Belem: bye bye Brazil

27 May 2010, Belem (Para, Brazil)

Belem is our last stop in Brazil. We choose it mainly because it offers the only flight north to Suriname. It has its pros and cons. The pros: a nicely restored fun harbour area full of restaurants; a lively market displaying every tropical fruit imaginable and numerous variety of fish; the mouth of the impressive Amazon river and boat trips to get a small taste of it; a charming colonial square with an old fort; some interesting city parks giving you a taste of the not so far Amazon rainforest. The cons: definitely the dirtiest and most rundown Brazilian (maybe even South American city) we have been to; apparently one of the more dangerous ones judging by the constant warnings we receive about walking around; horrible sidewalks full of holes and garbage; hot as hell (though this is compensated by fancy air-conditioned malls where you can hide during midday). All in all we amuse ourselves and also enjoye our little charming French run hotel, especially the lovely pool in the garden.