March 11, 2025
RIO DE JANEIRO - Day 3 - THURSDAY
Today we went to the Royal Portuguese Reading Room or the Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura.
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Next we went to Sao Francisco de Paula Church which was very theatrical on the inside - reminded me of an opera house more than a church with bulb lighting and private balconies overlooking the altar. I asked and it was built as a Catholic Church!
After visiting the church I walked with Callie ( friend of Scott's visiting for 6 weeks) to a public health clinic to see about getting her a yellow fever vaccination. It was pretty easy, no cost, we waited 10-15 minutes and all she had to show was her passport. Now she is all set for adventure into the Amazon! Good to know, and we got to see another part of the city along the way!
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.