The glamorous Brazilian coastal city of Recife gets its name from the magnificent coral reefs lining the turquoise and topaz shaded ocean. It has an equally rich cultural history dating back to Portuguese and Dutch colonizers. Set at the confluence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers, Recife has continued to be a prosperous trading hub down the ages. Its modern steel and glass skyscrapers sit well with old colonial structures, parks, museums, marketplaces, cathedral and observatory tower. The confluence of the two rivers, the ocean, the new and the old, give the city its unique character. Recife has its own symphony orchestra, a conservatory of music, and several theatrical companies, apart from African and traditional Brazilian festivals and carnivals. To really get to know the city, one needs to read it during its raucous carnivals!