From Rio on December 16 to December 30 and our flight to Toronto

I am happy to have you along for the balance of our cruise from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Buenos Aires, Argentina and back to Rio on December 30 and our flights to Sao Paulo and then Air Canada back to YYZ. 

Cauliflower shape and Caviar Y

Carlos Paez Vilaro himself

View compliments of Carlos Paez Vilaro

Carlos Paez Vilaro Castle in Uruguay

A little lamb dinner for Terryl on board Azamara

John Pennza our guide in Rio de Janeiro

High above the city of Rio de Janeiro

Helicopter not needed, we're high enough

Terryl and Sugar Loaf

We're at the same elevation as this plane

The inside of a Church from floor to ceiling that looks like 25 stories high in downtown Rio

Our tour guide for Rio is John Pennza who looks like an older Bjorn Borg the tennis star at the end of the 1970’s and 80’s. When we mentioned that he responded in perfect English, “Thank you, in my younger days I did quite well with the ladies.”

While we cruised through the streets of Rio he provided a comprehensive guide for five hours in comfortable bus and sound system—not always the case especially when you hire the escort without the help of the Cruise Line.

December 18, 2022 I attended a Lecture by Anita Morin on Buenos Aires Architecture “Is Buenos Aires the Paris of South America?” asked by Albert Einstein

In early 1800’s they built a wall at the beach in BA.

336 San Martin is home of first President looked like a wall built around the home

She compares Paris with Buenos Aires. In the 1800’s they where not alike.

In 1925 it had been transformed. Then came Hausman renovated Paris 1863 to 1870.

New Infrastucture In BA with organized streets, wide boulevards, parks and Monuments.

In BA yellow fever 1871 closed businesses and many people left BA if they could afford it.

Four Things needed change: money, political Influence, opportunity and motivation

Mayor of Buenos Aires is Toccata de Alvear 1850 to 1867.

Beaux Arts Architecture, Opera House, hierarchy, flat roof, with a famous building Casa Rosado.

Haussman Apartments are pictured. The floors get smaller as you go up the four floors because there are NO Elevators.

The Chamfered Corner is one that is greater than 90 degrees at the corner with rounded edges just like our Flat Iron Building.

The Obelisk in BA like Paris and Washington.

Waterways. In Paris the Eiffel is close to the water as is in BA

Development of the waterfront in BA.

The Lecture is done while the majority of our fellow passengers are in front of a television somewhere on board which leads me to the moment that demands all of our attention; and that is:

There is an interruption to our cruise routine that I will not ignore. It’s the WORLD CUP of football. The games have been played before we sailed on November 30 right up to yesterday when the 3rd place Morocco team beat Croatia. Today the final is happening right now in Azamara’s Cabaret giant screen between Argentina and France. Two seconds ago Argentina scores its second goal. The crowd goes wild. The people of Argentina are glued to their devices that deliver the news and photos of these National Heroes. 

Right after Argentina’s second goal

With two minutes left in regulation time France scores two goals to tie the game at 2 all. It’s 14:09 Dec 18 and we’re on pins and needles in overtime. Two guys stand up and our crowd yells SitDown! The first extra time is completed without a goal. MESSI scores. Eight minutes to go. France scores on a free kick penalty. It’s tied again.

Two teams huddle with France's coach’s bursting jugular veins in full view. 
It is a kick off to determine the winner of the World Cup. 

France scores first. Messi ties it. 
France misses on the next. Argentina scores. 
France misses again. Argentina scores again. 
France scores this time. Argentina scores again and 
WINS the World Cup with a 4 to 2 margin in the Kick Off.
Reported by A. McPope long before NYT and Washington Post at 14:40 December 18, 2022 only 300 miles away from Argentina in the Atlantic. 

(December 19) Azamara tossed out the fore and aft anchors at 08:00 one thousand metres away from the sandy beaches of Punta Del Este, Uruguay. But first we’ll wind up yesterday after the Big World Cup win by Argentina. The celebrations on board were low-key as if it was time to get back to cruising, tanning, drinking, eating and being entertained. And we did. 

We met a charming lady traveling alone from York in the UK at the Den’s bar at 18:00 who was quick to tell us her airline left all of her luggage in Paris, and that it wasn’t expected to show up in Buenos Aires until December 22. She was forced to purchase a pile of necessities in Rio de Janeiro and was handling the ordeal quite well now that the shock had subsided. We invited her to join us and she politely thanked us and mentioned she had met two single men who asked first.

We had a delightful meal, didn’t win the lottery in the Pursuit’s shops, had two perfect seats in the theatre watching the Singers and Dancers perform some oldies but goodies, and went to sleep around 23:30.

We joined Sandy and Cathy for an Ala Carte Breakfast and agreed to go ashore via Tender at 10:00 and share a taxi to take us around Punta del Este for a couple of hours. This is a fairly large city with suburbs filled with excellent roads, plenty of High Rises on the beach all sporting beautiful flowers and landscaped yards. There may be some poorer areas in this city but this time we did not see them. Instead we stopped at Carlos Paez Vilaro’s Atelier in Casapueblo. His castle is white and sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean with its narrow steps leading to a maze of rooms filled with artists' work. We do have pictures of this area which is situated at the mouth of the river leading to Montevideo in Uruguay and west to the great city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tomorrow we will dock at Buenos Aires and stay docked for 36 hours. Sandy and Cathy asked us to join them for a four hour driving tour where we may stop at any time to smell the World Cup Champion's roses and any other delights that these people are enjoying at this time in their history.

The beach walk at Punta del Este

Modern Condos in Punta del Este

Giant fingers jutting out of sand at Punta del Este

A rough ocean on the beach of Punta del Este

(December 20) dawns and we are docked at Buenos Aires. This date finds the Argentinian people in one joyous mood across their abundant land, so happy that 12/20/2022 has been declared a National Holiday. The Celebration is their homecoming of Argentina’s World Cup winning Football team from Qatar. 

We left the ship at 10:00 in a large Van complimented by an articulate tour guide who speaks four language very well and three languages well enough to provide regular employment in her field. Carolina took care of everything we needed to know and do in Buenos Aires this morning. As soon as our bus left the Port Area we were greeted by young people singing and dancing along their many chosen routes wearing Argentina’s jerseys and Lionel Messi’s #10 printed on their backs and capes. Many of BA’s magnificent boulevards had closed down to allow the people to walk, run or stumble around in a wild and happy bliss celebrating their great win in Qatar against France. The local press announced that the marching fans number in the millions. 

Our tour took us around and through the entire city on roads that allowed vehicular traffic. However we bumped into many delirious fans as these streets crossed over. The crush of people could have caused some damage but we didn’t hear or see of it. All in, it was a magnificent day to be in Buenos Aires. 

The following morning we jumped on the Azamara complimentary shuttle bus to get off at ‘Florida Street’ to do a little shopping. Sandy and I grabbed the first canvas backed chair with table and had a cold one; Terryl and Cathy were in heaven with all sorts of vendors in front of their shops barking encouragement to enter their place of business. To give an example of a financial transaction purchasing a dress that sells for $11,000 Argentinian Pesos one can take 1% of that number and then half of that number and arrive at 55. Therefore, one can purchase that dress for $55 US dollars or less. The economy in Argentina, not so many years ago, would have its people sell that dress at $55 Argentinian Pesos which was at par to $55 US at that time. Carolina provided these facts to us. 

Buenos Aires is still called the Paris of South America because of its architecture, but its economy is a wreck at this time in their history. I hope this can change to not only give them World Class Footballers but a much better life for their 40 Million population. 

Buenos Aires tourists and Sculpture

University of BA majoring in Law

Eva Peron

Government building under 24 hour guard

Could this be Bogart?

Cathy, Carolina and Terryl

What's this?

Street metallic art

((December 22) brings us to dock at Montevideo, Uruguay. It is blazing hot as Azamara parks beside MSC a giant of a ship, and a Celebrity ship arrives here just ahead of us. We leave our ship at 10:00 and hop on a Bus Shuttle for three minutes and follow the green paint on the path leading to the crowd who saunter along looking at the stuff displayed on the quickly pitched covered tables. 

A nice three-wheeler for a front lawn

Some Dog made from some nuts and bolts

I don't know

The above photos are fun little bits of art on the walking street toward a shopping area where I found a little table and chair to enjoy a cerveza in the shade. Terryl marched on and returned in 45 minutes. At which point we returned to the ship. 

The evening was all about Azamara’s night time entertainment at the theatre starting at 20:00 where we  enjoyed their AzAmazing entertainment:

That's Terryl

The Theatre--looking like Vienna Opera House

Costumes and masks for everyone 

The Leader of the Group performing at AzAmazing Evening

The show was filled with fun and artistic singers, dancers, gymnasts, colourful costumes and sets that bring the splendour of it all to you and me: another AzAmazing night.

The young people performing for us appeared genuine and grateful for our participation in an art form that permeates South America. I believe a large portion of that passion comes from the religion they brought to this continent--unthinkably in chains and terror--over 150 years ago. I'm told that this region was quite wealthy during its best days but now, it's a different story that I am not equipped to discuss.

Tonight we sail north toward São Paulo, Brazil.  

(December 23) It's another very hot day in Montevideo and our activity level--as they say in the Excursion Brochure--(mild, moderate, strenuous)--is very mild. We plan a very low key day that includes a late breakfast, a late lunch, an early dinner and a little entertainment provided by Emily Love singing some memorable songs in the Cabaret at 21:00 with about five alcoholic drinks carefully dispensed over these last twelve hours, and then to sleep.

A wee ship floats alongside us

The ship graveyard in Montevideo is getting smaller

It’s Christmas Eve

The Ship's Graveyard in Montevideo 

This one was planted on four slabs of  concrete

(December 24) The Captain had told us that the weather heading north was going to be rougher than we had sailed through to date. He was right about that and the sea did toss us around a wee bit and promised to continue and then gradually subside. It's Christmas Eve and our singers and dancers hosted a night of Christmas Carols in the theatre.

(December 25) brought all manner of kindness and well wishes from everyone we met. Terryl and I had exchanged gifts earlier and got dolled up for The Christmas Day Brunch in the Main Dining Discoveries Restaurant at 10:00 sharp. The Ham had not a cut in it when we arrived. I have some photos of the feast. The waiters arrived with drinks of sparkling wine and orange juice, cappuccinos in hand and warm wishes for a Merry Christmas. We seated ourselves at the Honeymoon Table at the very aft overlooking a strong wake and a lovely view. Soon the restaurant started to fill and at 10:45 Terryl had an appointment to model jewelry at an 11:15 fashion show [we have pictures to follow]. I arranged a front row seat just for the occasion. The organizers arranged a bit of a rehearsal in the Shop area and the show began on time with Terryl on first, whose on second really doesn't matter does it my loyal readers; and A Star Is Born:

Immediately after the show Jewelry Sales went through the roof

I made the first cut into this gorgeous Ham

Christmas Day dinner was as fine a meal as I've had in a restaurant. Mine was a small plate of shrimp with a fabulous sauce decorated with what looked like a slice beet that after tasting was finely sliced pear, which was followed by Clam Chowder with a taste that will drive me back to my recipes that need additional work. My main was Grilled Lobster Tail with very tiny cuts of several vegetables with a tip of Fennell enhancing the look and feel of this wonderful plate of food with a desert of Christmas Pudding to round out the meal all complemented by a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon.

(December 26) we dock in Santos a large city right beside an even larger metropolis São Paulo, Brazil. Azamara Cruise Lines have arranged a Bus Shuttle every 30 minutes to a rather large five story shopping mall. We didn't expect much from our two hour visit into Santos so we were not disappointed. However, I did pick up a belt to hold up my golf pants for $49 Brazilian Pesos ($13.00 Canadian) on my return to Canada now only four days from now. 

IIHABELA, Brazil

(December 27) Our ship has tossed anchors and the passengers begin going ashore to IIHABELA, Brazil around 09:30. As of this writing we are taking a pass on the tender. We enjoyed a nice but light breakfast and Terryl has returned to our cabin and I to my regular chair and table in the Drawing Room.

With only two days and three nights remaining on this cruise Terryl will begin to sort her clothing in two piles: a) that that will be given away and,  b) that that will be squeezed into two Carry Ons and one handbag and returned to Toronto. Everything I brought with me will be squeezed and vacuum sealed—plus two nice shirts, one hat, one Brazilian Apron, one Citizen Watch (powered by any type of light source)—and placed into one Carry On and one Hand Bag under the seat of a 737 from Rio to São Paulo and a 787 from São Paulo to Toronto. Good luck is all we need.

Father David Arnoldt joined us for a drink in The Den last night followed by dinner in the Dining Room. David who is four months younger than me grew up in Minnesota, spent 20 years as Catholic Chaplain in the US Army and resides one mile away from The Masters outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Just before he joined us Rabbi Arthur sat down to tell us a few stories which were very funny and fit nicely into our conversation. He told us that he was the happiest man alive and asked us to gaze upon a photograph: his wife. Two nights ago Rabbi Arthur knocked them out at the Karaoke in the Living Room. David is slim and Arthur is portly who could have been a guest star on the Jerry Seinfeld Series. They were guests of Azamara over the Christmas and Hanukkah season. A nice addition I thought at this time of year.

(December 28) The Azamara Pursuit tosses anchors 30 minutes away from our penultimate port of call: PARATY, Brazil. Unfortunately it’s a rainy day. We still took the tender into this village and walked a little before deciding to head back to our ship. Here are a few shots of the short trip to Paraty:

The rain clouds are hanging low today

It’s a Dingy of some kind transporting the locals

Our Dingy they call a Tender (1 of 9 on board)

A Party Boat alongside sending greetings to our Ship

 

Just a wee island out of nowhere

Tonight is White Night on this cruise. Just like before there will be a BBQ on the Pool Deck followed by music, dancing and plenty of noise.

(December 29) the last full day on board brings us to a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Need we say more? These shots found their way to the top of this post. I wonder how that happened?

(December 30) (Happy Heavenly Birthday to our sister Joan who passed in April, 2021) 

We walked off the ship docked at Rio with our baggage in hand, went to the taxi area and negotiated the right price with three intelligent young men, hopped in and arrived to be met by the guys who wished to be our Porter and polish my deck shoes before we take them on and pay them for their service. 

GOL Airline's 737 was on time and we took off for São Paulo on a very rough ride.

Air Canada's 777 was also on time and surprised us with two J Class seats to Toronto and that too was a very rough ride. I asked an FA about the rough ride and was told significant air turbulence in this area is common. Our bags made it on the 777 as well and a Uber Driver was right there to take us home at 07:00 December 31, 2022.

Por enquanto, meus amigos.

GARY MCDONALD and TERRYL SMITH.