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!

PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!