Veendam Day 3 - at sea

Colorful Veendam lobby...

Ship Facts...
Ship's Registry: The Netherlands
Passenger capacity: 1,350
Crew members: 580
Gross Tonnage: 57,092 grt.
Length: 719 feet
Beam: 101 feet
Maximum speed: 22 knots
Dedicated: January 1996, by actress Debbie Reynolds
　
Digital Workshop, powered by Windows®: offering fun, free learning about digital photography, videos, scrapbooking, blogging and social networking. Dick and I took this class onboard the HAL Eurodam last year and loved it! This version appears to have expanded info, so we'll definitely be in class learning new techniques. Maybe I can upload some new photos!

Veendam Day 2 - at sea

This is what our outside stateroom should look like (y'all know these are pre-posts, don't you?), according to the HAL online photos. Looks like the one we had on the Eurodam last year, so it will be fine. More than fine, after all, we are on a cruise!!!

Today is a sea day (as is tomorrow), so we'll be doing lots of exploring and taking photos. There is a digital class onboard, so we'll check that out.

Happiness is being on a cruise ship! Happy Sunday, y'all...

Hello, ms Veendam Day 1 - Adeus, Rio...

The plan for today: morning sightseeing in Rio if this rain goes away, then head to this beautiful ship for lunch on the Lido deck. Departure is at 5p, so we'll be outside taking lots of photos as we sail away from Rio.

Rain greeted us when we landed and stayed all day, so we just went to the hotel and napped, then went to dinner and back to the hotel. We are such party animals...NOT. The clouds were hanging so low that we couldn't see anything yesterday, so why waste time going sightseeing to see nothing but rain? Nope, the nap won out, although we did sleep just a little on the plane ride down here. And no crying babies!

Woohoo...let the new adventure begin! Stay tuned! Bon voyage (how do you say that in Portugese?)...

And a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY today to Sarge Charlie. Love ya bunches!!! Sarge is battling demon cancer and winning, so please click over and leave him a little lovin'. He has earned it!

Friday update...

Rain greeted us and stayed with us all day. Yuck! Oh well, the nap was good and we'll turn in early tonight to get caught up on our sleep.

By the way, Rio is 3 hours ahead of Mayberry time, not 2.

The hotel is supposed to have wi-fi, but I couldn't connect. I think their router is down. Fortunately they have a cable connection here in the lobby, so here I sit...and tomorrow I go on the ship's service.

WX forecast is more rain tomorrow, and if so, we'll just take a taxi to the ship and not do any sightseeing.

That's it for now...sweet dreams!

Ola, Rio!

Rio de Janeiro is a bustling international tourist city on the NE coast of Brazil. Unfortunately, we will only be here for this one night, but we will make the most of it for sure. And probably find that we want to return and stay longer.

Will we see Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain up close (named one of the Seven Wonders of the World)? Ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain? Or see the permanent parade stand used during Carnival? Visit the famous beaches? Wow...what choices!

Brazil is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America. The population is made up of many racial and ethnic groups. Portugese is the official language, and the Roman Catholic Church is the dominating religion, making Brazil the largest Catholic nation in the world!

Football is the most popular sport here. Rio is proud to host the 2016 Summer Olympic games for the very first time in South America. No way would I want to attend that chaos, but I am happy they will have this distinguished honor!

A very big happy birthday today to Dick's brother Bob! We'll lift a toast to you tonight at dinner. Cheers!!!

We're leaving on a jet plane...

But we DO know when we'll be back again, unlike the lyrics from that song that will now be playing in my head all day!

I had to promise Missy that I would look at her picture every day, so she is reluctantly letting us go. We know Brian will take good care of her while we are gone and give her lots of lovin'.

Bummer on international data plans from AT&T for this trip. They don't have data coverage in the areas of South America where we are going, except for Chile. Well, by the time we get there, we are almost ready to go home. I can get text messages, so the kids know to text me if they need to. Of course I'll get internet on the ship, but that is slow as molasses and expensive, but if we wanted to save money, we'd stay home, right? I am not complaining...just stating facts. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.

We have an overnight flight to Rio...nine hours worth and that is just from Miami, so that means we arrive tomorrow morning. Can you say tired? Will the crying baby be behind us or in front of us? Hmmm...we'll be tolerant.

Enjoy your day. Ours will be a long one. Life is good! And yes, Julia, there are some undies and socks in those bags...that are NOW packed and ready. Well, except for that rolling computer backpack.........oh.............I guess it's time to shut this thing down. I'm having withdrawal symptoms already. Oh no!!!!!!!! Does that Rio hotel have wi-fi???

Bag check...

Purse. Check. Dick's backpack. Check. My rolling computer backpack. Check. And two bags for clothes. Check. Filled up and ready. Not checked!

This was the scene when we left home in June for the last cruise. We have this packing business down to a pretty fine science, so everything has a place and everything we pack gets used. We'll be in spring/summer/fall climates on this journey, so we have to pack clothes that can be layered. Yep, we can handle that. Basic black pants, and a variety of tops, throw in a few scarves, a sweater, jacket, my two wad-up 'formal' outfits, and I'm good to go. The fashion police won't be cruising with us.

And Dick? A couple of pairs of jeans, grey dress pants, blue blazer (for dressy nights -- tux stays home), khaki pants for all other nights, some shirts and a windbreaker. Oh yes, and a tie (he hates those). That'll do for him. Simple.

I'm checking my list...and marking things off as they either get done or get packed. I like doing that...then nothing gets forgotten.

Future blogs set up. Check!