NORTH | AMAZONAS The Parintins Folk Festival Parintins city was founded in 1793 and its people presents death of the bull, part of the legend that tells the story of an artistic expression recognized worldwide due to their Mãe Catirina, who during her pregnancy craved for eating folklore festival. The city has a population of more than ox tongue. Pai Francisco, her husband, sacrifices the bull 100,000 people and it is situated on the right bank of the from the farm where he was employed to satisfy his wife´s Amazon River on the Tupinambarana Island. desire. The ranch owner discovers everything and decides to capture Francisco with the help of his cowboys, but the Parintins is situated 420 km from Manaus, the most used Indians help hide Pai Francisco from the cowboys. The local transportation by the local population is the regional boat priest and the doctor try to resuscitate the bull, to no avail. by river with accommodations in hammocks, cabins and The local Indian shaman uses his supernatural powers and suites. The trip on the Amazonas River from Manaus, potions to revive the bull. With the bull alive again, the takes 15 hours going downstream, and 27 hours going party is restarted, in a frenzied and irresistible rhythm. upstream. It takes 1 hour from Manaus to Parintins by air. The cheering sections decorate their strongholds with The Folklore Festival is considered one of the largest much creativity in order to complete the unforgettable cultural manifestations in Brazil. The June’s celebrations show. When entering the arena, the “Bois-Bumbás” are begin to be presented in the school yards and at the met with fireworks and the war cry from the audience Cultural and Spots Arena (the Bumbódromo was built echoes in the face at the silence of the opposite cheering in the shape of a bull’s head with a seating capacity of section. 35,000 spectators). During the event the city of Parintins is divided into two blocks: one blue and the other red - the colors of the two Where happiness is ritual bulls Caprichoso and Garantido. Held on June 28, “ 29 and 30, the island is flooded by a multitude of people the only rule. from all parts of Brazil, and other countries of the world. The highlight in the presentations is the revival of the Copyright Berkana Travel DMC - All rights reserved. For further information visit our website: www.berkanatravel.com.br ” 77 NORTH | PARA Time: One hour behind Brasíla Average Annual Temperature: 27ºC Belem Climate: Equatorial Humid Rainfall: December to May Airports: Internacional de Belém 12 Km from Down Town Belém is a city in the northern part of Brazil. It is the Due to the growing importance of rubber from the end of capital and also the biggest city of the state of Pará. Its the 19th until the beginning of the 20th century, Belém metropolitan area has approximately 2 million inhabitants. became a very important marketplace. During this period It is the entrance gate and, together with Manaus, the many important buildings were constructed, such as most important city in the Brazilian Amazon region. Palácio Lauro Sodré, Colégio Gentil Bitencourt, Teatro da Paz, Palácio Antônio Lemos and the Ver-o-Peso market. Founded in 1616, Belém combines the Portuguese mansions decorated with tiles that are concentrated in the In the first hours of the morning the Ver-o-Peso market is old town, with the modernity of “Docas” station, a port teeming with activity. area that was transformed in a gastronomic and cultural pole. Boats of all sizes arrive, bringing fruit, meat, fish and many other products. Ver-o-Peso market has become the Belém is 120km from the Atlantic Ocean and it has the postcard of Belém: colors, odors and flavors mix in a rich biggest port on the Amazon River. The city handles the and original landscape. This port harbors typical fishing Amazonian production (chiefly Brazil nuts, aluminum, boats and canoes bringing various products, such as clay cassava, and pepper) and has processing plants. North handicraft and herbs from Amazon for different purposes. Brazil’s largest airport and a coastal railroad enhance the There are herbs to cure diseases, perfumed herbs, aromatic trade of Belém, which is also connected with Brasília by a roots, alligator teeth, which according to local beliefs railroad and highway. protect people from evil, rabbit paws to attract happiness, necklaces made of bids from the forest, etc. From Belém, you set sail for any place that is navigable on the Amazon and its tributaries. It is a city outlined by Close to the market, one can also see the Solar da rivers, waterways and channels. Because of its abundance Beira mansion, once the headquarters of the Municipal of water, the equatorial heat is transformed into coolness Inspectorate and now a place where local handicraft is and pleasure. A seemingly typical Amazon city, with forest, sold. Its surrounding area is almost fully located in the jungle, woods, and all the exuberance of the fauna and Amazonian Forest, except for some parts where the flora of the region, Belém amazes one because it maintains vegetation is less dense - in the low Trombetas region and some harmony between the “cabocla” life and the in the Marajó archipelago. agitation of a capital. The city is known for its Goeldi museum, with ethnological One of the rainiest cities in the world, it has a “less wet” and zoological collections of the Amazon basin. It also season from July to December. But this is not as bad as it has a botanical garden brilliant with exotic flowers, a sounds. Rain often comes and goes quickly and is a brief modern leprosarium, and the Federal University of Pará. respite from the equatorial heat. Copyright Berkana Travel DMC - All rights reserved. For further information visit our website: www.berkanatravel.com.br 78 NORTH | PARA The government palace and the cathedral were built in the 18th century: Santo Alexandre, Belém’s oldest church, was Nightclubs completed in 1616. In Belém, one can taste the best of the region’s cuisine: Mystical | Avenida Almirante Tamandaré, na Praça do Arsenal, Arsenal açaí, cupuaçu, bacuri, uxi, bacaba, pupunha, Brazil nuts. Nightclub with teatral performances. Mystic place with nice Exotic and nutritive fruits are responsible, along with fish decoration. and manioc flour, for the survival of a large part of the population. Metrô | Av.Governador José Malcher, between Benjamim Constant e Rua Dr. Moraes, Nazaré The indigenan heritage is alive in the strong tastes of the Big nightclub built in the underground. Dance Music. dishes, such as the “tacacá” and the “pato no tucupi”. All over town, mango trees decorate the streets and help Casablanca | Av. Senador Lemos, 175 - Umarizal fight the heat. The nightclub has a big dance floor, bar and restaurant. Dance Music. Iguana | Avenida Wandenkolk, 247 Going shopping Mexican ambience. Dance Music. Ver-o-Peso Market | Boulevard Castilhos França, Comércio The market is a cultural and tourist symbol of Belém. Shows Shopping Center Iguatemi | Trv. Padre Eutíquio, 1078 - Batista Campos An upscale shopping mall. A Pororoca | Av. Senador Lemos, 3316 - Sacramenta One of the most traditional places for regional “brega” shows. Metrópole City Hall | Rodovia Augusto Montenegro, KM 7, Castanheira Eating out The music hall brings the best shows of national music to Belém. Maria Belém | Rua Dr. Malcher, 85 beside Igreja da Sé - Cidade Velha Varied gastronomy, with exclusive dishes. Located in an old mansion in the city center. Where to go for a drink? Lá em Casa/ O Outro | Av. Gov. José Malcher, 247 – Nazaré The restaurant offers two ambiences: “Lá em casa” has an open ceiling when it is not raining and “O Outro” serves Bar do Parque | Pça da República, s/n° - Centro lunch in an air conditioned area. It prepares creative dishes It is one of the most traditional bars in Belém. It has with Amazonian ingredients. become a touristy point due to its history and charm. Le Massilia | | Rua Henrique Gurjão, 236 – Reduto Casanostra Café | Trav. Benjamin Constant, 1499 French cuisine. Candle lights dinner with french music. Happy hour and live shows every night. Services & Tours BEL 01 | Transfer in One way transfer to or from International Airport, including assistance and porterage (2 pieces per person). Copyright Berkana Travel DMC - All rights reserved. For further information visit our website: www.berkanatravel.com.br 79 NORTH | PARA Services & Tours BEL 02 | HD City Tour City Tour (3 hours) – Since the market is open only in the morning, tour starts with a stop and visit to the picturesque and busy Ver-O-Peso market; Our Lady of Nazareth Basilica (closed on Mondays) and Emilio Goeldi Museum - botanical and zoo, and passing by the major places of interest in Belém including Teatro da Paz and Republica square. BEL 03 | Tour To Icoaracy Village Located 18km far from Belem, Icoaracy village is well known handcraft). This tour shows all the phases of making process by the great influence on the Marajoara´s tribe from Marajó of the ceramic: the precedence of the argil, the process used Island that developed one of the most interesting process of to clean the argil, the seeds used to change its color, how the making Marajoara and Tapajonic ceramic (the Amazonian argil is dried, drawn and painted. 3 hours duration. Hotels Crowne Plaza Belem ««««« Location | Nazaré neighborhood, 5 minutes from the city center and 20 minutes from the airport. Rooms | 174 rooms equipped with 29” cable TV, internet high speed, telephone, voice mail, air conditioning, safe box, mini bar, work desk. Features | Restaurant, bar, business center, meeting room, swimming pool, sauna and fitness center.