Another day trip endevour, getting to explore our surroundings, and offering our family an opportunity to have fun, enjoy quality time together, and learn more about the local history, geography and social arts.
A bit of historical background, first, bringing everyone to the same page: 😮
“The Fort of Santa Cruz de Itamaracá, popularly known as Fort Orange (“Forte Orange” due to the Dutch Colonization of the Pernambuco territory), located on Itamaracá Island (the word “Itamaraca” means rock that sings, in Tupi-Guarany native language) on the north coast of the state of Pernambuco in Brazil.
In the context of the second Dutch invasions in Brazil, it was originally a small island (now lost) in front of the tip of the Southeast Itamaracá Island, where the bar dominated the southern channel of Santa Cruz.
It was started from May 1631 as a fortification campaign by Dutch forces (Barretto, 1958:133), under the command of Steyn Callenfels and received the name Fort Orange, in homage to the House of Orange-Nassau, which then ruled the Netherlands.
It was garrisoned by a detachment of 366 men under the command of the Polish Captain Crestofle d’Artischau Arciszewski. This effectively resisted the Portuguese forces commanded by Conde of Bagnoli, who defeated (1632), withdrew abandoning its artillery: four pieces of brass brought from Arraial Velho do Bom Jesus. This position formed the basis for the conquest of the island of Itamaracá, defended by the forces of Salvador Pinheiro. After this achievement (1633), the fort was repaired and expanded.
In this structure, Maurice of Nassau reported:
- “(…) Inside the bar [of the island of Itamaracá] presents the first strong Orange, situated on a low sand separated from the mainland by a creek, which is fordable low-water mark. This fort dominates the harbor entrance, since such vessels entering have to pass before him the shot gun. It is square with four bastions [the vertices], and lately has been raised and repaired, but almost no gaps, or stockade or palisade, which is necessary to make, and should widen the gap and surround the outside with a counter-scarp.(Nassau, Maurice of.’Short Address. January 14 in 1638.)“
3rdculturechildren 
Fantastic pictures and a lesson in Dutch history….
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What a pleasure to receive a comment like this! Thank you and best wishes from Recife, Brazil! 😮
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great photos
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Thank you for taking the time to stop by and check the photos out! 😮
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Astounding photos!
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So glad it’s appreciated! 😮 thank you!
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A really interesting post and great photographs, thanks for sharing a touch of Brazil!
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Thanks for stopping by, Gilly! A bit of the Brazilian history that not many know about… 😮 Glad you liked it! 😮
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Beautiful . . . I’ve always wanted to visit Brazil. Now you’ve given me a taste! 😉
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Thank you, Cecelia! I´m so glad you appreciated the images… hard work, but totally worthy! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! And, come to Brazsil – you will have a great time over here! Lots of cultural experiences! 😮
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My kind of day! My son now grown still asks when visiting ” Da can we go on an adventure today?” Teach the children well, they are our future.
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The best type of day, agree! Day trip with family, nice lunch by the beach (still need to post those pics – praia de Itamaraca!), boat ride into the mangrove and cultural/historical teaching! Kids definitely loved the experience, and so did their parents 😮
Thanks for stopping by and checking the blogpost – always a pleasure to share experience with other bloggers/travelers… Greetings from sunny and very warm (!!!) Brazil! 😮
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I’ve just woken up and looked at your photos….ahhh sea and sand, it’s been a long time since I saw those two!!! It’s winter here and the weather forecast is ‘temp is going to drop over the next couple of days” I may have to pop back warm my bones looking at your photos again! Thanks for sharing.
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WOW! Thank you! It´s fantastic to have somebody check our family blog, first thing in the morning! 😮 What an honor, and I truly mean it! Thank you for taking the time to check the newest post, and for commenting! Sea, sand, sun… all beautiful, must admit… Feel free to come back whenever you please – or, whenever you need `tropical images´ to warm you up! 😮 Í promise I´ll keep posting unique images, for as long as we´re posted here in Brazil.. and then, move to our next stop, La Paz, Bolivia (coming Aug)… hummm… what is waiting for us over there??? 😮
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What a treat to travel Brasil during a Michigan winter.
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And it´s my pleasure to provide it, Charley! 😮 Thank you for taking the time to check the newest blogpost – I promise not to disappoint anyone, always something new, always something rich to the eyes and beautiful! 😮
Thanks for commenting and greetings from currently-warm Brazil (it´s Summer here!) 😮
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You’ve got some awesome photos!!
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Thank you, Cee! We´re trying to build a good collection of travel pictures, during our short assignment here in Brazil. Travel, work, the opportunity doesn´t matter – the goal is to find the beautiful among the simple, the mundane… that´s the true beauty. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. What a pleasure and an honor to have so many bloggers sharing their advice, impressions, opinions and experiences.. Cheers from Brazil! 😮
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