking and dancing the night away. We spent most of the night in front of a stage on the beach dancing to a band playing Frevo music. Barefoot, beer, and beach is a great combination for New Years.
Brazil
Recife - Christmas night With a large crescent moon hanging low over the horizon, accompanied by a fireworks display, it was a magical night.
After a week in Recife we took a slow two and a half hour bus ride south to the small town of Porto de Galinhas. The ride gave me a chance to see some of Brazil's countryside. The setting sun lit up the endless cane fields and banana plantations. Porto de Galinhas was my favourite place in Brazil. A cute little town with dirt and sand streets, Porto is filled with small shops, bars, and restaurants planted next to the beach. It was the perfect town to relax in and enjoy the Brazilian sun and warm Atlantic waters.
After one night in a hotel Lara's uncle convinced us to stay at his beach house. My arm was in no need of twisting. The large house was literally on the beach. We spent a week here and the time was well spent. We would sleep late, go to the beach for a swim and maybe a couple of beers, take in a bit of sun, come back and jump in the pool before having an amazing lunch that the
Brazil
Recife - New Years maid prepared, then unwind in one of the many hammocks and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the beach, and finish the night by playing the guitar under the clear summer stars.
I perished the thought of leaving this paradise but alas all things must end. We ventured back to Recife where we would spend a few more days together before parting ways. During this time we visited Instituto Ricardo Brennand, a new museum built in the form of a castle. It had a comprehensive exhibition of the Dutch occupation of Recife and other historic items. We also took a day trip to the adjoining town of Olinda. Set high on a hill we got a great view back to Recife and the coast. We went through Igreja da Se, the oldest church in the northeast, which has had many face lifts and alterations through the ages. Olinda is an old historic town and a popular Carnaval is held here every year.
From Recife I went north to Natal. Another beach town where I would continue my Brazilian experience.
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Tyrone
non-member comment
What is the 'average risk of shark attack'?
Nice to see some photos of you and Lara finally. Looks like you guys had a pretty tough time of it in her Uncle's place huh. Don't worry, you'll be back to the opulent luxury of Wollstonecraft soon enough.