Natal and Recife
At the airport we got picked up from two sons of the family, we were planning to stay. The mother cooked some nice, traditional food and everyone was so excited. With the family we shared the excitement in the game Brazil contra Kameron. So far we always had been lucky with our families via Airbnb. The people are so helpful and affectionate, we love the atmosphere.
The next day we explored Natal but there is not so much to see than beaches and Punta Negra. After the FIFA Fan Fest and the overwhelming game Italy versus Uruguay we followed the coastline towards Punta Negra. Behind a big hotel there had been a massive landslide, over 20 houses got lost. It looked terrible.
We passed a lot of Military Police again. Everywhere we had been so far it feels intimidating but also safe. With the bus we drove to the touristy area of Punta Negra to have a bit of the World Cup atmosphere. After cheap and strong Caipirinhas and a bad Pizza we headed back to Natal center with the bus.
Since it was already late we three – Mike, Micha and I – decided to take a cab back to the house. Unfortunately the driver had no clue about the Lagoa Azul area and we ended up in the deepest Favela (slums). The road was a dirt road with bumps and deep puddles of mud and the car hit the ground several times.
Until we got out of this maze the taximeter was already on 70 instead of 50. We found some people who helped and called the family which explained how to get back to the house. The mother was already so worried and happy to have us back safely. What an adventure. I better skip the part where Michael and Mike went for a Brazilian Fest here. Both where happy that I didn’t come. I really wanted to write on my reports for ours website.
With one of the taxi drivers – for sure not the one which got lost the night before – we agreed on a price to bring us to Recife. The only available busses where leaving at 3 or 6 o’clock in the night. The three of us decided on a cab since the guy picked us up and dropped us off at the houses. Since our driver was more cruising than driving we ended up with 8 hours ride instead of 4.
But again we found a very nice family in Recife. Since the couple and the daughter spoke only a strong Portuguese dialect we spoke mainly with google translater. Mike is living close by with friends but his area is a bit safer. So our hosts brought us to the big intersection out of the Favela.
Via internet we found someone who agreed to sell us two tickets for the Germany – USA game and wanted to meet us at the stadium. The heavy rain the next morning made the roads in our neighborhood nearly impassable. It took us 3 hours to get to the stadium. We had contact with the guy just half an hour before we reached the stadium but he must have decided to sell the tickets for much more. A lot of Americans offered crazy prices.
Without tickets and soaking wet we returned to the FIFA Fan Fest in the old town. The rain flooded the roads so Michael was standing in the bus, his feet submerged in brown flood water.
Drenched and only with a couple of fans we observed the game. Luckily after the game a lot of fans from the stadium arrived in old town to party a little. We met up with Mike who has tickets for all the German games. After being soaked and standing in the cold I got a little cold.
Due to the flooded roads the taxis didn’t go into our neighborhood and we ended up walking back. But a nice woman showed us the way back when we took the wrong turn.
And than it was about time to board again. This time to Rio de Janeiro and without our interpreter Mike. Thanks Mike for your support. Made some things so much easier.
Airbnb - www.airbnb.com
Room: Avenida Cidade Praia Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Brasilien
Contact: Rodrigo Costa (/users/show/13408990) +55 84 8788 7363 / +55 87 8873 63 +55 36 6173 33,
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Comment: a room with a stock bed or a room with a double bed. Shared bathroom. Super nice family. Unfortunately the house is not close to the center. You can communicate in a mix of Portugues, Spanish and English.