Brazil: Recife

 Friday, March 10, 2023, Recife, Brazil

Recife is comprised of several islands connected by bridges. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a marching band (horns and drums) and two dancers in the customs building. It was very festive. We met our tour bus outside. Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and spoke English fairly well. She also spoke several other languages. She never stopped talking and came across as a little AD/HD, jumping from one topic to another.

We first toured Recife, which includes the islands of San Antonio, San Jose, and Recife. Our first stop was an ancient church. There were people in bad shape that appeared to be living on the sidewalk outside the church. We haven’t seen much of that before now.

Gorgeous church

There are beaches all over Recife, and we saw a lot of them. We didn't get off the bus much after the church and our next stop was Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

We went high up on the hill in Olinda, then piled out of the bus and went to a cluster of shops where there was a man hacking open coconuts. We all got revived drinking the water out of the coconuts. The place was crammed with our bus full of tourists, one or two others, and many school children on a field trip. A clever canopy of small colorful umbrellas provided shade. It was the last day of Carnival, and we took advantage of a photo op with a young couple in costumes.

Olinda has another golden cathedral.

There was a large plaza with tapioca flatbread stands and a great view. Only one stand was open at the time we were there. Charlie got one, no butter, no cheese. It settled his stomach immediately. He was hooked.

Coming back into Recife, there was a protest going on so we had to take a different route. 

When we got back to the ship, we asked our guide, who had told us the first synagogue in the Americas was near the port in Recife, for directions. She said she would take us there, and it was a short walk from the pier. It turned out to be one of the most interesting experiences we had in Recife, with colonial buildings that were being beautifully restored. Definitely one of the most scenic blocks in the city. We paid the entrance fee to enter Sinagoga Kayla Zur Israel temple. Most of the information was in Portuguese, but some English and many pictures and artifacts.

First Jewish Temple in the Americas finally uncovered and being restored.

When we left, there was a field trip of grade school students who were touring the area with their teachers and a local children’s entertainer. It was a nice (and simple) walk back to the ship.

Popular children’s entertainer with school field trip.