Pousada Alto Astral

We stayed in this Pousada for 10 days last December. Originally we made a reservation for Pousada Praia dos Milagres, but we didn't like the location of that one and Patricia (the owner of both Pousadas) suggested that we move to Alto Astral, which is just in the center of Olinda. We choose one of the rooms on the top floor. The room is wonderful, it has one private balcony, from where one can see part of Olinda and Recife. This balcony also has a disco ball light in case you want to have a party there :-). The Pousada is just about 50 meters to the famous quatro cantos, where the carnival parties always meet. From here everything in historic Olinda is at walking distance, We often made the severe uphill walk on Rua da Mericórdia. On the top there are many shops, churches, an outside market. and great veiws of Olinda and Recife. Olinda doesn't have great beaches, so we rent a car (Patricia called a person and after a few minutes he was on the pousada to give us the car) and drove to Itamaracá island and the very nice Coroa do Avião, to Igarassu, to Recife and Boa Viagem beach, to Porto de Galinhas and to Praia dos Carneiros. We walked a lot alone around Olinda and felt very safe. On the Pousada we met several persons (which are now our friends), from Santos, Mineiros, Santa Catarina and from California. and spent the New Year's Eve with them. The Pousada has a pool, and many places to relax. There are a few (giant) trees (the mango are lovely).. The breakfast had lots of things, but unfortunately we missed it a few times because we wanted to leave early to avoid the traffic jams and they started the breakfast a bit late for us. There are Saguis on the trees and sometimes they come close to you, when you are having breakfast or in the pool. All the employees were always very helpful and nice.