Atlanta to Sao Paulo, Brazil on the Way to Rio |
Flying out of Sao Paulo, Brazil |
Tiete River in the state of Sao Paulo Brazil |
The Tiete River in Brazil is 715 miles long |
First look at Rio de Janeiro |
Ships waiting to enter the Port of Rio |
1st Caipirinha at Casa da Cachaca Restaurant at Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel |
View from our balcony in Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort |
Morning view from our hotel room In Rio de Janeiro |
Morning at the Grand Rio Hotel & Resort |
Outside the front entrance of the Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel |
Rio Metropolitan Cathedral (1979) is 246 feet tall |
Rio Metropolitan Cathedral is officially 'Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian' |
Stained glass in Rio Metropolitan Cathedral |
Rio Metropolitan Cathedral prepared for Easter |
Inside Rio Metropolitan Cathedral |
Dome of Rio Metropolitan Cathedral |
Carriage for Festival of Saint Sebastian |
Statue of St. Francis in Rio Cathedral |
Rio Metropolitan Cathedral Bell Tower |
The Copacabana Palace Hotel is 100 years old |
Santa Luzia Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was built in 1752 |
Protests in front of the Regional Labor Court in Rio |
Rio City Hall (1923) on Cinelândia Square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
On the street in Rio |
Selena Lapa is a hotel in downtown Rio de Janeiro |
Above Museu do Amanha (Tomorrow's Museum) in Rio |
Flower on the 'Cannonball Tree' |
Individual Air Conditioners in Hi-rise units in Rio |
The Candelária Church in Rio was built and decorated during a period from 1775 to the late 19th century |
Rio de Janeiro's Metro System |
Saint Bento Monastery (founded in 1590) in Rio de Janeiro |
St. Bento Monastery was completed in 1671 |
'Sao Bento' in English is Saint Benedict |
Doors to Sao Bento Monastery in Rio |
Entering Sao Bento Monastery |
Inside Sao Bento Monastery |
Burial crypt in the main isle of the Sao Bento Monastery |
Side Chapel in Sao Bento Monastery |
Statue in side chapel of Sao Bento Monastery |
Stained glass in Sao Bento Monastery |
Bust of Zumbi who went from slave to warrior leader in Brazil |
Leblon Beach in Rio |
Pool & Beach at Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort |
View of Praia do Vidigal (Vidigal Beach) from our hotel balcony |
Up at sunrise in Rio for today's tour |
Sunrise on the hillside neighborhood behind our hotel |
Tuesday morning on Ipanema Beach in Rio |
Outdoor cafe on Ipanema Beach in Rio |
Copacabana Beach in Rio |
Grand Rio is one of 70 'Samba Schools' in Rio |
One of Grande Rio's floats from 2023 Carnival |
Another float from 2023 Samba Parade |
Samba Schools have 3,000 or more members |
Inside the Grande Rio Samba School facility |
Float has a working carousel with riders on the horses |
Samba Schools create more than 3,000 costumes each year |
Samba costume from 2023 Grande Rio School |
Samba Costumes are detailed & elaborate |
Headpieces are very heavy & worn for several hours on competition day of Carnival |
Preparation for Carnival is a year-long process |
Each float has a number of costumes associated with it |
Trying on Samba Costumes from prior years |
Costumes are very heavy for people who dance for 80-90 minutes at Sambadromo |
The Grande Rio Medallion |
Our group in Grande Rio Samba School Costumes |
Time for Samba Lessons |
Samba instructors at Grande Rio Samba School |
1st District of Brazil Navy (1764) |
RSSC Voyager docked in Rio de Janeiro |
Visiting Tomorrow''s Museum in Rio |
3d rotating LED globe in Tomorrow's Museum |
Colorful buildings in old Rio |
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (1886) in Rio |
Lunch at Braziliam Churrascaia |
1st round of meat at Churrascaria |
Meat just keeps on coming |
Sugarloaf Mountain viewed from the Churrascaria |
Monument to the Heroes of Laguna and Dourados at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain |
Sugarloaf Cable Car arriving at base level |
Sugarloaf cable cars in James Bond Moonraker |
1st & 2nd cable car stops to Sugarloaf summit |
View of Rio from Sugarloaf Cable Car |
Waiting at 1st stop for cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain |
Beaches of Rio & Guanabara Bay from Sugarloaf Mountain |
On top of Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio |
Santos Dumont Airport (1936) on Guanabara Bay in Rio |
Another view from Sugarloaf Mountain |
View of Guanabara Bay from Sugarloaf Mountain |
Seeing Christ the Redeemer Statue on Corcavado from Sugarloaf |
Christ the Redeemer statue on a cloudy day |
4q - 1st pina colada aboard the Navigator.jpg |
Suite 838 on RSSC Navigator |
Sailing out of Rio at dusk |
Sailing past Fortaleza de Santa Cruz (1612) |
Champagne breakfast on Day 1 of Cruise |
How Bill stays organized onboard a ship |
Wine tasting on the RSSC Navigator |
St. Patrick's Day on the RSSC Navigator |
St. Paddy's Day Rainbow in 40K feet of water |
St. Paddy's Day Rainbow with pot of gold under 40K feet of water |
Dressed to meet the Captain of the vessel |
Compass Rose Dining Room China |
1st Production show on RSSC Navigator |
RSSC Navigator Singers & Dancers |
Arriving in Maceio, Brazil |
Tour buses on the dock at Maceio, Brazil |
Replica of the Statue of Liberty in Maceio |
Museum of Commerce of Algaoa in Maceio, Brazil |
Fresh fish for sale in Maceio, Brazil |
Soccer on the beach at Maceio, Brazil |
Natural Gas pipeline to load tankers in Maceio, Brazil |
Scenic overlook in Maceio, Brazil with our ship in the background |
Maceio is capital of the state of Alagoas in Brazil |
Flowers in Maceio, Brazil |
Bom Jesus dos Martirios Church in Maceio is covered with blue and white Portuguese tiles |
Street Market in Maceio, Brazil |
Museum in a 19th Century house in Maceio |
Don Pedro I was founder of the Brazilian empire and first Emperor of Brazil |
Maceio Cathedral (1840) |
Inside Maceio Cathedral |
Ceiling mural in Maceio Cathedral |
Altar in Maceio Cathedral |
Mural of Holy Family in Maceio Cathedral |
Mary & Jesus statues in Maceio Cathedral |
Christ statue in Maceio Cathedral |
RSSC Voyager docked in Maceio, Brazil |
Artisan Market in Maceio, Brazil |
Pajucara Beach in Maceio, Brazil |
Leaving Maceio, Brazil |
'Block Party' on Deck 8 of RSSC Voyager |
Docked in Fortaleza, Brazil (2.8 Million) |
Docked in Fortaleza, Brazil (Population 2.8 Million) |
Fortaleza beachront street |
Sanitation worker cleaning city center street in downtown Fortaleza, Brazil |
Fortaleza suburb versus downtown street |
Church of the Latter-day Saints in Fortaleza |
One of many high rises in Fortaleza |
Older, poor neighborhood in Fortaleza, Brazil |
House in poorer neighborhoods in Fortaleza |
Billboard for school says 'Choose First World' |
Unique mausoleum of former Brazil President appears to be floating |
Iracema Beach in Fortaleza, Brazil |
Resort Hotels line Iracema Beach in Fortaleza |
Art on Iracema Beach in Fortaleza |
'The Statue of Iracema' sculpture on Iracema Beach in Fortaleza |
'Guardian of Iracema Statue' is actually on Mucuripe Beach in Fortaleza |
Statue on the Beach at Fortaleza, Brazil |
Finance ministry for state of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil |
Ministry of Finance building for state of Ceara, Brazil was built in 1926 |
Gate to former Fortaleza prison which is now an artisan market |
Walls of 19th Century Prison turned artisan market |
Artwork in Centro de Turismo (artisan market) in Fortaleza |
Shopping at a market in the former Fotaleza Prison |
Fortaleza Cathedral architecture borrows from the Cologne Cathedral in Germany and is similar to the Chartres Cathedral in Franc |
Fortaleza Cathedral took 40 years to complete (1938-1978) |
Fortaleza Cathedral is known for its Swiss stained glass |
Rose window in Fortaleza Cathedral |
Stained glass of St. Peter in Fortaleza Cathedral |
Interesting stained glass in Fortaleza Cathedral |
Front of sanctuary in Fortaleza Cathedral |
Jose de Alencar Theater (1910) in Fortaleza, Brazil |
Jose de Alencar Theater is a Brazil national landmark |
Spiral staircase at the Jose de Alencar Theater |
Jose de Alencar Theater concert hall seats 800 people |
Ceiling mural in Jose de Alencar Theater |
Fruit vendor in Fortaleza, Brazil |
High rises near the beach in Fortaleza, Brazil |
Not all of Fortaleza is well-maintained |
Grafitti-covered Christ the Redeemer Monument (erected in 1922) |
Mucuripe Lighthouse (1872) covered with grafitti in Fortaleza, Brazil |
Wine glasses in Chartreuse French Specialty Restaurant on the RSSC Navigator |
Dessert Wine that Susan liked |
King Neptune at crossing the Equator Ceremony |
Two 'polywogs' (sailors' who have not crossed the Equator) must pass a test to become 'shellbacks' |
'Polywogs' kiss the fish to become 'Shellbacks' |
'Polywog' guests line up to kiss the fish |
King Neptune allows ship to cross the Equator |
We crossed the Equator twice in one day--south to north, then north to south |
The mouth of the Amazon River is 235 miles wide |
Ships heading to the mouth of the Amazon River |
A rainbow welcomes us to the Amazon River |
First signs of life along the Amazon River |
House on the Amazon River |
Life along the Amazon River |
Open-air hut with Solar Panels on the Amazon |
Small boat on the Amazon River |
Man outside a dry-docked houseboat on the Amazon River |
Small hut on the Amazon River |
Anchored on the Amazon River near Boca da Valeria, Brazil |
Tender disembarkation is on the beach of Alter do Chao, Brazil |
Along the Tapajos River in Alter do Chao |
Boats on Rio Tapaajos at Alter do Chao, Brazil |
High water levels of Tapajos River in Alter do Chao |
Alter do Chao was founded in 1626 |
Dancer in the park at Alter do Chao, Brazil |
Susan & Pink Dolphin Statue in Alter do Chao Park |
Our Lady of Health Parish in Alter do Chao |
Black Vultures on windmill in Alter do Chao |
Bill's new mask is made with fish scales & Piranha teeth |
Sleeping dog on the Alter do Chao Beach |
'Carimbo' is traditional Amazon Music |
'Carimbo' Amazon dancer on Alter do Chao Beach |
RSSC Voyager Anchored near Boca da Valeria |
RSSC Voyager Lifeboats provide tender service |
Approaching Boca da Valeria, Brazil |
Boca da Valeria is village of about 150 people |
Welcoming party at Boca da Valeria |
Young entrepreneurs in Boca da Valeria, Brazil |
Amazonian girl posing with young Caiman for tips |
Lady feeding baby sloth |
Young girl in native Amazonian costume |
Colorful Amazonian costume |
Residents of Boca da Valeria, Brazil |
Boca da Valeria Church |
Inside the Boca da Valeria Church |
View of Boca da Valeria from the church steps |
Houses on the single street of Boca da Valeria |
Plants hanging on a house in Boca da Valeri |
House with fishing nets hanging under it in Boca da Valeria |
Tender in shallow water around Boca da Valeria |
Colorful Amazonian Coatume |
School in Boca da Valeria |
Kids are off from school when ship's visit Boca da Valeria |
A variety of red hibiscus |
Flower growing on a rock in the Amazon Jungle |
Outdoor wash basin in Boca da Valeria |
Ducks in Boca da Valeria |
Boca da Valeria kid with talking parrot & Marvel comics T-shirt |
More RSSC guests arriving in Boca da Valeria |
Local boat & German Cruise ship viewed from our tender |
Cattle grazing on the bank of the Amazon River |
Cattle running home on the banks of the Amazon River |
Family life on the Amazon River |
Horses grazing on the banks of the Amazon River |
Small settlement on the Amazon River |
Sun setting behind clouds on the Amazon |
View from our balcony of the city of Manaus, Brazil |
Manaus is the 7th largest city in Brazil |
Manaus was founded in 1669 |
Manaus is the 2nd largest city in the Amazon Rainforest |
Boarding a sightseeing boat in Manaus |
7n2 - At the back of a sighseeing boat.jpg |
Lots of debris in this part of the Rio Negro |
Watching ship's tender operations in the rain |
Village on stilts on Rio Negro (Black River) |
High water marks are clear on houses on stilts on Rio Negro |
Church in the village on stilts on Rio Negro |
Great Egret on the shore of Lake January |
Entering January Lake in Brazil |
Floating houses on January Lake on a rainy day |
Hanging out in a floating house on Lake January |
Floating gift shop on Lake January |
Boarding 'canoes' in the rain on Lake January |
Floating Restaurant on Lake January |
Snowy Egret on the shore of Lake January |
Black bark on trees is the high water mark of Lake January |
Strange birds nest on January Lake |
Rice growing along January Lake |
Giant water lilies on January Lake |
Victoria Amazonia lilies up to 6' across |
Small bloom on Victoria Amazonica Water Lily |
On January Lake with Victoria Amazonica Lilies |
Remote houses at the end of January Lake |
Back to the floating dock on January Lake |
Rio Negro & the Solimoes River flow side by side for miles before converging |
These 2 rivers eventually converge to form the Amazon River |
Tugboat on Rio Negro below the Amazon Headquarters of the Brazilian Navy |
Amazon Brazil Navy Headquarters is in Manaus on Rio Negro |
Tug sailing past Brazilian Navy ships on Rio Negro |
Manaus exports nuts, rubber, jute, rosewood |
Port of Manaus on Rio Negro |
Disembarking sightseeing boat in Manaus |
View of RSSC Navigator from night tour boat |
View of Manaus bridge from night tour boat |
Making caipirinhas on night tour boat |
Starting Night Caiman Spotting Tour with caipirinhas |
Arriving at floating dock on Rio Negro |
Our Caiman spotter on front of the canoe |
Night sky on the Rio Negro |
Our spotter caught a Caiman |
Caiman can grow to be 9 feet long |
Caiman are momentarily hypnotized by light |
Caiman in 'tonic immobility' after 15 seconds on its back |
Bill has boots made of Caiman underbelly |
Onboard fast boat for today's tour |
Rainbow in wake of our tour boat |
Private home on Rio Negro (Black River) |
Nice boat on private beach on Rio Negro |
Basic Amazon beach resort on Rio Negro |
Speeding past a local boat on Rio Negro |
Life along the Rio Negro |
Arriving at location of Pink Dolphin Encounter on Lake Acajatuba |
Interacting with a Freshwater Pink Dolphin |
These Pink Dolphins live in Lake Acajatuba in the wild |
Wild dolphins come for free fish |
Susan getting friendly with pink dolphin |
Pink dolphins are locally called 'botos' |
Dolphin showing his blowhole |
Pink Dolphin showing his teeth |
It's illegal to use hooks to catch the Pirarucu (endangered species) |
Seeing how high I can pull a Pirarucu without a hook |
Pirarucu have been reported to grow up to 15 ft and 440 lbs |
Village church on Lake Acajatuba |
Dock in village of Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow, Brazil |
Lake Acajatuba sign in village of Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Dark line is high water mark in the rainy season |
Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow has 228 residents |
Local beer cost $1 per small can |
Small village -- big souvenir store |
Hand-made map of Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Village restaurant |
Yellow-breasted bird & satellite dish in Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Houses around the village soccer field |
Soccer field bleachers and back of church |
Purple house with artistic shutters |
Susan relaxing while Bill explores the village of Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Interesting tree in the village of Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Assembly of God Evangelical Church in the Amazon |
Interesting small white church in Nossa sra Perpetuo Socorrow |
Village school seems to be one of a few buildings with air conditioners |
Breeding farm to save endangered turtle species |
Baby endangered species turtles on an Amazon River tributary |
Head of turtle conservation effort in small Amazon village |
Phone booth has been replaced by cell phones -- even in this small, remote village |
Boy watching cartoons in small Amazon village |
Last look at Rio Negro Bridge leaving Manaus, Brazil |
Arriving in Parintins, Brazil by tender |
Vendor stalls in Parintins, Brazil |
Attending Boi Bumba Folk Show |
Boi Bumba is Brazil's 2nd biggest festival after Carnival |
Boi Bumba originated in 18th Century |
We are seeing a 1 hr snapshot of a the 3-day Boi Bumba Festival |
Boi Bmba is held every June in Parintins, Brazil |
The ox is part of the legend of Boi Bumba |
New characters in the festival arrive on floats |
The 'Bumbodromo' in Parintins seats 35,000 |
A new dancer arrives by float |
Team Caprichoso competes wth team Garantido |
Boi Bumba dancers use lots of feathers |
Teams are judged on costumes, songs, & dances |
Another float with another dancer |
Dancer from the Parrot Float in Boi Bumba Festival |
Male dancers at Boi Bumba |
Maybe my favorite costume in Boi Bumba |
Cast members make numerous costume changes during the Boi Bumba Folk Show |
The Shaman is an important character in the Boi Bumba Festival |
Time to meet the Boi Bumba performers |
So many feathers in this costume |
Susan with Boi Bumba performers |
Name of one of two Boi Bumba clubs is Whimsical Ox |
Posing with dancer after the Boi Bumba Folk Show |
Susan with Boi Bumba dancers |
Bill has the bulls by the tails in Parintins, Brazil |
I Love Parintins Sign |
Statues in Parintins pay tribute to the Amazon culture |
Monument to the Black Presence in Parintins |
Small park in Parintins, Brazil |
Official store of Boi Bumba Team Caprichoso in Parinitns |
Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Parintins |
Mural on the wall around Parish of Sacred Heart |
Street market in Parintins on the Amazon River |
View of Parintins from our balcony on ship |
Tower of Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Parintins, Brazil |
Our Lady of Carmen in front of the 'Bumbodromo' |
Sunset on the Amazon |
Compass Rose Dining Room with Joe & Vicki |
Anchored near Santarem on the Amazon |
The Amazon joins the Rio Tapajos at Santarem, Brazil |
Rivers joining is called 'Wedding of the Waters' |
Ferry boats docked in Santarem, Brazil |
Santarem is a city of 306,500 in Amazon state of Parantins |
Santarem was founded by the Portuguese in 1661 |
Interesting phone booth in Santarem, Brazil |
Hammocks for sale at an outdoor market in Santarem |
Metropolitan Cathedral of Santarem (1819) |
Stained glass in Santarem Cathedral |
Stained glass in Santarem Cathedral |
Park in Santarem, Brazil |
Cardboard on motorcycles to protect the seats from the sun |
Fisherman's Square in Santarem |
First Baptist Church in Santarem |
Santarem street leads down to the Tajapos River |
Fish Statue along the Santarem boardwalk |
Country Fair Day onboard RSSC Navigator |
RSSC band performing at Country Fair |
Each department has a unique game to play |
Housekeeping Department Booth |
Tony at Boutique staff booth |
Wait Staff game booth |
Kitchen Staff game booth |
Deck Staff game booth |
Bill getting ready at Entertainment Staff Booth of Country Fair |
Bill's swinging at Country Fair |
Only one bottle left standing |
7v1l - We have a winner.jpg |
Post-game drink at the Pool Bar |
Mark Preston (from the Lettermen) and his wife,Michelle Murlin (Broadway star) |
Best Production Show of the cruise |
On the pier at Martinique with Fort Saint Louis behind them |
On the pier at Martinique with Fort St. Louis in the background |
Driving through the Martinique countryside |
Martinique is considered a region of France |
Touring the island of Martinique |
Visiting DePaz Rum Distillery in Martinique |
DePaz Castle with Mount Pelee (active volcano) in the background |
'Depaz Castle' (1920) is replica of a 1651 home on the Depaz Rhum Distillery property |
Old Waterwheel at Depaz Rum Distillery |
Depaz Rum is distilled from Sugar Cane |
'Dore' Depaz Rum is aged for a year in oak barrels |
Sugar Cane field at Depaz Rhum Distillery |
Martinique is a mountainous island |
Sheep outside Le Bambou Restaurant |
Curious 'kid' at our lunch stop |
Flower arrangement in Le Bambou Restaurant |
Costus plant in Le Bambou garden |
Flamingo Flower in Le Bambou garden |
Large snail in Le Bambou Restaurant Garden |
Hiking trail and bathing stream Martinique |
In Balata Gardens in Martinique |
Watching hummingbirds in Balata Gardens |
Hummingbird on feeder in Balata Gardens |
Nile Tilapia in Lily Pond in Balata Gardens |
Flamingo flowers in Balata Gardens in Martinique |
On the suspension bridge over Balata Gardens |
Suspension Bridge around Balata Gardens has 8 sections |
View of Balata Gardens from suspension bridge |
View of Caribbean Sea from Balata Garden suspension bridge |
Susan chose not to go on the suspension bridge |
Leaving Balata Gardens |
Balata Church is a miniature version of the Sacre-Coeur in Paris |
Balata Church was built in 1923 |
Balata Church prepared for Palm Sunday |
Balata Church Altar |
Under the Dome in Balata Church in Martinique |
View from outside of Balata Church in Martinique |
Hillside homes in Martinique |
Fort-de-France is the capital city of Martinique |
Fort Saint Louis was rebuilt in 1669 |
First look at the island of St. Maarten from our balcony on the cruise ship |
Docked in Philipsburg--capital of (Dutch) St. Maarten |
Damage still remains from 2017 Hurrican Irma on St. Martin |
Entering the French side of St. Martin |
Methodist Church on French st. Martin |
Driving around St. Martin |
Cactus & Salt Pond on St. Martin |
Iguana on cactus in St. Martin |
Nice homes and apartments on St. Martin |
House for rent on St. Martin |
Yachts in the Marina of Marigot (capital of French St. Martin) |
Marigot is the French capital on nothern side of St. Martin |
Shopping at the Sunday Market in Marigot, St. Martin |
Nice apartments in the shadow of 1789 Fort St. Louis in Marigo |
Bill found a peg-leg pirate in Marigot, St. Martin |
Turquoise waters of the Caribbean |
4 flags of St. Maarten at Dutch Border |
Returning to the Dutch side of St. Maarten |
Car rental on St. Maarten |
Drawbridge opens 3 times per day for boats |
Boarding tour boat to ride around Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Boat includes open bar and calypso music |
Life on the Dutch side Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Sailboats on the Dutch side of Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Susan on back of top deck of our tour boat |
Coast Guard boat on Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Yacht named Baton Rouge on Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Yachts anchored in Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Simpson Bay Bridge separates Dutch St. Maarten from French St. Martin |
Passing under Simpson Bay Bridge to the French side |
Boats on the French side of Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Boats on Simpson Bay Lagoon with Marigot in the background |
Many boats anchor permanently on French side of St. Martin for tax purposes |
Les jardins de Bellevue is a hotel on the French side of St. Martin |
Doing the YMCA on the party boat |
Iguanas on the dock at Simpson Bay Lagoon |
Back in Philipsburg, St. Maarten |
First time I've seen a Cheese and Liquor Store |
Ships docked in Dutch St. Maarten |
Theater prepared for Palm Sunday Worship Service aboard the RSSC Navigator |
Palm Sunday Service on RSSC Navigator |
Crew member singing "Splish Splash" on Crew Talent Night |
Crew Talent Night parody of "tacky tourists" |
Crew talent night |
"Tinikling" is the traditional Filipino stick dance |
Crew member doing a really good Santana |
YMCA at Crew Talent Night |
Getting the audience involved in the YMCA |
Grand finale of the Crew Talent Show |
Farewell to the crew of the RSSC Navigator |
Early Morning arrival in Miami, FL |
Last look at Miami before leaving for the airport |