There and Back Again by D.A.Webb

If you have been following along, one might think I am really down on Brazil and her people. Not true. Let me put the previous posts into perspective. This was my first trip to Brazil and it reminded me of Cuba. I wanted to know why both countries seemed similar? What happened in Brazil and why did it happen? Are the issues being addressed? What is slowing Brazil's progress? Many of the lingering concerns are related to Brazil's military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. The overthrow began with social concerns within factions of the military and conservative civilians. These concerns included perceived communist threats, corruption allegations, economic instability and general social unrest. In 1964, based on the above social concerns the military successfully overthrew the democratically elected President João Goulart. Initially the military intervention was portrayed as necessary to protect democracy and prevent a communist takeover. However, once in power, the milit...

Over the past several days, family and close friends have inquired regarding our safety. Yes, we are safe and from my perspective everything is going well. It appears several social media posts are portraying something quite different. Rather than propagate the drama, let me share my observations. The ship feels less crowded and the passengers seem more relaxed and content than on any of our previous cruises. People are polite, considerate and seldom rush anywhere. Lines are short to non-existent and everyone politely queues without the typical elbowing and line jumping. People pick up after themselves and I have not seen a single unruly drunk. Like expected, the ship staff are exceptional and the food is outstanding. Let's be honest, what are the odds of a TikTok post going viral with content like this? It appears many passengers are puzzled by the ship's TikTok popularity and question if we are even on the same ship? Given the obvious disparity, exactly what are the influence...

Friday was planned as a quiet sea day for rest and relaxation, but all that changed in the Tropical Theatre at 7:00 PM. Royal Caribbean was getting us warmed up for New Year's Eve in Rio with their Headliner Showtime: Rio's Rhythmic Extravaganza. Rather than try and explain, here is the published show description. "These artists and dance figures contribute to the dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of Rio de Janeiro, making it a global center for music and dance enthusiasts. Their wide experience gained over the years through multiple national and international performances has played a crucial role in preserving and celebrating Brazil's rich cultural heritage all around the world". It was definitely loud, flashy and a sight to behold.  My body hurt just watching.

Recife and Fortaleza are colonization sister cities and continue struggling with cultural issues shaping their current social dynamics. Rather than dwelling on these issues, our Recife tour guide reviewed the colonization period and the lasting affects on society. Portuguese colonization began in the early 1500's followed by on going territorial disputes with the Spanish and Dutch. After political turmoil, multiple ruling governments, corruption and a revolution, the populous became distrustful of authorities and governments. We observed this in Fortaleza, when a cathedral on the tour was unexpectedly closed. The guide apologized, but stated "This is what to expect. After all, this is Brazil". We see people in Brazil, like most of Latin America, struggling just to exist. Living conditions are poor with little hope for improvement. They tend to live for today because tomorrow has no guarantee. They are surviving impossible conditions. Given an opportunity, these p...

It appears King Neptune is more than sea lore. On Sunday we received a strange advisory that the ship would be boarded. On Christmas day, while crossing the equator, Captain Nilsen performed an even stranger evasive maneuver obviously to deter any boarding attempts. All seemed well until today when King Neptune appeared and held court. A pollywog, tadpole, scamp and TikTok influencer were found on ship. Rather than being forced to walk the plank, each were cleansed of their evil ways. The process began with each kissing the fish followed by an ice water bath. The four scoundrels were successfully cleansed and released. All is now back to normal and we are proceeding south.

Fortaleza is northeastern Brazil's largest city with 2.8 million residents. It has a tropical climate, famous sandy beaches and a bustling sea port. The wide range of exports include corn, refined petroleum, seafood, textiles, leather shoes, cashews and fruit. One would expect Fortaleza to be a vibrant and robust metropolis, but outward appearances indicate otherwise. Not unlike several large cities in the United States, Fortaleza has issues. As the middle class diminished, the economic divide between the high society and working class increased. Neighborhoods experienced increased violent crimes usually associated with gangs and drug trafficking. Civic pride was lost. Trash is everywhere. Doors and windows are bared. Structures are covered with graffiti and surrounded by razor wire. To be honest, the city looks old, dirty, tired, uninviting and dangerous. By no means is this situation unique to Fortaleza. As with cities in the United States, the declines are typically a...

For most Christmas is a personal experience based on local customs and religious beliefs shared with close friends and family. Spending Christmas in the Atlantic on a ship with several thousand close strangers seemed odd at best. This year Royal Caribbean created a memorable Christmas for all on Serenade of the Seas. The ship was decorated for Christmas including a beautifully tree in the Centrum. We had shows and concerts for entertainment along with outstanding selections of food in the Windjammer and main dining rooms. Evening and morning services were available in several denominations. Christmas eve featured caroling and Christmas morning Santa arrived with presents for the kids. Royal Caribbean thought of everything and definitely made Christmas 2023 memorable. During breakfast Christmas morning Captain Nilsen made an announcement surprising everyone. About 9:00 AM we would be crossing into the southern hemisphere. He wanted to do things properly, so if anyone missed the equator...

FM - NEPTUNUS REX   RULLER OF THE DEEP TO - SERENADE OF THE SEAS CAPTAIN STIG NILSEN ALL OFFICERS AND MEN OF YOUR GROUP ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT HIS OCEANIC MAJESTY KING NEPTUNE AND HIS ROYAL RETINUE WILL BOARD YOUR SHIP ON MON 25 DEC 2023 AT LAT 00.00000 DEG N LONG 43.21078 DEG W FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLEANSING YOUR SHIP OF ALL POLYWOGS TADPOLES AND OTHER SCAMP AS MAY BE PRESET.  BE YE IN ALL RESPECTS PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM WITH FULL OCEANIC HONOURS SIGNED - YE ROYAL SCRIBE                   FOR NEPTUNUS REX

Today we were looking forward to visiting Devil's Island, but high seas prevented safe tender operations. Very disappointing, but given the current world situation, this is probably only the first of many itinerary changes for our world cruise. Given we now have another sea day, time to catch up on other activities and give my sea legs time to recover from the Caribbean excursions. Tonight we plan on visiting Giovanni's Table, one of Serenade's specialty restaurants followed by assorted ship Christmas activities.

In an attempt to maintain our health and fitness, Royal Caribbean provided all with an Ultimate World Cruise fitness journal. The idea is to just move at least one mile each day and journal the results.  At the end of the cruise, participants will receive something special.  In addition to tracking daily Fitbit activity, I found the journal useful for blog notes and sorting out daily destinations, cruise days and actual dates. You may have also noticed each entry contains a validation stamp. They don't seem to check much, but probably figure anyone trekking up to deck 13 climbing wall deserves a stamp. I tend to agree.

Grenada is the last and probably the most memorable Caribbean island nation visited on this world cruise. It has a similar heritage and history not unlike others we visited. Yes, I could say it is the spice capital of the world but everyone probably knows that. I could highlight their 1910 foot volcano and rain forest with 160 inches of annual rain, but that can be discovered with a Google search. More importantly, unknown to both you and Google is our Grenadian tour guide "Clever" Trevor. Trevor talked about much in those four short hours. The following are topics I found memorable and worth sharing. Along our journey Trevor pointed out locations with new homes, areas of new industries and even new government buildings. What most locals didn't realize is they were financed by the Chinese government. There are no free rides in this world.  He pointed out that was a lot investment and questioned what the Chinese would required in return. We passed a wall with graffit...

Barbados, like other Caribbean islands, experienced early European colonialism and limited natural resources. That said, Barbados did have several unique advantages helping their economic development. One advantage is its rugged terrain. The higher altitudes result in more rain feeding the aquifer. This natural supply of ground water helps enable agriculture and other related industries. Barbados continued to grow their economy to include tourism, finance, fishing, manufacturing and construction making them more self sufficient and a leader in diverse island economies. A less obvious advantage is Barbados always fell under British control. When they became an independent British Commonwealth nation, the people already trusted government and understood the advantages. This trust was demonstrated by our tour guide Neville, who is very proud of his English heritage and current leaders. Like other Caribbean nations we visited, the government recognizes people as a natural resource and ...

I do it every cruise, every time, even though I know better. I am not alone. It seems everyone lives each day as though it is their last. What is it with us humans? First there is the food coma. All that food and so little time. It is near impossible to try everything, but that doesn't stop us from trying. Symptoms seem to last about a week except for the elusive shrinking clothes which can linger for months. Hope is in sight when the 9:55 pm Windjammer ice cream runs are no longer required. Another behavior prevalent on cruises is EAS or Excessive Activity Syndrome. These ships are loaded with activities meant to entice travelers beyond their comfort zones. There are endless shows, excursions, activities and bars just to name a few. It is so easy, just show your sea pass card and the world is yours. Reality returns with next month's credit card statement. In all seriousness, these same patterns exist throughout modern society. We are enticed by the pleasures of life and ...

Today we visited Bonaire, the last of the ABC Islands on our cruise. All three share similar histories and cultures and became part of the Dutch Leeward Islands in 1845. In1986 Aruba seceded followed by Curacao in 2010. Both Aruba and Curacao are now countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, leaving Bonaire a special municipality of the Netherlands.  Although historically and culturally similar, the countries economies now exhibit significant differences. On one end of the scale is Aruba exhibiting economic growth with a populous full of hope. On the other end of the scale is Bonaire exhibiting traits associated with colonialism with large portions of its populous in the past. Curacao falls squarely between the two geographically and economically. There are many factors contributing to these observed differences, but could gaining independence be one of the driving forces? Independence offers opportunities not entitlement. Successful governments enable the populous, but the ...

Today Joan and I would like to wish Anthony a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  He is a very special person with a kind heart and never ending enthusiasm.  It is rare now days to meet individuals able to demonstrate wisdom well beyond their years.  Anthony is definitely one of these individuals. Happy Birthday my friend. Looking forward to seeing you when we return to Louisville.

After almost two hundred and fifty years of independence, it is easily taken for granted in the States. For the island nation of Curacao, independence is still young often requiring frequent adjustments to address its new responsibilities. Curacao's history is not that different from other European colonies in the Americas. The Spanish came looking for gold, found none, but discovered natives with knowledge of local water sources. With the introduction of livestock, the island soon became an important restocking waypoint for sailing vessels. Over the years, the balance of power changed in Europe and Curacao fell under Dutch control. Requiring a new source of salt, the Dutch turned to Curacao and a new industry and economy was established in Curacao. Slave trade was underway and resourceful business men saw another opportunity. With Curacao, already established as a restocking waypoint for ships, plantations were built, food was produced, ships stopped to resupply and feed slave...

Given the limited natural resources of small island nations, how would one such as Aruba modernize their economy and succeed in the modern world? The obvious answer is identify their valuable assets, build the necessary supporting infrastructure and invest in their workforce. Aruba is a work in progress, but their goal as a tourist destination is no secret. Aruba's valuable asset is miles of white sandy beaches and inviting tropical weather. This is especially welcoming to those in the northern hemisphere wishing to escape the long cold winters. Aruba offers what many in the north desire. To grow, Aruba required an ample power source and adequate fresh water supply. This was accomplished with investments in power generation including wind turbines. Fresh water was a significant issue and was addressed by building the 2nd largest desalination plant in the world. Hotel construction was a joint venture with foreign investors. Unlike so many other resort areas, private hotel beac...

During our April 2023 cruise on Serenade of the Seas, this space did not exist.  With construction now complete, we have a new ship library on deck 12.  Besides being a quick elevator ride from our room, it offers comfortable chairs and pleasant lighting to cozy up with a book.  This is a welcome update and definitely becoming one of my favorite locations.  

When it comes to landscapes, mother nature doesn't always cooperate especially with interesting skies. One great feature in Photoshop is sky replacement.  The Ultimate World Cruise offers perfect opportunities to create and expand a sky replacement collection.  This is the first of hopefully many interesting skies from around the world.   

We docked in Cozumel during a brief early morning rain.  It remained cloudy and humid with more rain expected in the afternoon.  Given this was also our fourth visit, we skipped the formal tours and did a walkabout.  After maneuvering the gauntlet of shop keepers we hit the streets checking out the locals.  We did find a resident adapting well to tourists and seemed to enjoy the ride.

Staying in contact with the real world was definitely one of my early concerns.  Despite being on a nine month vacation, we still had friends to contact and financial responsibilities to monitor.  So far everything is working.  Weekly calls have been successfully made by phone with voice over IP.  Bills have been paid utilizing two step verifications.  We have even enjoyed streaming our favorite shows with that which shall not be named. Hopefully everything will continue to function properly. Located on the same deck as our stateroom is the Business Services area.  It provides desk space with comfortable chairs and easy access to power outlets.  I probably spend too much time here as other passengers think I am the official help desk for all things computer.  

Day 2 was scheduled for a Perfect Day in CocoCay. Since we are not really the beach type and it was raining, we decided to stay on ship and work on the room. From the picture I am sure most would agree this was a wise decision. The room is a total mess, but a welcome surprise. Two weeks before the trip we shipped our luggage to Miami, Florida. The following week we drove to Florida to visit friends. Tracking indicated all five pieces of luggage arrived in south Florida. Much to our surprise, it was refused by receiver and began its slow trip back to Louisville, Kentucky. At this point we were already in Florida. Special thanks to Kevin and Bethel, our son and daughter-in-law, for working the situation and getting our luggage back to Florida. Besides relabeling and meeting tight deadlines, they repacked our goods from the damaged suitcase into another and then shipped it in a protective cardboard box. Words can not express our appreciation.

This evening we embarked on our world cruise leaving behind the comforts so many of us enjoy and take for granted. Behind too is the organized chaos called daily life of seemingly endless unmanageable tasks regrouped and organized to better fit our expectations. Agree or disagree humanity creates our personal worlds and we simply do our best to adapt and survive. Tomorrow begins a fresh perspective with focus on the personal worlds of others. How do our personal worlds differ? How have people adapted? Can we learn from their successes and improve our situations too? Will comparing and contrasting each other's struggles help us all appreciate each other? As individuals, are we actually that different or are we fundamentally the same? Yes, many unanswered questions and lofty aspirations, but the world is hurting and healing begins with understanding, compassion and many small Band-Aids. Thank you for following along. As individuals we can all do our part and make the world a...