-Do not enter empty, narrow streets, specially in the Comercio district! Keep the eyes open, if somebody is following you. Do not stop for a long time, know your way before you go. After dark stay at your locked guesthouse… That’s what the locals say.
Belem has more historic buildings then Sao Paulo. In the colonial time many ornate churches and palaces was built here. City was growing fast also in the rubber boom time.
It was early morning when I was going to the old town. On the riverfront they converted old port warehouses into elegant exhibition hall and restaurant hub where you can buy chosen meals paying per kilo 🙂
Then I saw mercado-market Ver-o-Peso with huge fish from Amazon on sale and clock tower standing close to the vege market. Then cathedral where the bishop was just conducting the Sunday mass. Fort is just nearby – built in 1616 this was the first European settlement in the Amazon. Few more churches are under renovation.
Rubber baron Antonio Lemos had a big palace in the Old Town- Cidade Velha. Now it is open to the public and you can see for free exhibition and some of the ornate rooms. Can you believe that I was the only visitor in the building?
In the city center I saw many patrols of Policia Militar. It was very hot but interesting day – I overburned my neck…
Tomorow I start 28-hours bus journey to Fortaleza, and the strong sun will not bother me…
