Fortaleza . . . It’s No Recife

Originally, the itinerary for this cruise called for a stop in Recife after Salvador. Approximately three weeks before the cruise, however, we were advised that Recife had been dropped in favor of Fortaleza.  That’s unfortunate, because Recife grants nearby access to Olinda, which is a World Heritage Site renowned for its old colonial architecture and churches.  Fortaleza on the other hand is, well, Fortaleza.  It’s grown a lot since the last time I was here back in 1995, and that’s about the only really nice thing I can say about Fortaleza.  Indeed, my only positive memory of Fortaleza was actually from an area to the north of the city, the incredibly tall sand dunes we braved in near-vertical descents while riding in dune buggies some sixteen years ago.

Alas, there would be no dune buggies on this trip. It was raining when we arrived.  It rained while we were there.  It continued raining upon our return to the Star Princess.  In fact, the rain did not let up until just before departure, affording me a brief respite during which I used to produce a few photographs of the skyline and harbor.

During our brief yet seemingly endless stay, we visited a local market located in a former prison.  Indeed, the individual vendors’ shops were the old cells, replete with barred doors and windows.  And, yes, those prison bar doors still work.  I know, because Ursula got locked inside one shop when the owner left for a bathroom break and padlocked the cell upon her departure.  Ursula was incarcerated for probably close to twenty minutes before the screws returned with the key to her release.  Yet she was totally unaware that she’d even been locked away until I told here, as she was lost in admiring the various crafts contained within her two-story digs.  And even after she managed her daring escape, she advised me that she could have happily stayed a while longer perusing the various handmade items.

Next up is Barbados on Saturday. Until then, have a great St. Paddy’s Day and enjoy a few photographs of Fortaleza, including one shot of the prison-turned-market.