March 30, 2025

RECIFE, BRAZIL 

We were greeted in the Port by music & dancers and for the first time WELCOME COCKTAILS! Great way to start a morning of exploring! Walked the town with group of 8,  and kept running into other residents doing the same thing, comparing notes. It was very hot, so we searched out shady spots along the way. Remnants of Carnival decorations and stages were being dismantled but some party mask seem to be part of the yearly decor. We walked along the port, saw a variety of street entertainers, and while a lot of the area was run down, other building were bright and colorful. We strolled down to a festive area, home to a charming spot Cafe Bom Jesus and a busy square with lots of Carnival street art. Then we crossed over the river and saw the court building and the Praca Treze de Maio ( Park). I came back to the Ship in the early afternoon with about 1/2 the group, to escape heat, and get packed for our trip to the Amazon, the next day.

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Our group trys to have fun whereever we go !

Sassy Sarah, Scottie Watty, Me, Jimbo showing us Uranus and then what a big boy he is too!

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 4, 2026
We had a beautiful sunny day to explore Wellington ! Was a very nice change from the stormy, big swells weather we have had the last two days! Wellington is the Capital city of New Zealand and the CBD is nice and big with lots of shops and museums. We didn't make it to the LOTR studios due to the time crunch but we took the cable car up to the top, for a scenic overlook of the port and then leisurley walk down through the Botantical Gardens, parks and historical cemetary.

ROTORUA CITY HIGHLIGHTS - NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 3, 2026
Rotorua became a bonus city for us. Our Port stay in Tauranga got cut down to one day, due to NZ biosecurity regulations and since we really wanted to do Hobbiton, we decided to get off the ship and stay in hotels and get back on the ship, in a few days. Due to a variety of factors, the Ship ended up doing a quick pick up of us in Tauranga, three days later. The Kiwi's we encountered along the way, who helped with all our last minute details, were amazingly kind, hospitable and generous. Below is our tired, chilly group huddled at the security shed, outside the Port in the wee hours (1:30 am) Monday morning, awaiting our final hurdle of getting back on our Home. Home sweet home! What an adventure!

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 3, 2026
Rotorua, New Zealand is known for it's geothermal activity ( geysers, mud pools, hot springs) and rich Maori culture . I saw lots of that last time I was here in 2016, so this time I wanted to see their Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest. John and Colleen joined me in exploring. Their redwoods are smaller than the ones in Muir Woods California, but still impressive. Both are planted forest dating back to around 1908.