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What's Iracema? The story revolves around the relationship between the Tabajara indigenous woman, which is called Iracema; and the Portuguese colonist, which is called Martim, who was allied with the Tabajara nation's enemies, the Pitiguaras. Through the novel Alencar tries to remake the history of Ceará origins, which is a state of Brazil's Colonial, with Moacir, the son of Iracema and Martim, as the first true Brazilian in Ceará. This pure Brazilian is born from the love of the natural, innocence (Iracema) and culture and knowledge (Martim). Its name is Guarani language for honey-lips, from ira - honey, and tembe - lips. Tembe changed to ceme, as in the word ceme iba, according to the author. Iracema, alongside with the other novels O Guarani and Ubirajara portrays one of the stages of the formation of the Brazilian ethnical and cultural heritage. Iracema symbolizes the initial meeting between the white man (Europeans) and the natives. Iracema is an anagram which means "America", this is believed to be the author's reference to how Martim (the European) conquered Iracema (or America). "Moacir" means "Son of the pain", what is related to his birth, alone with his mother, who was abandoned by Martim for some time as he had to go and help the Potiguaras in a tribal war against the Tabajaras.
Fortaleza is known all over the world for its beaches. Around Fortaleza, at the Ceara coast (Fortaleza is the capital of the Ceara State), stand some of the best beaches of the world. Meireles and Iparema are the most central beaches of Fortaleza city. But the best – the less crowded and more unspoiled – is Futuro beach, at the extreme and outside south of Fortaleza. Meireles, Iparema and Futuro (at Thursdays) are also the city’s nightlife centers.

Porto das Dunas, at Futuro beach, is a sophisticated resort, just outside the urban perimeter. Aquiraz, some miles south Porto das Dunas, also has good beaches and excellent hotel resorts.But there are some other famous beaches, many of them much more distant, which you can visit through one of the many organized tours offered locally.

Olinda, was founded in 1537 as the capital of the Portuguese state of Pernambuco, is located 5 miles from Recife whose growth overshadowed Olinda's and took much of the commerce. In the early days it depended heavily on sugar cane and slave labor. The city is noted primarily for its 16th and 17th century ornate churches and monasteries and for other colonial buildings which attract tourists interested in Brazil's colonial period. For the tourist shopping for the unique there is a large colony of artisans who produce wood carvings and pottery at very reasonable prices. On 19th April 2007, we shopped for reasonable air ticket from Fortaleza to Recife, it's possible to just head for the airport and reserve a seat by joining a waiting list. All flights to destinations like Rio, Salvador, Porto Seguro, Amazonia and Natal have already gone. One or two budget flights to Natal were full and some seats at business class has proved very expensive; I therefore suggested us to take Recife destination bevasue we could also visit Olinda, a historic town just 5 miles from Recife. I my trips to Rio Grande Do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco and Amazonas. The place that captured my heart is Ceara beasue I never have seen a beach where you can bath on lakes, dunes, beaches, waterfalls and streams all at the same day. If there is a heaven on this earth, I would vote for Fortaleza and Ceara as a whole.

104 Km away from Fortaleza in the district of Paraipaba, Lagoinha is one of the largest attractions on Sol Poente Route. Ancient hiding place of French pirates, Lagoinha is a quiet colony of fishermen situated in a belvedere, from where an exuberant landscape of coconut trees is appreciated, in a beach of white sand and red dunes that welcomes the lazy waves the come from its natural bay. The bars and restaurants offer optional rides of pau-de-arara combined with boats, that take the tourists to know Almécegas Pond. I joined the tour right from my hotel Mercure Gold right from the start at 8am, after passing other hotels to pick up people joining the same your; we were on our way to Lagoinha passing through beautiful villages and farming land along the way to the beach. I was taking dinner at Gepo restaurant in Baira Mar's bech front with a pretty Little Cintia as we call her, a university journalist student and a friend of mine through virtual tourist network; she asked me what I's am doing tomorrow? I replied by saying "Somewhere nice some beach and quiet place good for reading a book or two, she said Lagiinha is the best of all beaches in this region. Returned to the hotel to book my trip tomorrow and there I was off to that wonderful beach they call LAGOINHA. If you ever come to Fortaleza, make sure to go and visit Lagoinha.

Leaving Fortaleza, 22Km towards east, on the Sol Nascente Route, hidden among the dunes of the district of Aquiraz, we reach the beach of Porto das Dunas. Besides the Eolic Park, it also hosts one of the largest touristic enterprises of Ceará: Beach Park. Result of a combination of beach and aquatic park, the complex consists of a hotel, souvenir stores, Jangada museum, besides an attendance structure in the beach where one can taste a delicious crab. Its largest attraction however is Aqua Park. One of the largest aquatic parks in the world by the seashore, Aqua Park is an amusement guaranteed for all the ages, with watersleds, cascades, artificial river and two other equipments existing only in Brazil. The INSANE, the highest watersled of the world with a radical descent of 41m, and the SEAQUAKE, the largest pool of waves in América Latina. The leisure area of the complex of the aquatic park is certified with ISO 9002, which gives it quality services with international standard. This part of Brazil is a first class holiday destination.