Natal
Local Brazilians flock to the sweeping beaches at Natal. As the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, Natal has developed quickly to cater for this style of tourism. However, it has history. In 1598 the Portuguese constructed Fortaleza dos Reis Magos. The fort’s strategic location is at the mouth of the Rio Potengi, and near the easternmost and thus closest point of South America to Europe and Africa. Beyond the modern tourism strip is an older Natal with the governor’s palace, mayor's office and André Albuquerque Square. American architectural influences persist from the time the city was a base during World War II. The city encircles a natural park of urban forest and sand dunes.
The 16th century Portuguese Fort Reis Magos contains details of battles among the Portuguese, Dutch, and French. The craft centre demonstrates lace tatting and Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art developed by slaves in the 16th century. Capoeira combines dance, acrobatics and music, and often involves hands on the ground and inverted kicks. Try it on land, not the ship. Dramatic windswept bare sand dunes lie in and around Natal. The dunes at Genipabú are ever changing as the winds alter direction and speed. Dunes transform and are never in the same place for long. Amongst the dunes are clear lakes and pockets of flora.
Sunday, October 23rd. Natal
Docked here early and went on the Second World War tour to the museum at Parnamirim of the U S airbase there from 1943;to 1945, it was housed in what had been Natal's civil airport from 2000 to 2014 . Really interesting with a decent guide a knowledgeable American guest, and Roddy.
As WW2 progressed, U.S. war planners expressed concerns of the impending advancement of Axis forces towards the direction of the United States. Since the war started, German and Italian troops have gradually taken hold of Northern Africa. The invasion of South America could be the next move. After a careful study of its strategic geographical location, the US Air Force commander inferred that Natal was the likeliest point for a German invasion. It is also the best support point for Allied forces to their African operations. Natal is located in Brazil northeastern most tip and is the nearest point to Africa and Western Europe. Since it sits in a strategic and advantageous location, it was decided that a United States air base was to be constructed in Parnamirim, a town just outside NatalThousands of United States servicemen called Natal their home during the war years. The number of Americans who were stationed in Natal Brazil during World War 2 at Parnamirim was estimated to be somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000. There were also several thousand British and Americans who passed by this airfield in transit. The U.S. military activity in Natal and the Rio Grande do Norte region has made a great impact on its culture in various sorts of way. Brazilians from all over the country made their way to Natal to find employment in the air base. These developments were behind the sharp increase in population during the war years. What used to be a population of about 40,000 before the Parnamirim airfield’s construction swelled to nearly 80,000 after World War 2. The U.S. airfield in Parnamirim became one of the busiest wartime facilities in the world during the war, with flights coming in and taking off in three minute intervals. At the end of World War 2, Natal gained the Parnamirim airport which was constructed using mostly American funds. Infrastructures like buildings, residences and roads were also left behind for the city’s use. Parnamirim Airfield became the biggest American installation built outside the United States.
Such is the way of Brazilian politics that eventually, soon after modernising the civilian terminal of the airport, someone bribed officials to order a new airport. The old Parnamirim Field remained as a military airfield, as it is today. The civilian terminal has been converted into a museum for the old air field. David suspects this too is a scam, as we had to go past heavy military security to enter the airbase - he doubts that you could just wander up as an individual and see the museum
Click on any thumbnail photo and get a larger photo
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. . .
We then went on to the oldest cashew tree in the world, which covered an area of 35 football pitches, estimated to be about 135 years old. We walked under its numerous branches to its trunk, and then viewed it from a tower platform on the outside. Whilst we were waiting for the bus back, we were bought a coconut drink.
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The Cashew of Pirangi is in the Guinness Book of Records. Having the size of 70 normally sized cashew trees, it has a circumference of 500 m (1,600 ft). The spread over a hectare of land was, unlike other trees, created by the tree's outward growth. When bent towards the ground (because of their weight), the branches tend to take new roots where they touch the ground. This may be seen in the images of the interior. It is now difficult to distinguish the initial trunk from the rest of the tree. The tree is said to have been planted in 1888. The tree produces over 60,000 fruits each year.
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. Back to the ship via dunes and the coast, a swim after lunch, started to play bridge bit there was a Whales alert given, and everyone was more interested in watching them!! Then Trivia followed by a recap and briefing. Ate in Hot Rocks and listened to Jonathan singing American songs afterwards. A much more wide awake day than the previous one
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A super lecture by Roddy on Darwin in South America. Then read about Darwin in the cabin before having a swim. Lunch with an Italian street food buffet up on deck. Taught bridge to Utta, Claudia and Suzanne until Trivia. Then a lecture by Robin on jellyfish, precap and briefing, a cocktail before dinner with Lynne and Pippa in the restaurant. Afterwards drinks in the Panorama lounge, annoyed that Florandy would not reduce the volume of his singing
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