Cultural Forteleza

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Thurs 4th Oct:
An early start due to the hotel owner´s dog wanting everyone awake at about 5 this morning. Anyway decided to do my own cultural tour of Forteleza today. I found the tourist information very helpful and they gave me a pamphlet in English with all the key sites. Took an omnibus and got totally lost as it went to a different part of the city than that on the front of it. 'Eventually found my way to the centre square and started with the Jose de Alencar Theatre - built at the beginning of the last century in honour of a famous writer (Jose de Alencar). All the balconies are surrounded by fantastic cast iron designs, imported from Scotland! (See photos). The guide there spoke English and was very helpful; I had a 1:1 tour of the building and the gardens. As many of the sites were within easy walking distance of the centre square, my only problem was finding them among the very crowded streets/buildings. The Palace de Luz was next - not a particularly impressive building, with hundreds of photos/paintings of past governors of the city and a few meeting chambers. The Museum of Cera (Fonteleza is the state capital of Cera) was a lot more interesting with much of the history of the state - a wide variety of artefacts, drawings and original paintings. Some were very delicate and had to be kept on semi-dark rooms with fixed temperatures.
I nearly passed by a small church (non-descript externally) but inside was beautiful. It was Egreje De Rosario, the oldest church in Fonteleza, and towered over by commercial buildings. Like many other towns and cities in Brazil, Fonteleza abounds with churches; it´s main catedral is being renovated, but looks impressive.
Had lunch in one of the restaurants in the centre square; many beggars pester passers by - some very handicapped. After lunch headed for the beach and a refreshing swim. Brazil has many exotic fruits and these are served as juices - though some taste a bit bland most are delicious.
On way back to hotel 'went to the Pier of the Two Englishmen - supposedly built by 2 English engineers; a good spot to see the sunset.
'Planning to take the long-distance coach tomorrow night to Recife.

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Photos

Theatro Jose De Alencar
Fabulous designed theate - neoclassic, with balconies of cast iron from Scotland.

The Main Cathedral
Though they were in full swing renovating the Cathedral they didn´t mind visitors walking around in about 1cm of dust.

Handicapped and Homeless
The other side of Fonteleza; it attracts all the homeless, unemployed and abondoned (old and young) who seek assistance from any passer by.

Interior of Theatro Jose De Alencar
Still has the origonal bamboo seating.

Inside Igreja Do Rosario
The oldest church in Fonteleza - beautiful interior.

Sunset on Ponte Do Ingleses
Literally the two Englishmen´s bridge, this pier was built in 1920 by 2 English engineers.