Monday January 15 - Parentins, Brazil

 We're anchored near Parentins today.  The Captain warned that this is our trickiest tendering to date and advised those with mobility issues to NOT go ashore.  It is a small town and while it would be nice to have a local lunch on shore, I'm not risking it.  

In 2019 I was on a cruise and while walking on deck, I fell and broke my leg.  I spent 3 days with only Tylenol for pain, having to step on the broken leg to get to the toilet.  Then 10 days in a hospital in Italy, followed by a flight home that involved giving myself injections in my belly to avoid blood clots.  Then, six months of bed/wheelchair/walker.  I do not want to ever do that again.  A woman fell on this ship a few days ago and had to get off to head to the hospital in Manaus.  I wish her a speedy recovery.

I'm planning a relaxing day.  Drawing on the balcony, with a view.  Reading on the balcony.  A trip to the sauna for a different type of heat than the balcony.  Life is so very good.

And now, photos!

Wake-up view

You can usually find me on the balcony, watching the sun rise

There are no roads here.  The river is the road

“But of all the water's secrets, he saw today only a single one-one that struck his soul. He saw that this water flowed and flowed, it was constantly flowing, and yet it was always there; it was always eternally the same and yet new at every moment! Oh, to be able to grasp this, to understand this!”Hesse, Siddhartha

More nature photography!  Those white specks are birds

Sorry, I can't carry my stateroom.  Don't you hate it when you find an editing error AFTER you hit "publish"

I keep thinking of what my life would have been like, had I been born here

More nature photography.  This little guy was scooting along my balcony.  He appeared to have a smaller guy in his mouth

And then the rains came

I have a reserved table for breakfast and dinner in the MDR.  This morning, Gus was ready.  He'd brought juice and was ready with coffee when I arrived.  The service on HAL, as usual, has been amazing.  While Gus was serving me the decadent Swedish Pancakes, Mario and Rony were busy cleaning my cabin.  How will I fend for myself when I go home?  How many guys will it take to drag me, kicking and screaming, off the ship?

I hope I never have to use a tender with 149 others as a lifeboat

Love the built-in glass lights on tables in the Ocean bar.  Or Pinnacle bar.  Whatever, they're in some bar

Taking a quick break to enjoy the view

No, thanks

This is my second cruise on the Zuiderdam.  But the first time I noticed that the colors change on these small pieces of art

Nora, this one's for you

We're using local double-deckers for tenders today.  I have no idea why

Fresh flowers is a much appreciated luxury

The lifeboat to passenger ratio seems off.  70 PAX, 2 lifeboats

We're dining on Brazilians tonight?  No wonder Brazil made it so hard to get a visa

SHARK!  Kidding, it's a log.  But, did you know there are sharks in the Amazon River?

Just me or does this boat seem to be riding a bit low in the water?