#WorldCup Cheat Sheet: Fortaleza City Guide
The city of Fortazela (Photo: Getty Images)
(With contributions by Yahoo! Brazil editors Cassiano Gobbet, Fernando Vives, and Tainah Fernandes)
Yahoo Travel continues its daily guides to all the World Cup host cities. Even if you’re not a fan of the beautiful game, you may discover your next South American escape. Keep checking back for more.
Castelao stadium (Photo: Getty Images)
Stadium: Castelao, 58,704 capacity
Games: (Uruguay vs. Costa Rica), June 17 (Brazil vs. Mexico), June 21 (Germany vs. Ghana), June 24 (Greece vs. Ivory Coast), June 29 (final 16), July 4 (quarterfinals)
Praia do Futuro (Photo: Getty Images)
Known for: Praia do Futuro (one of several beaches along the 12-mile coastline), Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Assunção
A megabarraca (Photo: Getty Images)
Lowdown: The capital of Ceará state and Brazil’s fifth most populated city, the family-oriented Fortaleza is second only to Rio de Janeiro as a local getaway. Besides pristine beaches flanked by residential high-rises, it beguiles visitors with the nightlife, replete with megabarracas (massive beach bars) and music concerts.
Ponte dos Ingleses (Photo: Mel/Flickr Creative Commons)
View: Sunset from Ponte dos Ingleses (“Englishmen’s Bridge”). The long pier’s not restricted to Anglos: The name refers to its English builders.
Sleep: Most recommendations on where to rest your head stick to the city proper and avoid the suburbs. The Hotel Gran Marquise sits on the edge of Mucuripe Beach. (Av. Beira Mar, 3980). The midrange-priced Hotel Luzeiros serves up a delicious buffet for breakfast and dinner. (Av. Beira Mar, 2600) Save your pennies at the friendly Pousada Veleiro. (Rua Coronel Juca, 146)
Caldo de cana (Photo: drgillybean/Flicker Creative Commons)
Eats: Brazil leads in sugar cane production, so sip the caldo de cana for some local flavor. Fish and seafood are the specialties, and in some places Thursday is crab day — try the crustacean steeps in coconut milk with farofa. Brazil’s also a charred-meat paradise and Fortaleza takes its rodizio religiously. In general, overwhelm your culinary senses at Varjota, which packs in about 100 restaurants in less than a square mile. If you like paradoxes, the touted Restaurante Hong Kong serves up sushi (Avenida Beira Mar, 4544 - Mucuripe)
Bilro lacework (Photo: Nicoli Barea/Flicker Creative Commons)
What to buy: Bilro lacework at Feirinha da Beira Mar (Av. Beira Mar S/N) or Mercado Central (Av. Alberto Nepomuceno, 199, Centro)
Best pickup line: “Could you tell me where I can learn the electronic ferro?”
How to avoid a fight: Don’t flash anything valuable, and give it up when asked nicely. Or rudely.
Jericoacoara (Photo: by pclvv/Flicker Creative Commons)
When the football gets to be too much: Buggy ride tours at the Jericoacoara National Park, 190 miles or about five hours by car. (Oceano Atlantico, s/n, Jijoca de Jericoacoara)
Vera H-C Chan is a senior editor and Web trends analyst for Yahoo. Written with contributions from Yahoo Brazil editors Cassiano Gobbet, Fernando Vives, and Tainah Fernandes.
Keep coming back every day for Yahoo Travel’s series on the #WorldCup, with guides to the host cities, advice on safety, and great tips and insider information you won’t find anywhere else. You can also check out all our World Cup coverage here.
