From Brazil, finally

Friday 2.13.2015

Five days at sea in a row is the most we have ever spent and is almost too much.  Friday we found land in Brazil at Salvador.  We had a ship's excursion that took us to two churches and a market area.  The first church, Church of Our Lord of Bonfim, was a basilica and the home of many miracles.  There were lots of street vendors outside selling ribbons that were to be tied onto the fence outside and when your ribbon fell off, your wish would come true. The 'miracle room' had plastic body parts hanging from the ceiling that are gifts of thanks from those cured.  Legs, arms, hearts, etc.  The second church, Sao Francisco Church, was to have been closed and boarded up due to the Carnival parade scheduled for that afternoon, but they opened it just for the ships excursions which had over 700 passengers wanting to see it.  It had walls that were carved of wood by African slaves and then overlaid with gold leaf.  The guide said that there was 66 kilos of gold on the walls.  The interior was very dark and flash photography was not allowed, so our pictures do not do justice.

Carnival is a weeklong celebration in Brazil, and the streets of the market area were decorated at street level and overhead.  We did not see any parades.  There were Brazilian women in costumes available for pictures for five Real.  The exchange rate is 2.6 Real to the US dollar. Street vendors of course.  Lots of small shops, many selling the same items.  Some items that caught our eyes were made in Indonesia!

It was hot and humid on Friday, 102 degrees at mid day.  After the excursion, we came back to the ship for lunch and to cool off a bit, then we set off to the market on our own.  We were there for just about an hour, then headed back to the ship.  We passed the passenger ferry terminal which had long lines.  The locals were going to the islands to get away from the crowds of Carnival.  We were told that they would wait four to seven hours in the ferry line, just to flee the crowds.

Lots of poorly maintained buildings, plaster falling from the exteriors and a majority of buildings don't seem to have a drop of paint on them.  Some are gaily painted in bright pastels, much like San Juan, Puerto Rico.  These are in a decided minority.

Monday 2.16.2015

After two more sea days, we are in a new port, Santos, Brazil.  It is the gateway to Sao Paulo.  The cruise terminal is in a heavily industrialized area and we are advised not to walk in the area.  The reason is that it is easy to get lost in the streets.  The cab driver coming back from the old town seemed to go in circles himself trying to find the right road to the ship.  Lots of circling.

We had planned to walk to the old town, but decided to take a taxi.  Quite a fuss with the driver to settle on a price.  We did get our price in the end.  Thanks, Co.

The taxi dropped us at the Santos Cathedral and we went in and took pictures.  A very nice church.

Then we walked a bit and got onto a local antique rail trolley.  This was a very nice looking electric machine, wooden benches in good shape.  The exterior was also nice.  Looks apparently get all of the money.  Once we left for our tour of town, the wheel/bearing noise was terrible.  That was on a straight section.  Going around a curve was worse, horrible grinding noises.  Two men up front, one driving and the other was mostly a money collector.  But, he would hop out with a five or six foot steel bar and adjust the rails for curves.  A switchman. 

We got off and walked a bit and found the entrance to the Monte Serrat funicular.  This goes up at a very steep angle and passed another funicular going the opposite direction.  On the same track that divided into two rails halfway down so that the cars can pass.  Nice ride, so much better than climbing the 415 steps.  Great views up top of the downtown area which was very large and modern and the waterway with all of the ships in the other direction.

Tomorrow will be our first day of two in Rio.  It is Carnival day/Mardi Gras day.  We had booked a  local guide from home and were able to add four new British friends to our tour. We will have a six hour tour mainly aimed at watching the Carnival parades and some local craft shopping.

Internet access has been difficult as you may have noticed from the lack of postings.  We try but sometimes the connection just doesn't happen and we give up.  We will keep trying after each port.

John and Colleen