FORTALEZA, BRAZIL - DAY 15

 

        A circle denotes our location today in Fortaleza.  We are docked at the commercial pier.  It is already a hot and muggy day at 7:30.

HISTORICAL/BACKGROUND INFO:

        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.

LAST EVENING

        The black mussels in a creamy wine sauce that we ordered special for this evening.  One of Regent's best appetizers.

          Rebecca had the farfalle pasta with shrimp, pesto, and buffalo mozzarella for her entree.

        I had the black pepper beef stir fry with rice and some asparagus.  We both spiced our entrees up with some siracha.

                                              The peanut butter crunch bar was not so good.

        Again I was the first to enter the theater when the doors opened at 9:00.  I got our usual front row seats.  Following are some photos of the show, Broadway in Concert.

        The production cast singers taking a bow at the end of the show.  It was an incredible show so we gave them a standing ovation.  Why no one else did is beyond me.  These passengers should be on a Carnival ship! 

TODAY

                                                      Two views from our balcony today.

                                     Other side of the ship with view of the commercial port.

                                                                The cruise terminal.

        Most of the following photos were taken from the tour bus as our tour guide said it was not safe to be off the bus.  When we were allowed off for photos he said to cover our cameras and leave purses on the bus.

        There were several slum areas and some slums next to new high rise buildings.  23% of the Fortalezians live in slums.

                                                        Yes, there is a Sams Club here.

Most of Fortaleza is fairly new with some high rise residential buildings as well as office buildings.

                                                                 And some McDonalds

        Monument to ex-Brazilian President Banco.  He was a popular military president of Brazil from 1964 to 1966.

                     Upper class had protected their property with razor wire, and or, electric wires.

                                                         Outside the Central Market

        We drove by the central market.  It has over 500 stalls with local handicrafts and souvenirs.  We did not stop however.

                                                                  Military building

                       Old fort built by the Dutch that is now headquarters for the military.

        The Metropolitan Cathedral.  It was built over a 40 year period during the 1900"s so is relatively new for for a South American cathedral.

                                              It's beauty was the many stained glass windows.

Birds for sale

                                                 Not a real cow coming out of this store.

                                                                           Bus stop

                                                                   Old town chaos 

        We visited the Jose de Alencar Theater.  It opened in 1910 and the cast iron structure was brought over from Scotland.

                                                    Driving past more shopping stalls

                                                                        Beaches

        Lunch up in La Veranda today.  The buffet was Brazilian foods that did not appeal to me so I ordered a hamburger from the pool grill.  I do not care for the buns as they are a huge amount of bread.  I ordered the burger cooked medium.  It was but the outside of it was burnt.  One bite and that was enough.

                             I had a couple deviled eggs and two mussels to start with.

        I had them take the burnt burger and I then went back out to the pool grill and made double order of the Buffalo chicken wings.

                                                   The first dog I've seen on this cruise.

         I took the shuttle bus to a shopping mall.  I did not get off but came right back to the ship.

                                                                          The mall

        We are not sailing again until 8:00pm.  We'll be at sea for the next two days while heading for the Caribbean.  I hope the weather is better there than it has been in our Brazil ports of call.

        We did not care for tonight's Compass Rose menu so will be dining up in Sette Mari (Italian).  I have ordered my usual veal parmesan.  During lunch I told the sommelier what wines we would be needing there tonight.

        Tonight's show is featuring Peter Grant's second show.  He is a singer and we enjoyed his first show.  Will be back tonight!