Lirio

I know your feelings...........

Hello @TayanaLorna how was your trip? Did you manage to do it?

Last day for this trip to Belo Horizonte. Good weather. Visited the former train station that is now the museum of arts and crafts that present the way work was performed in the XVIII to early XX century. Also visited a church on the way. Tomorrow going back to Rio de Janeiro. Belo Horizonte is the main city of Minas Gerais, land of mining (iron, gold), steel and milk. The best cheeses in Brasil are produced here. In the pictures an early mining equipment and cheese plates. Pictures also includes the train station inside and outside, box office, a river ship model, a braziliam cowboy.

I hope you make fo 2024. My best wishes.

Back to Belo Horizonte we visited Praça da Liberdade (Freedom Square) where formerly was the government buildings and palace. Now all the buildings around the square are museums, or art galleries. The pictures are of the square, buildings around it and the government house (inside and outside). I lived here in this square for some years in the 70´s. It was my playground.

I prefer collard green than Kale. I was born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and here how we do collard green. I have it at home 2-3x per week. https://www.thespruceeats.com/garlicky-collard-greens-couve-a-mineira-3029578

And a museum.

Today we visited Sabara a town where the first massive gold exploration took place in early XVIII century. Later the gold mining increased and moved to other areas around and new cities were established. In the pictures, 4 churches with different ages (all from XVIII century). Please note the size and decoration from the first one (smaller) to a big one with decoration outside and inside. In later XVIII and early XIX when gold mining was at the highest level, churches in the new areas are all painted in gold (I will not visit them at this trip). I hope you enjoy.

Visiting abandoned train stations in rural area, One is renovated and now a small museum, and the other almost destroyed (station, mail house and chapel (renovated)). I do like these historical stations.

San Francisco Chapel in Belo Horizonte. Design by Oscar Niemeyer, tiles from Portinari. Behind, Pampulha lake.

On the road again....It is carnaval and I am getting away of it. Going to Belo Horizonte where I was born. I will try to send some pictures......

Hi Que, I hope you a getting better every day. I am a chemical engineer, as well. Tonight house is full for superbowl!

Should you need any information about Sao Paulo (SP) I am glad to help. I live in Rio de Janeiro, but I go to SP very often. I love this city!

I would like to inform that besides Amazon, there is another area in Brazil for those interested in birds, and animals: Pantanal. To spot jaguar, it is the best place. I have plans to go back there next June.

Sao Paulo is a big wealthy city with a lot of museums, restaurants, bars, theatres, etc. Manaus you can visit in one or two days. Being in a jungle lodge is an experience and can be very interesting. There are a wide range of jungle lodges since basic one with few modern facilities to luxury with all modern facilities. There are several years now that I went on a lodge (with all facilities), but with a google search you can find some options.

Yesterday was the highest recorded! And high humid as well.....No way I am going out home.....

And here feels like 58C.......... What about Australia?

@Fletcher, from the river it is very rare to see animals on land. You may see the pink dolphins and some birds. I do recommend you take yellow fever vaccine. Usually on walks through the forest you will probably see sloths, alligators (small) and birds. I always have insect repellent with me. In Manaus there is some historical buildings around The Opera House. And in case you have enough time in town, you may visit the Museu da Amazonia. In visiting the local villages, local people will offer handcraft for you to buy. In case you can, it will help them. But be aware that fossils, rocks and other natural stuff usually is not legal to sell or buy. Belém also has very interesting things to visit – Magal das Garças, Museu Emilio Goeldi and The House of 11 windows. Be prepared to the weather: hot and humid

We did Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands in Silver Explorer many years ago. By far the best trip of my life, ever.

Below some newspaper news about it. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-state-of-emergency-citys-residents-rescued-from-their-homes-and-cars-during-the-worst-flooding-i-have-ever-seen/WPRHA4LX5JHVJGAULSAT7U2FSU/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/new-zealand-floods-state-of-emergency-in-auckland-after-torrential-rain-causes-flooding https://www.bbc.com/weather/features/64415944

Coolers, I would like to share with my trip back from Auckland to Brazil, in the last January 27. The hotel was fully booked with guests of Norwegian pre and post cruise. As it was raining guests waiting for transportation to the ship and guests waiting to go to their rooms were on the lobby. Unfortunately, because of this we did not get a late checkout and arrived in the lobby as well, at 11 AM. But we could wait in the business lounge which was less crowded. Due to the rain we decided to go early to the airport, checked the bags (with the 13 wines bottles) and went to the business class lounge. In due time we boarded, and everything seems ok. This flight starts in Sydney (Australia), stops in Auckland and flies to Santiago (Chile) with connections to all South America. It is the only available flight between Ocenia an South America directly. Flight was full. Business class totally full and I noted a group from Australia. The plane in the finger next to us departed and I supposed we would be the next. Suddenly the rain turned out to a pouring rain and we couldn´t take off. After almost 4 hours and 2 films, the captain announced that the airport would be closed for several hours, all bars and restaurants was closed and all hotels nearby full. The dinner service was served, and we disembarked to a secure area. In mean time, the above-mentioned plane that have left, returned to finger. I checked some hotels nearby; none had any room available. We took our sheet, blanket, and pillow, as indicated by the crew. When we left the finger we came across hundreds of people already laid down in the boarding room. At that moment I understood that would be hard (so far I didn’t realized). We went to an empty room indicated by the airline staff and started to prepare for the night (at this point I was like robot doing things). The airport management informed that an state of emergency was declared in Auckland and that nobody should try to live the airport as all roads around was flooded. I walked around the airport and only the McDonald store was open with a long queue. It was opened all night long and in the morning. At 2 AM the airline staff announced that airport would be closed at least until midday and that at 8 AM another announced would be made. Later the airport management announced that in some areas water and snacks will be available. A bit later someone showed up distributing blankets from one other airline. At 8 AM the airline representative distributed vouchers and informed that we would departure at midday and that at 10 AM would be distributed the new boarding pass. That was done and we departed right after 12 PM. During the night I met some of the Australians. They were going to Ushuaia to board a Hurtigruten cruise to Antarctica. And others were also going to a cruise to Antarctica that depart from Ushuaia which name I don’t record. Flight to Santiago was ok (service was not very good as the plane was not supplied due to the problems). We got a connection to Rio de Janeiro 8 hours after arriving in Santiago. We stayed in the business lounge which was amazing (got a shower and a bed to sleep!). While there I saw a group of 8-10 people with Silversea backpack and some others with Viking tags in the hand luggage. Finally, my husband, me and the 13 bottles of wine arrived home late night and well.

Packing almost done with a lot of NZ wines.....

Last week in NZ. Next friday go back home. We visited a light house and a beach nearby Auckland yesterday. Today in town, Silverser Shadow.

Unfortunately I cant go on August. I have a conference on New Orleans that finishes on Oct., 3. So early october is the best date.

Seabourn has a cruise with stop there, but my preference is Silversea.