March 11, 2025

RIO DE JANEIRO - DAY 3 - VILA CANOAS FAVELA TOUR

Before we entered the next Favela, we saw the eeriest of cloud formation around Sugar Loaf Mountain in distance.

Our group on terrace within Vila Canoas Favela in the Sao Conrado neighborhood. Canoas is a much smaller favela and in 2009 was chosen as a municipal pilot project to contain the disorderly growth of favelas, with the height limited to three floors.In 2011 they revised to 5 floors due to high real estate needs. Politicians promise improvements like open shared spaces, but deliver little once elected. Truly just come to favelas looking for large number of voters pre election. One rare small courtyard here.

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Favela visit finished at the community center, that our tour dollars help fund. We got to meet some of the school children and got a song and dance presentation from the indigenous tribe members, with an opportunity to see and buy their custom art works.

PAPEETE - NIGHT LIFE- BACHLORETTE PARTY

By Patricia Patrick • January 19, 2026
I threw together an impromptu Bachelorette party for Angie tonight! Angie and Gian are getting married for a third time in Hawaii next week.They will be alone this time and it turns out she never had a Shower or Bachelorette to celebrate her first 2 marriages on the Ship, last May! Our girl deserved a fun night to celebrate her! So we took over a section the outdoor seating at Les 3 Brassuers, and their great band had us all up dancing! It's amazing what you can do with a bunch of WhatsApp messages to fellow ladies, some tulle, sparkles and always handy flower lei's ! One of the ladies even went and bought her some lingerie! I love our supportive community!

PAPEETE, FRENCH POLYNESIA

By Patricia Patrick • January 19, 2026
I got to go Sailing Again! We were supposed to head to the COOK ISLANDS after the lovely Rangiroa and the Tuamotu Archipelago, but due to stormy weather there, with all unprotected tender ports, they made the decision to head us southwest, back to the protected port in Papeeta (Tahiti). We got lucky and Holly ( pictured below) found us a sailboat available for charter.

RANGIROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA - Drone Shots

By Patricia Patrick • January 14, 2026
Since Janette Emerich is generous enough to share her drone photos with all of us on board the Ship, I have to share them with you all. This beauty is why I said we felt like we were in a screen saver the whole day in Rangiroa! I love the height perspective in the photos it really captures so much more. Blue Lagoon below: