Amazon Cruise - Viking - 6 - 30 January 2023

 January 6, 2023 - Atlanta to San Juan, Puerto Rico

On a dark and rather warm (for January) morning we set off via Lyft for the Atlanta airport.  Traffic was very light, and in no time, we were at our Delta gate. We dined on a Chik-Fil-A breakfast before boarding for our 3-hour flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Feeling very fortunate that our luggage had arrived, we checked in with the Viking representative.  Since we had not purchased a transfer from Viking ($100,00) we opted for the $26.00 taxi to the cruise terminal. The check-in for our cruise was amazingly speedy, and we were beyond thrilled to see our spacious cabin, 4012, on the gorgeous Viking Sea. 

A little background info is needed for this cruise. Originally, we booked our Viking Amazon Cruise for January 2021, but of course, Covid took care of that.  It was lifted and shifted to January 2022, but the Brazilian government shut down travel, so it was once again lifted and shifted to January 2023.  During this process, our cabin was upgraded twice and each time we also received more shipboard credit, resulting in a total of $2800.00! Needless to say, we will never receive another deal like this.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch, poolside, and returned to our room to unpack and organize for our 24-day back-to-back cruise. Afterward, Rob took a nap, while I attended the port talk for the next day.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Restaurant and returned to our room, for an early bedtime.

January 7, 2023 - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Rob opted to stay on board since our inclusion tour left at 0730. I enjoyed a Nespresso coffee in the room, then joined the excursion group.  We toured the new section of San Juan (grateful that I had not switched to the walking tour) in a lovely, small van, which held 13 passengers as we traveled through a brief rain shower.  By the time we arrived in the Old Town, the rain had stopped.  I strolled around snapping a few pictures and looking for open shops. I found an open grocery story, so I purchased discounted Christmas ornaments and a lovely local print.

The lovely blue cobblestones are originals from when the Spanish settled San Juan.  These cobblestones were brought over from Spain and were used as ballasts.  For the journey home, the Spanish used mined gold from Puerto Rico!

Next we toured Fort San Cristo, with spectacular views!

Back on the ship, I found Rob sitting in his new favorite place for cappuccinos! We visited Guest Services to see if we could have a few questions answered. Then, we went to the Fitness Center for a workout.  The facility is truly lovely. Rob then, really needed his afternoon nap, so I attended the afternoon lecture regarding all of the colonization of the Caribbean, as well as the next port talk.

Luckily, we had made dinner reservations for Manifredi's - our favorite Viking restaurant! OMG - Rob's calamari and my delicious Portuguese wine - made this dinner extra special!

January 8, 2023 - Antigua

Well, it's another "Sea Day" for Rob, as I head off for my excursion that I was a "stand by" for - Great Bird Island.  Wow, just wow! Viking had only allotted 10 slots for this excursion, but somehow, I was allowed to join the group.  We traveled by a small van to Shell Beach.  Along the way, I met this neat gal, Pat, and we bonded immediately when she mentioned that she was from Cape Canaveral!  She has traveled extensively all over the world and LOVES to be in the ocean.  She booked this excursion primarily for snorkeling, not for bird watching. Our group was split into two groups, most of the group on a large boat, and four of us on a MUCH smaller (almost a John boat) headed to our island. The first place we toured was the fascinating mangroves.

Next, we stopped for some turtle spotting- hawk-billed turtles - before heading over to Great Bird Island.

The water was my favorite, multi-colored Caribbean color!

We docked on the island, and immediately began our hike (over 90 steps) to the top of the island where we immediately spotted red-bill tropicals.  We examined a couple of blow holes, and enjoyed the amazing panoramic view of Great Bird Island.

After our hike back to the shore, and a quick swim/snorkel, we enjoyed a fabulous lunch of salad, tasty chicken, mac-n-cheese, and fried plantains.  Oh, I almost forgot -and, VERY strong rum punch.  It was so nice to visit with fellow passengers in a relaxed atmosphere, sitting at bright green picnic tables.

As we were waiting for our boat to pick us up for the return trip to the taxi, our guide pointed out an adorable humming bird sitting on her nest.

This excursion is one that I'll remember forever!

Back on board, I returned to find Rob resting in our cabin.  I took a brief rest, then it was time to get ready for dinner, Tonight, we were back at "The Restaurant" where we sat next to a lovely couple from Texas.  We exchanged information on cruises.

January 9, 2023 - St. Lucia

Luckily, today's excursion didn't begin until 11:30, so we had a leisurely breakfast in The Restaurant sitting next to a charming couple from Sacramento, CA. Afterward, we enjoyed coffee/tea on deck two before heading off the ship for our included excursion.

We boarded our mini-van, #32, to a "Panoramic Tour" of the island.  

We toured the countryside before reaching "Stoney Hill" -a lovely resort at the top of a mountain.  Rob spotted a humungous hummingbird feeding at a regular hummingbird feeder.  Try as I might, I was never able to capture a picture of this elusive bird! Our tour took us back to the ship via the highway.  Once back at the pier, Rob had I ventured over to the open-air market so that I could purchase some banana ketchup. Back on board, Rob took I nap while I went to the Fitness Center for a workout.  Afterward, I sat on our balcony to work on some handwork and listen to my book. We enjoyed another delicious fish, Haddock tonight, at The Restaurant.

January 10, 2023 - Barbados

Today's included excursion began later due to the ship not clearing customs at the scheduled time, apparently, due to the officials being on "island time". We boarded bus #17 and left around 12:20. Our delightful tour guide, Rose, was full of interesting information as we drove around the island. As we rode past Sandy Lane Country Club, where Tiger Woods was married, she remarked that a round of golf cost just under $1,000.00! I was grateful that I hadn't planned on playing golf on this cruise! We eventually went to a beautiful park on top of the island for rum punch. The tree trunk pictured below is that of a mahogany tree, which are prevalent on Barbados.

We learned that Mount Gay Rum is one of their major exports, along with fruit, but their number one source of income is tourism.

Back on the ship, Rob relaxed and read while I attended three back-to-back lectures.  The first one was about the birds and creatures we'll see while on the Caribbean portion of the cruise.  The next lecture was about future Viking cruises. There was a ten-minute break before the next lecture, so I quickly grabbed a cappuccino made with almond milk which I really enjoyed.

January 11, 2023 - Day at Sea

Gotta love a day at sea! We slept in, grabbed cappuccino and green tea in the atrium, and eventually made our way to the Pool Grill for lunch. It was so relaxing to enjoy lunch in the Winter Garden by the pool on a delightfully balmy day. 

 Next up, wildlife briefing for Lana and reading/relaxing for Rob. Back in the cabin, we relaxed on the balcony before getting reading for a wonderful dinner in The Restaurant.  Both of us finished a book today - a great sign of a fabulous cruise.  

January 12, 2023 - Isles Du Salut, French Guiana

The seas have been gently rolling, and the skies are overcast.  We find this type of sailing very relaxing. After a delicious breakfast in The Restaurant, Rob enjoyed his cappuccino in the Atrium while Lana attended a lecture about the whales and dolphins of this trip. We returned to the cabin, so Lana could get ready for her tender trip out to Isles Du Salut, French Guiana, AKA Devil's Island. Part of French Guiana, the three Iles du Salut, or Islands of Salvation, was a much-feared penal colony for the most notorious French criminals.  Together, they provide a glimpse of a fascinating slice of French history. Devil's Island, which is small enough to be explored independently. The prison system was opened in 1852 and became notorious for its harsh treatment of inmates. Captain Alfred Dreyfus was sent here in 1895, accused of treason, and later exonerated, and Henri Charriere was among the few to escape. Charrier told his story in a memoir, Papillon, which was later adapted into a film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. Unfortunately, the swells were too treacherous for the tenders to safely navigate, so our excursion was canceled.  Oh well, perhaps on the trip back home.  So, Rob napped and read while Lana sat by the pool.  Our lobster dinner at The Restaurant was fabulous this evening.

Friday, the 13th!!! - Day at Sea

Love the lectures on this ship.  Today, we learned that the coffee-colored water is created by the silt from the Andes River, as we crossed the Amazon Bar.  Tomorrow, at 0745, we'll reach Macapa, where pilots and Brazilian immigration offers will board our ship.  For the duration of the time that we are in Brazil, we'll fly their flag, as well as a red/white flag that signifies we have a pilot on board.  We'll be on the lookout for Laughing Gull and Large Bill Terns.  Twenty percent of the freshwater comes from the Amazon.  The River is the freeway for the people living in the Amazon Basin.  Sunsets are predicted to be quite amazing. The debate is ongoing over which river is larger - the Nile or the Amazon due to so many tributaries still being discovered in the Amazon. The "Meeting of the Waters" is created from the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimoes, which is visible from outer space. The Rio Negro gets its color from the decaying plants releasing tannins/acids and has a ph of 4.6 - 6.2. The two contrasting colors are created due to different temps and flow.  The average rainfall in the Amazon is 79 inches per year. The Brazilian government, run by Bolsonaro (2019 - 22) has to blame for over 75% higher deforestation.  The new government, under Silva, pledges to reverse deforestation.  The Amazon basin has over 25,000 species of flowering plants, 25,000 species of invertebrates (bugs), and over 5,000 species of vertebrates.

January 14, 2023 - Entering the mouth of the Amazon River

At 0745 hours this morning, we stopped at Macapa (for almost three hours) for the ship to clear Brazilian immigration and to board our two pilots.  After breakfast, we went to "Rob's chair" in the Atrium for his usual cappuccino.  I checked at Guest Services to inquire about future excursions for our return trip.  Fortunately, the list has just been released this morning, so I signed up for a couple more excursions before going to the "History of the Amazon" lecture. The Amazon Basin is 7/8 the size of the US, and over 4,345 miles long. In 1500, Pedro Alvarez Cabral, a Portuguese explorer wandered off course to discover Porto Sequro. In 1541, Oreliana, a conquistador,  navigated the entire Amazon River.  From 1879 - 1912, the Amazon River experienced a boom.  By 2016, Brazil hosted the Olympics.

Originally, there were between 1 - 3 million indigenous people along the Amazon, but by 1600, the Europeans and their diseases had reduced the population to 500,000. Biopirate, Henry Wikham, a British explorer, smuggled out 70,000 rubber tree seeds.  Alexander Humboldt was another famous Amazon River explorer. Theodore Roosevelt, depressed over his presidential loss, explored The River of Doubt and almost died when his leg wound became infected.  Later, this river was named Rio Theodoro in his honor

Jesuits began the colonization of the Amazon River when they came to convert the natives.  Danderiantes - heroes or bandits - were a brutal group who came to capture a labor force.  They dressed as Jesuits, then captured and enslaved the natives.  

The onset of steam-powered ships exploited the resources - slaves to work on the rubber plantations. Henry Ford established "Fordlandia" in the Amazon Basin in hopes of retrieving rubber for his Model T production, but it was a disaster and no rubber was produced in over 40 years.

Januaary 15, 2023 Santarem, Brazil

Today we received our third "Crossed the Equator" certificate as the Amazon River dipped below the Equator. The rather large port town of Santarem was founded in 1661 and lies at the confluence of the Tapajos and Amazon Rivers. It's 62 miles of beaches have earned it the nickname of "the Caribbean in Brazil" however, just knowing the types of wildlife in these waters discouraged my swimming on any part of the Amazon. 

It was an early rise morning as I needed to be in the Star Theater at 0745 for my excursion to the National Forest Hike in the Amazon Rainforest.  Luckily, I was in group #1, with a very knowledgeable guide, Paulo. We rode of an "urban" bus (no air conditioning, but large windows that opened) for over an hour. Along the way, he pointed out several interesting signs, as well as the headquarters of the 8th Army Engineer headquarters.

He explained to us the Brazil Nut Trees are a protected species and can never be cut down.  Also, people who purchase rain forest land are only permitted to cut down 2/3 of their property.  So, as we drove along, we saw acres of soy fields with a lonely Brazil Nut Tree in the middle.

Upon our arrival at the Tapajos National Forest, a licensed preserve guide boarded our bus for the duration of our hike.  I was concerned that the bus was going to bust an axle as we traveled deep into the jungle.  It has rained the previous night, and there were enormous potholes in the road filled with water. (I did learn the next day, that another Viking bus got stuck in the mud, everyone had to get off the bus while the men tried, unsuccessfully, to push the bus out of the pothole.  Finally, they had to have another vehicle come with a chain and wench the bus out.  Meanwhile, three other Viking buses couldn't pass on the narrow road.  Again, grateful to be on Bus #1).

Prior to our hike, folks could use the VERY primative unisex bathroom, but the men were encouraged to "find a tree" and I was very grateful that I had NOT consumed an abundance of fluids! A very kind gentleman offered to take my picture before the hike began.

Immediately, we saw such a huge variety of brightly colored and fascinating shaped foliage. But, the moment I will always remember was when we silently entered the rainforest and within minutes we heard what seemed like every bird in South America generating this deafening security alarm alerting the rest of the creatures of our intrusion!  Simply amazing!

Paulo showed us latex from the rubber tree, as well as pointed out plenty of termite colonies, as we traveled to one of the gigantic Kapok trees.

Shortly into our hike, he pointed out a snail on a tree that was worthy of creating horrible nightmares!

As we hiked along, I really didn't know where to look next - up, down, or all around!  Every glimpse was fascinating!

The gentleman in front of me had a moth land on his hat, and the poor insect must have been in need of a rest because it rode on the hat for the duration of the hike!

Another interesting happening was the enormous Brazil Nut Pods that feel from these two hundred feed trees!  They were like incoming bombs!  The guide cut one open, and we all sampled the raw nuts which, unroasted, resembled coconut.

We stopped at several ant colonies - the large bullet ants that can make you sick for a day, as well as another colony that the natives use as a natural repellant.  The secret is that you must kill the ants before they bite you!

The only bird we saw was a vulture, but the large Blue Morpho, a vividly blue iridescent butterfly with a wing span of eight inches was a great consequence. The guide said that this butterfly lives in the Amazon, but is usually not around during the rainy season!  The birds that were making so much noise were parakeets, macaws, and parrots. Way too soon, our hike was over, and we headed back to the ship.

January 16, 2023 - Parintins, Brazil

Parintins sits on the Tupinambarana, a group of four adjacent islands surrounded by a convergence of four rivers.  Their endless surging current divided the once singular island into four, making Parintins a fascinating illustration of the Amazon's power. The sleepy town center around its Square of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is home to the eponymous church and a thriving market, but perhaps it is best known for its folk theatrical tradition known as Boi Bumba.  This energetic performance is part of an annual folklore festival held each year during Carnival.  Combining costumes, drumming, and Amazonian, African and European rhythms, it tells the story of a resurrected bull. We walked about 300 yards to the cultural center, and along the way observed typical Amazonian sights, sounds, and smells.

Back on board, it was time for Rob's afternoon cappuccino while I headed over to the fitness center for a workout.

We enjoyed an earlier dinner this evening because we were able to get an additional, unplanned dinner at Manfredi's, our absolute favorite place to dine on this ship! 

January 17, 2017 - Manaus, Brazil

Located 1,000 miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is the most populous city in the Amazon basin with over two million citizens. Its prosperity from the rubber trade earned it a reputation as the "Paris of the Amazon," with elegant buildings, gracious avenues, and colorful facades still visible in the Old Town. The Amazon Theater, constructed when demand for rubber was at its height, boasts a striking tiled dome and rich European influences. The Rio Negro Palace, once home to an eccentric German rubber baron and later the governors, is a vibrant cultural center.  The lovely Opera House is rivaled as one of the world's most beautiful venues.

We arrived around noon, but since we were not docked, only anchored, it took a couple of hours to secure the floating pontoon dock for the local tenders to us.  We tendered over to the port area but were immediately put on buses, as no walking is allowed.  Our guide was quite informative as we traveled, slowly, due to traffic, around the city. As we passed by the marketplace, watermelons were stacked many feet high and wide.  Eventually, we arrived at a zoo, which is operated by the Brazilian Army.  While the soldiers are on missions, it they find an injured animal, they bring it to this zoo, staffed entirely with soldiers, who eventually aspire to work in veterinarian medicine.  The goal is to rehabilitate the animal and then return it back to the jungle.  If that is not possible, the animal remains in the zoo, where it is nurtured until death. Immediately upon our entrance, the head vet walked over with an adorable 4-month-old monkey. Throughout our zoo stroll, we saw beautiful birds (toucans, macaws, parakeets, parrots, vultures, etc.) and animals, that I have never seen before. I was particularly attracted to a 4-month-old cougar, as well as a variety of monkeys. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze and abundant sunshine.

Next, we traveled over to the beautiful town square, home to the stunning Opera House and cathedral.  Immediately, we heard birds squawking, only to look up at two macaws engaged in some sort of domestic dispute.  I admit that instead of listening to our guide discuss the significance of the area, I was only focused on those two colorful birds!  As we walked back to the bus, our guide pointed out that a group of graduating students were being photographed on the steps to the Opera House.  Our group applauded their accomplishments which prompted a joyous response from the students.

Back on board, I quickly prepared for dinner in The Restaurant.  Afterward, I attended the final performance, Beatles Songbook, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

January 18, 2023 - Manaus, Brazil - Half-way point of our Amazon Cruise

Today, all but five cabins, disembarked with lots of grumbling due to the flight arrangements, and THE reason why we are doing a back-to-back cruise.  Since we had this day with no Viking excursions, I had made arrangements at home through Amazing Amazon Tours for a private guide and two combined tours.  Getting from the ship to the tour guide proved to be a true test of patience and perseverance! First of all, none of the tenders wanted to take two measly passengers over to the port, so while the Viking rep argued in Portugese with the boat drivers, we stood passively by. Eventually, a few other independent cruise passengers, as well as some Viking employees came out, and one tender driver agreed to take us to the port.  Once on the port, the true turmoil began! Remember, no one is allowed to "walk" in the port area, but no one seemed to know what to do with us.  We were herded over to one bus, got on, took a seat, but then was told to get off.  Drug dogs came over to sniff out the independent travelers luggage, while all the passengers stood around.  Eventually, the passengers AND their luggage was loaded on the bus, but there wasn't enough room, so we were directed to another bus. Almost to the door of this bus, it was announced that it was full, so we were sent to another bus.  Meanwhile, we are now past the time that we were supposed to meet our guide. After a tremendous amount of total chaos, we are on a bus headed to the cruise terminal, but I can't find the guide who was supposed to meet us.  I am starting to worry that perhaps he left since we are now over 30 minutes late. I am about to look for wifi to notify the company, when I glance over to see a guide rush in with my name of the sign.  Immediate gratitude! Islo, the guide, was delayed in traffic!  Unfortunately, our driver left because he wasn't allowed to wait.  So, once again, we had to wait for the driver to come back.  Finally, around 9:50, we're on our way to the Jewish part of the tour.  

  Upon arriving at Chabad Manaus, we were warmly greeted by Rabbi Arieh Raichman.  He gave us an overview of the first Jews who arrived from Holland, followed by the Morocons. We learned about the Jewish activities along the Amazon River.  He then assisted Rob in prayers.

Afterward, he drove us and our guide to a very old cemetery to see some ancient grave sights. It was a truly enlightening tour! 

 Our guide and driver then took us to the docks, with a brief stop for me to use the ATM.  While standing in line, a sweet young gal behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and told me to put my cell phone where people couldn't see it because pickpockets were everywhere!  We boarded our small boat and continued to the next part of our tour - "The Meeting of the Waters." Not only did the boat driver stop the boat, but he also encouraged us to put our hands in the water to see the different water temperatures between the Rio Negro (the color of dark tea) and the Rio Solimoes, a cappuccino-colored water.

  They travel together for almost twelve miles before the two merge to form the Amazon River.  We then rode up the "backwaters" observing all sorts of beautiful birds on our way to Lake January for lunch.  The floating restaurant buffet had everything from fruits to chicken.  Next door, was a cute little covered gift shop, so of course, I had to shop! Back on the boat, we toured around spotting several exotic birds, my personal favorite, the "Jesus" bird given that name because it walks on water! We saw a Hoatzin, king vulture, great egret, cotinga, and a yellow-headed caracara. Our tour was coming to an end, and graciously, the guide and boat driver offered to take us directly back to the cruise ship.  We felt very "James Bond-ish" as we stepped out of our small boat onto the floating pontoon to our cruise ship! Thank you, Amazon Amazing Tours, for a day we'll always remember!

Back on board, we noticed that the new passengers on this ship were much livelier than the previous cruise.  At dinner, we sat next to a delightful couple.  The wife, Sally, had grown up in Atlanta, so she knew exactly where we lived. And so, we begin the return voyage of our Amazon River cruise.

January 19, 2023 - Manaus, Brazil

Today, my alarm was set for 0400 hours!  Rob is still shaking his head, bewildered why I would deliberately wake up for an excursion so early in the morning.  BUT, this was THE excursion that I have been waiting for - Birdwatching on the Amazon River! We assembled in the Theater by 0450 hours and I was already impressed with the seriousness of this group of birders!  We boarded a double-decker river cruise ship and sat off in the dark for Lake January. As the sun began to arise we spotted several cormorants and great egrets. We docked and began our walk up a boardwalk immediately seeing several Uniform Woodcreepers, parrots, Hoffman's Woodcreepers, and many, many more - over 60 species located on gigantic lily pads, trees, the jungle floor, tree stumps, etc! I've never used my binoculars so much! Truly, it is an excursion that I'll remember forever!

Once back on board, I located Rob in The Restaurant about to order breakfast, so I joined in. We tried to drink coffee in our favorite spot, but I could not keep my eyes open, so we returned to our stateroom.  I immediately fell into a deep sleep for almost four hours!  I true record for me!  Rob says that all my running around finally caught up with me!

I went to the fitness center for my daily workout, then got ready for dinner. After another delicious dinner, I went to the "Welcome Aboard" show since I missed the one at the beginning of the cruise. We sailed away from Manaus for a continued voyage.

January 20, 2023 - Parintins, Brazil

We arrived in Parintins at about 0800 hours this morning.  After breakfast, we spent some time in our favorite spot - The Atrium - until I needed to return to the room to get ready for my manicure, then an excursion.  Jennifer, a very sweet Swedish gal, was my manicurist.  We had a lovely visit.  I then boarded a tender for a repeat performance of Boi Bomba since I LOVED the first performance so much.  This time, I had a much better seat.  I put my backpack on a seat because I had about 40 minutes before the performance to do a little shopping.

 After yet another brilliant show, I walked back to the tender where I watched a pod of playful dolphins, both pink and gray, putting on a little performance! The tender was stifling hot, so by the time I arrived back on board, I was drenched!  I went down to the coffee bar to get Rob a cappuccino and a refreshing iced Americano for me, along with two of the ship's delicious oatmeal raisin cookies! 

Once I finished updating this blog, I got ready to attend Shabbat Services at 6:00 PM in the Torshavn Theater. The Shabbat Service was lovely, again with nine people attending.  Rob and I enjoyed another delicious meal at Manfredi's!  Yum!  I then attended the Abba Songbook show, an outstanding performance by four very talented British performers.  Bedtime was early since we are rising promptly at 0730 for breakfast and another excursion.

January 21, 2023 - Santarem, Brazil

Today we're off to Maica Lake to prihana fish.  The ride there was worth the excursion as we saw several dolphins, both pink and gray, great egrets, vultures, terns, and once again the merging of a tributary (Rio Tapajos) to the Amazon River.

Upon arriving on Maica Lake, we were given pre-bated (beef steak) hand lines and told to drop then 3 to 4 feet deep.  Now since the lake has latte-colored water, that had to be an estimated drop.  I used every skill that my dad had taught me growing up, fishing with him in Virginia.  No luck.  So, I climbed to the top deck, where I spotted a water snake swimming to shore, but still no fish. Back on the bottom level, I cast back out and patiently waited, and waited, and waited! Just as the guide said that we needed to go back to the cruise ship, I felt a tug!  As I pulled in my line, I spotted my piranha!!!  I screamed with glee!  The guide was SO thrilled because she said that in all of her years taking groups out, someone always caught a fish.  Apparently, I saved her reputation.  Several passengers took pictures of my little piranha.  I know that my dad was smiling down with pride.

We returned to the ship where I had five minutes to run to my next cruise, Panoramic Santarem.  Whew, I made it and even had time for a quick bathroom stop.  I met up with a gal from Sabbath Services whose husband didn't want to attend this excursion, so we buddied up. Lots of vendors were on the dock, but I had already decided to do my shopping after the excursion, which was supposed to be three hours. It was truly humid and HOT, but luckily the bus had a decent breeze.  We stopped at a cathedral, a government building/museum, and then on to a local Amazonian farm. The ride was about 35 minutes outside of town, which allowed time to relax and enjoy the sights.  The farmers gave us samples of their local fruits, nuts, and vegetables. We watched how tapioca is made and tasted a few products made from tapioca.  Back on the bus, I was starting to worry about my last-minute shopping since the last tender was supposed to leave at 4:30 PM. I knew they wouldn't leave us, and I noticed that there were two more buses behind us, so I hopped off and began some serious power shopping!  I still needed to get tee shirts, Christmas ornaments, and a couple of taxidermied piranhas! Plus, I still had almost $100 worth of Brazilian Reals to spend.  With minutes to spare, I was one of the last passengers on the tender (leaving almost 20 minutes late) for the ship!

  What a day - I know that I'll sleep well tonight. After dinner, I attended an entertaining violin concert by Russian Irina Guskova who played selections from classical to country. As predicted, I fell into bed, totally exhausted!

January 22, 2023 - Cruising the Amazon

Today, we cruise the remainder of the Amazon River, through the delta, and into the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean. No more muddy water, as we sail into the blue choppier waters.  The Captain remarked that he had never been so happy to see the Atlantic Ocean. He was very excited because a full circle rainbow, "a Glory" was spotted as we crossed the equator.  A round rainbow is rare because it is usually blocked by the horizon.  I attended a Future Voyages presentation to see if there are cruises that we should take. We'll meet with the Travel Consultant in a couple of days.  I worked out at the fitness center, which happens to be much fuller this leg of our journey. As I photographed the last sunset I will see while sailing the Amazon, I marveled at the sheer beauty and tranquility.  Here's a collection of the photos I have captured.

  We enjoyed a fabulous grilled seabass dinner, and then I went to the show to watch the Assistant Cruise Director, Hazel Crudo perform.  She has a voice that sounds like Whitney Houston.  Great show!

January 23, 2023 - Cruising the Atlantic

We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast, then visited with a very nice couple from Henderson, North Carolina. I collected our passports and gratuities envelopes for our favorites - Recalyn, Arun, Dezz, Arnold, and Rob's cappuccino guys. Later, I went shopping to spend the crazy amount of shipboard credit that we had remaining. I found some gifts for others, as well as a few items for me.  Now, I'm off to watch the movie "Papillon" featuring a young man falsely convicted of murder. In an attempt to escape from the penal colony on Devil's Island (where we are supposed to go tomorrow), Henri cracks a deal with a fellow inmate, Louis Dega.

After the movie, I decided to take advantage of the empty laundry to get a couple of loads done while also listening to my book. 

We enjoyed a delicious dinner of chateaubriand and homemade pasta while talking with a lovely couple from Raleigh.  Rob went back to the room, and I attended the Dusty Springfield songbook concert.

January 24, 2024 - Iles Du Salut, French Guiana

With our optimism high since the tenders were being lowered, we were just leaving for breakfast when once again the sea conditions were too severe for our excursion to the famous Devil's Island.  Sooooo disappointed and starting to think that Viking should just eliminate this stop from the itinerary since it doesn't seem to ever happen.

  Oh well, cappuccino time for Rob while I work on my Sudoku and Wordle. I'll use this time to update my blog, read, and work on needlework.

We had an appointment with the Future Cruise gal, Verena, where we booked another expedition cruise in 2024.  Sooooooo excited!

January 25, 2023 - Day at Sea - Happy Birthday, Robin!

Finally decided that I should work "reading at the pool" into my schedule. So, after our breakfast and normal routine of

sitting in Viking's "Living Room" while Rob drinks his cappuccinos and I work on Sudoku, I went to the gym, so I could spend the afternoon reading by the pool. After my workout, I decided to practice my putting.  Okay, as if my putting isn't dismal enough, I had to try putting on a cruise ship clipping on the Atlantic Ocean to add another frustrating dimension!  At least I had a relaxing afternoon by the pool, followed by a delicious dinner at Manfredi's.  Life is good.

January 26, 2023 - Barbados

   Today's Viking excursion exceeded my expectations!  The title of the excursion was "Photo Break" which sounded interesting.  Little did I know that our instructor would be Ronnie Carrington, one of Barbados' most renowned photographers.  There were only 20 people in our luxurious van.  Ronnie explained that we would be riding over to the east side of Barbados to beaches not typically visited by tourists.  Along the way, he gave us a very in-depth history of this beautiful island.  Our first stop was to take pictures of the traditional "Chattle Houses" in a quiet residential neighborhood.  From there we traveled to the "Scottish Highlands" side of the island where we took pictures of the landscape and animals.  Finally, we went to a lovely beach for rum punch and pictures.  Every stop included tips on lighting for techniques to improve our photography. What an amazing day!

January 27, 2023 - St Lucia

It's always fun to return to St Lucia, and today was no exception.  I booked an "Aerial Tram" excursion and it was FABULOUS.  We rode for about 40 minutes in a very comfortable mini-van to reach the Adventure Tours tram and zip-lining portion of a very large rainforest.  We hiked for about 30 minutes and then boarded an eight-passenger gondola that took us up over 1,400 to the top of the rainforest.  What an amazing view.  Unfortunately, my phone had not charged the night before and my phone died as we ascended.  Actually, it was quite nice to just enjoy the scenery and not bother with pictures.  It was quiet, tranquil, and quite beautiful.

January 28, 2023 - Antiqua - Happy Birthday to me!

Today's excursion, "Antiquan Traditions" was wonderful.  Our first stop was at the home of the MacMillan family on top of a former sugar plantation.  Both the husband's and wife's families had lived on the island since the 1600s.  The wife was absolutely delightful and extremely talented. I purchased one of her lovely watercolors depicting a few of the birds in the area. From there we stopped at a "black pineapple" plantation.  In addition to the owner/farmer, we met one of his helpers and his two dogs, Finally, we visited a local pub where we learned how to make the BEST rum punch.

Back on the ship, I worked out and then read by the pool. As we were leaving our room for dinner, both of our cabin attendants sang "Happy Birthday" to me!  We enjoyed another fantastic dinner at Manfredi's. At the conclusion of our meal, the servers brought me a delicious chocolate birthday cake with a card from Viking, and they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me. It was the perfect ending, of the perfect way to celebrate my 69th birthday.

Janauary 29, 1923 - San Juan

It was the first time that I'd ever sailed into Puerto Rico which I must admit was an absolutely stunning entrance. Everyone had to have a face-to-face meeting with the US Customs officer.  It didn't take too long, and once finished I walked to Old Town to do a little last-minute shopping.  I was only gone a couple of hours, so once back, I decided to spend a couple of hours by the pool.  It was so relaxing.  It was time to repack our suitcases for the return trip home.  HOW DID 24 DAYS GO BY SO QUICKLY??? It didn't take too long to repack because everything was dirty.  After dinner, we finished the last-minute packing, put our suitcases in the hall, and crashed into bed early knowing that tomorrow was going to be a long travel day.

January 30, 2023 - San Juan to Atlanta

We begrudgingly left the beautiful Viking Ocean Sea, walked through the terminal, and quickly got a taxi for the airport. We snagged a couple of seats at our gate and entertained ourselves for four hours. I walked around the terminal, shopping.  I found a truly beautiful "cape top" hand painted by a local artist.  It will be perfect for future cruises. We had an uneventful flight home.  I sat next to a very fascinating African gal. In no time, we were back in Atlanta, ordering a Lyft ride back home.  We're grateful for a safe, amazing journey!