20260127 Tuesday Salvador de Bahia, Brazil 0800 - 1800
Embark on a sightseeing adventure that will take you to Salvador's iconic landmarks and historic destinations.
Wiki for Salvador
This city has a dangerous reputation. We'll leave everything aboard but some cash and our boarding card. A large MSC ship will be here also. Maybe the vultures will go after the Germans.
The picture (R) is the view leaving the cruise terminal. The 1600's Basilica is just off to the right. The tourist office is just off-picture to the left. The large yellow Mercado is behind the art figure. At its rear is the "elevator" to the level up on the bluff. There are supposed to be good views from there.
We'll take the tour "Panoramic Salvador". No idea what we'll see. After that, we'll just walk around, shop in the Mercado and take pictures from the top of the elevator.
….. well, we saw the piece of art at the right and the Mercado behind it, we ascended the Elevator to take pictures, but the Basilica was not open for visiting.
But, to start at the start, we got up around 0730 and had breakfast in Windows. We went onto the veranda and came back in to change O's shirt to something more comfortable in high humidity.
The old tourist entry point from which the picture at Right was taken is no longer used by cruise ships. Disembarking from the ship, you now turn left to go to the new terminal. Through it, then onto the street, turn right, and enter the bus parking lot. We were #2.
The bus took us to the oldest lighthouse in South America, where the bay meets the ocean. We stopped for 15 minutes to take pictures of the "phare", then went on. It took some time to get there but we stopped next for ice cream in this huge hall. We were given 30 minutes to get ice cream, but we spent 20 minutes standing, waiting to be served.
Photo Links for pictures when I get them up.
Link to D pix first half.
Link to D pix second half
Link to O pix.
Then onward to the church of Bomfin. The early settlers were Catholics and forced their African slaves to join the church. The slaves worked their native beliefs into the Catholic ceremonies and this is the result. As we arrived the rain started, so O & D stayed in the bus while some of the rest got out to look around.
Then we were taken to Mercado Modelo, the yellow building in the picture at right. I don't know what it was originally, but it's now full of kiosks selling mostly the same items like tee-shirts, bracelets, necklaces, and so forth. We didn't take long to find we didn't need anything there, so we walked to the Elevador.
The vertical shaft contains two elevators each under human control. They hold 10 to 15 people. It scoots up rapidly and deposits you at what must have been a beautiful square. Nice buildings on two sides, the elevador on another and some ugly government building on the fourth. A few pictures and back down.
We walked then toward the place the picture was taken (the old port entry) and back to the ship in light rain via the new port entry. Shed wet clothing, and off to Windows for food before Windows closed.
A few minutes in the cabin followed wherein D sent over 200 photos to O for inclusion here (I'll edit them).
Then we went to the Living Room for Trivia. Our Toronto friends joined us to get 14 correct out of 20. Not too bad. But then came musical trivia on Song Title plus the Musical from which it came. D was the only one somewhat comfortable in the competition. When the host asked if anyone wanted any of the songs repeated, O said "God,no"; similar thoughts were vocalized around the room. But our musical young girls Laura and Beth got 38 of 40, far more than any other team.
Back to the cabin to do these notes until time for dinner in the MDR.
[Left] The Oldest Lighthouse.
Again, a slow day after an active one. O spent most of the morning gleaning D's photos of yesterday from 277 at the start to 156 that can be used.
We participated in Progressive Trivia, ending the cruise in 3rd place (of four). Still, we had fun with our Ottawa playmates.
A light lunch in Windows should not interfere with our dining this evening in Prime C.
Trivia with Ray & Jean from Ottawa. Did ok, not great.
Did Prime C dinner in that special room. Served by Sultan, whom we know from previous cruises. D had a large steak that she couldn't finish (since she's now much smaller). O had a little filet. Very nice.
… more loafing and reading.
20260129 Thursday Buzios, Brazil 1300-2000
Buzios cruise port is a popular port of call because it offers premier beaches, countless opportunities for water sports, superb cuisine, many shops and all is easily accessed only by foot or by water taxi.
Wiki for Buzios
I'm sticking this port in here, since the next page (Rio) is going to be busy. Buzios is a smalller town, sort of a distant suburb of Rio. Beaches, cottages, etc.
Again, our ship is the only one visiting, arriving at 1300 and departing around 2000 for Rio. We're taking the "trolley" tour shown at left. And just looking around.
So. Breakfast in the Sun Deck, looking at other ships generally headed for Rio de Janeiro. Not all that warm, but very humid. One odd ship with a crane mounted forward out to port. At the cabin we found Satej had already made it up.
At the gift selection to redeem points won during contests on the cruise, D selected a pair of Azamara socks. She strictly didn't have enough points but told the person she had done five Quest cruises, so that should qualify. He said yes and gave her the socks.
We grabbed some small food in Windows because Patio was closed, setting up for tonight. Then tendered ashore with 100 other people to take the jitney shown at left, of which there are ten or more. Ours was a VW diesel with terrible vibration, coupled directly to the seats (5 per bench, 6 benches). It went up hills (slowly but it went), a proof that if you gear down far enough you can pull a barn uphill. O didn't quit vibrating until he re-boarded Quest.
And the cobblestone roads (trails?) are not smooth. Anywhere. The one at left has been improved. The jitney's driver took us to numerous camera opportunity sites. We stopped at one, which coincidentally had people selling things.
After several stops at scenic places, we returned to the pier area. We asked Alexandra where tee-shirts could be found. She gave us a couple of hints. We picked up three tee-shirts for US$24. D found a pin for US$4. Then back to the pier and the tender for the ride out to Quest.
We grabbed a couple of nibbles in the LR then went to cabin. Did these notes and changed for tonight's White Night. More later on that.
Later…. White Night. We dressed all in white. It was to begin at 1830 with BBQ buffet line in Patio and at Dessert Line in the space on the other side. Tables all over the pool deck and the walking track above it. We planned to go up a little later, after the mob settled.
But the rains came about 1835. The crew did what they could to continue. The pool deck tables were crunched tougher under the walking track on both sides. The band continued playing and food was still being served. Many passengers filled their plates and took them into Windows to eat, so Windows was full. We filled our plates and took them to the cabin to eat. As O was putting the plates into the passageway a staff person grabbed them to return them to the galley. We prowled the ship but nothing else was happening so we went to cabin to take it easy.
Photo Link for O
Photo Link for D
So we'd call this event a washout, but unavoidable.
