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...