A few days from steamy Brazil!!!

                                          John Deere harvesters at Rio Grande and dancers doing  a show for us.

Well we’re back in the tropics and the weather is just like home hot and humid although we have had no rain.Since we left Rio Grande we have ben to Porto Bello, Santos, and Iiha Grande, we don’t get to Rio until Friday 24th.

Porto Bello was fun we tendered ashore and caught a cable car from the beach at Camboriu over a rain forest mountain and down to the beach at Laranjeiras where you’ve never seen wall to wall people. It was impossible to see the beach as there were literally hundreds of beach umbrellas, (see pic.) and thousands of people. It was unbelievable.

We visited  Santos the port for Sao Paulo (21 mill) where we did a highlights of the City.

Umm it’s not the prettiest place on earth obviously because it is very Industrial, however we went to an aquarium (yuk) and then went to the Santos Football Club stadium and Museum. Santos is one of the worlds best soccer teams, it was quite an eye opener for a non soccer fan. Josh would have loved it! WE finished up at the Coffee museum a former palace (1922) which was where they trade coffee, it was quite interesting although the guide was very hard to understand. There was a  trading floor where the coffee beans were auctioned and some lovely stained glass and murals.  

We visited a little island called Iiha Grande only 150 kms. to Rio but very much like the Whitsunday's, trees right down to the sea. There were no excursions so we went ashore by tender and spent about an hour there, it was hot, but quite pleasant with heaps of young tourists. It is Carnival time in Brazil and we were unaware that each City or Town all have there own carnival, we saw lots of floats at Santos yesterday. It finishes  today Tuesday, they certainly know how to enjoy themselves in Brazil.

Some very choice real estate in Santos taken from our cabin balcony! Nice place!!!!!!!!!!!

Well were now into our 46th day and still no sign of homesickness, it makes life easier when you have free internet and Gloria has been able to ring her mother  every few days. everyday is a new day, we have met many people and its is a lovely ship, the girth is slightly larger not too bad, but there will be some heavy dieting on our return!!!!