Fortaleza Coming Home
One more time in Fortaleza, Ceará here I lived for second longest stretch of my life, all in all about 12 years. I met Carmela here and we have loads for old friends and lots of old haunts. We have been coming here at least once a year except during Covid. We also have doctors and dentists that we see here that we trust with our health and our wallet. Anyway, one more time...
We are staying for the first 4 nights in the Landscape. It just about across from the Beira-Mar Handicraft Market which is a lively evening market along the beachfront. It has a resort vibe and very good security as well as an in-house market and casual restaurant. This is particularly dangerous in the evening as they have home made cakes and pastries that are hard to resist.
Landscape Apartments
One thing I love in Fortaleza is the long Beira Mar or boardwalk that is not only full of bars and restaurants but is a hive of athletic activity in the mornings. I feel so motivated on my morning walk and trip to the gym being among other walkers, runners, bicycle riders and even Hawaiian outrigger teams on the beach. There is even fresh fruit to buy to make a nice breakfast when you go home.
Athletics on the Beira Mar
A Happy Hour at one of our favorite spots, Moleska, across from Shopping Bouganvillia, where Carmela and I had our first date.
Shopping Bouganvillia and Moleska
I found out the name of the Band. "The Streets." Here is a clip off some more of them playing
The Streets on Friday
The Jardim Japonês de Fortaleza (Jusaku Fujita Japanese Garden) is located on Avenida Beira-Mar in the Meireles neighborhood, right across from the Praça dos Estressados.
It is a 1,900-square-meter park featuring quiet ponds, ornamental bridges, small waterfalls, oriental monuments, and over 50 plant species. The space was recently revitalized and officially reopened in July 2026.
It is looking great after the remodel
Sunset
Outrigger Canoes at Sunset
Mestre Sussa
Mestre Sussa is relatively new. An open and breezy atmosphere. Great place to end the night with music, drinks and seafood, right across from the Beira Mar
One place where we used to go when I lived her is the Jardins Open Mall. It is a nice little oasis with a stream running through a series of shops and restaurants.
Never a dull moment in Fortaleza, not even at 6AM. I woke up to rock music wafting, no pounding into my bedroom window. It was not some crazy neighboring apartment though. Looking out my window I saw a whole bunch of people gathered in front of my gym, which is a block and a half away and the music was coming from there. Well, not one to miss a live rock band, I put on shorts and T and flip flops and hurried on over.
On the Beira Mar there are all kinds of running groups that meet every morning and this was the culmination of a race. There was all kind of booths with health drinks and fruits and this rock band playing at full volume. Bizarre but very cool. Anyway, below is a 20 minute video of the encounter that I posted on Youtube. Enjoy as much or as little as you want.