Jan 22, 2012 - At Sea with Doc Severinson

For two nights (Jan 18 & 22), we attended the Doc Severinson & The San Miguel Five show. This is the same Doc Severinson who for 30 years introduced Johnny Carson with the legendary, “Heeeere’s Johnny”. Doc still can blow the trumpet even though he must be nearing 80. Dressed in brightly colored, flash outfits, Doc took to the stage with four incredibly talented musicians. The musicians comprising the San Miguel are Gil Gutierrez (guitar), Charlie Bisharat (violin), Kevin Thomas (bass) and Jimmy Branly (percussion). The Five presented a...

Jan 21, 2012 - On our way to Buenos Aires

Every night while we are gone at dinner we get a different animal made from the clean towels in our room. There are 40 different designs our cabin stewards can design so we’re hoping for about 15 different designs anything from monkeys to crabs, birds to dogs. There is a formal night once a week with different themes attached like Silver and White Ball and Copacabana, my mom and I get to put on our most glamorous dresses and cruise the decorated night away. We dine with two other couples, one Jack and Betty, from Anchorage Alaska and the...

Jan 19, 2012 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janiero means River of January. It is a magnificent port to sail in and out. It had recently rained so there was a light fog. The bay has an out-cropping of hunchback hills jutting out of the water; each is topped by trees. The ship docked right downtown. We have been warned repeatedly to be careful of pick-pockets. It is suggested not to even wear jewelry so we are fearful. Originally, we were going to do Rio ourselves using taxis but we met a representative from a Brazilian jeweler, H. Stern, who offered to provide a private car...

Jan 7, 2012 - Ilha Grande

Jan 7 to 9 Ilha Grande After enjoying the beaches and warm weather in Rio we went to the beautiful island of Ilha Grande. We arrived by bus and found an information centre to find out where the ferry was to take us to the island. The lady jumped up from behind her desk and said the last ferry of the day was leaving in 10 minutes and it would take us 5 minutes to get there. She quickly rushed us outside and into a cab. We just made it, caught the ferry and made it to Ilha Grande in the evening. Around Ilha Grande there are many smaller...

Dec 29, 2011 - RIO!!

We made it to Rio De Janeiro on Dec 29 just a couple of days before the big New Years Eve party on Copacabana which we heard was the second biggest party in the world (next to Carnival in Rio). New Year's Eve Turns out 2 million people on the beach is a lot!! New Year's Eve in Rio was absolutely crazy. We got ready and headed out to Copacabana beach around 9pm and headed to stage 2. We had lots of fun listening to music and dance even though it was raining. Then we started heading over to stage 1 to hear the famous bands and watch the...

Dec 18, 2011 - Paraty

Hi All! So the end is near... and it´s one week until Christmas! I´ve spent the last few days in the small town of Paraty which is on the coast inbetween Sao Paulo and Rio. The town is very pretty as the tree covered mountains provide an impressive backdrop. On my first day I walked up to the fort which has some impressive views of the sea and islands and then spent the afternoon on the beach. A German couple staying in the hostel had hired a car so yesterday 4 of us went on a day trip to Trinidage - another small beach but much prettier...

Dec 1, 2011 - Rio

What a thrill to throw open our cabin curtains and see Sugar Loaf Mountain passing by. Rio truly has one of the most picturesque harbors in the world. We could see the Christ the Redeemer statue that matches the one we saw leaving Lisbon, but this one is on a much higher mountain. The cable cars dangled as they took intrepid tourists out to Sugar Loaf. Then we passed the domestic airport which must be on landfill jutting out into the bay. Planes coming in for a landing must wonder if they will find solid soil under their wheels. Plane...

Nov 13, 2011 - Rio, a city of extremes

9th-13th November Rio blew my mind!! There is such a stark contrast between rich and poor and got to experience firsthand the dark underworld of Rio. From the skyscrapers and posh hotels of Copacabana and the shanty slums called Favela’s.. . the whole city is mental. Before people start getting worried about us, we got out alive, unharmed and unscathed but with more of an understanding about the real shit that goes down in one of the world’s most famous cities. We flew from Santiago via Montevideo in Uruguay. The first flight was...

Nov 11, 2011 - LAPA - Latin American Party Animals

We had heard about Lapa street party from Andres who worked in our hostel. He told us it was the place to be at the weekend, and that it was a street party!!!...that was an understatement!! In the end about 8 of us went, we arrived and had to walk a wee while to get to the main bit. This is right under the Lapa arches(lots of big arches going the whole way across the street and painted white), so you weren’t actually able to see the full view of the party and how big it actually was. We walked up the first street and went to the bar,...

Nov 11, 2011 - Brazil

Our first few hours in Brazil were not the easiest of our trip. Fresh from our Bolivian border experience, we were confronted with 38 degrees of shimmering heat, a new language, which although based in Latin is about as similar in pronounciation to Spanish as Chinese is to English and an increase in prices that makes Eskom look tame. After a few hours of self counselling we managed to shake ourselves into action and through an incredible stroke of luck, were able to book ourselves a tour into the wildlife oasis that is the Brazilian...

Nov 10, 2011 - Rio De Janerio or Patagonia

After humin and hawin between Rio and Patagonia....Rio won!!!...so off we went on the plane (again) to Rio de Janerio!!!!!... We were all mega excited and although it would mean a monster bus journey to get back down to Buenos Aires we wurnae caring. After 2 flights filled with turbulence (nerves were shattered!!!..Jameson’s was required), we arrived in Rio about 2am, we where quite merry!!!.. so we had a wee drink in the hostel before crashing out. The hostel wasn’t the best although it was all we could afford within our price range....

Oct 23, 2011 - Rio de Janeiro: Corcovado Mountain

Today is Sunday. We promised ourselves a lazy start to the day, and didn't get out of bed till about 0800. Breakfast was a more modest affair than the day before. I limited myself to pastries and coffee (I can imagine you're already thinking that doesn't sound very limited) while Brenda consumed her favorite butter cake and then went back for an additional coconut cake. We then explored the rooftop pool which was located on the floor above ours and found that it had quite good views over the beaches. I might go for a swim in it later this...