Thursday March 5, 2015 - Buzios, Brazil

Thursday March 5, 2015 – Buzios, Brazil

We got up at 7:30 and went to run and walk on the track.  It was already hot outside, but the setting is beautiful.

We showered and had coffee and went to the Lounge to get our excursion tickets.  We left the ship via tender for the short ride to shore.  We met our guide Gorka and went to the bus for our Buzios Highlights tour.  We mostly saw beautiful beaches and he told us where the nudist beach was.  Beautiful rock formations and some spectacular houses.  We stopped at 4 places – a beach and 3 lookout points.  It was a good 2 hour tour.  We then walked all around town stopping for pictures with the Bridgette Bardot statue, the fisherman’s statue and the statue of the former President who liked to sit on the Bardot Road and watch the sunset.  We walked to the old city and Tim bought a dive t-shirt.  We walked to the commercial district and walked all around – lots of shops, restaurants and bars. 

Colorful water taxis lining the coast in Buzios, Brazil

Beautiful coast line near Buzios

Taking in the sights

Island where they used to collect guano - bird poop!

Beautiful flowering plants with tall stalks

Sandy beach near Buzios

The pink sand beach in the background

Another selfie!

Stunning rocky cliffs

"The turtle" rock formation

Downtown Buzios

A statue in the water:  The Three Fishermen

Plaque for "Tres Pescadores"

Statue of the former Governor - he used to sit here and wave to people

Larry with "The Governor"

Pretty cottages with colorful windows and doors

More cottages

Posing with Brigitte Bardot!

Helen and Stan enjoying their lunch at O'Barco where we ate lunch

We walked back toward the old town to the restaurant the Helen and Stan had told us about – O’Barco.  We sat outside on the porch and had a fabulous fish lunch with a fish stew and fish fillet in shrimp sauce.  With a bottle of Chilean wine the total was only $55.  Delicious.  We really like Buzios.  Maybe a return trip here?

We headed back to the tender point and met Helen and Stan.  Short ride back to the ship and then a well-deserved nap.

We went up on deck for sail away but it ends up that there was a chain wrapped around our anchor and the captain had to have it cut away.  We went had several glasses of champagne and ended up in Horizons with Helen and Stan and the Alabama crew.  We saw the sun set to the west and then the full moon rise in the east over the mountains – it was beautiful.

We finished our champagne and then dressed for dinner.  We headed back to Horizons for another glass of champagne before our special dinner in Toscana at 8:30

Wednesday March 4, 2015 - Parati, Brazil

Wednesday March 4, 2015 – Parati, Brazil

We got up early as we have a tour on a schooner to some of the islands.   They picked us up right off of the ship.  We went to 3 different islands and Tim snorkeled at each.  I swam at the second.  Beautiful relaxing adventure.

Regatta at anchor off of the coast at Parati, Brazil

Beautiful beaches and scenery

Azure blue water and lush islands

School of fish feeding near our boat

Tim, the fish, snorkeling

Beautiful place for snorkeling

One of our excursion boats for the snorkeling trip

Tim enjoying the water

The stone streets of Parati - flooded at high tide

More flooded streets

It was actually very difficult to walk on the streets but the city was beautiful

The old church in Parati, Brazil

Scenic city with colorful door and windows

Fishing and excursion boats at the harbor

 

We got back to the ship and went to lunch at the Grill.  Then we took the tender into Parati.  An interesting town with large cobble-stoned streets that flood a lot during high tide.  Colorful doors and interesting architecture.

We went back to the ship and relaxed – Tim worked out.

We got dressed and went for cocktails at 7 in Horizons and met Margaret and Ted.  We had lots of cocktails and then went together to dinner in the Grand Dining Room.  We closed the dining room and then went back to Horizons for more drinks.  The show had just ended so we got there just ahead of them.  It was karaoke night and the performers weren’t so good.  We had a drink and then went to bed.

Tuesday March 3, 2015 - Ilha do Maia, Brazil

Tuesday March 3, 2015 – Ilha do Maia, Brazil

We took our time today since we don’t have a tour planned.  We had breakfast and then went to get on a tender to the city center.  We walked around the city but there wasn’t much to see.  We went to the Informational Desk and got a map and she told us where to get a taxi.  We got a taxi and went to a remote beach.

We found a palm tree with shade and laid on the beach for a couple of hours.  We walked down the beach and had lunch at a restaurant – fried fish and French fries.  We started back and people were waiting for their taxi to return and they were stressed.  About then a taxi pulled up and our friends from Naples, Florida got out.  They didn’t recognize us at first and it was funny.  We let the other people take the taxi as they were stressed.  Just after that a bus came along and we got on.  It got 5.50 reals for both of us to ride back into town – about $1.50!  A fun experience.

We did a little shopping and then took the tender back to the ship.  A relaxing afternoon.  We got dressed early and went to the Oceania Club reception.  We sat with Helen and Stan from Denver.  We went to the Lounge for drinks and then went to dinner.  Stan wasn’t feeling well but Helen was talkative.  Stan didn’t eat and finally left the table.  Helen had 2 great bottles of Antinori red wine that she shared with us.

After dinner we went back to the Lounge and watched the show with Amy and Meghan in the Lounge.  We got there early and got good seats.  We gave Helen some Cipro for Stan.  He had a bad night and was diagnosed with food poisoning by the ship’s doctor.

We dropped anchor at 11 pm so there was no rocking and rolling and we had a good night’s sleep.

 

Monday March 2, 2015 - Santos and Sao Paulo, Brazil

Monday March 2, 2015 – Santos and Sao Paulo, Brazil

We were up at 6:30 and had a light breakfast on the pool deck.  We sailed into Santos which is the largest port in Brazil – may be the largest in South America.  It is huge.  Fortunately, the captain docked us close to the passenger terminal.  We loaded up on a bus and headed for the 50 mile drive to Sao Paulo for an all day tour.

Santos, Brazil is a HUGE port – the largest in South America.  The city seems to be crumbling in front of our eyes, but once we got out of the city the scenery was beautiful.  The drive up the mountain to Sao Paulo was spectacular.  Beautiful pink and white blooms on trees and others full of yellow blooms.  John was our tour guide and I wasn’t impressed.  He didn’t share a lot.

We arrive in Sao Paulo to a lot of traffic.  There are 11 million people in the city and 21 million in the metropolitan area.  Traffic galore.   We first went to the statue known as the Cradle of the country – where the country was declared independent of Portugal.  We went to a beautiful museum that is closed as it is falling into disrepair.  Reminded me of Buckingham Palace but the gardens were designed with Versailles in mind.

Beautiful flowering trees in Sao Paulo

A huge mansion with great features, but in a state of disrepair

Gorgeous mansion and gardens in Sao Paulo

Beautiful gardens and fountains

Statue of war heros in Sao Paulo

The Brazilian flag

One of the oldest churches in Sao Paulo

Statues throughout the city

Large cathedral in Sao Paulo

Art museum in a former private home - the grounds in the middle of Sao Paulo were spectacular!

Art work throughout the gardens

Large statue in one of the parks in Sao Paulo

The views driving up and down the mountain between Santos and Sao Paulo were spectacular.

The pictures don't do the view justice.

Beautiful yellow and purple flowering trees all over the hillsides

The city of Santos at the port that serves Sao Paulo

 

We then took a riding tour through the city and saw the opera, many government buildings and cathedrals.  Lots of people and traffic everywhere and still crumbling infrastructure.

We went to a charuscarria (meat restaurant) for lunch.  Not impressed – chewy meat.  Tim was so aggravated with this woman on our tour – her winey voice, her stupid questions and her butting in line because she thinks she is special.  I’m trying to ignore her but she is getting on my nerves too.  Tim called her “inconsiderate and rude” when we got off of the bus for lunch.

We headed to a national park for our last stop and then headed back to Santos.  The drive down the mountain was spectacular.  Made the trip worthwhile.  Well, we have been to Sao Paulo, but there is no need to go back!

We got back on the ship about 5:15 – Tim went to the gym and I went to nap.  He had napped on the bus and I hadn’t so I was tired.

We went for drinks with Putu and then to Polo Grill for our “sharing dinner”, but the maître d’ told us he had a table for 2 which we quickly took.  Great dinner – we both had surf and turf and ate too much.

We went to the Horizons Lounge after dinner and had after dinner drinks with Gwen and Mike and Pat and Joe from Naples / Minnesota.  They are too much fun.  We drank way too much and then went to bed.  Tomorrow is a day off and we may do the beach of not even leave the ship – we’ll see.

Sunday March 1, 2015 - Porto Belo and Florianapolis, Brazil

Sunday March 1, 2015 – Porto Belo – Florianapolis, Brazil

We were up at 6:30 and had a light breakfast.  I got our tickets to go to Florianapolis and we were on the first bus.  We loaded up with Gabriela as our guide and set off for the hour long drive from Porto Belo to Florianapolis.  There was a fitness challenge going on at the beach in Porto Belo and these crazy Brazilians were swimming out to sea and around this huge island and back.  Unbelievable how many were doing this.

Gabriela told us about the area and gave lots of statistics.  When we go to Florianapolis we stopped at a viewing point for pictures.  Florianapolis is an island and this is where Nick Burnette from Charlotte now lives part time.  We took pictures and then headed for the beach.  Lots of people out enjoying the weather and sunning.  Tim and I walked to the rocks and watched the waves crashing onto the huge boulders.  We left there and went back to old Florianapolis and went on a walking tour to where the harbor used to be, an old park with a 200 year old ficus tree, the cathedral, customs house, and old market.  We then got on the bus and headed back to Porto Belo. 

Porto Belo, Brazil

Welcome sign to Florianapolis, Brazil

The beach at Florianapolis

Beautiful beach, surf, and rocks with crashing waves

Tim climbed up the big rock for a better view!

The crashing waves in an inlet at Florianapolis beach

Tim on the rocks

Panorama of Florianapolis Beach

Downtown Florianapolis - this all used to be part of the sea

A memorial to one of the early leaders

Beautiful park with a gorgeous tree

The tree - if a couple holds hands and walks around the tree 7 times, they will have 7 years of happiness!

The park in central Florianapolis

A government house in Florianapolis

The Florianapolis cathedral

Fountains and large sidewalks along the waterfront in Florianapolis

The old market building in Florianapolis

Sail away from Porto Belo and Florianapolis, Brazil

Panorama of the coast as we sailed away

 

I went to the Information stand to see where we might eat lunch but she told me everything was closed by 2 pm so we went back to the ship and had a light lunch.  We relaxed and read the rest of the afternoon and then went for drinks with Putu in the Lounge.  We went to the Grand Dining Room earlier tonight – about 7:30 – and got the last table for two by the window.  Tim had suckling pig and enjoyed it.  We decided to skip the show since Ray Michaels is performing again.  We can hear him through the walls in the lounge from our room and we’ll skip.  We read a while and then went to bed as we have another early day tomorrow in Santos / Sao Paulo.