Arriving in Recife.
I woke up as we entered the port of Recife and got up around 06:00. After a shower, I headed to the buffet for breakfast, but it was as usual, chaotic, crowded, noisy, and full of people pushing for food or seats. I abandoned the idea and went to the atrium bar for a peaceful coffee instead.
Afterwards, I went to Deck 9 to watch the ship approach the dock. I chatted with Tony, another passenger, as the ship was tied up. When the lifts opened, I stepped in to head down to the departure point. Gail, who was joining the same excursion, didn’t see the lift and missed it, so I ended up being one of the first off the ship.
As I walked off, I was directed toward the excursion coaches. A small band was playing Brazilian music right at the exit, which created a bottleneck as everyone stopped to watch. A nice idea, but badly placed.
I boarded the coach and Gail joined shortly after. We left about 30 minutes late and began driving through Recife. The city felt impoverished, with many people sleeping rough or begging in the streets.
Pina Beach and Downtown Recife.
Our first stop was Pina Beach, a lovely stretch of sand lined with expensive‑looking tower blocks. The guide claimed some buildings had one apartment per floor. Whether that was true or not, the views must have been incredible.
Back on the coach, we passed Republic Square and a government building, though many of the buildings looked derelict or boarded up.
Casa da Cultura.
Next, we visited the Casa da Cultura, a former penitentiary turned cultural centre. The old cells had been converted into small shops selling what I’d politely call “artisan goods,” though “tourist tat” is probably more accurate.
Gail and I wandered through quickly. We spotted Marcus and two other Germans from the cruise sitting in a cell‑turned‑bar, so we joined them for a beer before heading back outside. A band had set up and started playing, soon joined by performers in colourful costumes. It looked like a wedding ceremony of some sort, but no one explained anything. It was lively and fun, but confusing.
Chaos in Olinda.
We then drove to Olinda, where we had to switch from the large coach to minibuses. This is where the tour fell apart. People boarded the wrong minibuses, were told to get off, then back on again. Even though we were all going to the same place, the guides insisted on sorting everyone by original coach.
When we finally arrived near the cathedral, our guide shot off across the road before half of us had even stepped out. We had to chase after him, and most of what he said was lost. The tour continued like this, people getting separated, not hearing anything, or being left behind.
I took photos without knowing what I was photographing, hoping Google would enlighten me later. Gail and I eventually found our way back to the coach with a few others, but around 20% of the group were missing.
The guide spent about 40 minutes searching for people, moving passengers between minibuses, and confusing everyone further. Eventually, we returned to the main coach and headed back to the ship, arriving about 30 minutes late. Thankfully, because it was a ship‑organised excursion, the Costa Favolosa waited for us.
Back Onboard.
Once back onboard, I showered and went to the restaurant for dinner. I had beef and chips, the daily standby, followed by a milk flan. I chatted with Ann and Rosa about the excursion before heading to the piano bar for a drink.
The evening show featured a singer I’d already seen, so I skipped it and opted for an early night. I went to bed around 23:00, ready for my excursion in Salvador the next day.
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