Recommend June 2011 - (Page 42)

Lights! Action! BRAZIL performances have ranged from Jose Carreras to the Spice Girls. Other places to visit include the Mercado Adolfo Lisboa, a supermarket for Amazon food products and handicrafts, housed in a wrought-iron replica of the original Parisian Les Halles; come early in the morning when sh catch is delivered. And the Museu do Indio is well worth visiting for its collection of handicrafts, weapons, ceramics, ritual masks and clothing from the regional tribes. Plan to take a walk about the INPA-Bosque da Ciencia, a research station working on a parcel of land that is home to a great diversity of ora and fauna; there are caiman pons, manatee tanks, a museum and orchidarium here. And, of course, everyone wants to get out on the river to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Solimoes, with its slow-moving muddy waters, ows side by side for four miles with the darker, fast-moving Rio Negro. Side Trips: Visitors stepping beyond Manaus are usually heading for a jungle lodge or a cruise, which is certainly the best choice for true adventure and experiencing Amazonia up close. Vessels that do 3- to 7-day cruises include the Amazon Clippers, the M/Y Tucano, the Desa o and the Iberostar Grand Amazon. STAY: Mercure Apartments Manaus is where business travelers stay, enjoying amenities such as good work desks in rooms, high-speed Internet, a rooftop pool and tness center. But nothing in Manaus comes close to matching the sprawling and rather magni cent Tropical Manaus resort. Overlooking the Rio Negro (12 miles from downtown), it has a zoo, two great pools, four tennis courts, a gym, sauna, three restaurants serving regional and international fare, dance club, a helipad and its own dock for river excursions. The Tropical Manus Business is the newest addition to this hotel complex. Visitors heading for true Amazon adventure head for the jungle lodges outside town, and there are many of them. The largest and best-known is the Ariau Amazon Towers, made up of 4-story wooden towers on stilts and linked by catwalks. On a smaller scale some good picks are the Amazon EcoPark Lodge, 30 minutes by boat from the Tropical Manaus dock; amenities include air-conditioned rooms with hot showers, while adventures include visiting monkeys in rehab, hiking with a naturalist guide through di erent habitats and cooling o in streams and waterfalls. Occupying a private reserve (close to four hours by boat from Manaus when the waters are high), Juma Lodge o ers accommodations in charming cabins built on stilts, and often guests see dolphins and caiman from the verandahs. DINE: For Brazilian dishes with a are, the Village restaurant in the upscale neighborhood of Andrianopolis is a good choice. Further, everyone’s favorite sh dishes are served at the Canto da Peixaca, while regional food is the style in the open-air setting at El Touro Loco. Chicken, beef or goat are on the skewers at Churrascaria Bufalo. WORLD CUP VENUE: Arena Amazonia (capacity: 50,000 when completed) Picturesque tropical village near Fortaleza. makers. In town, visit the Centro Dragao do Mar de Arte e Cultura cultural center that includes museums, cinemas, galleries, and a planetarium. The Memorial de Cultura Cearense is here, a museum dedicated to the popular culture of Ceara. Additionally, the Centro de Turismo, housed in a converted 19th century jail, houses lots of crafts stalls, while the “supermarket” is the 4- oor Mercado Central, the place to nd handicrafts and just about anything else. While Fortaleza’s coast runs 14 miles along the Atlantic, beaches are for sunbathing not bathing. However, clean beaches and amazing sands are located nearby. The best city beach is Praia do Futuro, although swimming is subject to rough waters, though, of course, it’s perfect for kite sur ng and windsur ng. Side Trips: Beaches, beaches and more beaches—Cumbuco is the closest “dunes and sands” beach (23 miles away); Morro Branco, with its multicolored cli s; and the sand dunes of Canoa Quebrada o er buggy tours, sand boarding, sand tobogganing, parasailing, kite sur ng and boat rides. The idyllic and beautiful Jericoacoara is one of the jewels of the Brazilian coast with its stunning white beaches, Sahara-like sand dunes, plus a steady wind that makes it Brazil’s windsurf and kite surf capital. STAY: On Murcuripe Beach, the Gran Marquisse by Sol Melia o ers a good choice, with grand views from the 20th oor and three specialty restaurants: Brazilian, French and Japanese. The newest and most upscale hotel in the Praia do Futuro area is the Vila Gale Fortaleza. It has a pool, gym and restaurant. On Meireles Beach—which gets many votes for the nicest in town—is Othon Palace Fortaleza, with a great location and spacious, tastefully decorated rooms (those rated deluxe have balconies). DINE: The regional cuisine is rich and varied, with typical rustic restaurants along the beachfront. For charm, try La Boheme, housed in a former colonial home—go for the art and the French cuisine plus regional seafood dishes. Cemoara is enjoyed for its sophisticated decor and traditional seafood dinners, accompanied by music, and Colher de Pau is beloved for its regional cuisine. WORLD CUP VENUE: Estadio Castelao (capacity: 66,700) Northeast Fortaleza FLY: To Aeroporto Internacional Pinto Martins, with one stop in Recife southbound before Fortaleza. Domestic ights to major cities provided by Azul, Gol, TAM and Webjet. City Airport Code: FOR SEE: City Sights: Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara, is known for its beaches, its graceful jangadas sailing just o shore, and its skilled lace B6 june 2011 Natal FLY: To Augusto Severo International Airport (located 10 miles from the city), on the local services of Azul, Gol, TAM and Webjet, all o ering ights from major cities in Brazil. City Airport Code: NAT SEE: City Sights: Natal, a short ight or a 4-hour bus ride from Recife, is the capital city of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. While the city has

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Club Med Weddings by Imagine
A Perfect Honeymoon
Super-Sexy Voyages by Sea
Home-Based Happily Ever Afters
Kiss & Tell
Saying "I Do" on an Island
The Best Beach Honeymoons
Brazil Travel Planner
Say "I Do" to Central America
Steamy Love in South America
Finding Honeymoon Gems in Europe
Mesmerizing Retreats
Exotic Africa—The Perfect Honeymoon Haven
Five Fiery Honeymoons in Mexico
Mexico Says "I Do" to Destination Weddings

Recommend June 2011