Monday, Day 114 - Apr 30 - overnight to 5pm, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Beginning of Sixth and Last Segment

By the time we get up everyone is off the ship! Today is change over day, the last one for us. The next one will be our turn to get off.

Dick‘s knees are still very tender this morning so he plans to stay on the ship and give them a rest. Carolyn is taking the free H. Stern transfer to their showroom like we did the last time we were here. Then she will ask them to do a scenic driving tour back to the ship along the beaches and through old town.

We sleep in a little and go as late as we can to breakfast. Carolyn gets her stuff together and goes to the terminal about 11AM for the transfer to H. Stern.

At the store, the sales lady shows her numerous trays of earrings but nothing really calls out “buy me” until the last tray of goodies which contains a really unusual pair of earrings....”sold.”  Of course the sales lady would love for her to buy more but that does it. Purchase in hand she goes to the reception area and arranges for a private car back to the ship by way of Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches, Flamingo Park, below Sugar Loaf, where all the yachts moor and through the old historic part of Rio.

The driver doesn’t speak English but Carolyn tells the receptionist what she wants and it is relayed to the driver. He starts off like we came, so Carolyn shows him the map and the route she wants to take. He seems to understand and shows the way he can go on her map. We agree and drive on. It works out really well with the driver stopping at points of interest for Carolyn to take pictures while he talks about the stop in Portuguese and a word or two of English or just pointing at the map. First we drive through Ipanema which is a bee hive of activity today with all the shops and cafés open and everyone on holiday. Next we head to the beach in the Copacabana area, Rio's widely celebrated stretch of crescent beach. Copacabana is an area that was separated from the rest of Rio de Janeiro until a tunnel was built to connect them in 1892. Over the years, Copacabana rapidly grew around luxurious landmarks such as the famed Copacabana Palace, which is now considered a national monument. Later, the waterfront thoroughfare, Avenue Atlantica, was expanded, and a nearly 3-mile-long mosaic walkway was built along the beach in a black-and-white wave motif. The beach at Copacabana is full of sun worshipers today. Carolyn sees children playing soccer, retirees lounging under umbrellas, families frolicking in the surf, and people of all ages walking up and down the shoreline for miles and, of course, the famed Copacabana Palace Hotel. We drive by exotic Praia Vermelha, also referred to as Red Beach and located near Urca Hill, location of the first ascent on the way to the summit of Sugar Loaf or Pão de Açucar. It rises as a massive granite cone at the entrance of Guanabara Bay. There is short climb to the top of Urca Hill which sits at 650 feet. Then the second breathtaking ride to the 1,200 ft. summit of Sugar Loaf. From high atop the mountain one has stunning views of the city and surrounding beaches.

Finally the driver goes through the nicely restored area of colonial building near the old historic waterfront and Ruins Park. The driver is able to drop Carolyn almost at the door of the terminal so her walk isn’t too bad to get on the ship. Dick is reading on the balcony when she gets back about 2:30PM. The La Veranda is open late today because of embarkation so Dick goes with her for something to eat.  

Back at the Port

Rio has a bad reputation, but it is so much cleaner than seven years ago. There are very few homeless seen on the streets and the streets are clean and full of families and business people doing their thing. There are a few police out and about, but nothing like there were a few days ago in Buenos Aries. Buenos Aries was a little bit scary with lots of police on the streets. One actually stopped us and cautioned us about how Dick was holding his camera when we were walking to San Telmo Square!

All aboard is 4PM and the Muster Drill is at 4:15PM. This cruise looks like an old folks home at the muster drill with all the wheelchairs, walkers and canes lined up in the Stars Lounge! The average age went up big time on this change over.

We sail on time at 5PM. We settle in comfort on our balcony with cocktails to watch the event. The Captain has a little problem with some suction against the pier, but he finally breaks free with lots of thruster power!. The sun sets on us as we sail out of Rio and we have a spectacular sunset sail away. Sugar Loaf and a lighted Christ the Redeemer are silhouetted against a blazing sky!!! We sit out until it is full dark and the city lights are all that mark the shore line. A lifetime memory!

We have another light dinner in Compass Rose tonight. We have got to cut out eating at 3PM in the afternoon! Dick goes on to bed, but Carolyn goes to the movie, “The Shape of Water.”  Boy is it ever weird!