December 19 - AT SEA, en route to the AMAZON!

this is on the bed every night

Weather – 28º, clear with some puffy clouds, humid-ish

Steps – 5,277

We’ve officially established our ship-board rhythm sailing to the Amazon. Whether it’s a sea day or a port day, we’ve settled into a routine. It seems like every time we’re away, we remark on how after about 5 or 6 days someplace we become comfortable to the point where we’re not wondering about too much, but often that’s just about the point we’re thinking about leaving. Fortunately, this time, we were familiar with the boat before we got on and are here for a bit more than 5 days.

This sea day was like most others. We wake up whenever - usually 7-ish, depending on the time change, which we did last night - forward. We have to synchronize with the first Brazil time zone we’ll be in the day after tomorrow. It seems like we may turn our clocks back again although we’ll be further up the Amazon and then forward

magnets are my friend

again on our way out.

Anyway…we were up around 8, lazed, and then I went down to the ‘Coffee Connection” to get coffee and the daily puzzles. We could get regular coffee from room service, but I like get cappuccinos. Every day here puzzles are printed out…a Mensa and a crossword/Sudoku. There’s a continental breakfast spread there too, but I only have so many hands and once again, the fruit in the room is just fine…the next meal is never far off! Plus, there’s still popcorn left over from last night.

daily brain exercise

We drank coffee, read and blogged the morning away. We hit the pool bar for ‘cool by the pool and a pre lunch caipirinha…we figured we’d better get started on Brazil’s national cocktail. This one wasn’t much better than the ones I made at home before last year’s trip. However…we learned from watching actual
Brazilians makes these that they require A LOT of limes and just as much muscle to pulverize the limes. THAT is the recipe for a delicious drink…today’s…not so much.

Lunch was (as usual) at La Veranda the ship’s buffet. We were able to score an outdoor spot in the shade, off the back of the boat…ahhhh. The buffet theme today was German and Mediterranean…an interesting combination.

boozy coffees

Coffee Connection

Then the excitement really ramped up and Chris got his hair cut!

The rest of the day was napping, reading, a quick trip to the gym, watching an enrichment lecture on the TV about Brazil’s art and culture, and then dinner at the ship’s French restaurant.

We are forever lamenting how some things were when we first
started cruising. Tonight, we missed the cheese cart…oh how I love a cheese cart. Nothing much can compare to a someone wheeling glorious selection of stinky, gooey goodness to your table while you make your selection. This disappeared during covid and has not returned.

Tonight’s show was a Tango duo – winners of Argentina’s Dancing with the Stars. It was good…a history lesson on Tango accompanied by the dancing. I went to bed, Chris hit the casino. BTW…the casino has been pretty lively at times. Often on Regent cruises the casino is DEADSVILLE, a few times this cruise it’s been lively.

BTW…if you’re ever on a cruise, bring magnets. In my experience, ship walls are made of steel and magnets are your best friend for holding up our cruise essentials.