Wednesday is our last sea day for this entire cruise. There is not much to say. The water in the pool is soooo sloshy that they drained it. So no swimming today or probably tomorrow. Bob went up to take a video of the pool but by the time he did, the pool was empty.
Breakfast in La Veranda. We were some of the early ones there. Then to coffee connection while they made up the cabin. Did some needlepoint and knitting and read the paper. Also, we both worked on the crossword puzzles.
Last night we had dinner with Carol and Parker. Parker is a retired Park Ranger for Orange County in California. A real issue they have there are the mountain lions. Carol used to work for a Dentist but she is also retired. We had a nice dinner. After dinner they went to the show and we came back to the cabin to read.
This afternoon we will play trivia again. We have won enough points that I can get two shirts. I have already gotten two shirts for Bob. I also play the daily quiz and I have won that several times. To win that quiz, they pull an answer sheet out of all the winners, so it is luck.
We are having dinner tonight with Davor, the General Manager. Not sure who else will be a the table. We got invited and it is difficult to turn them down unless you have reservations at one of the special restaurants.
So we will start packing this afternoon too. Not a job I look forward to but it has to be done.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tuesday finds us in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We dock here at around 9am. Then we all have to go through US immigration. This might take a while.
Well immigration was fine. We did swim for one hour before breakfast. Then while eating, they called our deck. We had finished so I went to the theater while Bob stayed back and finished his coffee. All you had to do was collect your passport and show it to an official with the Customs office. If you were from any other country, you had to have your passport stamped and it took longer for those folks. Not sure why we had to do this as you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico if you are an American Citizen. Oh well.
We went in town and caught the trolley. This is a free service and it takes you to the two forts and old San Juan. We just rode around for the entire loop and got off by CVS and went in to buy some nuts. Bob likes his cashews.
Back on the ship for a light lunch and then the nap for Bob while I worked on my needlepoint on the balcony. The Navigator of the Seas docked right beside us so I watched it coming in. When they were cleared, the people poured out of the ship for over 45 minutes. That ship carries 3800+ passengers and our ship is 700 passengers if full. Big difference.
To tea and trivia where we came in third. I need to study Dickens novels. They like to use them as questions. I can't remember reading them when I was in school.
Tonight they are have a gathering for the grand voyagers. Not sure what is going to take place. It is being held before dinner in the theater. And then we are having dinner with Carol and Parker.
During the afternoon, I finished watching "The 33". An interesting movie. At the end they say that the mining company was found not guilty of neglect and the miners were never compensated. I hope they got some money from the book and movie rights.
Well immigration was fine. We did swim for one hour before breakfast. Then while eating, they called our deck. We had finished so I went to the theater while Bob stayed back and finished his coffee. All you had to do was collect your passport and show it to an official with the Customs office. If you were from any other country, you had to have your passport stamped and it took longer for those folks. Not sure why we had to do this as you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico if you are an American Citizen. Oh well.
We went in town and caught the trolley. This is a free service and it takes you to the two forts and old San Juan. We just rode around for the entire loop and got off by CVS and went in to buy some nuts. Bob likes his cashews.
Back on the ship for a light lunch and then the nap for Bob while I worked on my needlepoint on the balcony. The Navigator of the Seas docked right beside us so I watched it coming in. When they were cleared, the people poured out of the ship for over 45 minutes. That ship carries 3800+ passengers and our ship is 700 passengers if full. Big difference.
To tea and trivia where we came in third. I need to study Dickens novels. They like to use them as questions. I can't remember reading them when I was in school.
Tonight they are have a gathering for the grand voyagers. Not sure what is going to take place. It is being held before dinner in the theater. And then we are having dinner with Carol and Parker.
During the afternoon, I finished watching "The 33". An interesting movie. At the end they say that the mining company was found not guilty of neglect and the miners were never compensated. I hope they got some money from the book and movie rights.
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
Monday we dock in St. John's, Antigua. We arrive at around 10am. St. John's is a classic example of the British Caribbean. Lots of beaches that are protected by coral reefs and a ring of forts. We are not taking a tour today and will probably just walk about.
We got to swim early this morning and then a light breakfast. Lots of the people are going on a tour. We decided not to take the tour we had signed up for as it was 6 hours. And we have been here in the past.
As it turned out, we did not go into the town. We just stayed on board and read and I knitted. Started a new sweater. Had a light lunch and then I sat on the balcony and finished the book I was reading. Some bad news is that my Kindle Fire has decided to not work. I have tried using Noel's charging cord but that did not help. So she looked on line to see what I could do and everything I tried has not worked. This is troublesome as I have lots of books on the Kindle that I have not read yet.
They had a sail away party for the gold, platinum and titanium members. They held it up on the forward deck which is not available to the passengers except for special occasions. We talked with Carol and Parker from California and agreed to have dinner with them tomorrow night.
Returned to the suite to get ready for cocktails and dinner. I started watching "The 33". This is about the 33 miners trapped in the mine in Chile. Interesting movie.
Dinner in Compass Rose where we sat in Nico's section. He is going home tomorrow. He has been on the ship for 9 months. I can't imagine being away from the family for that long. The service people really give up a lot to work on the ships. But they are planning for the future.
Back to the suite and I read using Bob's iPad.
We got to swim early this morning and then a light breakfast. Lots of the people are going on a tour. We decided not to take the tour we had signed up for as it was 6 hours. And we have been here in the past.
As it turned out, we did not go into the town. We just stayed on board and read and I knitted. Started a new sweater. Had a light lunch and then I sat on the balcony and finished the book I was reading. Some bad news is that my Kindle Fire has decided to not work. I have tried using Noel's charging cord but that did not help. So she looked on line to see what I could do and everything I tried has not worked. This is troublesome as I have lots of books on the Kindle that I have not read yet.
They had a sail away party for the gold, platinum and titanium members. They held it up on the forward deck which is not available to the passengers except for special occasions. We talked with Carol and Parker from California and agreed to have dinner with them tomorrow night.
Returned to the suite to get ready for cocktails and dinner. I started watching "The 33". This is about the 33 miners trapped in the mine in Chile. Interesting movie.
Dinner in Compass Rose where we sat in Nico's section. He is going home tomorrow. He has been on the ship for 9 months. I can't imagine being away from the family for that long. The service people really give up a lot to work on the ships. But they are planning for the future.
Back to the suite and I read using Bob's iPad.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Bridgetown in Pictures
Bob has taken some very nice pictures of his walk into town. Being Sunday, all stores were closed and there were not many people out so it was a great time to take pictures without having to dodge people.
After you leave the port area, this is the walk into the town. It runs along the Carlisle Bay. Nice path lined with trees.
Just another view of the edge of the water.
This is the Careenage. An area where very nice boats are docked.
Another view of this area.
More of the same area.
This is the Parliament Building. Flying the flag of Barbados. It dates back to 1639. It houses the Barbados Nationa Heroes Gallery and the Barbados Museum of Parliament.
This is the entrance of the Chamberlain Bridge.
Up close of the arch at the end of the bridge.
This is St. Michael's Church.
And a statue of Lord Nelson.
This is St. Mary's Church. Both St. Michael's and St. Mary's are Anglican Churches.
The walk on the way back to the port.
This is the security at the entrance to the port. There was one other ship here with us. It is probably the first time we have been here when there have not been lots of other cruise ships in port.
After you leave the port area, this is the walk into the town. It runs along the Carlisle Bay. Nice path lined with trees.
Just another view of the edge of the water.
This is the Careenage. An area where very nice boats are docked.
Another view of this area.
More of the same area.
This is the Parliament Building. Flying the flag of Barbados. It dates back to 1639. It houses the Barbados Nationa Heroes Gallery and the Barbados Museum of Parliament.
This is the entrance of the Chamberlain Bridge.
Up close of the arch at the end of the bridge.
This is St. Michael's Church.
And a statue of Lord Nelson.
This is St. Mary's Church. Both St. Michael's and St. Mary's are Anglican Churches.
The walk on the way back to the port.
This is the security at the entrance to the port. There was one other ship here with us. It is probably the first time we have been here when there have not been lots of other cruise ships in port.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Bridgetown, Barbados
Sunday we are docked in Bridgetown, Barbados. We are only one of two ships docked here. We have been to Barbados when there will be six large ships in port. But today, being Palm Sunday, we do not think that much will be open in town.
We got up to the pool at 7:30 am only to find it still closed and the man who opens it was nowhere to be found. So we headed back to the suite to change and go to breakfast instead. Sunday they always serve Caviar and Champagne but not for me. Bob did have some caviar but no champagne. We both had a serving of eggs Benedict.
I started knitting a new sweater as I finished the one I was working on. I still need to sew it together but I did not bring pins so will finish when I get home. And we are back in code red as they have had 12 new cases of GI upset. Won't these guests ever learn. Yesterday I spotted a man turning the cheese around with his hands. What is wrong with some people?
Speaking of yesterday, we had a quiet day at sea. All the regular events. Lecture on San Juan, needlepoint, tea and trivia. No swimming as the Staff Captain felt the water was too rough in the morning. We spoke with him and he said he realized we could handle the water but was afraid some of the older folks could not. And we had dinner with Mal and Mili. We will miss them when we go home. Next year they will be taking the World Cruise so we will not see them as we cancelled our world cruise.
Bob is taking a walk into town to take some pictures. And I am going to swim. Which I did for one hour. All alone in the pool. When I got back to the suite, Bob had returned from his walk. He took lots of pictures which I will post once he edits them.
Lunch in La Veranda which I had the New York Hot Dog. Really good. Then I went to the Observation Lounge to read while Bob took his nap. Then we met for trivia where we go 14 of 15 questions correct. WOW. Surprised even us. We took 2nd place and the folks who have been on Regent for over 2000 days got all 15 correct. Oh well, we felt pretty good.
Dinner with the trivia team in Prime 7. Nice food but great conversation. Back to the suite for the movie of "The Big Short" . Will probably finish another day.
Pictures to follow.
We got up to the pool at 7:30 am only to find it still closed and the man who opens it was nowhere to be found. So we headed back to the suite to change and go to breakfast instead. Sunday they always serve Caviar and Champagne but not for me. Bob did have some caviar but no champagne. We both had a serving of eggs Benedict.
I started knitting a new sweater as I finished the one I was working on. I still need to sew it together but I did not bring pins so will finish when I get home. And we are back in code red as they have had 12 new cases of GI upset. Won't these guests ever learn. Yesterday I spotted a man turning the cheese around with his hands. What is wrong with some people?
Speaking of yesterday, we had a quiet day at sea. All the regular events. Lecture on San Juan, needlepoint, tea and trivia. No swimming as the Staff Captain felt the water was too rough in the morning. We spoke with him and he said he realized we could handle the water but was afraid some of the older folks could not. And we had dinner with Mal and Mili. We will miss them when we go home. Next year they will be taking the World Cruise so we will not see them as we cancelled our world cruise.
Bob is taking a walk into town to take some pictures. And I am going to swim. Which I did for one hour. All alone in the pool. When I got back to the suite, Bob had returned from his walk. He took lots of pictures which I will post once he edits them.
Lunch in La Veranda which I had the New York Hot Dog. Really good. Then I went to the Observation Lounge to read while Bob took his nap. Then we met for trivia where we go 14 of 15 questions correct. WOW. Surprised even us. We took 2nd place and the folks who have been on Regent for over 2000 days got all 15 correct. Oh well, we felt pretty good.
Dinner with the trivia team in Prime 7. Nice food but great conversation. Back to the suite for the movie of "The Big Short" . Will probably finish another day.
Pictures to follow.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Devil's Island, French Guiana
Friday we spent the first part of the day at sea sailing toward Devil's Island. We were up early and headed to the pool for our hour swim. The water had quite a lot of movement and we were not sure they would leave it open but they did. Then a light breakfast and I went to the lecture on Devil's Island.
Devil's Island is one of three small islands lying 6 miles off the coast of French Guiana. The other two islands are Ile Royale and Ile Sanit Joseph and the gourd is collectively known as Salvation Islands. All together they formed part of the infamous penal colony that functioned in French Guiana from 1852 to 1946. Ile Royale served as the main administrative center for the prison and this is where the majority of the surviving buildings have been preserved and maintained. Each of the islands served a different purpose. Ile Royale was the administrative center, Ile Joseph held the most troublesome convicts and Devil's Island held political prisoners in isolation. The most famous political prisoner was Alfred Dreyfus.
The penitentiary was first opened by Emperor Napoleon III's government in 1852 and became one of the most infamous prisons in history. On May 30, 1854, a new law provided that convicts would be forced to stay in French Guiana following their release for an equal time to their forced labor time, or for sentences exceeding eight year, for the remainder of their lives.
The movie, Papillon, is from the book by Henri Charriere's autobiography. It tells of the numerous alleged escape attempts. Devil's Island is off limits to visitors. The only island you can visit is Ile Royale.
We arrived at around 2 pm and they anchored and lowered the tenders to take those who wanted to visit the island ashore. Bob and I had decided not to go in as we have been here twice in the past and there isn't anything new to see. As it turned out, the swells of the ocean were so high they could not tender. They tried both side of the ship, but could not do it safely. So the visit was cancelled.
This is from 2012 when we stopped here. That is Devil's Island in the back ground. Today my hair is quite long compared to 2012.
The interesting thing about this picture is that Bob is wearing the same outfit. His travel shirt and pants and his red bag. But again, this is from 2012.
Now parts of the prison are not available for the people to visit. But we were able to go inside in 2012. It was too bad the folks could not go ashore. It is an experience.
So we then all gathered for tea and trivia. The questions were hard and we thought we did poorly but it turns out, everyone did poorly and we managed to come in third.
Dinner with cocktails with Terry Breen. She is the storyteller on board and we have sailed with her several times. A real nice lady with an interesting past. She does all the South America lectures and also all the Alaska lectures.
After dinner, we returned to the suite and I started watching "Joy". Did not finish so will continue today.
Devil's Island is one of three small islands lying 6 miles off the coast of French Guiana. The other two islands are Ile Royale and Ile Sanit Joseph and the gourd is collectively known as Salvation Islands. All together they formed part of the infamous penal colony that functioned in French Guiana from 1852 to 1946. Ile Royale served as the main administrative center for the prison and this is where the majority of the surviving buildings have been preserved and maintained. Each of the islands served a different purpose. Ile Royale was the administrative center, Ile Joseph held the most troublesome convicts and Devil's Island held political prisoners in isolation. The most famous political prisoner was Alfred Dreyfus.
The penitentiary was first opened by Emperor Napoleon III's government in 1852 and became one of the most infamous prisons in history. On May 30, 1854, a new law provided that convicts would be forced to stay in French Guiana following their release for an equal time to their forced labor time, or for sentences exceeding eight year, for the remainder of their lives.
The movie, Papillon, is from the book by Henri Charriere's autobiography. It tells of the numerous alleged escape attempts. Devil's Island is off limits to visitors. The only island you can visit is Ile Royale.
We arrived at around 2 pm and they anchored and lowered the tenders to take those who wanted to visit the island ashore. Bob and I had decided not to go in as we have been here twice in the past and there isn't anything new to see. As it turned out, the swells of the ocean were so high they could not tender. They tried both side of the ship, but could not do it safely. So the visit was cancelled.
This is from 2012 when we stopped here. That is Devil's Island in the back ground. Today my hair is quite long compared to 2012.
The interesting thing about this picture is that Bob is wearing the same outfit. His travel shirt and pants and his red bag. But again, this is from 2012.
Now parts of the prison are not available for the people to visit. But we were able to go inside in 2012. It was too bad the folks could not go ashore. It is an experience.
So we then all gathered for tea and trivia. The questions were hard and we thought we did poorly but it turns out, everyone did poorly and we managed to come in third.
Dinner with cocktails with Terry Breen. She is the storyteller on board and we have sailed with her several times. A real nice lady with an interesting past. She does all the South America lectures and also all the Alaska lectures.
After dinner, we returned to the suite and I started watching "Joy". Did not finish so will continue today.
Santarem in Pictures
As promised, here are the pictures from our stay in Santarem, Brazil.
This is the boat we rode in for our tour. It was raining when we arrived in Santarem and so the blue tarp was down on the boat. We could not see anything so we had the tarp rolled up and I put on my rain gear so I could stay dry. But then it was much cooler and we could all see the wild life and the area where we were sailing.
The local people who live along this lake live a very basic lifestyle. There is no electricity and they eat what they catch. They really live off the land.
The houses are nothing like any of us are used to.
Another example of a typical house in the area. And of course, no indoor plumbing. When we were here in 2012, the entire area was flooded.
Along the way we spotted this hawk. I think it is a Savannah Hawk but not sure.
Another close up of the hawk.
And this is a sloth up in the tree. The sloth is one of three mammals that cannot jump. We learned this in trivia.
Once we arrived in an area where the Captain of the boat thought was a good area for fishing, they handed out fishing lines with a hook and a bit of liver for the people who wanted to fish, could try and catch something.
Bob gave it a try but could not catch anything. I did not ever try.
But Bruce, one of the passengers, did catch a catfish and a Piranha. This is the catfish. A little different from the catfish we are used to.
And the Piranha. It came off his hook and flopped around on the deck.
The Captain of the boat held the fish for everyone to get a close up look at it. Notice that the Captain has a hook stuck in the finger on his right hand. They asked if there was a Doctor on board so Bob went up to see if he could help. They did not have wire cutters on board so there was no way they could remove the hook so they left it in and the Captain then called himself, "Captain Hook".
A close up of the mouth of the Piranha. The teeth are very sharp.
On our way back, we spotted a Kingfisher. A very pretty bird.
And this man is fishing with a spear. Along the bank of the river they local men set up fishing nets and then come to the river to collect what they catch.
In 2012 this area was just being built. Some better houses for the local people.
And this is a super market boat that comes to the area several times a week for the local people.
This is what is called "The Blue Church". The design is typical of the churches in this part of Brazil.
And this is "The Red Church". Same design as the Blue Church.
These are local boats that take the people to other cites and towns along the Amazon River. The people get on the boat and hang a hammock for them to sit and sleep in. There are no cabins just a wide open space with hooks for the hammocks. The trips can last as long as a week. Some of the newer boats do have air conditioning and some cabins. But these are more expensive and most of the people use the area with the hammocks.
This is the boat we rode in for our tour. It was raining when we arrived in Santarem and so the blue tarp was down on the boat. We could not see anything so we had the tarp rolled up and I put on my rain gear so I could stay dry. But then it was much cooler and we could all see the wild life and the area where we were sailing.
The local people who live along this lake live a very basic lifestyle. There is no electricity and they eat what they catch. They really live off the land.
The houses are nothing like any of us are used to.
Another example of a typical house in the area. And of course, no indoor plumbing. When we were here in 2012, the entire area was flooded.
Along the way we spotted this hawk. I think it is a Savannah Hawk but not sure.
Another close up of the hawk.
And this is a sloth up in the tree. The sloth is one of three mammals that cannot jump. We learned this in trivia.
Once we arrived in an area where the Captain of the boat thought was a good area for fishing, they handed out fishing lines with a hook and a bit of liver for the people who wanted to fish, could try and catch something.
Bob gave it a try but could not catch anything. I did not ever try.
But Bruce, one of the passengers, did catch a catfish and a Piranha. This is the catfish. A little different from the catfish we are used to.
And the Piranha. It came off his hook and flopped around on the deck.
The Captain of the boat held the fish for everyone to get a close up look at it. Notice that the Captain has a hook stuck in the finger on his right hand. They asked if there was a Doctor on board so Bob went up to see if he could help. They did not have wire cutters on board so there was no way they could remove the hook so they left it in and the Captain then called himself, "Captain Hook".
A close up of the mouth of the Piranha. The teeth are very sharp.
On our way back, we spotted a Kingfisher. A very pretty bird.
And this man is fishing with a spear. Along the bank of the river they local men set up fishing nets and then come to the river to collect what they catch.
In 2012 this area was just being built. Some better houses for the local people.
And this is a super market boat that comes to the area several times a week for the local people.
This is what is called "The Blue Church". The design is typical of the churches in this part of Brazil.
And this is "The Red Church". Same design as the Blue Church.
These are local boats that take the people to other cites and towns along the Amazon River. The people get on the boat and hang a hammock for them to sit and sleep in. There are no cabins just a wide open space with hooks for the hammocks. The trips can last as long as a week. Some of the newer boats do have air conditioning and some cabins. But these are more expensive and most of the people use the area with the hammocks.
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