Good morning from the Amazon! This is one HUGE river! Sometimes when you look out you can’t even see the other side it is so wide. We’ll be arriving at a small island in the jungle about 1:00 today. Not sure what we’ll see there….we’ll find out.

Last night we had our Amazon Jungle party in Latitudes. They did such a great job of transforming Latitudes into a jungle. It was hard to recognize that we were inside the restaurant with all the jungle decorations and even sound effects of birds and jungle creatures. The food was excellent as well. We had a very fun table with Paul, Hans, Ann and Terry Speed and another very nice couple from the WC. We were the last table to leave the restaurant (this seems to happen no matter what restaurant we’re in). Around 10:00 we went to the Horizon Lounge to hear CD John sing. The place was packed. John did a wonderful job of entertaining everyone. He is an excellent CD, very easy to get to know and what a beautiful voice! (move over Jamie….you’ve got some stiff competition!) We danced and had a great evening. :banana: Around midnight after he finished singing we headed over to STARS…..as is the case most evenings the place looked like a ghost town.

I’ve had some funny adventures while on cruises. The first night I was ever on a RSSC ship (VOF) I was locked out of my room and walking the hall in my pjs (thanks to Suzanne and Sheri!!), another time I was locked in a public restroom in Citivechia (misspelled I’m sure) and the local police had to come and remove the door. Well now I have something else to look forward to. The food and beverage manager, Rogerio asked me last night if I would go with him to the local market on Sunday morning at 5:30am!! He is in quest of a very large, rare fish (almost extinct) that is about 12 feet long and weighs about 250 lbs. I assured him I know nothing about fish (rarely even eat it). He said that I seem like the type that loves a good adventure and he would really like me to come. I agreed (I had consumed a few Sambucas) so this is our game plan for Sunday morning. I woke up this morning visualizing him and me carrying this huge fish back to the ship! :eek: This really should be a new, fun adventure! He’s a sweet, fun guy (speaks Portuguese thank goodness) so this will be a new adventure! I’m really looking forward to it (except for the 5:30am part!) :D

Tomorrow night is Paul’s birthday and our anniversary so we’re celebrating at Signatures. Should be a fun dinner!

Yesterday I won the Texas Hold’em tournament! :app: YIPPEE! This is the first time for me. This seemed to go on and on forever with finally just me and another friend, Robert, going head to head. Steve (circleboy) stayed until close to the end dealing.

This morning I’m going to do some laundry. BTW, the laundry rooms here are GREAT! They’re so large and the washing machines and dryers are twice the size of those on the Voyager!

Saturday there are about 6 of us planning to go to The Tropical Hotel in Manaus (the hotel where Joanna and Tony will be staying Saturday night!). Rumor has it that you can get a one hour massage for about $35 and near by you can get a nail fill for about $5. The ship prices for a fill are $100 now!! It was outrageous on the WC at $80 so this is just beyond ridiculous to pay $100 for a fill that I pay $15 (including tip) for at home. I’m hoping to see J & T there as well since their plane arrives in Manaus at 12:30pm.

This is about all the Mariner news for now. I hope this is finding everyone doing well back in LCT land! Wish you all were here having such a great time with us!

Marcie,

The jungle party in Latitudes sounds like soooo much fun!!!!

Lovin' your adventure stories! I can't wait for the report on the fish quest. WOW.....Maybe you should take a luggage cart along to wheel the monster back. LOL!!! Too funny!

Another super post. Thanks!!!!

Betty

Marcie, bring your camera for the fish shopping!

Fish shopping LOL


I brought a GPS with South American maps for my Amazon cruise. In a lot of cases the land you see are islands and it helps to have a good GPS.

The Ugly fish from my Mariner Amazon trip

Marcie, Your shopping trip does sound like a fun time. Do take your camera. What a way to see everyday life.

Sidenote: I talked (well she talked) for two hours on my flight into DC from Tampa Sunday with a lady that just got off a Carnivale cruise with her 9 yo girl 7 yo boy and DH. She paid $65 for a man/ped for her 9 yo girl. I think her man/ped was $80.

And I thought these prices were high :ohmy:

Please everyone sent good thoughts and prayers our luggage makes it - that is only reason I am going into Manaus a day early - if someone told me to make lemonade out of lemons with lost luggage I would also say I don't do citrus!!!

If you are doing the Radisson charter I would not worry BUT if not....

The 5 hour Miami to Manaus was too nice over the 19 hour trip.

The 5 hour Miami to Manaus was too nice over the 19 hour trip.

What does this mean? too nice??

We had dinner with Rogerio on the Navigator Bermuda. What a wonderful host he was. I can see that he would be the type to be adventurous.

Marcie, am loving your reports. Looking forward to the next one.

Blackbird71, I don't understand your last post. Does RSSC charter their flights for Manaus? I have never been on a Radisson charter before. Now that could be fun, or maybe not.

Joanne - Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you and your luggage!

Joanna, I am crossing my fingers that your luggage arrives, too. I can just imagine Tony scouring Manaus, looking for blue slacks :)

Good luck Joanna on the luggage! Please let me know about the Tropical Hotel. We stayed there 25 years ago and loved it...but that was a long time ago. We'd like to go back so I'm curious how it withstood the test of time! I remember the pool area was especially pretty and our rooms (in the older section) were charming! Still so???

Thanks Sue - as upset as I would be I think Tony would have to be given oxygen - he brings way way too much just so it's there and he likes having lots of choices - shopping in Manaus can't you see him?? :mecry:

Right last Feb I took the RSSC charter into Manaus from Miami. It was a 5 hour flight. Not a bad flight ok food. Look at the second pic on this short web page

Amazon Cruise

Thanks Blackbird. I had looked at your photos before & guess the charter thing just didn't register.
Joanna, is this also how you & Tony will get to Manaus?

Joanna,

Thinking VERY positive thoughts and wishing you a giant :bv:

Let us hear from you please!

Marcie - I'm curious! Ask Rogerio what kind of fish it is! It's not an arapaima, is it? (the aquarium keeper in me wants to know) :)



Masaki

Very fun report, Marcie! Thanks for posting, as always.

Joanna, hope you, Tony and your luggage arrive safe and sound!

Question??
As I said we are currently booked for FLL to Manaus
Segment #1 for 01/09/07
Will RSSC have a charter flight for the return trip FROM Manaus when we get off there?

We’re in Parintins, Brazil, another jungle village. Today we have a complimentary excursion called Boi Bumba. It is a festival with lots of music, dance and very colorful costumes, similar to Rio’s Carnival. During “Boi Bumba” week the population in the village increases from 30,000 people to 300,000! This should be a very fun afternoon.

Yesterday we were in another very small jungle village. Due to the shallow water we had to anchor quite a long ways off the shore. We tendered over to shore (about a 25 minute ride) where the locals were selling handmade crafts and tee-shirts. A ship coming into a village like this is big time for these people and a huge boost to their economy. Upon returning to the ship, I noticed locals (mostly children, teens and some women holding babies) in very small boats around the ship. These small boats had to paddle a very long ways to make it all the way to the Mariner! They come around hoping for $, clothes, food….anything. One boat came directly under our balcony and I couldn’t resist. I put a $1 bill in an empty plastic water bottle knowing it would float and tossed it down. A young girl dove into the water and retrieved it. Within minutes there were two boats, then 3, then 4….before I knew it there were about 8 boats directly below my balcony. I continued throwing various things…. fruit, one dollar bills wrapped in shower caps (I’d blow air into it making it like a balloon) and weighed down by anything from shampoo, soap, cream, even a bag of M & Ms.. I did this for at least 45 minutes and had so much fun. Tom walked in the cabin and couldn’t believe what was going on. By this time we had next to nothing left to throw to them. He said “what are you going to throw next? The TV, the furniture?” Tom saw how much fun I was having and he even got into the act too. By the end we had nothing left in our cabin to give them. It was all such fun watching these kids diving into the river retrieving all this. We finally had to yell down “No Mas, No Mas” and wave good bye. Our room stewardess must really wonder how we ended up with nothing…no fruit, no shampoos, not even so much as a bar of soap left! I was so happy that we had brought quite a few one dollar bills!

After all this fun, we went to a cocktail party for all the full 2005 World Cruisers. It was a nice get together. I overheard a few people mentioned that they were surprised that no senior Mariner staff members were present considering that this room was filled with all 2005 full WCers AND (to the best of my knowledge) each one in this room had also already signed up for the full 2007 WC. They felt that an appearance and perhaps a “thank you for your loyal support to Radisson” would have been in order.

We ate dinner in LaVeranda for the first time on this cruise then joined friends in Compass Rose for after dinner drinks. So far the food on this cruise has been outstanding!!

Today I’m including a few photos taken yesterday.
Local children in the jungle village:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/brazilvillage-1.jpg

This was the first boat below our balcony:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/brazilvillage-3.jpg

Word sure travels fast!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/brazilvillage-2.jpg

Fantastic Marcie - how's the weather

Joanna ~ Have a good flight...and please don't forget to check out the Tropical Hotel for me! Want to go back there, but not sure if it's the same fabulous hotel it was twenty five years ago! (I'm hardly the same...!)

I'll let you know what we find at the Tropical - pixs look pretty but heard some complaining about air not being good in old part of hotel (people liked rooms better in old part) BUT I have to have air in that heat and humidity!

I know they were taking back paxs that got off in Manaus in 2005.. But I would bet it is a head count thing.

PL,,, LOL I would have been in BIG trouble if the boat kids showed up. I always have 40-60 in ones in the desk of my cabin. The WONDERFUL guy that shows up around 5:30am with my coffee always gets a couple dollars

Did I miss the details about going to buy the fish at 5:30? If so, would someone please lead this poor soul to the site. Thanks.

Marcie, I love your balcony story!!

Marcie, Your balcony story is bringing tears to our eyes. Don & I are enjoying every word! - Michele

Great story Marcie I will be sure we have lots of dollar bills as we are going back down that same river. Yes, what about the FISH?? I too am surprised that no officers showed up for that party.

Marcie, I loved every word of your balcony story. We have experienced similar, but certainly not the same thing in several trips. This is truly a lovely experience. Great story!!! Thank You.
Cindy

The fish is this coming Sunday, no? Hasn't happened yet, I think.

Masaki