Mar 15 End of the Corona Cruise

We had hoped that this would be an Around The World Cruise, just like we did in 2016 but things happened.  It started for us back in early February when some Chinese ports got cancelled, then a week later all of the Asian ports were cancelled and Oceania moved our path to Australia from India.  We were prepared to go along with that itinerary figuring a cruise ship was as safe as anything.

When we came back from Iguazu Falls on 3/4 it was clear that things were changing rapidly.  Insignia's current itinerary after Rio was 3 more Brazilian ports, then across the Atlantic to West Africa, arriving in Capetown on April 8.  Oceania had the ship in lockdown mode, very sanitary, but all it would take was one asymptomatic but infected person to come onboard and we'd be looking at 2 weeks off the Ivory Coast in quarantine.  So after much agony we decided on 3/7 to abandon ship in Rio on 3/15 and fly home. We spent the next week visiting several ports, and skipping a couple of others so we could spend the time packing -- 8 large suitcases worth of stuff.

Then, on Cynthia's birthday, Friday 3/13, there was a 6pm get together for all of the ATW people who were exiting in Rio (we weren't alone, there were probably 50 of us).  Just as the event was to start, the General Manager got the phone call from corporate -- the cruise is over, everybody gets off in Rio.

It was the right thing to do.  But, not surprisingly, the cruise line didn't have a plan for stopping everything.  The crew did a heroic job in making it work.  The Bradleys felt somewhat smug since we had travel reservations leaving Sunday night 3/15.  Lots of people, and of course the Oceania corporate travel office, were scrambling to find the way out.

Saturday night at our table in Terrace, finishing the bottle of wine sent for Cynthia's birthday. (thanks kid!)

 Sunday morning we were on the bus to take us to the airport.  There were many people who chose to spend several days in Rio before flying home.  As I write this on Wednesday morning (spoiler alert -- we made it back to Florida) American Airlines has cancelled their flights from Rio to USA.  Tuesday was the last flight out on AA.  I wonder about some of our friends that weren't leaving immediately.  Did they find a way out, or are they stuck there for the duration?

 The original plan had been to ship 4 suitcases back to Florida with Luggage Forward and carry the other 4 ourselves on the plane.  Brazil has their own rules and wouldn't allow LF to operate there.  In the short time available Oceania couldn't come up with an alternative so there we were with two luggage carts worth of stuff. 
American Airlines, also running on Latin America time, didn't open check-in until 6pm, and we arrived at the airport at 10am.  At least there were chairs available.

 People began lining up about 430pm for a scheduled 545 check in opening.  About 5pm somebody came out and started moving pylons to create the entry rows.  Then about 6pm workers finally came to the counters to begin processing people.  No sense starting early just because there's a global pandemic. The plane was FULL when we departed.

 We were among the first to line up, got through by 615 and finally through security and to the business class lounge by 630.  Boarding was no problem and the plane departed just a little late headed for Miami.

Surprisingly, after reading the news stories, CBP entry into the US was not problematic (except for the fact that Cynthia's Global Entry didn't work but the guy took us through anyway).  Other than a normal passport check everyone was waved through.

At no time in Brazil or Miami was there any visible health screening.  There may have been hidden IR cameras looking for fever, but I saw no one detained or questioned about health.  Of course, if you're sick, Brazil is happy to see you go.  In the US the passport examiner did ask "Fever or a cough" to which we thankfully could say NO.  And our arrival in Miami was at Oh Dark 30, when all arrivals are from South America which did not have a virus problem.

Our limo met us outside baggage claim with the big SUV to handle all of the bags and we arrived home in time to move everything to our condo unit, grab the car keys and be at Publix as they opened.  We had six months of medicine and clothing for our trip, and zero days of food since we had cleaned everything out before leaving.  Publix had some gaping holes on the shelves, but we got at least two weeks of food in our visit.  We're home and ready to hunker down.

Mar 14 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We got up early to view the sail in to Rio, promised as being spectacular by the cruise director.  It was.

Sugar Loaf to the left and Christ the Redeemer in the distant hill on the right.

 Christ Redeemer with telephoto

 Brazil has an aircraft carrier -- maybe.  Late last year they decided to auction it off.  I couldn't find any reference to a sale.  Here's an opportunity if you'd like to create your own island, move it wherever you want.

 We selected the Oceania excursion "The Best of Rio" which I would translate into "Go up into the clouds".  Our bus first took us through Rio streets.

 This is a cathedral.  Really. Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.  Distinctive, modern Catholic cathedral resembling a pyramid, inaugurated in 1979 (Wikipedia)

 Museum

 Exit the bus at Monumento aos Heróis de Laguna to go to the cable car to take us to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain.

 The lines were quire long, and our visit to Sugar Loaf was advertised as two hours, lasted three.

 Praia do Leme

 The cable car ride is a two step process.  At the intermediate point there's a 300 meter walk with viewpoints of the city.

 One of the slums of Rio

 Move on to the second cable car

 Schematic of the trip

 And we're going up into the clouds.

 Up at the top it was quite cloudy/foggy.  We were there for about 40 minutes and there was a thirty second window in which this picture was taken.  What you see is the famous Copacabana beach.  I have lots more pictures of fog with faint outlines of Copacabana beach if you're interested.

 Back down.  You can see that the clouds just surround the top of Sugar Loaf.

 Next stop was lunch at Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian charcuterie.  Lots of roasted meats and they carve it at the table unto your plate.  Apparently it's a chain, and there are locations in Miami and Orlando.

 Having fulfilled our Atkins Diet requirements, we move to a cog railway for our second trip into the clouds, this time to visit Christ the Redeemer.

 After the rail trip, you go up 100 feet in an elevator.  We were impressed by the ficus tree growing on the side of the cliff.

 And here you see the statue in some of its glory. 

 Perhaps the best shot.

 Using a refrigerator magnet, here's simulation of the statue.

 As we escalated back down to the elevator, there was a clearing.  Not enough time to run back up and get a picture, but it shows that it does happen.  At no time was there a view towards the sea or the city down below us.

 On the bus ride back to the ship we went along Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.  It's a Saturday, getting towards 6pm, and the sun is already down.  Yet the beach and sidewalk were full of people.  No indication that anyone was going home soon.

Wish we had more time to see the rest of Rio.

Mar 13 Buzios, Brazil

Another beach town stop that differs from Ihla Grande only in that there are cars in this town.  People come here for the beach and the restaurants.

Another tender port.  They don't raft the tenders together like river boats in Europe.  They were just exchanging pleasantries before guests came aboard.

 No big high rises here, everything is small.

 Insignia awaits out in the bay

 Buzios claim to fame is Brigitte Bardot, who came here to vacation in privacy after she became famous.  The locals believe she put them on the map, and have placed this bronze of her on the bay walkway.

 There are more high end shops than the normal beach tourist town.  Here's a store dedicated to selling flip flops. 

 The town square, with cars and a taxi stand.

 It must be jarring to ride over the roads made of paving stones like this.

 These tour boats are very popular with vacationers here.  I think they take you to snorkeling or distant beaches.  There was a constant line of people waiting to board, and the boats came to the pier every 10 minutes or so.

 The locals were happy to see us.  Well trained dogs.

Mar 12 Ihla Grande, Brazil

We're now visiting a couple of resort areas in Brazil around Rio de Janeiro. First up is Ihla Grande.  It looks like any other beach town around the world, with pretty beaches and touristy shops.  Ihla Grande does have a major state park on the island, and has no cars.

There is no cruise dock so we tendered into town.

 There are no cars or trucks that I saw.  Lots of hotels, so when tourists come over on the ferry with luggage, it's transported on these man mobile carts.

 The small town chruch

 The transportation system at work

 It's a short walk from town into the state park

 Bromeliads in the tree

 Preta Beach

 Seen on a house close to the park

 One of the many camping spots around the town

We spent a couple of hours walking around the town and park.  Even though the cruise director predicted low 70s, it was pretty hot and we welcomed the return to A/C on the ship.