Recife Travel Forum

The tour company will pick us up at the port!!! That is great news.

The next piece of news that they had for us...they will not drive us up the hill to Olinda. The tour says Recife/Olinda....

My question is.....does anyone know how steep or long this 'hill' is? Do you think we can walk up.

It seems very strange and we've asked the tour director exactly what they mean by this.

I thought I'd ask all you friendly, helpful folks.

Thank you,
Joyce

Joyce--
Some of these videos may give you a better idea.....

Here's a video from the scenic viewpoint at the top of the hill in Olinda, panning to look out over Recife in the distance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfTsLFtd22o

This one was taken at the top of the hill as well (the previous one was shot from the right of the church in the background of this one):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub7gAqdhUWQ&feature=related
There are shops to the left and stalls to the right of where they are performing.

These dancers are in the shops to the left:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-y8AtaNuRM

In this one, you can see the streets. Here it appears flat, but you can see when the camera pans that they are part way up the hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4BlfKh7YLk&feature=related

If you have patience to get through the first part, you can see these people driving up the hill and see the steepness in places:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VmLpsToPfI&feature=related

Olinda has the older colonial city in the hill and the new one by the sea; streets are narrow and perhaps because of that the tours are not allowed to go up, but you can easily walk up

Thank you, Bahiana and Heloisa for your information. I'm looking forward to watching the videos, Bahiana, just to get a preview of the beautiful Olinda!

Hope your day is a good one!!
Joyce

Bahiana....those videos are WONDERFUL!!! Oh how I wish I could dance like those young folks. I don't have sound on this computer....so I'll watch them again when I get home. Are they dancing in order to raise money...if so, they deserve it. What would an appropriate 'donation' be? Here is Ottawa, when we see street performers..we give about $1....would the equivalent be enough?

I see what you mean about the hill...it looks like a long way. I would have no trouble negotiating that hill...and it looks very interesting all along the way.

We have paid for a Recife/Olinda tour...that's why I'm so surprised that we have to walk up that hill. We'll wait to see what their answer is. How can they control a group of folks (and just our group totals 34 people)...if we're all let out of the bus to walk up that hill. That church is on the tour itinerary...so it boggles my mind how they expect us all to meet....anyway, I won't try to second guess their plans....will wait and see.

I can tell you....I am so excited about getting there!!!!!

Thank you once again for all your help. I'm going to go back and watch some more videos.... :)

Cheers,
Joyce

Here's one more---a video of Recife that shows the old city and the beach at Boa Viagem (with the high rises).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDIEQ3u4CRw&feature=related

That is another wonderful video. All those buildings....and so tall. I didn't realize that Recife was so built up. It looks beautiful...and the beach..lovely. We are in for a real treat!!

Thank you again, Bahiana!!

Olinda is the city where lives Alceu Valença. He is a brilliant brazillian pop musician and you may listen his musics if you link the right points at
http://www2.uol.com.br/alceuvalenca/setscreen.htm
Olinda and Recife are together when Carnival arrives. And Alceu then today sounds elsewhere...
Cassiovieggore

Nice beach for people watching and sunning...but watch out for the sharks! (There is a big problem at Boa Viagem although I did go in the shallow water.)

Don't worry, we're not going in the water!!!