Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil with a metropolitan population of 3.4 million. This area dates back to 1500 when the Spanish explored the east coast of Brazil. It sprouted in the 19th century with the growing of cotton. These days it is a big Brazilian domestic get-away destination because of its 15 miles of beaches. Agriculture is still a huge part of the economy with the production of cattle, sugar, cashew nuts, and fruits and vegetables. I will be looking for cashews as I love them. They manufacture footwear, textiles, leather items, and some mineral mines. I'm sure our chef will be buying some fish from the local fishermen. The fishermen go out in small boats for two days and nights on their fishing trips. About every evening a different local fish is on the dining room menu. We're talking FRESH fish and there is nothing like it. There are huge wheat storage silos next to us at the port. Ship loads of wheat from Argentina are unloaded into them via a long conveyor belt. There is a processing plant here for the wheat.
The folkloric show last night was excellent, I thought. Lots of colorful dresses and non stop dancing. Our tour today was "Fortaleza Highlights" which was from 8:30 to 12:30. It is now 2:30 and we just sailed from the port and are on our way to the Amazon River. Anyway, our nice bus left the port and drove along the eastern beach area called "Futuro". Most of Fortaleza is fairly new with some high rise residential buildings as well as office buildings. We saw in several areas of the city how there are expensive condos and houses just next to slums. I also noticed how the upper class had protected their property with razor wire and or electric wires on top of the fences around their houses. At one view point overlooking the city, our guide told us to take photos from the bus as it was not safe for us to be off the bus there. I did not see anyone around though?? At another stop to see the theater, where we had to walk about 50 yards with lots of people around, he told us to cover our cameras and leave purses on the bus. We had no problems during our tour.
After the beach we headed across the newer part of the city towards the old one. We stopped briefly (again we could not leave the bus) at the monument to ex-Brazilian President Branco. He was a very popular military president of Brazil from 1964 to 1966. Then we drove by the Art Museum. We also passed the Mercado Central (Central Market) which is a huge local market with over 500 small stalls with local handicrafts and souvenirs. We did not stop however. Now we were in the old city and passed by the old fort that the Dutch built, hence the name of the city--Fortaleza. It is a walled fort area that is now the headquarters of the military. Next we stopped at what used to be an old prison but now is full of over 90 shops with handicrafts and souvenirs. Thirty minutes was not long enough time to shop here. OOPS! What did I just say?? I must have had too much sun today. Well, I bought my cashews. A pound cost $10. Sounds high but they were fresh and locally raised. I also found 4 little dolls for my nieces that were hand made. Back on the bus now, we drove past several more street market areas on our way for a visit at the Metropolitan Cathedral. It was built over a 40 year period during the 1900's so is relatively new for a South American cathedral. It was not like other cathedrals we have seen. It was "clean" (no statues or carvings) inside. Its beauty was in the many stained glass windows. Thankfully, it was a sunny day so the windows were magnificent! Hopefully my photos will show everything I have been talking about in the narrative. Next stop was the Jose de Alencar Theater. It was named for a famous, local 19th century novelist and poet and is across the street from the largest square in the commercial district. It opened in 1910 and the cast iron in the structure was brought over from Scotland. Now back in the bus we drive through the old city again passing more shopping stalls for a brief stop for photos at one of the beaches. Along one beach were many bars, nightclubs, and restaurants where the nightlife is.
Back on the ship we headed up to the pool deck for a Tex-Mex lunch. As we sail this afternoon the water in still fairly shallow so not as deep blue as deep ocean water is. It has a more greenish tint but is still beautiful. I am downloading photos and adding captions to the over 100 I took this morning. Tonight we are dining in Prime 7 (steakhouse) with an 8:30 reservation. Ray, our cruise director, has his 6pm puppet show this evening. The 9:30 show is the showing of "The Artist" movie in the theater. Tomorrow is a day at sea.
