Day 28 January 31, 2016. Sea Day Enroute to São Tomé on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

Clocks went back last night 1 hour.  Yeah yeah.  A extra hour.  Thank you  I know we will be turning them ahead soon enough we are still 5 hours ahead of you.  Well the last 2 ports were not what I was expecting.  Learned quite a bit.  Men can have 1,2,5,10  wife's as long as he can afford them.  As many children too.  Education is free.  Everyone owns a motorcycle because they cannot afford a car.  A bike is 800.00.  Gas is cheap 1.00 a gallon. They throw everything on the ground lots of garbage.  You see black bags everywhere flying in the wind getting caught in the trees.  

 This morning there was a wonderful brunch set up in the grand dinning room.  We went at 11:30 and its 5:00 right now and we are still stuffed.

        Breads and pastries 

       Desserts

Champagne table

       Cheeses 

      Salmon or turkey

Fruits and more desserts

So today we sat out in the sun which is was very hot but there is a haze over the ocean from the Sierra Desert.  So the sun was hard to penetrate thru it.  We also walked 3 miles around the deck. Tonight at 6:30 we have reservations at the Toscana restaurant.  

Tonight entertainment is Bettine Clemen featuring Classical,Pop,Jazz and Ethnic music with her flute with stunning photography from around the world.  Should be good.

Thanks for coming along...and Happy Birthday Linda. Hope you had a great day.

"The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it" - Rudyard Kipling  

Day 27 Jan 30, 2016 ~ Cotonou Benin, West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean Explorer

Another new port for Bob and I.  We have heard that it could be a dangerous place to visit.  This is one of the places where thousands of African slaves were shipped to the Americas.  The French colonial influence is still prevalent here. Lots of French Restaurants here. One of the boulevard Saint-Michel, named after the one in Paris.  They also have a peppermint-striped Cotonou Cathedral.

A lot of Voodoo is also believed to be the city of origin.  We visited a sacred forest of gods where we saw statues and shrines to different gods, as well as plenty of plants and trees, and birds.  Many of the sculptures of gods were made from salvaged materials.  There was a rather surprising fertility god with a giant phallus.  I guess the fertilitly god explains the carved penis keychains we've seen at the markets, but I still didn't feel compelled to buy any of them....

This is another busiest slaves embarkation points in West Africa.  Another market today and for 2 days not we haven't seen the sun.  It's like a dust storm.  Or maybe burning somewhere and the smog just lingers.  People are so proud and very very friendly perfectly safe. 

                                     paid her a dollar for this picture.  The man in the background is a photo bomb

We walked 5 miles today back to the ship by 2:30

Tomorrow is a Sea Day yeah....Love them

Last night there was a Mexican Buffet very good.  Tonight's entertainer is The Classical Guitarist.

Thought for today

A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.- Moslih Eddin Saadi

Day 26 Jan 29, 2016 ~ Lome, Togo Continent of Africa

Land ahoy we have landed after crossing the Atlantic for 5 days.  We are finally in AFRICA. We kept quite busy.  But now we have finally arrived in West Africa.  Wedged between a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean Togo's convivial, beach rich capital of Lome has emerged from its colonial past as pure African.  As we disembarked this morning there were drummers, dancers, and stilt walkers in costume performing on the pier.  It was a lot warmer outside then from inside the ship and when we pulled out our cameras they fogged up.  Forgot to pull them out earlier and let them warm up.  Today we went to the Grand Marche which is their popular market place. The African market is very loud horns honking and people hard selling you stuff lots of pressure to buy.  Lots of Competition.  There dollar was 1usd to 600 of theirs.  So today we bought some more limes for our Beers and a black and gold scarf and some African material

                                 Judy being funny again....

The boys needed a beer 3.00usd for 2

she is even yelling everyone carries things on their heads

I think this a furniture store.  Sofa's anyone

Tomorrow is Cotonou, Benin

Nighty night

Day 25, January 28, 2016. SEA DAY our last 5/5. Enroute to Lome Togo AFRICA on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

Have to show you last nights pictures.  We had so much fun

The 6 of us started out listening to these wonderful Ladies called the "Ginger String Quartet"  sipping our drinks.  Then it was time to go to dinner at 7:30

J&P sitting ( Canadians from Vancouver).  Karen & Harold from Los Angeles on the left, Bob top and me bottom picture

Adavideo getting the bones out of Judy's sole

My dessert Lemon Chiffon. 100 calories 3 grams of fat.  Very lemony and light.

Bob's dessert lots of calories and fat.  But he can do that

This is where we are now.  Getting a lot closer....

Very cloudy morning but doing the sun today.  Yes we have sunscreen on. It almost was like sea fog.  We are now 5 hours ahead of Eastern time zone.  Getting harder to get out of bed.  Bob is loving it.

Tonight we have a party again in the Insignia Lounge and dinner with the Captain.  We are at table #19 in the Polo Restaurant, along with  240 ATW guest are going tonight.

Our invite.  Will write up about it tomorrow and tell you what Officer we get.

This morning was a great day for Big O points in golfing.  We now have 58 points.  Need 80 to get a sweatshirt or a t-shirt.

Thanks for coming along with us....

 "The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it" - Rudyard Kipling  

Nighty night 

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 24 January 27, 2016. 4th out of 5 SEA DAY Enroute to Lome, Togo on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

We are getting closer and I am getting so excited.  Finally the southern western part of Africa ...1 more sea day....
Last nights show was like the old Newlyweds Game.  Remember that show ?

It was so funny.  There was a younger couple with 34 years married and they were pretty well into the bag.  We laughed and Laughed.  
Typical morning today breakfast out on the very back in the fresh air.  

After that I never did see the sun.  I jumped from photo class to a fabric class.  Looking for fabric in the area we are hoping to check out some of these.  Just beautiful

I can see place mats and runners for the cottage.....

Bob went to a cooking show.  They cooked scallops with Risotto.  Never had made risotto before, and I don't think I will...long process.  A lot of stirring. We skipped lunch because we are getting together for drinks with J & P and a new couple we met named Karen & Harold.  They are a riot.  They are from  Los Angeles. Then dinner with all of them in our favorite section with Adevideo and Balentina.  Saw them this morning and they asked us where we were last night.  See they missed us.
Show tonight is the second show of the piano showman David Howarth with an all new show with his unique style and energy.  

Closing thought for tonight

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the  adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." – Jawaharal Nehru 

Day 23. January 26, 2016. 3rd SEA DAY out of 5 Enroute to Lom'e Togo on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

Another beautiful morning somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.  Warm 80 and rising.  Ocean temperature is warmer 83.  Truly amazing

We sat at a presentation to learn about the next few destinations.  Today the talk is about :  Colonou, Benin, upcoming ports.  Luke is a very good speaker.

Next we go back up to the 9 th floor for a "Country Fair". Different booths set up and games and prizes are given out.  The staff and crew present their version.  At exactly 11:00am the ship's horn will sound,signaling the start of the fair. Then the horn will sound once again at 11:45 all games will cease, and the drawings for the tickets will begin. We will see how well we do.

This is a pictures at 9 am before the set up

Bob participated in 18 events and I in 16.  So with 34 tickets in total we thought maybe just maybe we would have a slim chance in winning at least one draw.  Are you kidding.  Not our luck.  They were giving out leather luggage tags, champagne, spa certificates, messages, hats, visors.  Couldn't win anything.  It was sure fun trying thou.

I went to a photo transfer class this afternoon and OMG is this ever easy to do.  I think the hardest part was the cleanup.  T-shirts here we come.

Tonight is a Early Cabaret of " Magic & Music".  Featuring Steve and Tricia at 6pm.  The we get an Indian Dinner Buffet starting at 6:30.  We will skip the dinning room and do that instead.

Tonight's entertainment is a Love & Marriage Game show.  Should be funny.

Then at 11:00 there is Night Sky Viewing.  Then bed time

Closing thought tonight

""It's hard to be less than happy when you can be happy with less." ― Chris Brady

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 22 January 25, 2016 2nd out of 5 SEA DAYS Enroute to Lome, Togo on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

Well today we decided to get some sun out by the pool.  So from 1030 to 2 pm that we did.  Yep we both got a little pink today.  It was so nice just to relax today.
So at 3:30 I went back to the photographic class very popular class around 60 people.  Today's topic is :  Getting Creative Travel Photography Tip for Cruisers.  He is a very good at what he does but I can't follow him just way to fast for me. By the time I get my exposure set and my shutter speed adjusted, he is on another topic.
After the class I went back up to the cabin and had a glass of wine.  Then we went down to the Martini's bar and had a soda and watched Steve do some magic.  He's good with the slight of hand.
Dinner was awesome again.  I had the Sea Bass from the Red Ginger, and Bob had it as well.  We both are enjoy the fish so much here

Finally got a picture of Adavideo and Balatina from Romania and Bulrus.  We enjoy sitting at their table with other people every night.  They give us wonderful service and lots of smiles.
This was my appetizer tonight

It was escargot in these little pockets.  Very good

Tonight show was a classical guitarist named Costanza Savarese.  Her first time on a ship.  Google her.
Thanks for coming on our journey with us.  Hope it's not to cold down south and sure hope up north you didn't get all the snow that we are hearing about on the news.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 21 January 24, 2016. SEA DAY. En route to Lome, Togo on the Atlantic Ocean Exploration

We won't bore you with our day today, I just tell you it was very busy.  We lost an hour as well last night, so slot of people were sleeping in.

Little history this morning as we cross the Atlantic Ocean.

With 4 ports done in Brazil, we head across the Atlantic.

The Atlantic Ocean, the second largest of the earth's 4 oceans, and the most heavily traveled.  Only the Pacific Ocean is larger covering about twice the area of the Atlantic Ocean.  The Atlantic is divided into two nominal sections: The part north of the equator is called the North Atlantic; the part south of the equator, the South Atlantic. The ocean's name is derived from Atlas, one of the Titans of Greek mythology.  The Atlantic Oceans is essentially an S-shaped north south channel, extending from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Antarctic continent in the south and situated between the eastern coast of the American continents and  the western coasts of Europe and Africa.

The Atlantic Ocean proper has a surface area of about 82 million sq km (about 31,660,000 sq mi).  Including its marginal sea's - the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, the Arctic Ocean, and the North, Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black sea's, the total area is about 106,190,000 sq km (about 41 million sq mi).

The Atlantic Ocean has a average depth of 3,926 m (12,881 ft).  At its deepest point, in the Puerto Rico Trench, the bottom is 8,742 m (28,681 ft) below the surface.  The Atlantic receives the waters of many of the principal rivers of the world, among them are the mighty St. Lawrence, Mississippi, Orinoco, Amazon, Paran'a, Congo, Niger, and the Loire, and the rivers that emptying into the North, Baltic, and the Mediterranean seas.  The Atlantic is slightly more saline than the Pacific or Indian oceans because of the Mediterranean emptying out.

So tonight for they had a special South American Dinner in the Terrace Grill.  For a change we went up to it and it was wonderful.  Had some shrimp and a small piece of steak which was very very good. 

Had some of this for dessert.  The show last night was a cooking competition called  " Battle of the Chefs".  Very very funny.

Another sea day tomorrow.  Love them....

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.- Seneca

Day 20 Jan 23, 2016 ~ Recife, Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean Explorer

Recife is very colonial and colorful and nearby Olinda is very historical with its narrow and winding streets.  We visited the old Dutch Fort and lots of churches today.  Also visited one of the popular beaches.

 

"The city of Recife is the capital of Pernambuco and one of Brazil's largest metropolitan districts.  The modern cruise terminal does not offer Internet... The ship offers a free shuttle bus to a very large handicraft market which is in a old prison.  Each cell is turned into a store. 

This place is very walkable.  Hot and very humid make sure you take a lot of water with you. 

According to Jeff Goldberg that wrote the book "Take the High Road" A Primer For The Independent Traveller.  which I would recommend to anyone who looks to travel.  So much good information on it.  You can still find it at Amazon.com.

There is a long shorefront about 500 meters to the left of the cruise terminal forming the eastern border of Recife Antigo (Old Recife)  its called Centro de Artesanto de Pernambuco.  It is full of high quality handicrafts made from wood, leather, paper, texiles and so on.  Jeff's also says that there is a nice restaurant closest to the ship called Bistro & Boteco.  Great salads and Wifi (WLAN) which is so important these days.

Recife  is also famous for its beautiful beaches.  The white sand at Boa Viagem beach is among the world's best city beaches.  The name Recife means "Reef" and the area has numerous shipwrecks.  Some have also claimed that Recife is the Venice of South America and while there certainly are canals, it is not as romantic as one might think.  There is a really bad stench that is unbearable at times.  We walked past masses of people waiting for busses and many homeless who were drying clothes on the cement.  One man dropped his pants and urinated right in front of me on a lamp post. 

So you just never know what's around that corner

Next 5 days are Sea days as we cross the Atlantic Ocean.  Don't know how the internet will be once we get to Africa but will try and post something. For now stay safe and warm.