São Paulo – Wishing to take a break from the winter and relax in the sun, sea, fried fish and wind on your face? Well, there is no better destination, right in the middle of the cold season in Brazil, than Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará. Whereas it rains heavily in most Northeast Brazilian capitals in June and July, and in the South and Southeast beaches the cold water is not exactly an invitation to dive in, the capital of Ceará is one of the Brazilian cities in which ir rains the least throughout the year. The average temperature there, by the way, is 27 degrees Celsius. Travelling light, because heavier clothing will not be missed, you can take the first flight and get to rest.
Proof of the good weather in Ceará land, CVC, the leading tour operator in Brazil, has just launched the fourth edition of its project “Garantia de Sol Ceará” (Ceará Guaranteed Sun). How does it work? Should it rain for more than two hours between 11:00 am and 04:00 pm, during at least three days of their stay, clients who have purchased a package to the destination are entitled to another trip, for the same duration. The initiative is valid from August 1st to December 30th, 2011. It is based on the importance of the state to the company: Fortaleza ranks among CVC’s five top-selling routes during the year, in high or low season.
Thus, with the sun as your witness, there is nothing better than to begin exploring Fortaleza through its beaches. It is worth noting that the best options are in the vicinities of the city. Among them are Cumbuco and Porto das Dunas, home to the Beach Park water park, the most famous in the country. Both beaches boast infrastructures for spending the day, swimming in the ocean or just doing nothing on the sand. Or else enjoy the Beach Park and its pools, toys and giant water slides, in the case of Porto das Dunas.
Woke up late and don’t want to get the car to go farther? Nor face a tour? Then stay within the urban perimeter, at Praia do Futuro. There is the tent of Chico do Caranguejo (which means crab in Portuguese), one of the most traditional in the city and known for its seafood, as the name indicates.
The house of Alencar
Beaches aside, Fortaleza offers tourists some good rides when the sun goes down. One of them is getting to know the house where writer José de Alencar was born. The author of classics “Iracema” and “O Guarani” recorded, in his books, strong features of his people and his land. The household is located in a plot named Sítio Aladadiço Novo, in the neighbourhood of Messejana, and counts on guides to conduct the visit.
Speaking of that, a pause for a photo in front of the statue of the Indian Iracema, a character of Alencar’s, is a must. In fact, there are two sculptures: a newer one at Praia de Iracema, inaugurated in 1996, and another, dating from 1965, at Praia de Mucuripe. While there, take some time to buy souvenirs, lace towels, toasted Brazil nut and rapadura (Brazilian candy made from cane) at the handicraft fair, near the older statue of Iracema, the “honey-lipped virgin.”
Lace
Still in the realm of shopping, two tips worthy of writing down on your travel notebook are the Central Market of Fortaleza, in the Centre, and Monsenhor Tabosa Street, in Iracema. The Central Market is one of those places where you can find all things typical of Ceará: from food to handicraft, including clothing and bed, bath and linen items made with care by the lacemakers of the state. More embroidery and lace can be found in the shop windows at Monsenhor Tabosa St. The shop-packed street attracts end consumers and storeowners with lots of beachwear, shoes and even layette items. Set aside at least afternoon to walk around in each of the two addresses.
To satisfy your hunger before or after filling up the shopping bags, at lunch or dinner, a visit to Colher de Pau is a must. With a clientele of both tourists and locals, the restaurant is located in the neighbourhood of Varjota and services typical local dishes and seafood. Try the carne do sol com paçoca (beef jerky and farofa , a mixture of flour and beef crushed with a pestle) or even a fish dish. Choose and eat without rushing, preferably at a table in the shade of one of the mango trees.
Sun, sea, shopping, and abundant table. Do you need more? No, you don’t. Still, Fortaleza has yet another big feature: the congeniality of the locals. Even though Brazilian universities have not issued a conclusive study on the matter, two days there are enough to realize that high spirits, fortunately, are more the rule than the exception in those lands. Let yourself be contaminated by them. And guarantee your high spirits too.
Service:
Beach Park
http://www.beachpark.com.br/site/pt/home/home.asp
Chico do Caranguejo
http://www.chicodocaranguejo.com.br
House of José de Alencar
http://www.cja.ufc.br
Central Market
http://www.mercadocentraldefortaleza.com.br
Colher de Pau
http://www.restaurantecolherdepau.com.br
Secretariat for Tourism of Fortaleza
http://www.fortaleza.ce.gov.br/turismo
CVC
http://www.cvc.com.br/site/index.jsf
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
