April 17, 2015  Rio de Janerio Day 1

Today we arrived to Rio at 12 noon.  I had my workout session with Leanne but Bill took some great pictures as we sailed into Rio 

We have a tour at 2pm.  It is called a  Boutique adventure because it is so limited.  18 lucky guests are going to a private Mass in the chapel at Christ the Redeemer statue.  In case you didn’t know it that is the statue of Jesus you see whenever they show Rio.  We left the pier at 2pm and the traffic was horrendous .  We were told there is always traffic but since today was Friday and it is a long weekend because of some holiday it was much worse.  It took us over an hour to get to the chapel.  The bus took us only so far and we had to take the train up to the top of the mountain.  It took us up through the rain forest.  As we drove up it was quite foggy and you could hardly see Jesus.

We had Mass in the chapel at the base of the statue.  There were 18 seats.  Fr. Tom from  the ship said the mass and he said when we leave we should all exhale and hopefully blow the fog away.  Well we all did this and low and behold we were able to see the statue perfectly.  Talk about the power of prayer and faith!  I must say it was truly an awesome experience.  I am so glad I signed us up for this over 6 months ago.

We also had a night time tour to go to a nightclub and watch the Samba dancing.  I cancelled this awhile ago as I thought it might be way too much in one day.  Well as it turns out it was a good thing I did cancel as we did not return to the ship till almost 6pm and we would have had to leave at 6:15pm.  I would have been panicking!

We came back to the ship and had dinner.  There was a local show called Carnival of Rio.  It had a lot of Mardi Gras in it.  It was okay.  We had an early night and headed up.  Tomorrow is another day in Rio!

Chapel where our Mass was held in the bottom of the statue

view after Mass

Before our Mass you could hardly see it.

WE'VE BEEN GONE SO LONG DON'T WANT YOU TO FORGET WHAT WE LOOK LIKE!

April 15 & 16 @ sea EnRoute to Rio de Janeiro

The last two days have been sea days and although some people think they might tend to get bored on the ship it is not the case with us.  We are so busy.  Between trying to get to some of the lectures, knitting class which I have decided is not for me.  I will finish my project but since my fingers are always numb this has been a challenge for me.  2 Hour computer class and in between I need to eat and visit with all my friends.  Before you know it is 4pm time for a snack to hold us over till dinner (8:30pm).

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0UR VINTAGE ROOM EXPERIENCE

OH NO NOT ANOTHER PHOTO!

Our Everything Apple course is really great.  We are learning so much about our IPADS, IPHONES and IMACS.  Sometimes it is so frustrating but then when Stan has a problem with his computer or iPad not doing what he wants we all laugh and realize we aren't the only ones.  The lectures have been great.  One of the lecturers was the first woman secret service agent.  Her name is Kathryn Childers and she was assigned to guard the Kennedy children after JFK's assassination  and she spoke all about them and what it was like being the first women agent.  She married and realized she could not have it all so she quit the secret service and moved to Texas with her husband and became a TV anchor women of a talk show for quite a few years until her son was diagnosed with Epilepsy and she quit to take care of him.  He is doing well and all grown up now.  She then became a lecturer.  One of her lectures is Don't retire, reinvent or redo!  She has led an adventurous life.  She was traveling with her sister as her husband who was a world famous physchiatrist is suffering the beginning stages of Alheizmers.  They are both fascinating to speak with and I had tea with them one afternoon.  Our college had an evening cocktail party last night and since Kathryn lives near Stan and Mary she was invited so I had time to chat with them again.  They are getting off the second day in Rio.  I can't believe how fast this cruise is going.  We have only one last segment when we reach Rio!  Time does march on when you are having fun.  A few photos that the photographers have taken of us recently!

April 14, 2015

Buenos Aires Day 2

We slept in this morning as we were so late getting back last night and the stores don't open till 10.  After breakfast we took a taxi right to the shop.  Our jackets were ready and we are very happy with them.  Bill did not pose for a picture so I only have one of me. The coloring is a real red but with the sun coming into our room it looks a little more pink.  After we got the jackets we came back to the ship and sat in the terminal since there was free and pretty fast (compared to the ship) it was fast internet!

One of the pictures is Bill and our friend Allan.  He was updating 2 iPhones, and 2 iPads!  I was happy to get up one day's blog with pictures.
That has been the only frustrating thing on here the internet is awful.  Worse than it has ever been!
We are having a great time.  Our college "Everything Apple"course is coming along.  Tomorrow we will be at sea as we head to Rio!

Bill and Allan didn't even know I was taking a picture!  Engrossed!

April 13, 2014

Today we are in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We have been here before and we each had leather products made.  I had a swing coat and Bill had a jacket.  Since we have both lost weight they are way too big for us so our first order of business was to go to Uru Leather in the Recolleta Section of the city to pick out new jackets.  We took the shuttle to the hotel and from there we took a taxi to the leather shop.

I found a fabulous lambs leather jacket and it is being made in RED!  Tomorrow we will go back to pick it up.  Bill is having one made in a dark dark brown.
After the leather shop we took a taxi back to the shuttle stop and walked around a little.  Not really looking for anything so we went back to the ship.  When we were here in 2010 we had a private guide for a couple of days and we saw lots so no sightseeing for us today.

We went on an excursion this evening to La Ventana Tango and we made dinner reservations for after the show at 10:30 at a place we ate in when we were here the last time. La Cabana .  We told the tour guide that we were not going back on the bus that we had dinner reservations he looked at our paper from the ship with the name and address of the restaurant and he told us they will pass by and drop us off.  That is great!  One less thing to worry about.
Tonight's tango show was a little different from the last one we went to and it was really nice. We were not allowed to photograph it though so sorry no pictures!  Since we are always ready early we headed out to the buses and we had a seat on bus 1.  We were the table right up by the stage.  When the gauchos started to dance and use those things not sure what they are called I was holding my breath!  This was too close for comfort.  It was a great show.
Dinner was also great.  Bill wanted to order the porterhouse steak and the waiter said that was for 4 people so he ordered the chateaubriand for 2.  It came with potato crisps and grilled veggies, we each had a bottle of water.  Bill had a double espresso and the biggest flan I have ever seen and the bill was $101.  Amazing.  We did not get back to the ship until after midnight.  Another over night and I love having them as we don't have to rush back to the ship.  Tomorrow we get the jackets Yeah!!!!

They got us on stage and took this picture!

Just part of the menu  we were getting 12+ pesos to the dollar.  Good buys

I had one little piece of this.  It was huge!!!!!

April 12, 2015 World Cruise Shoreside Event Montevideo Uruguay!

April 12, 2015

Today we had the second of the two shoreside events for full World Cruisers.  The event was called Pueblo Gaucho which was a celebration of 19th Century Uruguay.  It was held at Estancia La Baguala, In Montevideo Uruguay!

We met at the pier at around 10:30 AM and we were transported in buses to the grounds of Estancia La Baguala which is one of the oldest and most legendary estancias in all of Uruguay.  

The day featured a recreation of 19th century Uruguay through the decor, cultural dance, traditional Uruguayan dishes along with the beautiful countryside that could be seen from this property. The canapés were plentiful as well as the champagne, or wine!  Everything I tried was fabulous!  There were so many hors d’oeuvres and then they served a BBQ lunch.  I did not have the dessert but it was 3 different things on the plate.

I was extremely pleased as they were letting some people get up on the horses and I was able to get up.  Now I haven’t been on a horse in at least 15 years between my hip problem, knee problem and the weight just compounded all the above.  This was a wonderful day with fabulous food, entertainment, scenery and beverages.  You could not ask for anything more.

Loved it!

First time on a horse in about 15 years!!!!!

April 11, 2015

Last Night was a special show called Crystal’s got Talent.  And let me tell you these guys and girls were fabulous!  Triccie Matalog who was the Liberian but is now an Engine Administrative Assistant sang and wowed the audience.  Next up was an Armando Tejada (an Able body Seaman) Followed by Carlito Reyes (French Polisher)  He makes all wood on ship shine! Then John Pauldo DeVeea (Galley Utility)  Wow these guys are in the wrong department.  Next up was John Michael Carandang (Galley Chef or is better know as the egg maker and pasta maker in Lido )when he started to sing “Stand by Me” everyone was up on their feet.  What a voice!  The last act was our great deck guys, Clark, Bryan, Nat, Nino and more and they danced and they were fabulous also.  We enjoyed this show more than any other show on the ship (except maybe Billy Joel)  but seriously they all really have talent and it was great time.  They all got standing ovations from the audience.  It was a great way to end our 7 straight sea days!

April 9, 2015

A couple of days ago we received an invitation from our friend Scott who is the manager of the shops on board to attend a dinner in the Vintage Room.  This is the room on board where you go to have food pairings with wine.  Since Bill does not drink and I am allergic to shellfish we have never done this.  But since I know all of the guys from the shops (know the girls too but they were not invited except for Karen from Hubert’s) we said yes.  Figured t would be a great time to try it out.

The last two days have been pretty rocky and they were suppose to have a production show and it has been moved.  Well tonight is pretty rocky so they moved it again and the Beatles were performing at 7pm for the late dinners and 8:30 for the early dinners.  Not a happy camper I hate those early shows especially if tomorrow is a sea day.  Anyway our invitation for the vintage room was for 6:30 and I knew we would never make the 8:30 show.

What an awesome experience the company and the food were perfect.  The wine superb. 

The evening started out with champagne

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, Reims RV

MENU

Lobster Ceviche Vanilla Roasted Fennel and White Gazpacho

I was given a fabulous salad with fruit and cheese along with greens

Porcine Dusted Sea Bass

Fava Bean Puree, Lobster-Tomato Syrup

Mine was minus the Lobster- Tomato Syrup.  I tried a piece so as not to be rude and it was really good I wound up eating the whole piece!

Next we had

Porcini Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Foam

All I can say is YUMMMMM

This was followed by

Duo of Beef, Filet Mignon & 72 hour Prime Beef

Wild Mushroom Strudel, Caramelized Shallot Demi Glaze

I must say I was quite full so I only had 2 bites of the filet.

Next was

Parmigiano Reggiano with aged Balsamic and this was very good

Dessert

“Lemon Martini”  Lemon curd with cookie cruise and Buttermilk ice cream  yum

we were also given a piece of chocolate cake which I did not eat and

the Vintage Room homemade Chocolate Pralines

Wines served:  White

Champagne which I mentioned before

Savignon Blanc, Coastal Cuveel Delaire Graff Estate, Stollenbosch, So Africa 2012 (This is the wine country we went to)

Chardonnay Grgich Hills estate, Napa 2010

 Red Wines

Pinot Noir, Miura Vineyards, Pisoni Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County 2010

La Sirena, Art Bus Red, Napa Valley 2009

Chateau Leoville=Poyferre, Second Growth, Saint-Julien Bordeaux 2005

Dessert Wine
Trockenbeerenauslese, Grand Cuvee, No 6 Kracher, Burgenland Austria 2000

Now none of this means anything to me.  I know what I liked and didn’t like but thought some of you wine experts might like to know what was served!