Balneario Camboriu November 2022
The storm was not as bad as we had thought and we enjoyed breakfast in the restaurant looking out on the gigantic waves. Only Yvonne’s lecture on African heritage, influences and traditions in the morning, as Charmaine was doing yet another cruise presentation, worse luck!. Lunch in the restaurant. Bridge for 45 minutes with Sue, Greg/ Clarissa and Sylvain . Then Roddy's lecture on the Human story. David arriving late as he had fallen asleep. Trivia and a lecture by Dayo on Animal Communication. At recap and briefing we learnt that, due to road blockages by Bolsonara supporters, Lulu having just won the presidential election, we had to change Wednesday's landing to Balneario Camboriu.. Cocktail , then dinner with Roddy in the restaurant. Then Jonathan’s New York show
.
.
Click on any thumbnail photo and get a larger photo
We were rerouted here from the scheduled port of Porto Belo: this due to Sunday's election results [50.9% for Lula (far left) and 49.1% for Bolsenaro (far right and the incumbant)] that had ended in a narrow defeat for Bolsonara: his supporters in Porto Belo had blocked 40 roads around there!!!Balneario Camboriu was a safe bet, being the richest town in Brazil and thus full of Bolsonara supporters who would not disturb their own peace. .The result was that Bolsenaro refused to concede, riots were started by his supporters who claimed electoral fraud, and roads were cut with road blocks of burning tyres. After taking advice from local agents, Silversea decided that it was best to avoid Porto Belo - a Lula stronghold that had been cut off from the rest of Brazil by some 40 road blocks. Instead we were to go to this nearby city - Balneario-Camboriu... Anyway I think we were all flabbergasted by what we saw when we arrived offshore; it was a city of the same architecture as Benidorm, but several times larger,
We. went ashore by zodiac at 9.45 for our Moro de Careca to Praia do Buraco easy hike. We went by coach along the beach front of this multi, multi skyscraper city ( 10 Benidorms) to our start point, passing by small groups of Bolsonara supporters.Our group started uphill but I eventually turned back from this detour, David and the majority continuing to the highest point where there were often paragliders launching themselves. When the group returned there were then some 100 eroded steps, very uneven and difficult, down to the beach. Here it was high tide and David decided it was too dangerous to continue on the beach so took me up some rocks. Difficult for me to go up and practically impossible for me to get down the other side even with 3 protectors clinging on to me! There was a round of applause when I finally made it! He did realise afterwards that he had nade the wrong call!! From there on it was easy going along a board walk to the Ferris wheel, passing some 50 lifeguards on a training run. Then back to the ship by an inland road.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Marc was the zodiac driver for both our runs, fatal! Lunch, a swim, bridge with Sue, Sylvain, Clarissa/Greg , then a lecture by Roddy on Aid and Development, Trivia and a lecture by Charlotte on Botanical Brews and Beers. Recap and Briefing, dinner in the restaurant, then 'Name that Tune'.
A lecture by Manu on Geology101. Followed by a swim and reading time. Lunch outside in the Terraza, then cheese and coffee on the back deck. Bridge with Sylvain, Sue and Clarissa. Afternoon tea, Trivia and a lecture by Carlos on the Age of Discovery, a repeat. Then a short break until the Venetian Society ‘party’; we were still head girl and boy with 425 days. Cocktails then dinner in the Terraza; chatted to Mamal and Raye, he with four tuxedos for his 10 day cruise!. Finally a very entertaining Liars Club
 |
 |
 |