February 22, 2016 - It’s been wild and crazy around the Macchi’s household! The Brazilian Visa scheduled for pick up on February 17 is done! Bathroom completed, done! Birthday celebration for friends and family, done!
Picking up the Brazilian visa was as I suspected... take a number, sit and wait. Although I was number 5 it went quickly — no more than 10 minutes! Hey, I had practice from the application process! I can’t quite understand why Brazil would approve anyone into their country with the photo on my visa is beyond me... it looks as if I just escaped from prison and was on the run, headed for deepest, darkest Brazil to hide in the jungle and mine for jewels for the rest of my life! But I now have my “extended play” passport, all 52 pages, stamped, visa-ed and ready for the Brazilian adventure. AND, a week or so after the new the passport arrived, the passport center returned my old one - I’m thrilled as I haven’t had the chance to check out all of my cool entrance and exit stamps from the last trip. Besides, when I get really old (as opposed to just old) and forget my name, I’ll be able to review my old passports and see where I’ve been!
I took a day last week and started the “cruise closet” just to see if I could get an idea of what I’d like to take. Uh oh, there’s a lot of weeding out I need to do! And the shoes! Holy Toledo! Control yourself Patti! Work to do there – I’m in big trouble!
This time next week we’ll be in the full, last minute panic mode before we leave for Rio at 9:50 pm on March 1 via American Airlines MIA/GIG! We’re really in the final countdown... we have partied all weekend (plus) with a delayed birthday celebration, but with most revelers now gone, it's time to get busy with the details of travel.
Our housekeeper is still out of commission, so the little fuzzy Yorkie darlings are headed for the vets. I called the Vet to secure the “Mastiff Suite” for the puppies with VIP/TLC treatment (extra walks, extra treats, brushing each evening, chats, lots of pets, hugs and belly rubs). I also called to order a St. Patrick’s Day shirt for our March 17th on board, as well as every mosquito repellant known to man and now I’m catching up with you all. It’s going to be a GREAT trip!
We arrive in Rio at o’dark-thirty and it’s doubtful that our accommodations will be ready and with almost two full days in Rio before we board the Mariner, we’ll have time to see a little of Rio. We’ve made arrangements in Rio for a day tour to Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain and we’re most eager to see Moasteiro de Sao Bento with its magnificent Baroque interior. Plenty of time to sample a few local specialties, particularly the Caipirnha. And since you know me well enough by now, I won’t even bother to mention a trip to the Rio Sur with maybe a peek at H. Stern’s or Amsterdam Sauer... the stores will even organize a special jewelry tour for you! Oh my! However, I have a feeling that this is going to be my Havaianas cruise instead of razzle-dazzle jewelry cruise... we’ll just have to see!
Our selected Shore Excursions with Regent have all cleared with the exception of one; the Bacardi Rum factory tour in San Juan... but we can always opt to grab a cab and do a private tour if we are so inclined. I’m still waffling.
We start with the Highlights of Recife and Olinda which includes the Golden Chapel and the 16th century colonial town of Olinda with its historic city center founded in 1534, now a UNESCO world historical monument.
In Manaus for two days, we have chosen Meeting of the Waters taking us on riverboats and motorized canoes to cruise the narrow channels in the forest to see the giant water lilies before seeing the Meeting of the Waters, where the dark, clear Rio Negro and the yellow Solimoes flow side by side for several miles before merging, it's the official starting point of the Amazon. The second day in Manaus, we are touring the Highlights of Manaus; the yellow colored Alfandega (the custom house built by the British in 1902), the famous Opera House, Teatro Amazonas, and the Indian Museum and the Military Zoo, where you will be able to view the various colonels and generals overthrown in the last revolution, or probably more likely, some of Brazil’s exotic fauna.
The small village of Parintins on Tupinambarana Island is our next stop where we’ve arranged to “sample” the Amazonian folklore; I’ll let you know all about the Boi Bumba once I know what it ‘tis! There are sure to be colorful costumes, some singing and hopefully a local drink or two!
In Santarem (dating back to 1661, it’s become one of Brazil’s most important trading centers that’s rich in legend and nature) we have chosen the River Tour and Eco Maica Lake. We explore the lakes and vegetation of the Tapajos and Amazonas rivers... another meeting of the waters where they run side by side and, if conditions permit, we’ll learn to fish for the fearsome piranha! Hopefully it’s doesn’t involve throwing someone overboard!
Barbados brings us to a quick Discover Barbados that will take us through the sugar cane fields and quaint villages from the Atlantic breakers to the sandy beaches and hotels on the Caribbean side... we visit St. John’s church and enjoy a cool drink at the Highlands Center.
Antigua... we have a Champagne & Lobster Catamaran cruise arranged with a cruise along the beautiful coast to Deep Bay Beach (don’t forget there are 365 beaches in Antigua), followed by a lobster feast with champagne! This is the life!
San Juan – this is the one place we are still wait listed for the Bacardi Distillery, but my back-up is an El Yunque Rainforest tour! Hope it is better that the birdwatching expedition in Africa... remember the chickens? I just may opt out of all excursions here and visit the old town, and have lunch at El Convento... a favorite of mine.
Nassau is our last port of call, and I’m definitely opting out of any organized excursions. I have plans to head for Atlantis, walk through the aquarium and its 14 lagoons, 8 million gallons of salt water with more than 50,000 aquatic animals from over 250 marine species! What a fantastic ending to what I know will be a magnificent cruise!
Join me at www.perx.com and follow along with Patti’s Blog.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Life at the Macchi’s Returned to Normal
February 3, 2016. Life at the Macchi’s returned to normal after we arrived home from LIS/CPT on Regent Seven Seas Mariner. We got home just after Thanksgiving, so Christmas was looming large, but we made it through the holidays and January turned our attention to the next adventure! Three adventures actually. First, we are getting our master bathroom redone. We’re pushing out a wall to increase the size from extra small to small. Lots of noise and dust. Second, we’re getting things in order for our next trip, Rio to Miami, meaning Brazilian Visas, and third … a HUGE birthday!
On to Brazil! Zika, Carnival, Samba - bring it on! Rio to Miami on the Mariner March 4, 2016! 21-nights - I’m in heaven! What is so cool about this trip is cruising the Amazon to Manaus and back before cruising north through the Caribbean to Miami; 16-days in Brazil, a visit to Devil’s Island followed by Barbados, Antigua, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. It is a nice mix of days at sea, new ports of call and familiar Caribbean destinations. It’s all good; I just wish I could have had the time to cruise from LIM to MIA as that would cover South America for us. As it is, we still have LIM/GIG on the list... maybe next year.
The biggest challenge we have encountered so far is obtaining the Brazilian Visas! Oh my! They are proving to be even more difficult than the Chinese Visas we acquired last year! You must apply in person at a Brazilian Consulate, BUT, first you must fill out the Visa Request Form on-line and submit it on-line before you get the Visa Request Form receipt for your application number. You then take your Visa Request Form with your application number, 3 months of bank statements, pay stubs or “international” credit card statements as proof of income, a letter addressed to the Consulate with detailed information on your trip, tentative dates of arrival and departure, places you are planning on visiting, contact information, hotel, etc., a passport sized photo, passport (valid for 6 months with two blank visa pages. Uh, oh) and a money order for $160 (price of visa fee varies by country)! You with me so far?
I did have two blank passport pages but, when I read that the endorsement pages don’t count, and since I had one page on 15 and one on 28, I was afraid the pages would have to be consecutive. PANIC! I determined that I best apply for a new passport just to be on the safe side!
I looked into going to Miami to apply for my passport in person, but they require that you be departing for your trip within two weeks OR that you needed a visa to travel within the next 4 weeks before they would give you an appointment... neither applied. I would have to wait to go to Miami, or apply by mail. It was a timing toss-up between sending my passport off as I was out of pages and waiting for a passport appointment in Miami. I opted to apply via mail and “expedite” the process. So off it went to Philadelphia, shipped via USPS on Friday, January 18 - MLK weekend. It didn’t actually go anywhere until Saturday, I figured, with the holiday, there was no chance for it to arrive before Tuesday and thought I was passport toast. Wow, was I wrong. Someone signed for it on Monday and believe it or not, my new passport was in my hands on Saturday, January 23! All 52 new, clean, empty pages! Fantastic! I could finally breathe again.
Tuesday, January 26 we drove to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami which will only take visa applications Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to noon. You take a number, sit tight while you wait and no cell phones (oops)! You are given a pick up date 15 business days from the day you applied; you get a visa receipt with your name, application number, notation of the $160 paid, and a pick up date... for me February 17, at the consulate between 2-4 p.m. I’m sure there’s another number involved and some more sitting too.
All in all, I’m thrilled. Passport and Brazilian visa are pretty much in the bag! Delighted to report that friends will be joining us as well, so it will be a grand PARTY! Actually we start the party for my birthday, with friends arriving for the party on the 20th and some are staying, headed down to Rio with us, and then cruising! It’s going to be a birthday to remember... as well it should be. This is a “big deal” birthday, one where they can’t fit all the candles on the cake and if they could the fire department would have to be on standby. In fact, if all lit at once, they would probably be visible from space!
After the excitement of the party dies down, we'll get down to business and start serious, nitty-gritty cruise planning, putting together my “cruise closet” then try to figure just how to get the “cruise closet” into a bag or two for the trip! But that’s another story! I’ve promised myself not to over pack this time... but then what would I have to leave home?
As each day passes, I’m more and more excited. I keep thinking of all of the wonderful staff and crew we will be able to see again... Can’t wait to see Danella and see how she is doing with F&B, as she was just taking over full responsibility on the ship when we cruised LIS/CPT, Teddy (Theodora) the head of housekeeping that not only was so generous, but took the trip with us to the Artisans Market in Cotonou, Benin, Jose at the Mariner’s Lounge with tasty Rosetta’s ready and waiting, Michel & Pauline in Signatures, Stephan, the Maitre D'; Stoyan, the Bar Manager; Vladimir, the Restaurant Manager and Nenad (Shawn) the IT god just to name a few! It will be a delightful homecoming! I promise to keep you posted and up to date with all our antics and adventures!
Want to join Patti? Well you can. Save up to 48% when you book with PERX!
South America
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seven Seas Mariner
21-night South America - Rio de Janeiro to Miami
[Rio de Janeiro, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Recife, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Devils Island, Cruising the Atlantic Ocean, Bridgetown, St. Johns, San Juan, Cruising the Bahamas Islands and the Atlantic, Nassau, Miami]
On to Brazil! Zika, Carnival, Samba - bring it on! Rio to Miami on the Mariner March 4, 2016! 21-nights - I’m in heaven! What is so cool about this trip is cruising the Amazon to Manaus and back before cruising north through the Caribbean to Miami; 16-days in Brazil, a visit to Devil’s Island followed by Barbados, Antigua, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. It is a nice mix of days at sea, new ports of call and familiar Caribbean destinations. It’s all good; I just wish I could have had the time to cruise from LIM to MIA as that would cover South America for us. As it is, we still have LIM/GIG on the list... maybe next year.
The biggest challenge we have encountered so far is obtaining the Brazilian Visas! Oh my! They are proving to be even more difficult than the Chinese Visas we acquired last year! You must apply in person at a Brazilian Consulate, BUT, first you must fill out the Visa Request Form on-line and submit it on-line before you get the Visa Request Form receipt for your application number. You then take your Visa Request Form with your application number, 3 months of bank statements, pay stubs or “international” credit card statements as proof of income, a letter addressed to the Consulate with detailed information on your trip, tentative dates of arrival and departure, places you are planning on visiting, contact information, hotel, etc., a passport sized photo, passport (valid for 6 months with two blank visa pages. Uh, oh) and a money order for $160 (price of visa fee varies by country)! You with me so far?
I did have two blank passport pages but, when I read that the endorsement pages don’t count, and since I had one page on 15 and one on 28, I was afraid the pages would have to be consecutive. PANIC! I determined that I best apply for a new passport just to be on the safe side!
I looked into going to Miami to apply for my passport in person, but they require that you be departing for your trip within two weeks OR that you needed a visa to travel within the next 4 weeks before they would give you an appointment... neither applied. I would have to wait to go to Miami, or apply by mail. It was a timing toss-up between sending my passport off as I was out of pages and waiting for a passport appointment in Miami. I opted to apply via mail and “expedite” the process. So off it went to Philadelphia, shipped via USPS on Friday, January 18 - MLK weekend. It didn’t actually go anywhere until Saturday, I figured, with the holiday, there was no chance for it to arrive before Tuesday and thought I was passport toast. Wow, was I wrong. Someone signed for it on Monday and believe it or not, my new passport was in my hands on Saturday, January 23! All 52 new, clean, empty pages! Fantastic! I could finally breathe again.
Tuesday, January 26 we drove to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami which will only take visa applications Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to noon. You take a number, sit tight while you wait and no cell phones (oops)! You are given a pick up date 15 business days from the day you applied; you get a visa receipt with your name, application number, notation of the $160 paid, and a pick up date... for me February 17, at the consulate between 2-4 p.m. I’m sure there’s another number involved and some more sitting too.
All in all, I’m thrilled. Passport and Brazilian visa are pretty much in the bag! Delighted to report that friends will be joining us as well, so it will be a grand PARTY! Actually we start the party for my birthday, with friends arriving for the party on the 20th and some are staying, headed down to Rio with us, and then cruising! It’s going to be a birthday to remember... as well it should be. This is a “big deal” birthday, one where they can’t fit all the candles on the cake and if they could the fire department would have to be on standby. In fact, if all lit at once, they would probably be visible from space!
After the excitement of the party dies down, we'll get down to business and start serious, nitty-gritty cruise planning, putting together my “cruise closet” then try to figure just how to get the “cruise closet” into a bag or two for the trip! But that’s another story! I’ve promised myself not to over pack this time... but then what would I have to leave home?
As each day passes, I’m more and more excited. I keep thinking of all of the wonderful staff and crew we will be able to see again... Can’t wait to see Danella and see how she is doing with F&B, as she was just taking over full responsibility on the ship when we cruised LIS/CPT, Teddy (Theodora) the head of housekeeping that not only was so generous, but took the trip with us to the Artisans Market in Cotonou, Benin, Jose at the Mariner’s Lounge with tasty Rosetta’s ready and waiting, Michel & Pauline in Signatures, Stephan, the Maitre D'; Stoyan, the Bar Manager; Vladimir, the Restaurant Manager and Nenad (Shawn) the IT god just to name a few! It will be a delightful homecoming! I promise to keep you posted and up to date with all our antics and adventures!
Want to join Patti? Well you can. Save up to 48% when you book with PERX!
South America
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seven Seas Mariner
21-night South America - Rio de Janeiro to Miami
[Rio de Janeiro, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Recife, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Cruising the Coast of Brazil, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Amazon River, Devils Island, Cruising the Atlantic Ocean, Bridgetown, St. Johns, San Juan, Cruising the Bahamas Islands and the Atlantic, Nassau, Miami]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)