Lirio

7 hours ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

 

 

 

Thanks all for your kind thoughts. Marino is 15 1/2 and has been doing very very well for his age (active, playful, funny) despite early stage kidney disease (which, as @silkismomnoted, can be managed for years).   

 

Unfortunately, today's examination revealed that the swelling in Marino's jaw is not a dental issue, but cancer.   My poor dear boy. 

 

 

So sad. 

On 10/23/2023 at 7:06 PM, Busy Mum said:

Hubby & I are seriously looking at this itinerary, so very keen to hear what you think of the itinerary. Last month we were on this ship doing the Kimberly, we could not fault anything about our trip, it was outstanding! Ponant, in our opinion was the best line we have been on, we have cruised with Princess & Celebrity. We are booked on Oceania for early 2025. Enjoy your cruise on this wonderful ship. Vicki. 😀

I am considering Le Laperouse for Kimberly in 2024. Any comment would be great.

2 hours ago, silkismom said:

Lirio, I sure hope it won't be that hot when we are down there in Mar.

feels like 58.5C at 9 AM. If this temp. stays at this level, I wont be here by Mar.....

Just to let you know that Sao Paulo recorded the highest temperature ever since it started to be recorded. 

Here in Rio it seems that there is one sun for every and each citizen......

5 hours ago, commodoredave said:

No1 - Pool on Deck 5, while Deck 7 is two decks up - not ideal when I need to go No1 never mind No2! No head shown on the deck plan for 7 -- is it in the spa? Ship desigger still a masochist in my view.

No2 - I loved my Panorama Veranda but our friends in the veranda cabin had to take treatment for claustrophobia upon return home.

No3 - Even two doorstops were not sufficient on a particular rough night. Bring nails and hammer.

No4 - It wasn't the alcohol, it was the dancing in the hot tub that did it. 

How was your trip to Manaus? If I remenber correct, you also asked me about Sao Paulo.

Any feedback about her?

14 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Good morning from Johannesburg! We board for Maun in less than an hour.

 

Friday we left Albany at the crack of dawn. It made for a pretty picture once we got above the clouds. 

 

 

Looking east towards Virginia Beach, halfway to Atlanta. 

 

 

We got to Atlanta a little early but had to wait for a gate. Still we had over 8h to kill before the JNB flight so we went to a lounge for coffee, then got on the MARTA to Midtown. 

 

Piedmont Park was beautiful in the crisp sunny morning light. 

 

 

 

 

We wandered for an hour or so then went for lunch at South City Kitchen. Shrimp and grits. Fried chicken. So much better than airplane or lounge food!

 

 

 

Back to the airport where security took about 20 minutes, even with both Clear and TSA PreCheck. We walked all the way to Terminal E for two reasons. One, the Fly Delta app said that the SkyClub there was the least busy one. And most importantly, our flight was leaving from there...

 

We found seats and almost immediately, they commenced the preparations for our arrival. 

 

 

The 15h20 flight to Johannesburg was quicker than expected, only about 14h30. I stayed up as long as I could and finally slept around midnight. Woke up around 6AM and still had 3h to go. That was better than the last time I flew this route. 

 

We landed early around 2:30PM and passport control was almost empty. We were waiting for luggage by 2:50 and out walking to our hotel by 3:15. Checked in and after a shower we decided to stretch our legs.

 

There is a nice fitness center on the 8th floor of the IC Hotel here at OR Tambo. But the virtual view from my treadmill was better than the actual view.

 

 

Now time for a swim! The sigh said the pool was 30°C. It felt even warmer.

 

 

Dinner at the hotel restaurant, called Quills. Local wine was less than $25 for the bottle.

 

 

Chris had millett "risotto" with duck and mushrooms to start.

 

 

The restaurant gets its name from the mobile hanging overhead, made with lots of beautiful quills.

 

 

For a main, Chris had ostrich. Delicious! One piece had a tasty spice rub that seemed like za'attar. 

 

 

We were zonked and went to bed after dinner around 8:30. I slept on and off until 6 this morning. After another go on the treadmill we had our included breakfast and checked out for the long trek back to the airport (just kidding; you can see the terminal from the hotel restaurant). Now enjoying some bubbly in the SLOW lounge here in the International Terminal. Next stop, Maun!

Atlanta was my main US hub for many years. Delta is going to start flying direct from Rio very soon. i hope I will be there next year. LV shrimp and grits, the Botanic Garden and Piedmont Park. But I have never been in JNB before, shame on me......

Now with the pictures spring blooming in Campinas (SP state).

We are considering for our next cruise to go to Kimberley. We have opportunity to go on May or on August. ANy recommendation? If I remember well, some Coolers are going next year as well.

Question:

1 - is it worth to consider a couple of days in Broome and/or Darwin on our own, pre and post cruise?

Should we go, we will combine this cruise with a visit to our daughter in NZ.

20 hours ago, Emtbsams said:

That was a whole lot more sensible.  We had no reaction from the RSV shot, but the combination of Covid and Flu was really surprising.  Still glad to get them since we leave for Lisbon in a week.

Whats RSV stands for?

Last day in New Orleans and a last minute visit to the Jazz Museum. Just a glimpse of what it has to offer. @crusinbanjo this is for you. Now in a hurry to the airport.

New Orleans in one day.

I took a double deck bus and visited some attractions:

WWII museum, Gardens neighborhood and Katrina/Mardi Gras Museum

Anne Frank in front of the WWII museum.

In front WWI museum.

House in the Gardens area.

Madri Gras Museum - Dresses of the Queen of Madri Gras.

1 hour ago, crusinbanjo said:

Two jazz banjo players I know well in New Orleans are Lee Floyd and Don Vappie.  Completely different styles and both unbelievable musicians.  I don’t know how they do it! Yeah, I need to get back there for a visit.

is there any chance to see them? I am here till wenesday.

4 hours ago, Reef Knot said:

I went to New Orleans about 10 years ago and seem to remember that even though gambling was illegal there were a couple of swanky casinos. Obviously I asked the burning question to be told that although gambling was illegal gaming wasn't. Is that true or was that just an amusing story?

there cassinos now and a big one is being built. see the picture taken from my window.

Nola at night.....

On 9/20/2023 at 12:45 PM, jjs217 said:

As a hiker, I would never bring my hiking boots on a cruise - too heavy and take up too much room.  The best thing to bring are hiking tennis shoes.  They are great for city walking, trail walking, or hiking.  All the brands have them.  

Hiking tennis, waterproof should be enough. 

About flies, it is not that much, but I do recommend bringing repellent.

You do not see many big animals in Amazon, you do see birds, flowers, small alligators, sloths, river dolphins, and trees, lot of trees. And yes, the river is so larger that you cannot see the riverbanks in some areas.

And it rains almost every day, but in the end of the day and it lasts maybe 1 to 2 hours, not much than that. Bringing a raincoat is a good idea. And it is always hot and humid.

Po-boy day. I couldnt get even 1/3 of it, but glad I tried!!!

I will try Brennan's!

History of Po-boy, from wikipedia

"A po' boy (also po-boy, po boy derived from the non-rhotic southern accents often heard in the region, or poor boy) is a sandwich originally from Louisiana. It almost always consists of meat, which is usually roast beef, chicken fingers or some sort of fried seafood such as shrimp, crawfish, fish, oysters or crab. The meat is served on New Orleans French bread, known for its crispy crust and fluffy center." Po-boy comes from poor-boy......

I went to greenland in Wind in 2022. We had a great time. The only issue was that 2 days before the end of the cruise the closet in our Veranda Suite got all wet. SS arranged a huge fan to try to dry it. I was told that the water came from our shower which had a clogged drain.

Dining in New Orleans in the same day that Beyonce was in concert! City was full of people dressed up for it.

Fried boiled egg (soft yolk) with pasta.

Gumbo

9 minutes ago, Abuckett said:

Could you tell me which hotel you stayed at

Hotel Papadopoli Venezia - MGallery an Accor hotel.

34 minutes ago, Lirio said:

Friday night at New Orleans.....

I tried to edit the photo but I could not. Anyone knows how to delete a post?

Below a better one.

We were there last August and our hotel was very close to Piazza Roma. We had a porter to help with the luggage and took the People Move. You still need to walk about 300 meters to the terminal. But find Silversea is very easy. There was several indication.

Friday night at New Orleans.....

@  New Orleans.

My first encounter with NOLA was back in the 1980´s when I watched Angel Heart with Mickey Rourke and Robert de Niro. Several films after and a lot of music, here I am for a busy week of courses, meetings and conference. Took me 22 hours D2D, but flights were all good, no delay....

After a quick lunch at the hotel (shrimp & grits, always my 1^st option) I went to see the Mississippi river.

I won’t have a lot of time to tourism, but any recommendation is welcomed.

12 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Thx Dr. Ron. It’s good to see a mountain kid, who only started riding a few years ago in college, achieve some early success.  He certainly has a bright future in front of him.

I like cycling and I follow the great Giro, Tour and Vueta! I always dream that when we are retired I would love to follow the stages in a camper van all around Europe......Sepp did a great job!