Barbados...A Taste of Caribbean Fun

We spent a few hours on a catamaran sailing along the coast to swim with turtles.  We saw some lovely condos and a hotel that cost $3000 a night for a room.  Moored right next to our ship was Paul Allen's (Microsoft founder) private yacht, one of the biggest in the world.  It's the blue and white ship in the middle.  Ours is on the left.

We drank rum punch, caught some sun, laughed like we were young again.  All-in-all a wonderful stop.

No Internet for Two Days

The satellite connection was lost and we have had no communication with the world for two days. Our last Brazilian stop was Fortaleza. Not much to see here. They took us to a shopping center that had 600 shops...all selling exactly the same thing. We ended up buying 2 refrigerator magnets.

We were at sea yesterday and have 2 more sea days before we reach Barbados. Only 3 stops left and less than a week on board the ship. Time has flown.


Christmas along the trip.  It has been full blown summer since we left CA.  Every now and again we are surprised to learn that it is almost Christmas.  It doesn't seem real, as we are so far removed from shopping, decorations, the music, the whole holiday experience.  Here was a tree at the shopping center in Fortaleza. 

Catching Up on Where We've Been

Not sure of the nautical miles.  37 days aboard ship.  7 days to cross the Atlantic. 9 countries visited to date.

Second Stop in Brazil

Salvador de Bahia:  What a lovely old city.  We enjoyed it more than Rio and would have liked more time here.  We did a walking tour of the old city and saw two beautiful churches built in the 16th century.  It reminded us of Europe.

It's Hard to Describe Rio in the Rain

We didn't have the best weather.  The first day was sunny and bright and we lucked out in our trip up to the top of Corcovado.  The next two days were rainy.  We went to the top of Sugar Loaf  Mt. with strong winds, rain and the mountain covered in clouds.  No bikini clad beauties to see on Copacabana either.  We hit the downtown business district in the rain, as I wanted to buy some frou-frou shoes.  What I got was a sole with a leather strip holding them on.  Not exactly sturdy walking shoes.

Celebrated 37 Years Together While At Sea

Should have posted this yesterday, but Rio got in the way.  On Dec. 2, Jim and I were married 37 years.  We started the day with a sign on our door. We got an anniversary present from some shipboard friends delivered to the room.  It got better and better.  We had a special galley tour with the Exec. Chef, which was so interesting.  The captain sent a cake and champagne to the room in the afternoon.  We had arranged a special dinner and invited two British and Canadian couples to join us.  It started with a champagne toast, prime rib carved at our table and the waiters linking our hands together with a napkin and singing Let Me Call You Sweetheart.  We got back to the room to find our stewardess had decorated with towel animals and balloons.  All in all...one of the best anniversaries ever.

RIO...It Justifies Its Reputation

Such an incrediblly beautiful city.  Built on hills with wonderful beaches, it is a great contrast of modern buildings and colonial buildings sitting side by side.  We arrived about 7:00am in the harbor and what a view of Sugarloaf Mt. and the Christ the Redeemer statue that is the trademark of the city. 

We walked the business area for a bit before lunch, then went out on tour to see Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches and take the cog train to the top of Corcavado to the Christ statue.  Today is Sugar Loaf.  Note the black dot about half way up. It's a man working on the statue.  That gives you a perspective of how tall it is.

Didn't venture out last night.  Too hot and tired and not safe.  The heat and humidity are higher here than it was in India.  Africa seemed cool after Brazil.  We are surprised that they are not merchandising the Olympics.  You don't see any reference to it anywhere. They are hosting the World Cup next year, so that's there focus.