It is an email that I wrote for a friend that was here in Recife. I put this on internet to help who wants to go here in other years.
Any kind of doubts you can ask me in https://www.facebook.com/zeleaosf
Sorry my english and have fun :D
Basic things about the Recife-Olinda Carnival for tourist who are in Pina or Boa viagem.
I wrote for the carnival in 2015, but i Think that has some tips for other years
Sorry my english and have fun :D
First listen these musics to accustom :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LafMRGg9E0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGQ7-fSKVkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUnqN3NFYh0
Trust me, is better to listen first :D
*Olinda
To go:
You have three options
regular bus: you should go until "Conselheiro Aguiar avenue" and take the "PE-15-Boa viagem". I believe that the bus is red. This bus passes close to Olinda.
Price: R$ 2,45
Taxi: The distance is 16 km and the mean price is R$ 45
Expresso folia: You can get a cab until the riomar shopping. This shoppping provides a bus called "Expresso folia" that goes directly from the mall to Olinda. You can get back at the same point that you left.
mean price: cab+bus 12.50
Tips for Olinda:
You should use sun protector, confortable cloths and a good shoe to walk there. It is very hot
*The best strategy there is stay in some points close with the best points. You should see some "blocos de carnaval" passing and playing frevo, the typical music from carnival.
Particulary I like frevo, is fast and good to dance. There is a typical way to dance that you can see but you can dance like you want.
* It is good to go to olinda in the morning and go out at least 5 p.m. Because it could be difficult to get a cab.
I recommend 3, o 4 p.m.
Some references of Olinda carnival:
Varadouro: is the start. if you are lost, ask for varadouro.
Prefeitura (city hall): Close to Varadouro. It is one of most popular points of the carnival. The television stay in this point, therefore there is a lot of blocos passes here
Sé (sé hill, sé church): Some blocos starts from here. You should try to go here because here has the best view from the city. Out of carnival is a famous place to eat tapioca (tipical food) an see the sunset.
But you should be prepared. It is the Olinda peak.
Carmo ( Carmo Church, Carmo park)
I like this place to rest, eat and to see the stuffs quietly. There is less blocos than prefeitura here, depends of the lucky
Mercado da Ribeira. Is a little market in Olinda, but is interesting also.
prudente de moraes street and "quatro cantos". Prudente de morais is one of the most famous streets in Olinda's Carnival, Quatro cantos is a meeting of four streets and consider the heart of Olinda Carnival You can arive there
13 de maio. Is a gay street. If is interesting for you, can se also there.
Recife
Recife
Way to go:
Cab. The distance is short and I believe that compensates.
I believe that between 5 - 7 is a good time, if you dont want to see the late shows
Time to back: Before 00:00
Recife has a lot of shows to go. The challenge for you is pick the good touristic things.
For example, the shows that most part of population wants to see is from famous local singer in Marco Zero. I believe that is not very good for you
Close to you there is litlle parties between 5 and 8 p.m. I saw that a typical thing. You can look for "segundo jardim" and "terceiro jardim" (Second and third garden).
These are all of shows in Recife this year
http://confiramais.com.br/programacao-recife/carnaval-domingo/
I'll concentrate my tips in the center of recife and old recife that are easier to go.
you can see where is it with google maps. I recommend to use that because sometimes the people do not know some places for the name.
AV. DANTAS BARRETO – CONCURSO DE AGREMIAÇÕES
Is a contest of carnival groups.
For example, in sunday will have "BLOCOS DE PAU E CORDA -" that some groups walks around the place with typical cloths, after we wil have MARACATU BAQUE VIRADO - They are beautiful groups that shows the influence of Africa in Brazil. The represents as a mariage of a african king.
"Recife antigo - old recife"
CAIS DA ALFÂNDEGA – REC-BEAT
It is a alternative place of carnival. You can see good things of world music.
CORREDOR DO FREVO –
Is our typical music. You can see anything there. All three "corredor do frevo" are close each other.
PRAÇA DO ARSENAL
There is a parade of good stuffs there called there "encontros" (meetings). you can see the time
.............
Last tips
* Avoid to walk in dark streets alone.Be careful with your belongings.
* For eat I suggest the socaldinho (
Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 112. Pina – Recife / Av. Visconde de Jequitinhonha, 106, Boa Viagem – Recife / Av. Bernardo Vieira de Melo, 1140, Piedade – Jaboatão dos Guararapes
in domingos ferreira. Is in pina. I can suggest other things, there is some good restaurantes open here.
You can try a caldinho, is typical from northeast. If you have a opportunity to eat tapioca and bolo de rolo (this last is sweet little cake typical from Recife)
