Salvador - Brazil

Arrival in Port

Lighthouse and fort

Church Bonfim

Dancing in the streets

Lunch! Beer and chips ...

Market

We arrived and watched as we had breakfast, though the weather was a little warm at over 30C.

We came in to the harbour past an old Portuguese fort, and moored up close to the lower city.

We took a coach tour around, saw one of the three lighthouses in the area (on top of another old fort). Then on to the old Church of Bonfim passing the new football stadium.

Finally we had lunch sitting on the first floor above the old market - beer and chips and chicken soup!

On the way to Salvador Brazil

Today we are on the last day of the Atlantic crossing and tomorrow we arrive at Salvador in Brazil, where have a number of ports to visit.

We finally had our crossing the equator ceremony - all the officers hit the water, and the Chief Officer had to kiss the fish ...

Crossed the Equator

Last night we crossed the equator, so we are now in the southern hemisphere.

We were due to have the crossing of the line ceremony, but it has been raining most of the day - so we are taking it easy attending a few talks and watching the many downloaded films on our TV.

What do we get up to when not doing anything?

A typical day today:

• Breakfast – All Bran and a bacon sandwich with HP sauce,
• Ukulele practice at 1030,
• Fred Olsen Club free drinks at 1130, and a brief talk by the Captain,
• Lunch at 1230 – slices of turkey and potatoes,
• 1600 Classical Guitar concert with a cup of tea,
• 1815 Dinner,
• 2045 Show with a Magician and comedian,
• Did some work related stuff – signing documents on the printer/ scanner and Emails.

Helen went to the Port talk at 1000, went to the Gym, had some lunch, did some laundry, and relaxed and read (and took pictures of more flying fish). We do keep busy doing nothing!

Meanwhile, we have got an all cruise package for the internet, which although slow is more than adequate to catch up with Emails and a small amount of WWW.

Going back a little

Today we went back a little to Mindelo and Cape Verde as we had a medical emergency aboard, a couple of passengers had to be dropped off on a boat from the islands to go to the hospital.

Boat picking up the passengers for hospital

Meanwhile, the first ocean wildlife was spotted, a flying fish just behind the bows.

First Flying Fish

Cape Verde - Mindelo

Overlooking the ship

Fish market

African market - Fridge magnet bought here!

Our Buses

Main square with Church and Town Hall

Fruit and vegetable market

View from Green Mountain

Sahara sand and beach

Beer and music

Arrived in the morning where we had breakfast on the Balcony. The weather is much warmer now we are off the African coast.

A small tour around the island. We all had 20 seat school buses! A look over the bay, the fish market (Helen closed her eyes), and the African market where there was a football stadium. Followed by the main square and vegetable market.

Then a windy road up the green mountain where we could see Mindelo and the ship in the distance. Down to the coast with lots of dunes blown in from the Sahara.

Finally a cold beer and local snacks!

Tenerife

Beach

Mount Tiede is somewhere there!

Wine and cheese tasting

A bus tour for a few hours around the island (in the sunshine!).

First stop was a beach (sand imported from the Sahara) just to the north of Santa Cruz

Up and down the mountain to a small village on the north side of the island - Taganana. Then down to the small village of Los Rocques de Lasl Bodegas (no sight of wine anymore).

Just spotted Mount Tiedi in the clouds and sun! Followed by a cheese win tastingat a local hotel!