Now I Have Seen it All
Humour me; I'm just back from a country that encourages the use of neither baby strollers nor take out coffee. While I was aware that both trendy baby culture and trendy coffee culture soared to all time highs while I was away (can they get any higher?), I thought that I had seen it all. But no, in a marriage of both, I recently stumbled across (in the Glebe¹, no less) the new must-have accessory for one's baby stroller - a clip-on coffee cup holder! A quick internet searched showed that the holder is being sold for approximately $25. You'd think that after paying somewhere in the vicinity of a grand for the übertrendy bugaboo, they'd just throw in the holder....
In any case, apologies to any bugaboo or bugaboo coffee cup holder owners, as I said, I've been away....
¹ Trendy Ottawa neighbourhood
posted by Karen @ 9:24 p.m.
7 Comments:
Ok, now you are looking at baby strollers, hmmmm
Anyway, I think that cheese curds rolled in Oregano and then grilled, would equal the "heart attack" on a stick we could buy in Brazil on the beach
Oops - yes, looks bad doesn't it. Total coincidence though! Sorry!
Mmmmmmm ... grilled cheese (curds) on a stick....
Karen...I live in Ottawa..and am going to Recife for one day (on a cruise)...you mention fabric stores....are there quilt fabric stores there?
Do the stores close in the afternoon for 'siesta'?
I deeply appreciate any information. A hundred Thank You's if you can help.
Joyce..from another trendy Ottawa neighbourhood....Tunney's Pasture.
Ooooo .. Tunney's Pasture. I was just there yesterday!
As for Recife, most of the fabric stores are in the part of town affectionately known as Centro / Mercado Sao José - nearish to where the boat will probably be docking. During the week, they would be open until 5pm, 1:30pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
However, I wouldn't spend your day there treking around for fabric as the quality is fairly low unless you know where to go right off the bat. Depending on how much time you have, though, I would suggest either staying in Recife Antigo (near the port) and checking out Rua do Bom Jesus and the Paco Alfandega if you only have limited time or grabbing a cab and heading up to Olinda if you have at least a 2-3 hours. Olinda is the colonial gem just north of Recife (R$20 by cab - Can$10) and is full of colourful houses and great architecture and churches. Eat at either Art & Grill or the Oficina do Sabor. Everyone knows where they are. Just don't miss your boat!
Will you also be stopping at Fernando de Noronha? It is AMAZING!! Make sure to go snorkeling or diving, if so. Any more questions - just ask and I am pleased to help out!
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for your help. We have a tour organized through Viatour...it's 4 hours and we will tour Recife, then go to Olinda! We'll probably be finished the tour about 12:30pm and don't have to be back to the ship until about 3:30 .
I'll certainly try to eat in one of the places you suggest..you certainly must know the good spots.
I was concerned that the shops would close for the afternoon as some places will. It would be such a bummer to tour when they're open, and then find out that I can't shop!!!
So, you're saying that the fabric stores aren't really a good buy. I will probably take a peek anyway...I'm a quilter and if I don't find any quilt fabric..maybe I can find a piece of something that will remind me of my visit.
Thank you for your suggestions for the other places to visit.
I do have another question....the Viatour bus will not pick us up at the ship...due to our docking on an island..we will be shuttled through the port to the mainland, and dropped off. We have to meet the bus at the Recife Palace Hotel (I believe that this is the name)..which someone said is about 5.5 miles from the port drop-off point. We can't seem to get any confirmation from anyone as the validity of this statement. There are about 20-30 of us on the tour...and we're going to have to find some transportation to the hotel. In any way...would you know of the hotel or its proximity to the outside of the port area. Are there taxis waiting, do you think...or local buses? This is such a huge question to ask...but we're really stuck with finding out any information. I asked on the Recife board of Virtualtourist and no one seems to know.
By chance, would you know that area? Thanks in advance.
If you're in Tunney's...feel free to drop in. I'm at 88 Huron, near Wellington. I'd love to meet you....
Thanks again for your help. It is so great to learn from someone who has 'been there'....
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joyce
Hi Joyce -
My pleasure to provide any assistance possible! Here are a few more answers: stores do not generally close for any kind of a siesta - so you should be safe on that front. If you do try to go to the fabric stores, ask someone to point you to Mercado Sao José. Once there, you will need to wander around until you hit the "fabric" street. Each street around the market has a theme (shoes, party supplies, baby clothes, hair saloon supplies, hand bags, etc.), and are actually worth taking a wander on their own just to see the dynamic of a local popular shopping district. Also, there are lots of crafts in the actual market building.
Another option is to grab a cab to the Casa da Cultura (would be less than R$10) which is an old prison converted into a crafts market. It is pretty neat and sells all ranges of things from handicrafts to pretty nice jewellery. It is open until 5 or 6 pm. Earlier (2ish) on Sundays.
As for catching your bus again, the Recife Palace hotel is in the neighbourhood called Boa Viagem, which is about 6km south of the port, and is a beach front neighbourhood. There are a few restaurants, but you will see that it is mostly a residential neighbourhood with tall apartment buildings lining the three blocks in front of the beach. The best way to get there is by cab (app. R$22). There are buses, but without Portuguese or knowledge of the city, it is complicated to explain where to catch it and where to get off. Better just to spring the $10! Cabs are in easy supply in Recife and are overwhelmingly safe. It is not like other countries where you should never take a cab from the street. The caipirinhas at the Recife Palace (I basically lived next door) are quite good, if you need to kill time waiting for the bus to pick you up!
Also, when you are in the port area, the mercado Sao José, and Boa Viagem, make sure that you take care to not find yourself on an isolated street or in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable. Don't flash money or obvious wealth (necklace, flashy watch, paparazzi camera) around. Recife is poor and things can happen. A good dose of common sense usually is enough to stay safe. Actually, this goes for all of Brazil, except small towns, villages and islands.
When are you leaving on your trip? If you want I can give you some maps and things. You can write to me at caipirissima -at- gmail dot com.
cheers!
K.
Hi Karen....mmm...grilled cheese sticks on the beach in Brazil...now that sounds yummy!!
I did send you an email at the address you gave me...just wondering if you received it....always afraid of messages floating around in cyberspace!!
Have a great Sunday...
Joyce
Post a Comment
<< Home