Day at Sea- enr oute to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
1 December 2007- Saturday
En route to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Today was just the perfect day to zone out. Lazy breakfast - no eggs, just oatmeal and fruit. Stumbled across the movie "The Titans" about the integration of a football team in the 60's and then on deck to enjoy a bright sunny day with great breezes. The water is a cobalt blue color and the sky clear except for a con trail from a jet that extends from horizon to horizon. If these are ice crystals (and some wag suggested that they reflect sunlight and may lead to global cooling) then why is the northern third turning dark gray? We are only steaming at 10 knots along the coast of Brazil- saw an oil refinery cracking tower burning off gas and swore I could smell it although it was only on the horizon and if I hadn't seen the flame wouldn't have noticed it at all. Speaking of fuel, Fox news talking about how ethanol from corn just won't do it. They ought to send a crew down here, because in Brazil your car can be modified to burn natural gas, ethanol (from sugar cane), gasoline or diesel. Anyway lunch with Bill and Rosemary discussing how to get good cruise deals (their son runs an internet travel agency - Suite Cruising?). Too balmy to read and before dinner I uploaded my blog. Dinner with the gang and loose plans for tomorrows meat feast- they said the pier is right in the heart of town. I had already signed up for a tour of "the historic highlights of Salvador de Bahia"- we'll probably just do drive bys as we've done before although part of this is a walking tour. Barb and Al suggested we meet back on board after the tour for our restaurant visit. About half of the people at our table have a cold of some sort and I'm waiting for my turn. Showtime was the Marco Polo Production Company- the kids with all the energy- did a superb job as usual. Marge says she sees them practicing in the exercise room every day. They'd have to be in shape to do 2 of those shows a night. Anyway , we've seen 3 of their routines this trip and all exceptional. The full moon is gone of course and it doesn't rise til about midnight. In the meantime, you can see one or 2 lights on the horizon, and the glow from the lights of Salvador de Baia ahead of us. Above is a canopy of stars that fades at the horizon. Had no trouble picking out Orion (my favorite) and could see the Pleiades (seven sisters or Subaru as the Japanese would say- look at their emblem). I don't recall stars that bright except as a kid during WWII during the time they painted lamppost lights and the top half of automobile headlights so the Germans couldn't see us. Otherwise today was sort of Blah- skipped the ships talent contest and the newly-wed game for deck time. Tomorrow may be more of an adventure/discovery day.
En route to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Today was just the perfect day to zone out. Lazy breakfast - no eggs, just oatmeal and fruit. Stumbled across the movie "The Titans" about the integration of a football team in the 60's and then on deck to enjoy a bright sunny day with great breezes. The water is a cobalt blue color and the sky clear except for a con trail from a jet that extends from horizon to horizon. If these are ice crystals (and some wag suggested that they reflect sunlight and may lead to global cooling) then why is the northern third turning dark gray? We are only steaming at 10 knots along the coast of Brazil- saw an oil refinery cracking tower burning off gas and swore I could smell it although it was only on the horizon and if I hadn't seen the flame wouldn't have noticed it at all. Speaking of fuel, Fox news talking about how ethanol from corn just won't do it. They ought to send a crew down here, because in Brazil your car can be modified to burn natural gas, ethanol (from sugar cane), gasoline or diesel. Anyway lunch with Bill and Rosemary discussing how to get good cruise deals (their son runs an internet travel agency - Suite Cruising?). Too balmy to read and before dinner I uploaded my blog. Dinner with the gang and loose plans for tomorrows meat feast- they said the pier is right in the heart of town. I had already signed up for a tour of "the historic highlights of Salvador de Bahia"- we'll probably just do drive bys as we've done before although part of this is a walking tour. Barb and Al suggested we meet back on board after the tour for our restaurant visit. About half of the people at our table have a cold of some sort and I'm waiting for my turn. Showtime was the Marco Polo Production Company- the kids with all the energy- did a superb job as usual. Marge says she sees them practicing in the exercise room every day. They'd have to be in shape to do 2 of those shows a night. Anyway , we've seen 3 of their routines this trip and all exceptional. The full moon is gone of course and it doesn't rise til about midnight. In the meantime, you can see one or 2 lights on the horizon, and the glow from the lights of Salvador de Baia ahead of us. Above is a canopy of stars that fades at the horizon. Had no trouble picking out Orion (my favorite) and could see the Pleiades (seven sisters or Subaru as the Japanese would say- look at their emblem). I don't recall stars that bright except as a kid during WWII during the time they painted lamppost lights and the top half of automobile headlights so the Germans couldn't see us. Otherwise today was sort of Blah- skipped the ships talent contest and the newly-wed game for deck time. Tomorrow may be more of an adventure/discovery day.
Labels: Barcelona to Rio
posted by DT at 9:28 AM
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