Fortaleza, Brazil - Capital of Joy

FORTALEZA, BRAZIL - Capital of Joy

Published: 09/22/2009 by Michelle Riaz

In northeast Brazil, the true hotspot these days is Fortaleza, which in Portuguese means “fortress.” The city began with a fortress, the Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, and is the ‘capital of joy’ (as it is called) of the Brazilian state of Ceará. Both a huge fishing port and a much sought-after tourist destination, Fortaleza is not only one of the largest cities in Brazil, but also one of the most lively, boasting over 16 miles of fabulous beaches which are big hangouts when it comes to nightlife, clubbing and entertainment in general. Many of the older hotels have recently been replaced by European international resorts. The city is known for having the "wildest Monday nights in the world." For those inclined to calmer pursuits, visit Ponte dos Ingleses (the Bridge of the Englishmen), where you can watch the sunset while you look for dolphins at play in the water.

While in Fortaleza, you’re sure to be delighted by the local cuisine, which includes a menu for all tastes, from fresh seafood to amazing produce. You’ll find such enchanting dishes as panelada, buchada, carne de sol, baião-de-dois and tapioca. Be careful, though, when sampling the wares of any beach or street vendors – their food is a potential health hazard, and you’ll do much better buying your nibbles from the established storefronts and cafes lining the beach.

Fortaleza is also known for a special 4-day carnival, called ‘Fortal.’ The event’s structure was remodeled in 2008, and encompasses parking lots, bleachers, stalls and a food court. Roughly 1.5 million people attend each year, enjoying the nationally famous axé bands. The word "axé" comes from a Yoruba religious greeting that means "soul", "light", "spirit" or "good vibration". It fuses different Afro-Caribbean rhythms, such as Marcha, Reggae and Calypso, also including influences from Afro-Brasilian sources such as Frevo, Forró and Carixada.

In addition, it is a city where making people laugh is an art, and Fortaleza is well-known for its renowned comedians. With the newly-established focus on tourism, Fortaleza has begun to have a similar atmosphere as Rio, particularly when it comes to enjoying the good things in life.

The climate couldn’t be better, with 350 days of sunshine annually (lows of about 72º F and highs of about 88 º F) relieved by a fair amount of rain (from February through May, but not too much from July to November). Nicely enough, the rainfall occurs mostly at night.

If you are coming to Fortaleza as a tourist, do make sure you have access to all the funds you’ll need during your stay (and preferably from a safe place, as the city is not without its share of thieves), because jobs for travellers are very hard to locate. One reason to bring plenty of spending money is that the entire state of Ceará has a very strong textile industry, and predictably, some of the cheapest clothing in Brazil. Brazilian clothing (like Brazilian women) is amazingly beautiful, not to mention trendy, and Brazilian women go to great lengths to present themselves in the most stunning, eye-catching fashions available.