22. In the streets of Recife

 Life in this city happens in the streets, as it is customary in sunny lands. There is not a single stretch of sidewalk, and sometimes street roadways, in the old city that isn´t crowded by the common people.

Scattered on the ground or displayed on fragile stands, hanging from the walls of churches or presented on trays fastened to the necks of street vendors, we see as we stroll by all kinds of objects and ornaments used for the most varied purposes. There is the leather street, the garment street, the lace and underwear street, the junkyard district (I was about to call it the souk), the grocery store corner and, all over the place, candies, cheap perfume, trinkets made of plastic. There is even (although I saw only one) a second-hand umbrella vendor!

If you are hungry, the pleasant aroma of grilled corn cobs calls you. Are you thirsty? There are oranges, pineapples. And if you are looking for something more typical, stop in front of a pile of coconuts, where with three peixeira¹ blows, a coconut is opened for you to enjoy its sweet milk.

High up on the bridges, the crab catchers throw their nets filled with rotten pieces of meat. Along the canals of the Capibaribe, a legion of little shoeshine boys wanders. But there are also, unfortunately, too many poor people who don’t have a roof. They can be seen at night, sleeping in the street, under the stars that are not always as beautiful as they are said to be.
1. Machete.​