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...

Christmas Day. Somewhere in the middle of the North Sea. Today is the first of 2 days spent at sea before arriving back in Southampton. This, though, is far and away at the back of our mind. We have 2 full days of jolliment to get through (although 'get through' is probably the wrong turn of phrase as we intend to savour every moment!)We had a well-deserved lie in today waking at 09:15. Santa had been during the night and left some goodies in our cabin. I...