Off to Recife (Re-cee-fee) (June 24, 2015)

We were anxious to start the heart of our trip, with the goal of getting to Fernando de Noronha.  More on that later! 

We flew to Recife, capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. Its coast is lined with tall buildings, many of them apartments with incredible ocean views, bike paths, sidewalks and exercise stations, including public tennis courts.  As we walked along the beach, warnings about the strong current and sharks reminded us of all that was happening in the Carolinas.  Recife's coastline is also lined with a huge and ancient reef, not made of coral but of hard-packed ancient beach, which is like very rough stone.  Thus, the name "Recife" or reef in Portuguese.  

 
Artwork lined the walls of the Cult ("Kul-chee") Hotel in Recife.  




Diego fits into the letter E! 








Kahal Zur Israel (Hebrew: קהל צור ישראל‎, "Rock of Israel", Portuguese: Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel), the first Jewish congregation in the Americas (around 1636). Located in Recife Antiga on Rua do Bom Jesus, it sits on the ruins of the original synagogue. It was established by Spanish/Portuguese Jews that had taken refuge in the Netherlands fleeing forced conversion. Recife was initially settled by the Portuguese in the 1530s, but the Dutch invaded in 1630 and ruled the region for 24 years. It was during this period that Jews who had previously settled in Amsterdam, many of them of Portuguese descent, began moving to Recife for business and religious purposes.  When the Portuguese retook power, many in this Jewish community fled to New York City.  

We spent some good quiet time here and added a note of love and solidarity in the wall, joining thousands of others.   







Diego's first taste of goiaba jelly at the Cult Hotel. Yum!!!  

Gorgeous beach on an amazing day.

 Recife Antiga (Old Recife)

                                 Amazing sidewalks in Recife, Brazil