Favourite picture: a classic in paradise

The LA 1113 from 1978 makes its way to paradise four times a day – or eight times a day in the peak season. Its "cargo": 55 tourists from every corner of the world on their way to Jericoacoara, or "Jeri" for short. The former fishing village in north-east Brazil has one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world according to the "Washington Post" and borders a nature reserve – it's true paradise.

The Redenção Transporte & Turismo bus company has operated the route between the provincial capital Fortaleza and Jeri since 1990. The final 30 kilometres of the journey are along a sandy track and are tackled by the short-nosed, all-wheel-drive truck.

Known here simply as "Jardineira", the LA 1113 has been converted to a beach bus purpose-fitted with seats to carry its passengers. "When we took on the route to Jeri, my father sourced his inspiration from the Jardineiras of yesteryear and from the open trams he saw as a child", explains Sílvia Costa, one of the shareholders of Redenção. No-one knows the exact mileage that the LA 1113 has really covered. The clock shows 546,184 but it was replaced a few years ago. "We're now at over a million", says driver José Etevaldo de Albuquerque, known as Bené.

www.jericoacoara.com

Photo: Gleice Mere

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