Check out of our hotel was at 12 noon so no need to rush. Our official time to check in with MSC was 3pm but experience told us to get there as early as possible. The plan was to have a leisurely breakfast, check out at 12 and then head straight for the cruise terminal. Being Sunday, most of the other guests must have had the same 'leisurely breakfast' notion because on strolling in to the breakfast lounge at 10am it was already quite full with guests. Du...

The Mercure Hotel is part of the Accor Hotel group. The same chain that own IBIS. The hotel has 23 floors of which our room was on the 7th.Our room although sparsely decorated would be classed as a mini suite in most parts of the world with a work station and settee together with a kitchenette in the living area and separate bedroom with en suite facilities. All rooms seem to be equipped with a balcony. This hotel is ingeniously designed. Most hotels have a front...

Despite our only previous experience of Brazil was a 4 hour stopover in Sao Paolo airport on the way to Santiago, Chile, it feels like I already exhausted all the innuendos about Brazilians. Although our visit was a quick 'in and out', puns such as when the plane, as it was coming in to land had a near miss; and me referring to it as a ‘close shave’ or ‘Don’t forget to grab yen nuts!!’ I will try not to strive for such predic...