Rio! Rio! Rio! What to say about such a spectacular place…? I don't think I have ever seen such a superb location for a city. Wonderful views in every direction, incredible rock faces rising from the sea and all so green…. White beaches. Not just Copacabana and Ipanema, the famous ones, but lots of others, and islands off shore….a 14km bridge across the bay. Just a superb place. Add to that the famous Brazilian joie de vivre and it's a cracker of a ...

Another boiling hot day! Starting to take meals outside on the open decks when we can - in the shade obviously. Still persevering with my Dukanesque attempts to maybe lose a bit of weight but in no way gain any. I generally have a bit of scrambled egg for breakfast, no toast or some poached fish while Bob, the swine, gulps down the full nine yards full fat English Breakfast! Our last bridge lesson as Beginners. There has been so much to take in over th...

We were pretty tired last night after the long day and the energetic sail-away party (all that singing and flag waving took its toll!!) so we turned in early after dinner. Still feeling lazy this morning. Another very hot, sunny day on the high seas. We are cruising south mirroring the coast of Brazil on our way to Rio. No land in sight so I suppose we are about 100 or so miles offshore. Unusually for me I am actually having to be careful in the sun and ...

So excited when we woke up and found we were just pulling into Recife, the capital of the North/Northeast province of Brazil and one of the country's largest cities. Our first time in South America. When we came out on deck, even at 0730, the sky was blue and the heat was already intense. The waterside area looked a little like Miami with a modern skyscraper city but we knew there were picturesque parts and much to see. We took the shuttle bus from the ship...

Very hot indeed today and a blue sky. The sun is really strong and there are a few Grilled Prawns walking the decks. LOL. While we were having breakfast the Captain came on and informed us we were passing the mouth of the Amazon, about 350 miles out and heading SSW. We can tell we're nearing land because today the ship has been surrounded by seabirds again: frigate birds and also some other sort of diving seabird. Bob says he thinks they are Skewers but I he...