Fortaleza

As we open the curtains this morning all we can see is fog and rain. We are docking at Fortaleza after 3 days at sea and we are ready to get out and stretch our legs. No tours booked today but a shuttle into the city and then off on foot to explore. Fortaleza is the capital of this northeastern area of Brazil and is known for its beaches, red cliffs, dunes and lagoons, none of which are very appealing as we run off the ship to the shelter of the terminal and onto the shuttle. Fortunately by the time we reach the city about 30 minutes later the rain has eased and the sun is starting to poke through. Now if we were like the other tourists off the ship we would get off the bus and explore the market on our doorstep, maybe walk down the road to the cathedral and then head back to the ship. Well I’m sorry to say that is not our plan. We head straight through the market and towards the cathedral but then we turn away and head behind the cathedral area to a more local market place. I have never seen so many clothes packed into a building as there was here. Small booths from a metre wide to several metres wide, most just a couple of metres deep with clothes stacked in piles and others displayed on hangers or models. Most are one size fits all, stretch fabric, man made fibres and a riot of colour. I found several shirts that fitted and spent a whole $12 for four tops. (P:- and again all I got was to carry the bags!)

Then out the back of this area we walk through hardware, kitchen ware and bulk groceries. Small dark holes in the wall selling food and food stalls along the street. Rubbish everywhere.

Much more interesting around here than the tourist areas. We eventually head back to the Mercado Central, Central Market and walk through the lower level but it’s all very touristy and the food stalls, mostly open buffet style look like they may have been sitting a while and in this heat that may not be so good. After 4-1/2 hours walking and looking we head back to the shuttle pick up point and head back to the ship for a late lunch. It’s been a fun morning.

(P:- Today is the last port before we “paddle” up the Amazon, the mouth of which is a couple of days away!

Useless hearsay and observations!

-Today we berthed at the “new cruise terminal” completed 2 years ago but no money was allowed to dredge a channel for the cruise ships to berth until very recently! Oops!

-Overheard at Breakfast – “ today is our first port up the Amazon River” said the loud mouthed self appointed “leader” of a group near us— Oops bad information, we are still 3 days sailing south of the Amazon!!!

-whilst waiting for our coach back to ship there is a line of people FACING toward the BUS Stop sign and a guide instructing – on 3 seperate occasions passengers returning to ship asked in their loudest voices “where is the end of the line”? – and they claim to be global travellers (I think bent over and their head in a dark place!!!)