Exploring Olinda & Recife

Most of the World ARC crews took the opportunity to explore the cities of Recife and Olinda during a local tour of the area yesterday. The first stop of the tour was Point Zero – a landmark from which distances in the country are measured. The square is also the focal point for several of the celebrations during the Recife carnival. As the tour party visited, a huge stage was under construction to present nightly concerts of locally themed music. The tour then walked through Jew Street and visited the museum of the carnival dolls, which will be paraded through the town during the festivities.

The party then moved by bus to the wonderful town of Olinda. The group wandered up to the Igreja da Sé church which has a stunning view over the reefs of Recife. Olinda literally translates as ‘beautiful’ and everyone appreciated the suitability of the name. It was a great photo opportunity. Inside the coolness of the church, the group were shown the antique vestments of the clergymen which had been well preserved throughout the years. 

The tour then wound through the city on foot getting an idea of where the carnival activities would take place. The streets are narrow and cobbled and there is a completely different feel to Recife. The coach then returned the tourists to Recife to visit the Casa da Cultura which is a prison that has been converted into a cultural venue. The group also visited a restaurant in the affluent Boa Viagem district of Recife. It was a good tour to get a feel for the area and what Carnival has in store.