A combined report - Rio, Buenos Aires and Montevideo

THREE PORTS OF CALL INCLUDING AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN RIO

I had originally planned to do a separate post on each of these ports – Rio, Buenos Aires and Montevideo but since I have fallen behind on my writing and having been not feeling well for a couple of days – it's an upper respiratory infection which seems to be doing the rounds of the ship – this will be covered in a later post – I am combining them in one longish one.

I will only outline the highlights of what I did in each of the ports – so here goes.

Rio Feb 10 – 11, 2013 – this will be the first time that I have overnighted in a port on my many cruises.

First a little about the port area – it is a large port area and there are seven other ships in town – there are basically line up one behind the other – we are in position 4 which means it is about 4000' to the terminal – there are shuttle bus running continuously 24/7 during our stay.

There are a few shops in the terminal area – it is very busy because many of the ships here are embarking/disembarking passengers etc.

There is free WI-fi which seems to work in most of the port area but not on the ship.

For the first day which is Sunday I have booked a city tour which in reality is a drive to Sugar Loaf Mountain and then up the two gondolas to the top.

We arrive to a large line-up – the weather is already hot and humid – it takes almost two hours to get to the head of the line – we are a bus load of about 42 and the tour guide is trying to keep us together – we have tour tags to help identify us – at the first station she elects to have us spend about 20 minutes taking in the sights before proceeding to the top on the second gondola ride – each ride is only three or four minutes and the cars hold about 60 -65 people – there are two cars – one in each direction – the views at the top are impressive – as we were sailing into Rio – which is a very beautiful harbour – we could see both Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer statute – while the weather is hot and humid the views are somewhat distorted by a hazy sky but we can see Copacabana far below us and it is packed – a mass of humanity everywhere – it is also a Sunday so those that weren't already on vacation and at the beach are heading there – the traffic is dreadful.

We linger at the top for some time and I treat my self to a hot dog and a nice cold beer – pay for it with US but get hosed on exchange.

When it's time to leave we are faced with another 45 minute line-up – finally on the car and down to the first station – very little wait here – finally back on the ground we board the bus and head back to the ship – we were suppose to be back around 3PM but it is now 5PM – I spend a little time in the terminal – picked up some pop and local beer and returned to the ship all tired out etc.

Originally I had a dinner show planned but I knew in advance that it was cancelled but there might be something else in the works – no dice – Red Head Anne also has a private event planned but she is fill and no one cancelled so it's either venture the streets of Rio or stay on the ship – for safety reason the first option isn't really feasible – so I take in a special one time only performance by a Brazilian dance troupe before the head for the Samba dome themselves – it was a very entertaining show and we were allow to film it – then it being a warm night its out onto the deck – I can see the area where the Samba dome is located and can see some of the lights from the stadium – it's then off to bed for me.

Day 2 in Rio Monday Feb 11, 2013 – I have booked a ship's tour with a local Jeep tour operator for a half day tour of Tijuca National Forest and a visits to the beaches of the city.

These jeeps are the type used on safaris – open-aired and holding about 8 – 10 passengers – the National Forest is located within the boundaries of Rio and is a 4000 acre green respite with waterfalls etc that was replanted about 150 years ago – it climbs to provide many good views.

I am underway – there are a lot of jeeps today as this is a popular tour and other ships are also offering it.

Our first stop is at a viewpoint called Vista Chinese – once again it isn't that clear – still hot and humid but you still get a great view – then it's on to a waterfall – called Cascatinha Taunay – tumbling down along the roadside and then our final stop in the park – Capela Mayrink – an old church and the starting point for a short walk – 15 minutes or so through the forest with a placid stream on our left to the main admin centre of the park where the jeeps are awaiting us for the next leg of the tour – a visit to the beaches of Rio – as we come down from the forest the first beach we come to is call Sao Conrado – mostly a locals hang out and not very busy – next we come to Leblon – more busy and very beautiful – one advantage of an open air transport is it is easy to get pictures – we continue our drive along the beaches and come to Ipanema – it is packed and there is a Carnaval event so we need to divert through the town and then its onto Copacabana – it is very beautiful and very busy – my only regret is that the tour didn't stop and let us dip our feet in the ocean.

Finally back on the ship and dead tired.

I have two days to recover but it on those two days that I start to cough – only a cold coming on – it is also the time that the ship announces a Code Red – which is the health warning for an outbreak of the Noro Virus and the implementation of stricter food handling protocol – removal of salt and pepper shakers – cutlery handed to you etc.

Buenos Aires Feb 14, 2013 – we arrive late as the ship took longer to navigate its way up the Rio de la Plate delta. This is only the start of our delays.

I have a ships tour of the city with visits to the Plaza de Mayo – basically Independence Square – magnificent architect – then a visit to the historic artist colony of La Boca district and then finally Recoleta cemetery where Juan and Eva Peron are entombed.

The port area is industrial and you must use the shuttle for the ten minute ride to the terminal – once out of the terminal area it's smooth sailing – found the city friendly, clean and it appeared to be safe.

The weather has cool some – a little more tolerable but by now my cough is becoming more frequent.

Buenos Aires was also the end of Leg One of this cruise – we said goodbye to about 500 cruisers and welcomed aboard a like number for the second leg – this group also appears to be some what younger – 40 to 60 age bracket.

We were also held up for over 90 minutes while local officials did there homework - whether this has anything to do with us scheduled to visit the Falklands in a few days is anyone guess but it is starting to put us behind schedule – fine if you are on ship's tour but a headache for those who organized private tour.

My now I am feeling shitty – pardon the expression – will try and make it through tomorrow's visit to Montevideo and see how things do.

Montevideo Uruguay Feb 15, 2013 – we arrive 90 minutes late – I take my tour of the city – we visit Independence Plaza – the historic soccer stadium where Uruguay has won 4 world cups – the ornate Legislature building with it's marble lined walls – all the marble is from the area. We drive by many of the ornate houses in the city and I elected to get off at the market – which is only a 5 – 10- minute walk from the pier. Spend some time there and then take in the Graf Spee monument adjacent to the pier.

It's also decision time – I barely made it through the tour today and while the weather has cooled I am feeling miserable – while tomorrow is a sea day the following day is Puerto Madryn where I have a very expensive $289.00 all day tour to see penguins, elephant seals etc but where the cancellation time is 6 PM tonight – as I have penguin visit also planned in the Falklands and Punta Arenas I make the decision to cancel.

More on that ina subsequent post.

We are also late in leaving but this was because the ship is being replenished with food etc – I counted 10 containers that need to be unloaded and then transferred to the ship which and only handle two skids at a time and took longer to do – it also attracted a large crowd of on lookers on the promenade deck who cheered every time a skid of beer was sucessfully transferred and one final cheer when the job was completed.

Next up Port Madryn and the start of the Patagonia part of the journey.

This second leg of the trip from Buenos Aires to Santiago is basically a visit to Patagonia – that wonderful tract of land that makes up the bottom portion of the southern South American landscape.