Day 1 & 2: Thursday and Friday, January 22-23, 2026, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Friday … It was a long 20 hours of getting from Tampa to Rio (we actually left Tampa on Wednesday afternoon) .. up to Atlanta, then South to Rio overnight. We met our personal tour guide/Taxi driver, Marcio, at the airport and spent the next 5 hours meandering through the streets, sites and sounds of this 500-year-old metropolis of 7 million people in his car. Rio features 26 square miles of park in its center, which includes a variety of wild animals like armadillos, skunks, sloths, snakes! And some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is surrounded by mountains, but there are many smaller mountains within the city itself. Rio de Janeiro is probably most famous for its “Christ the Redeemer” Statue on top of Mount Corovado, visible from almost everywhere in the city. Completed in 1931, it is 98 feet tall and has been designated one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Unfortunately, not today, however, because of the rain and heavy fog, we were unable to view it in person … so Internet pictures will have to do!
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| Internet picture of Christ the Redeemer |
Driving from the airport along the edge of the City the traffic was heavy, the many motorcycles whizzing in between the rows of vehicles softly blowing their horns while passing, cars softly tooting to indicate a lane change or when coming around a VERY sharp corner on VERY narrow streets, a few street vendors walking between the rows of cars selling their goods! Green vegetation is everywhere. The art décor, from graffiti to some very nice mural paintings, is just about everywhere. The area of the poor, called favelas, consisted of unfinished houses built on top of one another. Five-mile long Flamingo Park lies between the shore and some nice tall housing. Interesting is that to build the park in 1960, dirt was reclaimed from the adjacent bay to provide the green space for this densely populated area. However, it also meant that those in the housing who used to live on the shore, now live adjacent to the park and lost their view of the water!
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| Favelas |
We drove up a narrow, beautiful, winding road to visit the Benedictine Sao Bento Monastery, started in 1590, located on St Benedict Hill. Next to the Abbot is Our Lady of Mont Serrat Catholic Church. Started in 1635, it took 300 year to complete as all of the work was done by hand. As you walk inside, the scene is jaw dropping! Walls, ceiling, alter area, the seven side chapels dedicated to Catholic lay brothers plus Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, ALL covered in gold leaf gilding. Behind the alter is a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Mont Serrat. Thirty four monks still live on the premises, with St. Benedict College and St Benedict Seminary nearby.
The Brazilian Carnivals date back to 1723 and have evolved into the world's largest and most famous festival symbolizing Brazilian culture with its diversity and vibrancy. Twelve samba organizations involving more than 4,000 people complete each pre-Lenten season with parades of elaborate floats and costumes at the Sambadrome … a huge stadium built just for that purpose. However, it does double as a sports area for the high school located adjacent to the site.
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| Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian |
We traveled around some of the narrow, winding streets in the most beautiful bohemian neighborhood of Saint Teresa located on a hill with views of Rio and the bay. Dating back to the 18th century when a Carmelite community built a convent there, what was once a wealthy neighborhood is now home for many artists, bars and restaurants and more middle-class residents. It is still served by the oldest electric railway in Latin America, trams that started in 1872.
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| Internet picture of Selaron Steps |
We passed by the Selaron Steps, an iconic flight of steps created by Jorge Selaron. He started collecting tiles from the streets of Rio, painted them and put them on his home steps. Eventually the project grew as he received donated tiles from all around the world, and the steps were enlarged to go up to the next street. It was a very busy tourist day, so the steps were totally full of people; therefore, foregoing any chance of getting a picture of them. So the Internet picture will have to do!
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| Today on the steps! |
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| Feijoada - Brazilian National Dish |
Friday … We slept in … late! The ship is anchored off shore of Ilha Grande, an island that is largely undeveloped. For almost a century it was closed by the Brazilian government due to it first housing a leper colony and then a top security prison. By the time the prison closed in 1994 the island's pristine beaches and Atlantic tropical rain forest had remained untouched. About 1900 people inhabited the sleepy fishing village until the mid-1900s when the prison was destroyed and tourism began. Restaurants and bars have popped up, but the island still remains pristine and Brazil has protected the rain forest by making it a park. Only 3 cars are allowed on the island … a garbage truck, the fire engine and the police vehicle … so the only transportation here is by foot or by boat. It's a foggy, somewhat rainy day, so we opted to stay on ship to just chill out … enjoying the warmth and scenery off our balcony, tea time in the afternoon, dinner in the Grand Dining Room (another delicious meal), ending with champagne on our deck compliments of Oceania with the moon peaking through whenever the clouds part. God is good. We can never thank Him enough!
Days 3 - 5: Saturday, Sunday & Monday, January 24-26, 2026, Sao Paulo and Balneario Camboriu, Brazil plus a sea day
Saturday: Today's stop is at Sao Paulo, Brazil, the commercial heart of the country. Home to 17 million people in over 3,000 square miles, it also boasts as the largest coffee exporters in the world. Because it was one of the first cities to encourage immigration, it has become a melting pot of cultures. We are docked at a busy shipping terminal, but beyond that one views the high rises of the city with the mountains as the background. We were going to go into the city to shop but were “warned” by others on board who had gone before us that there really is nothing at the mall but people and the transportation to and from is a bit complicated. So … another relaxing day aboard ship. And the relaxation on the balcony isn't bad either! Tea time, the Captain's Cocktail Celebration with free drinks, and “Brazil” presented by the Marina Culinary Team for dinner tonight … all so good! Finally, after a week of rushing across 2 continents, from MN to Brazil, we get day off.
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| Only a portion of theBalneario Camboriu skyline |
Sunday: Today we're docked off shore of the coastal city of Balneario Camboriu, Brazil. The backdrop consists of steep hills/mountains, then comes the long line of very tall, mostly white, skyscrapers, the “Atlantic Avenue” in front of them and then the beautiful, three-mile sandy beach welcoming the Atlantic Ocean. It's a beautiful sight! The Twin Yacht Towers are the highest right now at 965 feet, but more are being built that plan to be even taller! Because of the skyscrapers and many affluent tourists, the city is often called the “Dubai of Brazil”.
It's a gorgeous summer, 80-degree day today. We tendered to the terminal, got a taxi to Igreja de Santa Ines (Church of Saint Agnes) for 10 o'clock Mass. It is a round building with the altar in the middle and seating for, I'm guessing 800-900, all around; the roof structured like a Mayan pyramid. We arrived when the 8:30 Mass was about done … so full that people were standing outside the building. The 10 o'clock Mass was no different … seven masses said in the weekend. I thought our church was upbeat … this one wins hands down! Children seemed to be a priority as there were 20+ servers, plus many of the younger ones were participating on the dais in front of the altar. The music and congregation singing was exuberant! The taxi driver returned to pick us up after Mass, dropped us back at the terminal where we did a little shopping and then tendered back to the ship.
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| Saint Agness |
A malt for lunch and a bit of time resting by the pool was followed by afternoon tea where we were entertained by a string quartet. Dinner was so very scrumptious at the on-board Steak house specialty restaurant called Polo … crab cake, clam chowder, filet mignon and lobster tail, crème brulee, fois gras and French onion soup… way too much to eat, but what do you leave out????#&*@!!
Monday: We are at sea all day, sailing south about 10 miles out from the SA coast … sunshine and a perfect (maybe a little warm) temperature. We slept in a bit this AM, then learned about the sea life we can expect to see the remainder of the trip. Fascinating ... mostly whales and penguins … with high expectations! This afternoon I'm busy being pampered with a facial, then drooling over a presentation of beautiful gem jewelry … way out of my price range, but they certainly are beautiful! There was another presentation on sea birds that we missed and will have to watch on TV. Tea time featured lovely music by a violinist and pianist. Dinner, of course, was delicious as usual. Tomorrow we set foot in another country … love this cruising!
Day 6: Tuesday, January 27, 20026, Montevideo, Uruguay
It's another beautiful summer day in Montevideo Uruguay, not Minnesota. After breakfast we headed to our excursion bus to tour the highlights of Montevideo and learn about this small country.
Montevideo is the capital city housing over half of the country's population of 3.5 million people. It has miles of ocean front beaches, parks and walkways. It seems that every single street is enveloped with tall trees on either side … very lush and beautiful. The Legislative Palace is impressive, as is the Centenario Stadium of which citizens are very proud of and is where soccer is played. Of course, our tour guide, Ricardo, threw out the challenge that Uruguay will win the World Cup!!
Legislative Building, Montevideo, Uruguay After a revolution against Spain, In 1830 the Constitution of Uruguay was formally adopted, making it an independent country.
Their government is structured similar to the US with a president elected every 5 years, the candidate usually coming from the Senate. The house represents the people. The percentage of voters is in the 90 percentile, probably because they're penalized $20 tax if they do not vote! About 15% of their income goes to socialized medical care, where there are no cost facilities or private medical facilities, if one can afford them. On top of that, overall taxes averages 20 percent.
The education system in Uruguay is socialized elementary through college, though some private schools do exist for those who can afford it. The school year runs from the first of March to two days before Christmas. Their summer is our winter.
Unemployment currently averages 8 percent, though unemployment among the young ranges upwards of 25 percent, mostly because of their use of drugs and being homeless. Inflation is about 4%
Vehicles used in the country are imported mostly from Brazil, though recently China supplied electric cars and numbers are gaining. Uruguay has no oil of its own, so it imports most of it from Africa; and gas at the pumps averages $8 a gallon. Electric cars are making some inroads. About half of the people in Montevideo use the bus system. The goal is to have all electric buses in five years.
A tribute to the Gouchos of Uruguay
La Carreta - The Ox Cart
by Jose BelloniUruguay is mostly ranches. About 70 percent of their “meat” diet is beef, with their national dish being beef BBQ. They grow a large variety of fruits and vegetables. Major exports of the country are, of course beef, then wood, oil seed, cereals, dairy, eggs and honey.
Meat counter at the Farmers' Market
Montevideo
Fruits and Vegetables counter
We had an opportunity to do a little shopping at the farmers' market and view their meat, vegetables and bread shops. And finally we went to Matute Brewery which brews the brand name Mist craft beer. We were given samples of four varieties of beer plus a plate of delicious bruschetta with beef braised for 10 hours in Mist beer, Angus beef skewer, spiced peanuts (very different, very tasty and some type of ice cream with red fruits, passion fruit and mint! What a great finale to the tour.
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| Cheers! |
This evening's dinner on board was at the Red Ginger Japanese Specialty Restaurant … always enjoyable; always delicious! Have I ever mentioned that cruising is heavenly?!
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| Spicy Duck and Watermelon Salad |
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| Scallops as an appetizer |
Day 7: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Early to rise to catch an 8:15 a.m. excursion! The bus traveled through several Buenos Aires neighborhoods on its way up to the city of Tigre. Tigre, meaning tiger, though there are no tigers anywhere in South America! The background of the name is the early European settlers saw many South American panthers, which look a lot like a tiger and which are now endangered; so they named the river, the town and everything else around Tigre. After many years, it was realized the mistaken identity of the panther, but it was too late and too complicated to change the name of everything … hence Tigre remains the beloved name! It is also home to the country's rowing sport. After soccer, the Argentinians are also passionate about rowing and rugby
Tigre was once, and still is, a magnet for the more well-to-do. This area is the delta of the Tigre River which flows from Brazil; and this delta area serves many, many tributaries and islands built up from the sediment flowing down the River. The interesting tidbit was about the lifestyle of the 6,000 people who live on the various islands within the delta. The only access to the homes is via boat, either their own or public boat taxi; a medical boat, grocery boat, garbage boat circles the various tributaries to provide services. There are no roads or cars on the islands. Houses can range in value from $50,000 to $100,000, though given the circumstances, the cost of living is higher than living on the mainland. We embarked on a riverboat cruise which traversed 5 different tributaries of the Tigre River, through canals, many forested islands, plus a huge variety of houses, a small church, several elementary schools. It's a very leisurely lifestyle, though not every resident is full time, as some are rental units and others are only used as a get-away for the owners. Because the river is very brown with sediment, other islands are still being “built”, so in time there will be more islands on which to set up one's abode.
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| Our tour boat |
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| Typical house on an island |
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| The grocery boat -- There's no potable water on the islands; all drinking and cooking water must be brought in by boat |
Our final stop on the tour was to the beautiful Cathedral of San Isidro (Saint Isidore). It is the tallest church in Buenos Aires with a neo-Gothic clock tower soaring more than 225 feet above the city. It was commissioned by a Spanish captain in 1708 who admired Saint Isidore, known for his piety toward the poor, the animals and as the patron saint of farmers. The outside is beautiful, as is the inside; though inside is quite simple in both design and decoration.
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| Cathedral San Isidro |
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After a little souvenir shopping, an empanada for lunch, it's back to the ship, ready for a nap! We were told the Wave's cafe changed to a delicious pizzeria for dinner, so we checked it out … they were right! Another enlightening day in another country … God is so good!
Days 8, 9 and 10: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 29, 30 and 31, 2026, At Sea
Thursday: I attended the presentation on the fascinating animals that can be found in southern Argentina and Chili as well as southern Ocean to Antarctica. Very informative. Lunch, afternoon tea and another lecture on the Falkland Islands, our next stop. I knew practically nothing about them before … fascinating, Then Dinner in the Grand Dining Room we shared with sisters from Maritime Provinces, Canada and a teacher from New York. It's so interesting meeting people from so many different countries and from all walks of life. Another benefit of cruising! We also went to the high-energy performance of Marina Production Company's “Headliners: The Story Behind the Music” featuring hit songs by The Bee Gees, Cher, Tina Turner and more. I enjoyed it … Bob not so much.
Friday: Another day of rest and relaxation … more informative talks on Falkland critters galore, birds of the Falklands and another one on Antarctica: “The Ultimate Continent.” We enjoyed dinner with two other couples from Vancouver, Canada, at the Toscana Specialty Italian restaurant …
Bob: *Codi Di Scampii (sauteed shrimp,, cherry tomato sauce, lardo di colonnata)
*Risotto Ai Porcini (porcini mushroom risotto, ricotta cream, fried basil)
*Costata Di Vittello Ai Funghi Porcini (grilled bone-in milk-fed veal cho, sauteed porcini mushroom sauce)
*Tiramisu for dessert
Me: *Fritto Di Calamari (fied calamari, tomato-pepperoncino aioli sauce)
to *Linguine Cioppino (linguine,, lobster, littleneck clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, monkfish, roasted cherry tomatoes)
*Filetto Di Manzo Alla Florentina (filet mignon, melted gorgonzola crust, sauteed spinach,, red wine reduction)
*Tortino Di Cioccolata Fondente (molten dark chocolate cake, blood orange sauce for dessert)
We do so appreciate being waited on and served such fine foods! (It is also nice to have the menu in front of you when you are doing this blog!)
Saturday: I pampered myself with a full-body message and facial … heavenly! Guess this is going to be my birthday present, anniversary present and Christmas present for the next few years all rolled up into one!!! (Bob agrees!)Then we attended a mandatory teaching on what to do and not to do while in the vicinity of Antarctica as regulated by the governing body of the continent to keep everything pristine. Tea time is always relaxing, dinner of grilled steak and shrimp, sitting in the lounge listening to the lovely string quartet while they fix the heat in our room! All is good
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| Tea time |
Day 11: Sunday, February 1, 2026, - The Falkland Islands
As we head further south, the daylight hours are getting longer … 15+ hours now; and the temperatures are going down … in the high 50's today with lots of WIND on sea and on the island! We tendered to Port Stanley … it seems to me the longest and roughest tender we've ever had. And once there, the wind never stopped, though the temperature did rise to where the wind was no longer biting!
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| Port Stanlley, Falkland Islands |
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| Christ Church Cathedral - Angelican Cathedral in Stanley |
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| Whalebone Arches made from two Blue Whale jawbones, constructed in 1933 to commemorate the 100 years of continuous British administration in the Falklands |
The Islands are a self-governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. They have their own levels of government and make their own laws. Medical care and education through college is provided without cost (except through their taxes, of course). Those families that live on other islands are able to have a traveling teacher come to their homes if they have 3 or or more elementary age children. Once in high school, which goes to age 16, those students are housed in town for their schooling. College options are all off the island, but still paid for by the government.
One of the issues of the islands has been the influx of non indigenous critters, mostly mice, rabbits, fox, left by the Europeans over the years that have had a negative impact on the indigenous wildlife. The conservationists have been working to eliminate them from some of the islands, with that work continuing in earnest. The restoration of Tussac, a plant that binds the soil and is a shelter to much for the smaller wildlife, is also being reclaimed on many of the islands.
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| Memorial to those fallen in the Falkland war, 1982 |
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| The high school |
Dinner and a wonderful performance of Tango Revue starring Latin Dance Duo Tango Cervila … the dance part by me … not Bob! A bit of a disappointment about the wildlife we missed, but we're assured the best is yet to come! I n this southern Ocean our ship is also kind of doing a tango. We're expected to be at the Antarctic Peninsula in a day and a half. More sea days ahead … yeah!
Day 12 and 13: Monday and Tuesday, February 2-3, 2026, At Sea, Cruising the Half Moon Island, Antarctica
Monday: The boat has been rather rocky all night and all day … so most of us look like drunken sailors walking down the hallways! Otherwise, it's been a rather uneventful day … a couple lectures, lots of nap time, afternoon tea, and an excellent dinner at the French Specialty Restaurant Jacques … our second time there this trip but so many items to choose from. Had a lovely time meeting a couple from Louisiana and two from the Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, Gibraltar … fascinating conversations. We ended the evening with the entertainment of an excellent comedian, Tom Briscoe. Never stopped laughing the entire show. The boat is still rocking us to sleep, but not as bad as this morning!
Tuesday: Considerably calmer seas today. 36 degrees with gentle winds. Here we are … sighting the Shetland Islands off the coast of Antarctica! Whales and chinstrap penguins have been sighted early this morning as we make our way to Half Moon Island.
Antarctica: “The Ultimate Continent” (facts presented by lecturer Dr. Betsy Pincheira, researcher in Antarctica for over 30 years). Why “Ultimate” continent?
It is the coldest continent in the world … down to -136 degrees F
It is the highest continent in the world … from the edges to the middle is a steady incline to the mountain top of over 9,000 feet. Averaging the entire land mass comes to 7,500 feet, the highest in the world.
It is the windiest in the world .. up to 199 mph winds with nothing to stop them. Winds are generated from the center mountains, coming down to the shore.
It is the driest continent in the world … Surprisingly, Antarctica gets very, very little snow; and what it does get just settles on the ground, and none of it melts. The severe storms we've all seen in documentaries and movies is simply the gushing wind stirring up the lose snow on the surface.
The continent is the most isolated in the world. No other nation is within 1,000 miles of it.
There re no terrestrial animals nor people indigenous to the continent. The only “living” things are lichens, moss and snow algae, plus two grasses that grow in the summer; so there is nothing to support animal or human life!
Antarctica consists of 1/10th of the world's surface but holds 90 percent of the world's fresh water … in the form of ice.
In the summer, Antarctica is about 5.4 million square miles; slightly larger than Europe. In the winter it increases to about 20.4 million square miles larger than Asia, due to the freezing ocean waters surrounding it.
The continent is governed by a board represented by 58 countries around the world, 29 of them have voting rights, 29 are nonvoting members. A treaty was drawn up in 1959 designating Antarctica for peace and science only.
Another interesting phenomenon is the Polar front that surrounds the continent. It is a body of ocean water that circles clockwise around and around the continent. At its very outer edges where other oceans … the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Oceans … meet it, there is a clash and the other oceans bounce back This creates the Antarctic Ocean controlling the weather in all of South America and enables it to produce that which sustains all the wildlife that is in and around Antarctica. It is during the six months of day light each year that the krill is produced, the basic food source for all wildlife. And wildlife is only here during the summer months; none during the winter months.
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| Chinstrap Penguins |
