Construction worker Adriano Lima fell from scaffolding and broke his back when he was 17. The crippling injury permanently deprived him of the full use of his legs. As part of his rehabilitation, he started swimming regularly. He proved adept in the water and eventually earned a spot on the squad that represented Brazil at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. He won two medals in the 2008 Games in Beijing and a staggering seven gold medals at the 2007 Pan American games in Rio do Janeiro.
Lima lives with his wife and young daughter in his hometown Natal, the coastal Northeastern city where he enjoys the status of a local celebrity. Here are his tips for your next visit there.
Natal Restaurants
Camarões
Two locations: Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 2610 and Rua Pedro Fonseca Filho, 8887
Ponta Negra
Telephone: 3209-2424 / 3209-2425
Sea food and international dishes
Mangai
Avenida Amintas Barros, 3300
Lagoa Nova
Telephone: 3206-3344
traditional Northeast cuisine, self-service by weight
Pinga Fogo
Avenida Miguel Castro, 1329
Lagoa Nova
Telephone: 3231-1977
Buffet and barbecue
Natal Hotels
SERHS
Avenida Senador Dinarte Mariz, 6045
Via Costeira
Telephone: 4005-2000
Ocean Palace
Via Costeira, kilometer 11
Ponta Negra
Telephone: 3220-4144
Natal Bars
Given his training regime and athlete’s diet, bars are not Adriano’s specialty, he stresses. But he still came up with a couple of tips for us, both on Avenida Prudente Morais in the Candelária district.
Espeto's Araújo
Avenida Prudente de Morais, 6252
Telephone: 3231-4638
Open from 5 p.m. until the last customer leaves; closed Sunday
Candel Bar
Avenida Prudente de Morais, 6109
Telephone: 3206-4988
Open from 5:30 p.m. until the last customer leaves; closed Sunday
Natal Beaches: Southern Beaches (Litoral Sul)
Ponta Negra – the main tourist beach in town, noted for Natal’s symbol “Bald Man’s Hill” (Morro do Careca)
Cotovelo - surfing
Búzios – kite-surfing
Tabatinga – picturesque views
Pirangi do Sul – take a boat out for some snorkeling
Tibau do Sul – often forgotten but with beautiful beaches, just before Pipa
Pipa – picturesque seaside town with famous beaches and good night life
Natal Beaches: Northern Beaches (Litoral Norte)
Genipabu – dune buggy rides
Jacumã
Macau
Touros – far northerly beach, popular with kite-surfers and water sports fanatics.
Natal Shopping Malls
Natal Shopping
Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 1850
Mirassol
Midway Mall
Avenida Bernardo Vieira, 3775
Tirol
includes high-quality 12-screen multiplex movie theater
Natal Parks
Parque das Dunas - a state part that includes the Bosque dos Namorados (Lovers’ Forest)
Avenida Alexandrino de Alencar
Tirol
Modest entrance fee, which includes access to the nature reserve where trained guides can organize walks on the dunes.
Parque do Natal - a new development featuring an impressive elevated museum designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer
Avenida Omar O´Grady, 8080
Candelária
What Not to do in Natal
Although Natal is one of the safest of Brazil’s state capitals, care should be taken around tourist areas. The principal tourist beach Ponta Negra can be unsafe especially at night. Adriano offers another piece of advice to avoid daylight robbery: learn Portuguese so that you can bargain with the traders! Furthermore, the beaches of Dos Artistas and Redinha and the beach that surrounds the historical fort (all to the north of downtown) are less safe than most. They tend to be crowded and are generally considered “for locals only.”
Accessibility for Wheelchair Users
The shopping centers are well-equipped for wheelchairs, as are both of the above mentioned parks. Unfortunately, access to the beaches is still limited: the only concessions are disabled parking areas. Even so, many people ignore the signs, and the designated spaces are often taken by unauthorized drivers.
Check out Dave Maclure’s blog.
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