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MARCH 5TH, 2023

DOCKED IN CABO FRIO. TOOK A RIDE TO BUZIOS. A BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE THAT BECAME FAMOUS IN THE 1960’S WHEN BRIDGETTE BARDOT VACATIONE THERE. DID SOME SHOPPING AND HAD LUNCH. THEY HAVE A BRONZE STATUE OF BRIDGITTE BARDOT AND ANOTHER STATUE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAY OF THREE FISHERMEN 

MARCH 7TH AND 8TH, 2023

DOCKED IN SALVADOR. WE DID NOT DOCK IN VICTORIA AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. INSTEAD, WE SPENT TWO DAYS IN SALVADOR.VISITED THE 1698 BARRA LIGHTHOUSE AND THE ATTACHED MUSEUM. WALKED AROUND THE LOWER TOWN THEN TOOK AN ELEVATOR TO THE UPPER TOWN. THERE, 280 FT ABOVE, IS THE HISTORIC SQUARE THAT USED TO BE THE SIGHT OF BRAZIL’S EARLIEST SLAVE MARKET.VISITED THE STATUESQUE 17TH CENTURY BASILICA AND THE CHURCH OF SAO FRANCISCO 

MARCH 10TH, 2023

DOCKED IN RECIFE.  

VISITED BOHEMIAN OUTDOOR CERAMIC SCULPTURES OF ARTIST FRANCISCO BRENNAND. TEHN DROVE TO HIS ESTATE WHICH SHOWCASES 2000 PIECES OF SCULTURES, PAINTINGS, AMAZING COLLECTORS’ ITEMS AND OTHER ARTWORKS. OUTSIDE SIGNIFICANT STATUES ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE SPRAWLING GARDES.

MARCH 11TH, 2023

DOCKED IN NATAL.  

WENT FOR A RELAXING DAY AT THE BEACH. PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY LAID BACK. VENDORS HAVE THEIR PUSHCARTS RIGHT ON THE BEACH, MOST WITH GLARING MUSIC FROM BUILTIN LOUDSPAKERS. THEY SELL DIFFERENT FOODS INCLUDING CREPES THAT THEY MAKE RIGHT THERE. ALTHOUGH I RARELY BUY OR USE SUNGLASSES, WE HAD THIS GREAT TOOTHLESS SALESMAN, THAT MANAGED TO CONVINCE US BOTH TO BUY SUNGLASSES FROM HIM.

MARCH 12TH, 2023

DOCKED IN FORTALEZA.  

NOT MUCH TO SEE HERE. VISITED THE METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, ALTHOUGH GOTHIC IN STYLE, IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT IN THE 1970’S. SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY ON THE BEACH. THIS TOWN IS KNOWN FOR ABUNDANCE OF CASHEWS. A BEACH VENDOR KEPT PUSHING US TO BUY THIS FOUR POUND BAG OF CASHEWS. HE WANTED $20. WE FINALLY GAVE IN AND BOUGHT IT FOR $10. EVEN THOUGH WE REALLY DID NOT WANT IT, IT CAME IN HANDY MANY TIMES LATER AS A SNACK.

MARCH 16TH, 2023

DOCKED IN MINDELO. AFTER CROSSING THE ATLANTIC FOR THREE DAYS, WE ARRIVED AT CAPE VERDE, AN ISLAND CLOSE TO AFRICA. DOCKED IN SAO VINCENT. THE TOWN WAS AROUND THE BAY WHERE WE LANDED. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 1642 ON ST VINCENT’S DAY, HENCE ITS NAME. THE REST IS SPARSELY INHABITED AND MOSTLY BARREN. WE DROVE TO THE HIGHEST POINT OF MONTE VERDE, WITH SWEEPING VIEWS ON THE WAY UP AND ON TOP. VISITED SOME BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, BUT MOSTLY DESRTED 

1. MARCH 18TH, 2023

DOCKED IN DAKAR. OUR FIRST SWINDLE. THE CAB DRIVER PROMISED US A ONE HOUR TOUR FOR $30, TO END AT THE PORT FOR THE FERRY TO GOREE ISLAND. AFTER 20 MINUTES HE TOLD US THIS WAS IT. THEN WE TRIED TO TAKE THE FERRY TO GOREE ISLAND ON OUR OWN. THE PORT WAS SO CROWDED AND WE WERE APPROACHED BY SHADY CHARACTERS WHO TRIED TO “HELP” US GO TO THE ISLAND. WE FELT SWINDLED ONCE WAS ENOUGH. GOREE ISLAND WAS A HOLDING AREA FOR SLAVES BEFORE THEY WERE SHIPPED TO THE CARIBBEAN AND THE AMERICAS 

MARCH 22ND, 2023

DOCKED IN ABIDJAN.  

DOCKED IN ABIDJAN, THE SECOND LARGEST CITY WITH 6 MILLION OUT OF 30 MILLION IN THE IVORY COAST WHICH GAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE IN 1960. WE VISITED ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, ABEAUTIFUL CONCRETE MODERN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER WITH STAINED GLASS THAT FOCUSED ON THE IVORIAN PEOPLES’S FAITH. IT SEATS 3500 AND HAS STANDING ROOM FOR 1500. BOTH THE CATHEDRAL AND THE STAINED GLASS WERE DESIGNED BY ALDO SPIRITO IN 1980 AND COMPLETED IN 1985.WE THEN VISITED THEIR ZOO, WHERE A KIND COUPLE PAID FOR OUR ENTRANCE ($5) SINCE THEY ONLY ACCEPTED LOCAL CURRENCY AND NO CREDIT CARDS.

MARCH 23RD, 2023

DOCKED IN SEKONDI-TAKORADI.  PEOPLE IN GHANA ARE VERY FRIENDLY. VISITED THE BISA ABERWA MUSEUM THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE SLAVERY ERA AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE. DROVE THROUGH WHAT USED TO BE A DUTCH TOWN IN THE PRE INDEPENDENCE TIME, MOSTLY RUN DOWN. THE BEST PART WAS WHEN WE WENT TO A CHURCH THAT HAD A SCHOOL ATTACHED TO IT. THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE US. THEY SWARMED AROUND US IN A VERY WELCOMING SPIRIT.

MARCH 24TH, 2023

DOCKED IN LOME.  

PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY BUT THE COUNTRY IS POOR. THE MAIN MEANS OF TRASNFORTATION ARE MOTORCYCLES THAT TAKE PASSENGERS BEHIND THEM. THE MAIN COMMERCE IS STREET VENDORS WITH BOOTHS. WE WALKED TO A BEAUTIFUL INDEPENDENCE SQUARE COMMEMORATING THE 1960 INDEPENDECE FROM FRANCE. IT WAS HOT AND HUMID SO WE ENDED BY THE POOL OF A NEARBY 5 STAR HOTEL HAVING BEER AND PIZZA.

MARCH 25TH, 2023

DOCKED IN COTONOU. ANOTHER POOR BUT FRIENDLY COUNTRY WITH A POPULATION OF 13 MILLION. BECAME A FRENCH COLONY IN 1872 AND GAINED INDEPENDENCE IN 1960. MOTORCYCLES ARE THE MAIN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.THE HIGHLIGHT WAS VISITING THE GANVIE VILLAGE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE ON STILTS, IN THE MIDDLE OF  LAKE NOKUOE. IT STARTED WITH THE TOFINU PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM SLAVE HUNTERS AND CONTINUED TO THIS DAY. PASSED THE IMPRESSIVE 30 METERS HIGH“AMAZON” STATUE BY THE CHINESE SCULPTOR LI XIAGQUN, HONORING THE WOMAN WORRIORS OF DAHOMEY, A PRE COLONIAL KINGDOM 

MARCH 27TH, 2023

DOCKED IN SAO TOME. (ST THOMAS) THE CAPITAL. VERY POOR COUNTRY WITH A POPULATION OF 227 THOUSAND LIVING ON TWO ISLANDS. THEY WERE UNINHABITED UNTIL THEIR DISCOVERY IN 1470 BY THE PORTUGUESE. THROUGHOUT THE 16TH CENTURY, THEY SERVED AS A VITAL COMMERCIAL AND TRADE CENTER FOR THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE. THEY GAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 12TH, 1975. WE STROLLED AROUND THE TOWN WITH NOTHING REALLY INPRESSIVE. ENDED IN A SMALL RESTAURANT DRINKING BEEER. IT WAS VERY INEXPENSIVE