At Sea to Barbados

Tuesday February 27, 2018



Viking Sky

Well, we’ve  been at sea for four days, so thought I would do an update on our ship.  Most know Viking for their river trips, long flat boats carrying 150-200 passengers, doing mostly European rivers.  Well, recently they entered the “Cruise” ship market, with five active ships operating and 10 planned.  These ships are smaller, ie; 950 passengers  vrs the larger cruise                               ships in the 3-4,000 passenger range,

                                                                                                                  



Theater

Also, the Viking included amenities are considerable.  Their passenger to crew ratio  is 2:1 vrs the larger cruise ships 3:1.  Pampered, but not to the point of irritation.  Also things like included Spa, steam room, sauna, hot tubs, Thermal pool, fitness center, outdoor deck pool,  and believe it or not a “snow room”.  Also, wine is served freely at lunch and dinner, and I don’t mean a glass or two.  It’s pretty much all you want.  Good quality as well.   No abuses noted.

 The theater is a masterpiece with individual swivel chairs as well as bench seating.  Good views from anywhere.  Numerous educational programs throughout the day.

Casual Reading Area

Dining of course abundant with three private seating restaurants at no extra cost, (one fine dining), room service no charge,  and of course the traditional cruise ship buffet.  All food has been very good.

Piano Entertainment

All rooms outside balcony, no inside rooms.  Heated bathroom floors if wanted.  Large king size beds.  Large flat size TV with 24/7 programing, news, movies, etc., no charge.  Free WIFI throughout ship.

Bottom line, we feel best cruise ship ever been on.

Amazon to Manaus

 

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Merging Waters with Amazon

Last night set sail for Manaus, Brail, arriving at noon. 
Noted the convergence of tributaries to the Amazon.
Amazon the "muddy brown" because of its powerful current.

Arriving Manaus Port

Manaus is the largest, most secluded, and furthest city along the Amazon.  Over 2 million people, mostly developed by Amazon forest tribes, still representing many cultural tribal beliefs.  Primarily assessable by boat or plane, with only one road leading to Venezuela.   A tour of the city certainly shows a very low standard of living.  Historic markets, street vendors, etc.  Fishing is by far the most dominant market,  locals eat fish seven days a week. Some 25 languages spoken.  Our local tour guide was born in the forest tribe, calls himself the “black sheep” one of twenty children in his family.  Left tribe at 14 years old under the adoption of a missionary family from Texas.  Speaks English, but sometimes hard to follow.  Tour bus to their "Opera House", appears the only highlight of the city.

Opera House

 

Friday, February 23, 2018

Still at dock in Manaus, so Bill and I decided to go to the downtown market for a walking tour.  Very busy market place. 

Market

Looked like mostly locals shopping, so Bill and I stand out like a sore thumb.  Lots of vendors hustling everything you can imagine, most notably a young lady hustling the “oldest profession on earth”.   Must have hit the “red district”.

Back to ship for lunch and a free afternoon at port. Noted the loading of a "very large fish" just below our deck.  Catch of the day? 

Catch of the day?  6', 200 lbs.

Ship departs 5:00 pm prox.  Then four straight days at sea along the Amazon.  No scheduled stops until Caribbean sea, ie; Barbados scheduled for Feb 28.  That will have been 10 days on the Amazon with only a few hours of sunlight.  As our tour guide says, it is the “Rainy Season”.  They rather enjoy the cool rains.  As he says, the seasons are “Hot & Hotter”.

Enjoyable exploration and wonderful ship accommodations, but probably not a trip we would repeat.

Amazon to Parintins

Monday February 19, 2018

After leaving Grenada, we were to sail one day to French Guiana, a three island French colony used primarily to house French criminals on the famous “Devil’s Island.(remember the film “Papillon”).   Anyway, strong winds and high seas prevented this anchorage, only available by tender.  So, to our disappointment, another two days at sea to Brazil.

The Mighty Amazon

Arriving at 8:00 am, Macapa’, Brazil is the northern channel entrance to the Amazon River.  It is the official clearance to ships for custom clearance.  We must anchor at the entrance for clearance of all passengers’ passports and VISA’s.  We will be here two hours then get underway on the Amazon to our first port of call, docking at Santare’m, Brazil  8:00am, Tues February 20, 2018.  Our River adventure begins.  We just crossed the Equator, and are now official “Shellbacks”, and worthy of celebration ceremony.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Well, in route to Santare’m  along the Amazon, you quickly realize how massive this river is, while second in the world to the Nile in length, it is by far the worlds largest volume of fresh water with over 350 tributaries feeding it.  The speed of the water flow is strong and carries a very brown chocolate color from soil erosion.

Piranha "sharp teeth"

Stilt House

Slouth tree habitat

Docking in Santarem at 8:00am, we begin a very busy tour day.  First, fishing for “Piranha” on lake Maica.  While fishing for these very “sharp toothed” fish, the highlight was the trip there and back.  Nearly four hours worth of sightseeing navigation.  No roads, everything must be arrived by boat.  Dweller’s live in stilted shacks.  This is the rainy season, so rain expected daily.  Summer is dry and very hot, 100 degr plus.  Many wildlife sightings, the most unusual being a “Slouth”.

Brazil Nut (18 per pod)

Afternoon tour was on bus thru the city and rural area.  Very poor area and probably makes Mexico living look good.   Stopped at a Brazil Nut processing establishment.  Taste and demo.  Then a Latex rubber tree harvest. 

Rubber Tree (Latex)

Also tree root harvest, ground, squeezed dry, powdered sold as a carbohydrate grain.  Lots of fruit processing as well.  All done very primitively.

Tree root Carbohydrate Grain (drying)
 

A very full and interesting day.  Not a place I would want to live!

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Overnight travel along the river to Parintins.  City sits on the convergence of four rivers, showing the power of the Amazon.   Tendered into town for a theatrical show known as “Boi Bumba”.  

Local "High Energy" show

An amazing colorful high energy performance of costumes, music, drums, dancing, a Carnival type atmosphere.  It was an awesome show telling the story of the “resurrected bull”.

After the show, we did a short self guided walking tour of the village.  Typical island shops and again shows a very poor standard of living.  Back to the ship for a 5 pm departure.

Viking to Grenda

 

Sunday February 11, 2018

Another adventure journey.  Left Miami, Fl today on Viking Cruise ship “Sky”, heading for the Amazon River, Brazil.   Ship is fairly new with lots of amenities.   Nice size, around 950 passengers  vrs  the 3-4,000 typical cruise ships.  Sailing along the East Cuba coast in route to Grenada, St. George.   Fairly brisk breeze and moderately rough seas.  Several days before we enter the Amazon.

Wisconsin Friends

Joining us are Wisconsin friends, Bill & Judy Hesser and Ken & Marcia Rasmussen.  Met on ship shortly before departure.      Three week trip, so we will have lots of time to connect.  Good food of course and lots of activities.  Three days at sea before our first port of call, Grenada.

Docking Grenda

Second day sailing along the coast of Haiti and Puerto Rico.  Still rough seas.  Soon to make the cut into the Caribbean towards Granada, quieter seas we hope.

Harbor View Grenada

Thurs February 15, 2018





Steel Band Welcome

Three days at sea, now arriving in Grenada, 8:00am.  AM went ashore for a brief self guided walking tour of the market area.  Lots of memories as we were here back in the 80’s for a very memorable sailing trip.  PM took a guided tour of the island, lots of views overlooking the harbor we once sailed out of.  Great island of natural beauty and of course the harvest of spices and nut neg.  Back to the ship for an 8:00pm departure.


Viking Course