Enjoying Old Town Olinda And Recife

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Church of Carmel. Olinda

Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil Tuesday, February 21, 2017

In Recife, our shuttle bus took us to a Prison Mall. This was Recife's prison at one time and has since been converted to a shopping mall catering to tourists. The shops are what once used to be the cells of the prison. Leather goods are plentiful as well as clay figurines, wood carved items, collectibles and bead works.

The colonila town of Olinda is an essential stop.

Considered to be the best in the country, the Recife/Olinda carnival is non-stop.

There's plenty of colorful houses and white-washed terracotta- roof churches.

Mamulengos, giant puppets that perform in street theatres and take center stage during the madness of carnival.

The people of Olinda are so laid-back and artistic.

For budget conscious, food prices are low.

Bohemians will love this whimsical little town.

In 1982 UNESCO decided to declare the entire historical center a World Heritage Site.

After a bit of shopping, our must -stop is : The UNESCO -listed historic center of Olinda is about 25-30 minutes taxi ride from Recife and dates back to the 16th century. It is one of the best- preserved colonial cities in Brazil. It is very picturesque, charming and full of character and history.

One site not to be missed in Olinda, is the Church Cathedral or the Protestant Igreja da Se, one of the many churches in Olinda. It was built in 1537 at the town highest point from where incredible panoramic views can be viewed.

The City has many museums and galleries .

People are very friendly and you can easily make new friends.

Watch out for impromptu street performances.

The town has cool cafes and bars.

The town boasts of many charming restaurants, cafes and bars. The cobblestone streets are lined with brightly painted houses, museums, galleries and baroque churches.

Olinda's biggest celebration of the year is the Carnival. Every February, the streets in the Old Town are taken over by joyful revelers in handmade costumes following traditional giant puppets like the Homem da Meia-noite (Midnight man). Here, everybody participates and one must need a costume. It is a carnival by the people for the people