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Live: Amazon River, Caribbean, Many Pix’s, Terry/Ohio


TLCOhio
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  • 10 months later...
Amazing!!! Thanks soooo much for sharing!!!<3

 

Appreciate these above great comments and nice follow-up. From the CNN news network last fall, they had this headline: “Best things to do in Manaus with these highlights: A city of 1.8 million people surrounded by 2 million square miles of Amazon jungle more than 1,500 miles from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, it doesn't get as many tourists as those two cities. Manaus is a gold mine of brightly colored architecture, riverfront views and world-class eating, minus the huge crowds. At the turn of the 20th century, Manaus was the center of a lucrative global trade in rubber. Today, it's the gateway for thousands of tourists seeking Amazon jungle adventures at the many lodges outside the city.

 

For a key attraction we loved in Manaus, this article shared: "Manaus' Amazonas Theater (aka Teatro Amazonas or simply The Opera House) is an opulent ode to the rubber boom of the 1800s when rubber barons and the local government had more money than they knew what to do with. Some of that windfall was used for the construction of the theater. It took 15 years to complete and includes tiles, stained glass and other elements brought from Europe."

 

Full story at:

http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/manaus-brazil-things-to-do/index.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Lots of interesting, dramatic pictures can be seen from this live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 40,344 views for this visual sharing including Cape Town, along South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta area.

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To update about the latest "adventure", we did our first river boat sailing and sampling of Southeast Asia earlier this year. It was for the Mekong River!! Plus, plus!!

 

Well-pleased with these countries, especially Cambodia, plus the ship, staff, food, tours, etc. On my live/blog, connected below, there are dozens of pictures and many details to document these fun adventures and travels. Happy on the live/blog to answer any and all questions, share more info/background, etc.

 

Now, we shift our focus and attention to mid November, 2018, for our Athens to Dubai, 20-day cruise with Oceania, including our first visits to the Holy Lands, Egypt, Middle East, etc. Many options to consider and logistics to research. Keep hearing great things from other travelers about Oceania, the staff, their food, etc. Look forward to comparing Silversea versus Oceania, who has what plus and minus factors, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.! Just completed a Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 2018, first adventure through Southeast Asia with stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before traveling all over Vietnam and Cambodia. This includes seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Now at 28,849 views. Lots of fun, interesting pictures!! See more at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

 

Here are just a few visuals samples from what we saw and did with Avalon while sailing along the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Many, many more photos and details on the full live/blog.:

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We saw many temples, palaces, markets and samples of daily life/work, including at this below spectacular Royal structure in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.:

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  • 1 month later...
Here is the next group of visuals from yesterday. More will be coming after we do breakfast in the main dining room and the 10 am program on what we will see on Devil's Island, its unique history and background. His title is something like "Hell in Paradise"!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Hi TLCOhio,

 

Enjoying all your posts and photos.

 

I have not had any luck in finding a taxi company in Macapa to respond to me. Have you visited here? Do you have any leads for a reliable taxi to take us to Marco Zero?

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I have not had any luck in finding a taxi company in Macapa to respond to me. Have you visited here? Do you have any leads for a reliable taxi to take us to Marco Zero?

 

Appreciate this question and your follow-up. When we did the Amazon River "adventure", our ship did stop in Macapa, but it was only a "customs-processing" port call.

 

Passengers did not get off the ship, do any tours and/or visiting here, etc. Sorry! Do not have any experiences and/or tips to share from this location. From what I have read from others who have done this "Zero" location, I am not sure whether it is worth the time, cost, etc., or not. Personal choice!! There might be cabs available at the port. Or, you could check through TripAdvisor for a lead on any good local tour folks. In my mind, the fact that many cruise ships do not stop or spend much time at this port says something about its potential value, etc. Maybe? Maybe not? Good luck!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 211,669 views for this posting.

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From the Travel Section of the London/UK Sunday Times yesterday morning, they had this headline: Barbados: the best beaches, hotels and restaurants with these highlights: The original Caribbean holiday island — and the most popular for Brits by a margin — Barbados does that crucial mix of good food, great hotels and gorgeous beaches better than any other. The most famous of those beaches are on the west coast, north of Bridgetown, the bit they call the Platinum Coast — because that’s the kind of credit card you need to stay there. The south coast is less glitzy, and thus cheaper, with some beautiful beaches and a more authentic vibe.

 

There are many different options and potentials outlined in this profile. Reading this article brings back nice memories from our visiting on this historic and interesting island with so much British tradition and connection.

 

Full story at:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-09-09/travel/barbados-j0dp8dd9k

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Finished June 2017 sailing on the Silver Spirit from Portugal to France along the scenic Atlantic Coast, plus great pre- and post-cruise experiences. Now at 24,928 views. Many interesting pictures and details on history, food, culture, etc., from my live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

 

From this Sunday Times profile, below is one of the maps featured. Plus a scenic view of beautiful Gibbes Beach.:

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From the Travel Section of the London/UK Sunday Times yesterday morning, they had this headline:Grenada: the best beaches, hotels and restaurants with these highlights: Holidaying in Grenada is as difficult as saying yes to that second rum punch. It’s a surprisingly unspoilt island with rainforest-clad volcanic peaks, classic golden sands and bewitching snorkelling and diving. St George’s, the topsy-turvy capital, has an old-school charm, with waterfront restaurants serving local treats such as curried coconut shrimp and nutmeg ice cream, while the gaudy roadsides are daubed with red, green and gold, the colours of the national flag. Families will appreciate the low-rise hotels, with easy beach access and friendly, long-serving staff, while foodies are in for a treat thanks to an abundance of spices, tropical fruits, chocolate and rum. Almost all the resorts are in the southwest, as are the best beaches, so hire a car or book tours to see more.

 

YES, we loved Grenada when we visited and this profile brings back many nice memories. Many options and potentials to consider are outlined in this article.

 

Full story at:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-09-09/travel/grenada-the-best-beaches-hotels-and-restaurants-trnd09sl2

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Lots of interesting, dramatic pictures can be seen from this live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 42,176 views for this visual sharing including Cape Town, along South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta.

 

From this Sunday Times profile, below is a map of the island, plus an example of "show time" during the carnival in St George’s and of snorkeling off of Grenada’s shores. Look good, exciting and interesting?:

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  • 4 weeks later...

From the respected National Geographic magazine coming out tomorrow, they had this headline: Amazon Is New Frontier for Deadly Wildlife Tourism with this sub-headline: An exclusive National Geographic investigation reveals widespread animal suffering in Amazonian port towns, fueled by ‘selfie safaris.’

 

Among the story highlights are: "While animals are passed among the crowd, camera shutters click, and selfie sticks jut out at all angles. A woman holds a juvenile caiman, mouth agape, next to the head of her infant child. A teenage girl chatters as she wraps an anaconda around her torso, fodder for a selfie video. Every day hundreds of tourists arrive by boat, walk up wooden planks from the water to the shore, and clamor to hold and take photos with as many as a hundred captive wild animals of two dozen species. Wildlife tourism is big business, likely accounting for 20 to 40 percent of the global tourism industry’s annual value of $1.5 trillion, according to the World Tourism Organization. Conservation and animal welfare groups agree that when an activity involving wildlife crosses the line from observation to interaction, it’s bad for the animals. In Southeast Asia riding elephants and petting captive tiger cubs, for instance, have drawn attention to the dark side of wildlife tourism. Tourism in the Amazon is still in its infancy. Prospering economies in Latin America and easier access through more frequent, affordable international flights mean that tourism—especially wildlife tourism—may be poised to explode."

 

Many interesting questions and details in this story. This detailed report also noted: "The Amazon harbors more than 10 percent of the planet’s biodiversity—400 species of mammals, 200 species of reptiles, and 1,300 species of birds. Brazilian and Colombian laws are clear: It’s illegal to remove any animal from the wild to keep as a pet, and it’s illegal to keep a wild animal captive without a license. In Peru it’s illegal to make money from a captive wild animal. But the laws are not always enforced, especially on the Peru side of the river."

 

While we did the Amazon from the Atlantic up to Manaus (as detailed on my live/blog below), we did not participate in any of these "wild animal programs". Understand the challenges, questions and potential safety risks. Interesting discussions and serious questions.

 

Full National Geographic story at:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/10/wildlife-watch-amazon-ecotourism-animal-welfare/

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean adventure that started in Barbados, here is the link for that live/blog. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.):

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 60,334 views for these postings.

 

Here are four of the pictures used to illustrate this National Geographic profile/investigation about the Amazon and wildlife tourism.:

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  • 5 months later...

From the Travel Section of the London/UK Telegraph three days ago, they had this headline: “The home of Amazonian opera – an expert guide to Manaus, Brazil”  with these highlights: “The Paris of the tropics is a mighty metropolis rising out of the jungle at the point at which the vast Rio Negro pours itself into the muddy waters of the Amazon River. Once the richest city in South America, this is where European culture collides with that of the indigenous peoples of the epic state of Amazonas to create a captivating conurbation that is an essential stop on any Amazon River cruise.”.

 

There are many segments in the profile that bring nice memories from our 2015 Amazon cruise.  This includes from this story: "Cruise ships pour out of the port into the heart of downtown – a somewhat weather-beaten palimpsest of the past two hundred years of urban development. It is 10 minute’s walk to the opera house – unmissable with its distinctive yellow dome – the area around which is home to some of Brazil’s best-preserved nineteenth-century architecture. The Museu Casa Eduardo Ribeiro, the former home of the first Afro-Brazilian Governor of Amazonas State, is a glorious insight into the lavish lives of the Amazonia upper crust at the turn of the 20th century."  YES, Manaus was a key highlight from our visit to Brazil.  

 

Full story at:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/port-guides/manaus-port-guide/

 

Below is some info, visuals, details, etc., from our latest adventure.

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

For my latest live/blog, see “the Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East.  Check it at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

 

In Greece, we started with a day at Delphi, where the Oracle was consulted about important decisions from throughout the ancient classical world.:

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From Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. here is one interior view.  Second is a procession along the historic Via Dolorosa.  Third is my connecting at the Western/Wailing Wall in the most holy site for the Jewish faith.:

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In Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, we explored the tombs of Egypt rulers from 3300 years ago plus Karnak's night glories, statutes and columns.:

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In front of Petra’s Treasury in Jordan, we found this cute camel as a "co-star".  Feeling the spirit of Indian Jones here!:

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We finished with the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and the sandy beaches of Dubai having its unique modern architecture in the background.:

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  • 8 months later...

From the Boston Globe Travel Section from a week ago, they had this headline: “Introducing Bequia, the Caribbean escape worth getting to know” with these story highlights: “This year I found a way to silence those afflicted with Travel Superiority Complex. I started talking about Bequia. With stunned expressions, they humbly asked, 'Where’s that?'  Truth be told, I also had no idea about Bequia (pronounced BECK-way) when I first heard the name. It’s the second-largest island in the string of 32 islands that make up St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With a population just over 5,000, it’s an unpretentious place where flights can’t land at night because the tiny airport has no runway lights. There are no big-chain hotels or over-the-top resorts to be found. There isn’t even a Starbucks. There is one ATM machine on the entire island.   Bequia is the Caribbean the way the Caribbean used to be.  Bequia is an actual escape in an age where it feels as if there are few true escapes remaining on the planet.”

 

Nice profile for a location that we really  enjoyed in 2015.  Not many cruise ships visit there.  Fortunately with Silversea, we were able to sample this small part of "heaven".  

 

Below is a link for our most recent "adventure" in doing Alaska/Western Canada for the first time during this past summer. 

 

Full story at:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/11/28/lifestyle/introducing-bequia-caribbean-escape-worth-getting-know/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Just completed a few months ago doing Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc.  Lots of visuals and details from our first visits to these scenic areas!!  That live/blog is at: 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

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  • 2 weeks later...

From Forbes magazine three days ago, they had this headline: “Ten Bucket List Trips For The Next Decade” with this opening highlight for this listing of great potential future travel options: “With the imminent arrival of the Roaring Twenties, why not give your travel life a jolt? New decade, new you... New travel plans..

 

One of these top ten tips was for doing the Amazon, Manaus, etc.  Here is their headline: "Discover Amazonas, From Manaus To The Amazon Rainforest" .  Hare are some of their profile highlights: "2019 was the year that Brazil officially did away with its tourist visa requirement for Americans, so to say the next decade will be an easier time to visit is only one reason why this country is on our list. What about the city known as the Paris of the jungle? We're talking, of course, of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas. And you can't visit Manaus without venturing into the wilds of the Amazon, the most magnificent wilderness on earth. Spend an afternoon exploring the incongruous blend of gilded opulence (architecture lovers will rejoice) and seaside city life (the fish market will satisfy even the most discerning foodie.)"

 

Yes, this spotlighting of the Amazon and Manaus brings back wonderful memories from visiting there in 2015. 

 

Full story at:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherineparkermagyar/2019/12/11/2020-travel-goals-10-bucket-list-trips-for-the-next-decade/#19b69f8d5f9d

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 47,918 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

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