One of the major stopping off points for tourists in the north east of Brasil is Praia de Jacare. They go to experience the sunset accompanied by the saxophone player, Jarundy. who plays his sax in a boat to the setting of the sun.
There are plenty of car parks and the locals will actively encourage you to park in their field. However, if you drive to the end of the road you will come to a very large car park to your left. Drive in and then drive to the far end with the praça on your left. Park up and walk across to the river. Will find a mini market of handicraft stalls and walking further along you will eventually come to the shopping area and restaurants. What better way to complete the sun set experience than to share it with friends while having a meal at one of the restaurants? There are several including Bambordo (nearest the mini market) which have jetties that jut into the river. Getting there early, around 4.00pm ensures a good seat and avoids the cover charge of R$3.00. Peruse the menu by all means but order in good time as the restaurant gets full and it can take as much as half an hour for your meal to reach the table.
Well worth the wait, our sizzling hot fish dish including all the side dishes of rice, vegetables, chips and beans was ample for the four of us and very tasty to boot. Usually a band plays in the background until the resident saxophonist makes his appearance. Jarundy himself usually takes to a boat casting off from the shore or one of the restaurants. As dusk envelops the area, the haunting sound of the saxophone drifts across the river to the lapping of the water on the shore. Don’t worry if you don’t have a camera with you as a professional photographer is on hand to capture that special moment when you friend pays the bill. Failing that there is always someone selling excellent quality photos of the sunset. When it’s all over you could stay on and listen to the band. If it’s a Wednesday, you could also watch the folk lore dancers of SESC-PB. The show starts at 8.00pm.
