It's hard to skip Recife if you are traveling around Brazil and Olinda is a suburb, or another city?, of Recife. It has its own charm for sure. After the bustling or slum-like Recife you get a chilling attitude of the locals. It was also a sunny day, which I suppose isn't surprising.

I parked my car at the east side of the main square which has free parking. I believe it's near an old club which is now closed. I think most of the area is free but I wanted to avoid the touts and I got that right. As soon as you walk up the road there will be people approaching you about doing a local tour. As I don't speak Portuguese and I didn't dress like a tourist they weren't very persist though, or maybe I don't look like I have lots of money lol. I took the steep road up to St. Francis Convent which wasn't open yet so I walked around the neighborhood first to see the sights. At the top of the hill you get the main piece: the lookout. All the local buildings don't matter much if one can see just that. There is a convent up here too but I gave it a miss because a) it wasn't highly recommended for one and b) it's more beautiful from the outside. There are other smaller buildings to see as well. One can also just sit up here and relax in the sun. There are snack places so I think at sunset it becomes lively around here and my belief I need to visit during the day wasn't all that correct even though the museums will only be open during the day and it's nice to see them in the sun.

On my way back I went into St. Francis Convent which they ask for a small entrance fee. I didn't have change so they just let me in anyway - thanks. I even asked the other guests for change so don't get me wrong. Seeing the inside is totally worth it though. I highly recommend it plus there is a toilet and shade. If you are religious you can also visit the church inside.

Finally I walked down Basilica and Monastery of St. Benedict. I didn't enter because I was running out of time. It doesn't take LONG to visit but after the ups and downs I felt I didn't want to walk around more and I had seen enough. I think the upper parts are a highlight whereas the lower, the basilica, are just nice to visit from the outside. It's also a pain in the butt to walk on these cobble streets...