Ocean Princess continues on this time stopping at Natal Brazil, Joy and I jumped off and jumped into a Taxi and headed out to the local sand dunes park. We've been warned over and over how bad the crime is in Brazil so we always were on guard. Once at the Dunes we loaded up in a dune buggy and went careening up and over the huge dunes. We stopped at a high point with a couple thousand other people and dozens of dune buggies who were also enjoying the view. We did take notice that about half the population here wore braces on their teeth; even the small animal trinkets wore braces. We then headed back down the dunes and unto the beach and back out to the streets. Once we caught back up with our taxi driver and Googled Translated our way back to the city for some lunch. English was very spotty around Natal and we recommend a translate application if you have one.

Unfortunately one of our fellow passengers was robbed at gun point but only lost her camera. Back onboard we continued south headed for Rio de Janeiro. Well some storm tailed us all the way to Rio and then decided to stay. So the beautiful sail in to the harbor was fog and rain shrouded. We were tied up at a working port that was being transformed into a welcoming port for the summer Olympics this August. They seem to be way behind for there was trucks, tractors, and cranes everywhere around the city. The soccer stadium looked worn from the World Cup here two years ago and Carnival is approaching in a couple of weeks.

We did the highlights and rode the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain which was covered in clouds but we did get a peek here and there. Day two in Rio we traveled to Christ the Redeemer, we stood at his feet and could barely see him only feet away. Heading back down out of the clouds we decided the race track would be a nice stop and the Hippodrome did deliver. A track built in 1948 the art deco was really cool reminding me of Hialeah or Santa Anita Park. The track hosts a colony of feral cats that are very friendly and follow you around while we toured the grounds. Knowing a Starbucks was in town Joy insisted that we find it and we did. Heading back to the ship we passed beach after beach including Copacabana Beach which hosts the smallest bikinis I have ever seen. Our tour of locals Brazilian foods was a bust here in Rio. Around five o'clock we set sail for our recovery beach stop.

Waking up in Ilhabela Brazil, a resort island used by locals for a quick getaway. We drank beer looked in the markets and not much more as there were two other big ships in town and everything was pack. Back onboard we headed out to Santos Brazil. An old coffee town known as a major player 100 years ago in coffee Worldwide there used to be big money here but now there are many facades of buildings only nothing behind them. The newer part of Santos is high rise apartment buildings and beaches not a bad place to live. In the end we had our best meal here in Brazil which included local sugar cane drink.

Arriving in Buenos Aires we grabbed our Local guide and took in the city in a two day express tour. Stopping at the Cemetery de la Recoleta for a look at these awesome monuments of lives already passed. Off to the race track after a quick stop at Starbucks for Joy. Again we are here on a non-race day I got a great shot of me standing at the finish line before the outrider chased me off the track. Day two track two we toured the delta area by boat, watched a tango dance show ate a huge steak or two. Off to Montevideo Uruguay. This crowed Port was littered with sinking, sunk and abandoned boats. The World cruise ship was in port and I've been itching to buy a million dollar condo on her, she travels the World constantly nonstop but is for the rich. We did little to no homework on this stop and just jumped on the jump on/jump off bus which only really was a jump on bus as the whole loop took an hour and a half and the bus was very late and had a bad air leak when braking. We took the loop which was like a wind tunnel as the wind was strong. The city was spread out, graffiti covered but yet still interesting enough for a day tour but a guide would make things a lot easier. Back at the port we grabbed a big steak dinner and beer then headed back to the ship for a great sail away party the best part of the day.

Our final stop before The Falkland Islands and the Drake Channel which is a highlight of our trip is Puerto Madryn Argentina. We tie up bright and early next to Chrystal Symphony at the end of a long pier. We decided that we had to see dolphins and sea lions, take in mind that we will be swimming with the Sea Lions in Lima Peru and who hasn't seen a thousand Dolphins? Anyway we jumped in a big rubber boat and headed out for an easy day of Dolphin watching. Well after being driven around for an hour and a half no Dolphins but have no fear Sea Lions are all but guaranteed. So we cruised by them about 500 feet out for 10 minutes before heading back, what a waste of money. We were now sunburned, wind burned and hungry. So we headed to town and managed to find a pizza place serving beer too. So the stop was not a total loss in the end we now face south and look forward to The Falklands, Penguins and the Drake.