You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Apr 06, 2025 12:00 AM Memories of Praia
Yesterday in Praia I found the place on the coastal cliff where they built a monument of the pope John Paul the Second. JP2 was here in 2007 to pray with the locals... I have great respect to this pope - traveller not only because he was from Poland. This eas a great authority in today's corrupted world.
There is a nice view from the monument surrounded by the palms. Locals call this place Cruz de Papa, because there is also a big cross nearby.
To get there from the port you should walk first to the center of Praia. Then from Palacio Presidencial down to dirty Praia Gamboa and to climb by wide stairs the opposite hill. Ask the locals - they will help you to find the shortest way through the narrow streets. From the port it is 5,5 km one way....
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Apr 05, 2025 12:00 AM Praia - Cabo Verde
After 4 days in the ocean I reached Santiago island on Cabo Verde archipelago. Sunny day, but much cooler (23 deg Cel) that 3 days ago when we crossed equator. Costa company offers expensive transfer from the port to the city (12 euro RT). I am walking - it is mot too far, an you can see a lot on the way! Praia, where I am is a capital of Cabo Verde. After 20 years when I was here for the first time it looks more developed and... more European. But the vegetation is not as lush as in Brazil. I have good time... Next two days we will spend at sea heading to Tenerife on Canary Islands.
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Apr 03, 2025 12:00 AM My 46th captain..
Today I was invited for captain's cocktail... I had a honor to introduce myself to captain Stefano - see picture. He was surprised when I said that I visited 234 (all) countries and dependent teritories. - I haf only around 110 on my account!-said the captain. We had a good time with my mew friends from the ship. But the cocktail was awful! I asked to replace my glass with Cuba Libre! :)
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Apr 02, 2025 12:00 AM Crossing equator again...
Today in the night we crossed equator. But the Neptune came aboard to baptize newbies only at 11am. There was a lot of loud music and a fun!
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Mar 31, 2025 12:00 AM Pernambuco - bye bye Brazil!
I am again in Recife. The brass band with two dancers was welcoming us in the terminal. City map for everyone - they are well organized here! It is my last day in Brazil. Sorry - next 4 days we will be on the ocean - no news from me. I plan to uplapload something only in Cabo Verde!
Here is noce, hot weather and I will be wondering well known colonial streets and parks with plenty of tropical flowers - equator is very close!
It is also time to spend the rest of my Brazilian reais for rum or cachaca:). Let's go!
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Mar 30, 2025 12:00 AM Maceio - don't go to the city
I have been in this port twice, bot it was years ago! Today there are changes... They built elegant cruise terminal. Clean and full artizan stalls. From here they will take you to the port gate for free (It is enormous heat!). Off the port gate in the former port garage there is center for tourists with restaurants and shops. When I went of this place heading to the Imperador Street - cathedral and Peixoto Palace museum direction few policemen stopped me trying to express in their language that it is much better to go opposite direction - to the beach. What should I say? The beach is long and crowded with Brazilian families, picnicking with plenty of food and drink. The most picruresque accent is a dozen or two little sailboats for rent. So, in the Nordeste there are still cities no so safe - even during daylight!
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Mar 29, 2025 12:00 AM Black and hot: Salvador Bahia!
After yesterday's relaxing day at sea we are today in Salvador. It is my 5th visit to this attractive city placed on UNESCO wolrd heritage list. I like it's Afro-Brazilian folklore. It is nice to see how they year by year restore coloniall buildings and to walk well known route on the cobbled streets. Already at the pier the local drummers are waiting and playing to welgome visitors. But sorry - no city maps in the terminal (but wifi works!). One more exciting day! I met on the ship 4 people from Poland - it will be nice to spend some time together!
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Mar 27, 2025 12:00 AM Boarding Costa Pacifica
I pack my backpack again - I believe that my ship Is waiting for me somewhere in the huge Port of Santos. I know this ship - I was cruising on it in the past. As usual I paid only for the last expensive inside cabin - no window there but there is a TV monitor allowing to see what is going in front and in the back of the ship. I didn't buy the internet package (it costs a lot) so I don't know how often I will publish my further messages. In the ports I will try to find wifi ashore, but at sea days... Tomorrow we will be in Rio de Janeiro. What I need is nice wether there. It is cloudy today in Santos. Let's hope! Ahoy!
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Mar 27, 2025 12:00 AM Rio de Janeiro once again!
At sunrise I have been already on the upper deck, to see the rocky islets at the entrance to Rio Bay. Then the ship was sailing along Ipanema, Sugar Loaf to the dock. But Corcovado is in the clouds today. I disembarked at 9.30. Wow! The wifi in the terminal hall is now much better! Private company offers a tour to Corcovado (or Sugar Loaf) for 45 Dollars plus 16 USD entry!
I decided to make exciting excursion on my own. I have been 6 or 7 times in Rio, but I didn't see the easternmost beach - Sao Conrado. I went to nearest subway station (Uruguayana about 1 km walk. Sombody helped me to buy the ticket for 7,50 reais. I was then traveling by line 1 and 4 to Sao Conrado station. Than it is half km to the fantastic and empty beach. Bingo! But the waves were too high to swim. Then I took subway back to N Seniora Ipanema station to see first the Lagoa Freitas and then to look for the girls from Ipanema. There were few - like in the famous song. I was walking west along Ipanema beach - till the statue of Carlos Jobin - the guy who is the author of "Girl from Ipanema" song. Picture please! I returned also by subway - just to buy in my favorite bottle shop at Uruguayana y Floriano the big bottle of Brazilian rum (not cachaca!) What a day and what a tour for just 4 USD!
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Mar 25, 2025 12:00 AM Return from Ubatuba
I spent a night in very clean Mare Azurro hostel... With some mosquitoes... Never mind... The day was sunny and hot since morning.. Just 200 m from the hostel is a little pier for the boats offering 6- hours excursions to the islands in the bay. They charge 120 reais per person. But sorry, my return bus is departing at 2 am... So I was forced to visit nice and populated Praia Grande in the next bay and be ready for departure...
I had a connection in Caraguatatuba to appreciate their beach (poor in comparison to Ubatuba) Ten it was more than 5 hours in the comfortable, byt freezing bus. On the way I saw my ship anchoring at Ilhabella. I reached my room in Embare after dark. But it was worth - I like adventures!
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