Enroute to Fortaleza,Brazil- at sea Day 1
24 November 2007- Saturday
Ist of 4 days at sea enroute to Fortaleza, Brazil
We are in an area of the Atlantic where the ship can only pick up Fox news- in fact this is the case ever since we left Spain (has made us the laughing stock of the international travelers). Anyway, heard the news about the Explorer hitting an iceberg and sank in the Antarctic. This was the first ship I had signed on for an Antarctic trip because it was going to South Georgia and the Falklands as well as Antarctica and was labeled as "in the footsteps of Shackleton." This was back in about 2001. The trip was canceled when the ship blew a turbine and they said they couldn't get it fixed by the departure date- and that led to my introduction to the Marco Polo. Have always felt safe on the Marco Polo since it was built in East Germany for the Russians who ordered a double hull to be used as an icebreaker in the 60s or 70s and was called the Alexander Pushkin (famous Russian poet). It was bought by Orient Lines in 1990 and made into a passenger ship and renamed the Marco Polo. By the way, the ship looks great- they are painting something every day.
So the day flew by- did laundry in the am - these coolmax clothes really do dry fast- had to send the cotton stuff to the laundry at great expense. AM lecture by Prof Keesal good as usual "Economic Recovery of Eastern Europe" He talked about his personal experience with Czech epublic. (Czechoslovakia split into 2 countrys- local politicians convinced Slovakian people they could do it alone since they had the steel mills- didn't consider Czech republic could get cheaper better steel elsewhere. Keesal did a pro bono seminar for the Czechs for senior and middle managers when the Russians left. He commented that the scaffolding around the buildings when he arrived were there to catch falling bricks and didn't relate to new construction. He found that there were 7 plants producing vegetable oil for 20 million people, whereas Canada had 2 plants for 40 million. Noted that there are now only 2 such plants. He said there are a number of conditions necessary for economic prosperity- risk taking entrepeneurs, stable government, Privatization, education/business schools, modern plants/quality, and work ethic. Asked about Baltic countries, he said they were not considered in the Buffer zone created by the Russians extending from Poland to Romania. But commented that all the Latvian Jews were destroyed by the Germans, but that a Russian Jewish community has moved in to the Synagogue and Jewish school that still existed. He said German reunification has put a serious strain on economy as 50 years of communism has led to a different work ethic and philosophy in the East.
The second lecturer was Carlos Bakota- terrible first lecture so thought he deserved a second chance- 15 minutes into his ramble I gave up...started off with some ramble about St Sebastian and passed out a "handout" on the Fado (Portugese mournful songs) and then told the audience that couldn't follow his talk to ask him "what's the point" a minute later someone yelled it out but he didn't reply. Maybe I'll just go to heckle him next time. (no, that wouldn't be right because tomorrow is Sunday- I'll wait til Monday). Lunch with Bill and Rosemary. Bill is a retired Lutheran minister and when St Sebastian came up I mentioned that I had considered doing a book on the saints associated with various maladies and healing and he said he thought it would really sell. Afternoon laid back and at cyber cafe and skipped high tea for dinner at 6. Since the comedian missed the boat again they are going to have a tribute to Glenn Miller Dance band in Ambassador Lounge. I passed. Oh yes, it full moon and I'm amazed at how it lights up the whole area and makes the horizon really visible. Would hate to have been on board a convoy in the north atlantic on a full moon night in WWII.
Ist of 4 days at sea enroute to Fortaleza, Brazil
We are in an area of the Atlantic where the ship can only pick up Fox news- in fact this is the case ever since we left Spain (has made us the laughing stock of the international travelers). Anyway, heard the news about the Explorer hitting an iceberg and sank in the Antarctic. This was the first ship I had signed on for an Antarctic trip because it was going to South Georgia and the Falklands as well as Antarctica and was labeled as "in the footsteps of Shackleton." This was back in about 2001. The trip was canceled when the ship blew a turbine and they said they couldn't get it fixed by the departure date- and that led to my introduction to the Marco Polo. Have always felt safe on the Marco Polo since it was built in East Germany for the Russians who ordered a double hull to be used as an icebreaker in the 60s or 70s and was called the Alexander Pushkin (famous Russian poet). It was bought by Orient Lines in 1990 and made into a passenger ship and renamed the Marco Polo. By the way, the ship looks great- they are painting something every day.
So the day flew by- did laundry in the am - these coolmax clothes really do dry fast- had to send the cotton stuff to the laundry at great expense. AM lecture by Prof Keesal good as usual "Economic Recovery of Eastern Europe" He talked about his personal experience with Czech epublic. (Czechoslovakia split into 2 countrys- local politicians convinced Slovakian people they could do it alone since they had the steel mills- didn't consider Czech republic could get cheaper better steel elsewhere. Keesal did a pro bono seminar for the Czechs for senior and middle managers when the Russians left. He commented that the scaffolding around the buildings when he arrived were there to catch falling bricks and didn't relate to new construction. He found that there were 7 plants producing vegetable oil for 20 million people, whereas Canada had 2 plants for 40 million. Noted that there are now only 2 such plants. He said there are a number of conditions necessary for economic prosperity- risk taking entrepeneurs, stable government, Privatization, education/business schools, modern plants/quality, and work ethic. Asked about Baltic countries, he said they were not considered in the Buffer zone created by the Russians extending from Poland to Romania. But commented that all the Latvian Jews were destroyed by the Germans, but that a Russian Jewish community has moved in to the Synagogue and Jewish school that still existed. He said German reunification has put a serious strain on economy as 50 years of communism has led to a different work ethic and philosophy in the East.
The second lecturer was Carlos Bakota- terrible first lecture so thought he deserved a second chance- 15 minutes into his ramble I gave up...started off with some ramble about St Sebastian and passed out a "handout" on the Fado (Portugese mournful songs) and then told the audience that couldn't follow his talk to ask him "what's the point" a minute later someone yelled it out but he didn't reply. Maybe I'll just go to heckle him next time. (no, that wouldn't be right because tomorrow is Sunday- I'll wait til Monday). Lunch with Bill and Rosemary. Bill is a retired Lutheran minister and when St Sebastian came up I mentioned that I had considered doing a book on the saints associated with various maladies and healing and he said he thought it would really sell. Afternoon laid back and at cyber cafe and skipped high tea for dinner at 6. Since the comedian missed the boat again they are going to have a tribute to Glenn Miller Dance band in Ambassador Lounge. I passed. Oh yes, it full moon and I'm amazed at how it lights up the whole area and makes the horizon really visible. Would hate to have been on board a convoy in the north atlantic on a full moon night in WWII.
Labels: bardelona to rio
posted by DT at 8:32 AM
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