Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NIGHTLIFE
Fortaleza is justly famous for its forró . There's no better way
to see what Cearenses do to have fun than to spend a night
in a dancetaria . One of the busiest nightlife areas is the streets
around the Ponte dos Ingleses. Most dancetarias open at
10pm, but they don't really get going until about midnight.
Other nightlife is mainly out by the beaches: Praia Meireles
appeals to a broad cross section of the local and tourist
populations, whereas Praia Iracema is slightly younger.
Café Pagliuca Rua Barbosa de Freitas 1035 T 85 3324
1903, W www.cafepagliuca.com.br. An arty, rustic-
bohemian vibe makes this one of the mellowest spots in
town for a quiet drink and, from Tues-Sat (9.30pm-
midnight), some live jazz, bossa and mpb. There's Chilean
red from R$32 a bottle and the food includes a range of
authentic Italian risotto (try the house recipe, R$27).
R$8.80 cover. Mon-Fri 5.30pm-1am, Sat noon-1am.
Mucuripe Club Travessa Maranguape 108, Centro T 85
3254 3020, W mucuripe.com.br. Veteran superclub hosting
some of the country's biggest DJs, singers and bands in several
themed areas including a film-set-like, colonial-style street,
a huge “arena” for live shows and a hi-tech clubbing area,
with a music policy covering everything from rock, funk and
electronica to samba, axé and forró . No flip-flops or shorts.
Cover varies according to event. Wed-Sat 9.30pm-late.
Órbita Bar Rua Dragão do Mar 207 T 85 3453 1421,
W orbitabar.com.br. A Fortaleza institution, with live
Brazilian and international indie/alternative, blues, elec-
tronica and even - for those who like their twang - a night
(Wed) dedicated to the delights of surf-rock. Check out
their radio station, W orbitaradio.com.br. Cover R$10-30.
Wed-Sun 9pm-late.
Pirata Bar Rua dos Tabajaras 325 T 85 4011 6161,
W pirata.com.br. The most famous place in Fortaleza, in
Brazil and doubtless the world to get your fix of forró . By
cannily cornering the club-less wilds of segunda-feira ,
this unashamed tourist trap has generated more than its
fair share of publicity - the New York Times famously called
it “the craziest place on earth on a Monday night” and
a Brazilian mag rated it as one of the 1001 places to see
in the country before you die. Get ready to dance till you
drop in a joint that would likely shiver even Captain Jack
Sparrow's timbers. Cover R$40. Mon 8pm-very late.
Rua Major Facundo 302, Centro; Av Monsenhor Tabosa
1200, Praia da Iracema; Av Santos Dumont 3581, Aldeota.
Embassies and consulates UK, British Honorary
Consulate, Rua Leonardo Mota 501, Meireles ( T 85 242
0888); US, Torre Santos Dumont, Av Santos Dumont 2828,
Suite 708, Aldeota ( T 85 486 1306).
Hospital Monte Klinikum Hospital, Rua República do
Libano 747 ( T 85 4012 0012, W www.monteklinikum
.com.br).
Internet Evolution Vídeo Cyber Café, Av da Abolição
3230, Meireles (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm; R$4/hr).
Laundry 5 à Sec, Rua Cel Jucá 470, Aldeota ( T 85 3267
5034).
Pharmacy Farmácia Santa Branca, Av da Universidade
3089, Benfica ( T 85 3223 0000).
Police The tourist police are open 24/7 and can be found
at Av Almirante Barroso 805, Praia da Iracema ( T 85 3101
2488).
Post o ce Av Monsenhor Tabosa 1561, Meireles ( T 85
3248 3030; Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-noon).
3
The Amazon
The Amazon is a vast forest - the largest
on the planet - and a giant river system,
covering over half of Brazil and a large
portion of South America. The forest
extends into Venezuela, Colombia,
Peru and Bolivia, where the river itself
begins life among thousands of different
headwaters. In Brazil, only the stretch
below Manaus, where the waters of the
Rio Solimões and the Rio Negro meet,
is actually known as the Rio Amazonas .
The daily flow of the river is said to be
enough to supply a city the size of New
York with water for nearly ten years, and
its power is such that the muddy Amazon
waters stain the Atlantic a silty brown for
over 200km out to sea.
BELÉM
Strategically placed on the Amazon River
estuary, BELÉM was founded by the
Portuguese in 1616 as the City of Our
Lady of Bethlehem (Belém). Its original
role was to protect the river mouth and
establish the Portuguese claim to the
region, but it rapidly became established
as an Indian slaving port and a source of
cacao and spices from the Amazon.
SHOPPING
The Mercado Central on Rua Conde d'Eu, and the nearby
shops diagonally across from the cathedral, are the best
places in the city to buy a hammock. This huge complex
resembles a parking garage crowded with hundreds of
small stores.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange There are a fair number of ATMs
near the beaches and hotels with several HSBC locations:
 
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