January 18

January 18 At Sea
Just a nice relaxing day….I guess you can call sleeping most of it relaxing ….the seas weren’t bad but not great so I did almost nothing. At least in comparison to most of the hectic sea days.
Alan went to the King Neptune ceremony. We both attended several lecturers on upcoming ports, etc.
Tomorrow Belem. We have been warned repeatedly of the high incidence of pick pocketing and muggings in Belem. According to the stories, last ear four passengers ended up in the ship’s medical center after being mugged in Belem. Every speaker tells us not to wander off alone, to stay in groups, to stay out of questionable areas, to wear no jewelry, to try and “blend in and not look like a tourist.” We had dinner last night with Kate Ross, one of our speakers, and her husband. Kate is a red head (very red with very white skin) and she said the only place she ever blended in was Ireland. As for the rest of us…..I don’t think so.
The history/geography lesson on Belem.
Belem Portuguese for Bethlehem) is the capital of the state of Para in Brazil. Many people from the Azores came to Belem for a better life. After them came the missionaries to save the Amazonian people. Belen has the dubious distinction of being the place where the first visiting bishop was killed and eaten by his would-be converts.
Belem is known as the city of the Mango Tree, due to the large number of mango trees in and around Belem. After cruising in the Atlantic Ocean after leaving the Amazon delta, we will sailed 77 nautical miles up the Canal do Espardante and the Para Rive to our anchorage at Belem.