There are a few private lesson on offer for foreigners who want to learn Portuguese. These typically cost around R$ 20 per hour.
Easy to Learn language school. Rua Frei Mansueto, 1018, Meireles, Phone 3267 1622 - Portuguese private classes for foreigners are around R$ 40
The monthly listing Olheiro can befound in he receptions of most large hotels, or downloaded as .pdf (http://www.olheiro.com/).
Job opportunities for travellers are scarce.
cinemas
Oba has the full programme for the city's cinemas.
Shopping Aldeota (http://www.shoppingaldeot...) and Shopping Del Paseo (http://www.arcoiriscinema...) are walking distance from Beira Mar, along Av. Desembargador Moreira.
The largest complex is at the Iguatemi-mall, with some 12 showrooms mostly displaying the latest fare from Hollywood.
At Dragão do Mar (http://www.unibancocinema...) there's a more alternative selection.
golf
The nearest golf club is in neighbouring Iguape, some 30 minutes by car from Beira Mar.
schooner cruises
A couple of motorized schooners and a catamaran do similar 2 hour cruises along the city beaches at R$ 30 per person, setting out daily at 10:00 and 16:00 from near the Iracema-statue, where they also have their ticket booths. The latter time is better, as you get the sunset. Bring swim-gear. Minimum of ten people required- often cancelled in the low season.
Another schooner takes you all the way to Cumbuco at 09:00, lands you for lunch and has buses you back to Fortaleza before 5 PM. R$ 130.
Surfing
There is good surfing on the beaches, and frequent competitions at Praia do Futuro.
Chandler Surf
is a surf school working at Meireles Wednesday - Sunday afternoons, R$ 17-35 an hour, including board rent.
Aldeia Surf School
Offers surf lessons and surf trips every day of the week. Based at Hotel Vila Galé.
Kite and wind surfing
Windzen
Equipment Naish dealer and classes. Helpful with info about out-of-town spots.
Good conditions most of the year, with winds up to 40 knots.
Urban beaches
Veraneio
The hedges protect you!
Volta da Jurema
Near othon palace. nice sunset.
Croco Beach
Plenty gringos. "after beach" with live music on sundays, sunset to eightish, no forro! taxi drivers get a r$ 2 commission for each head they land here, -get a discount on the fare!
Vira Verão
Young brazilian crowd. if you're lucky, you'll get a table.
Vila Galé
Belongs to the hotel. perhaps the neatest appearance, definitely the most expensive!
Chico do Carangueijo
Clean, popular, good food, specializing in crab, sometimes live music.
Côco Beach
And boa vida. mainly foreigners and their crew, live forro.
The most attractive urban beach is Praia do Futuro, about 5 km unsafe to walk from Meireles. Windy, with rather strong currents and undertows, swimming can be a challenge, but for a dip it's fine. Some 150! beach shacks, here a selection from north closest to Beira Mar to south, with their special features:
Babagula
More sandwiches, playground for children. subway is cohabiting.
Beach Worries
Don't buy anything from beach or street vendors. Their food is a potential hazard to your health, and most anything they sell can be had from the beach shacks at a similar price. Souvenirs and clothing is cheaper and more varied at the Feirinha or Mercado Central. Many of them will distract you and steal your belongings. And, please, don't feel sorry for the kids: The more money they can make on the street/beach, the more colleagues they will attract: Their income goes either straight to their parents, or to drug dealers. The city of Fortaleza provides food and shelter for homeless kids, -note the people with the high visibility vests strolling Beira Mar. If you are sitting at a table, and really need something from a vendor, -say cigarettes, -ask the waiter to do the shopping on the pavement. This will be appreciated by everyone around you.
There are a couple of locals although they will sometimes tell you otherwise that speak some English who approach tourists on the beaches being very helpful. In the end they are not. They want your money, -watch out!
There are two nice city beaches, Praia de Iracema and Meireles. Some people discourage bathing here, although they are mostly rated green by authorities (http://www.semace.ce.gov....). The whole stretch from the Ponte Metálica aka Ponte Inglesa pier to the fish market is paralleled by the Avenida Beira Mar, very nice for an evening stroll. A string of shacks line the beachfront, mostly good for drinking and people watching. Some of these, particularly when serving in the sand, have up to three different menus with varying prices. Sunbeds can be charged up to R$ 30 a day, although the real price is R$ 3-5. Unless otherwise stated, cross the street for food. The busiest strip with the most expensive beer, including the bulk of beggars, prostitutes and vendors, is right in front of McDonald's, to avoid these go east of the market. A selection listed from west Praia de Iracema to east Fish market:
Sorriso do Sol
Reggae and cannabis.
Joca
Gay.
Beira Mar Grill
Decent food.
Satéhut
Dutch run with some indonesian on the menu. clean toilet!
G2
A notch cheaper than the rest.
At the very end of Praia do Futuro its name changes to Caça e Pesca. Freshwater swimming in a strong current where the river Cocò meets the ocean.
Festivals
Ceará Music
(http://www.cearamusic.com.br) brazilian rock, pop and techno during three days in october by the hotel marina park. about r$ 40 per night.
Fortal
(http://www.fortal.com.br) fortalezaâ´s salvador-style out-of-season carnival allegedly the largest in brazil kicks off in a purpose-built area near praia do futuro. direct buses from the papicu terminal. thursday - saturday from dusk till dawn. end of july.
Vida e Arte
(http://www.veraovidaearte...) a range of brazilian music and other performances. january.
carnival
Although carnival here is rather dull, the city's pré-carnaval is a major happening, all the way from New Year until the real thing starts in February or March. Several venues, the most accessible at Dragão do mar Saturdays from 3 PM.
Gay Parade
The local Gay Parade, officially named Parada pela Diversidade Sexual de Fortaleza, happens along Beira Mar on the last Sunday of June (http://en.wikipedia.org/w...).