Up the Amazon Without a Paddle.

[drron]

Here there was also good use of coloured foliage-

And there were some surviving bits from plantation days such as this molasses pot-

Next it was down to the Atlantic coast and the dramatic coastline at Bathsheba-

And this is the little restaurant that we had great fish in 2007.Mrsdrron though didn't really want to try it.
Next the Andromeda Botanical Gardens.

 

[drron]

The Andromeda Gardens are on the road that climbs up the hill at the south end of Bathsheba.Good views from the road.

Again structure and foliage are used well in this garden-

The last is the Barbados gooseberry which I have tried in various sauces.
Again some animals-

Ending the pictures with mrsdrron's much better photos-

We got back to the Hilton just after 1500 and decided it was time for a swim.Down to the pool and they had run out of towels.I had noticed the maid on our floor so went back and asked for 2 extra room towels-sorry sir we have run out.Another bad mark for the Hilton.Fortunately our room had 3 towels so one doubled as a beach towel.Didn't make the same mistake twice as the next morning we went down and got our beach towels before going on our drive
That next.

 

[drron]

Monday and a drive up the west coast where many of the resorts are situated.Many seem to have gone since my last visit and many new ones being built-though it looked like work had stalled on many of them.Go past the resort I stayed at in 2007 and it looked like the maintenance budget had been slashed.
We stop at a large duty free shop but prices are exorbitant.So we continue on to the north of the island.Look at the St.Lucy church-some 350 years old.cemetery not maintained but saw a few prominent Barbadian names-

We then tried to find a cave advertised as a tourist attraction but ended up at a wild area of the coast with lava tubes anyway-

After that it was back to the Hilton and a bit of cooling off.
Monday is a fish fry so we decided to give it a go.It is held at the pool.We had reserved a table but our name was not on the list.Fortunately the F&B manager was there and heard this.Mrsdrron had talked to him after our first meal so he knew she was HH diamond and I SPG plat so an extra table was set up right next to the welcome set up.Several other couples found their booked table had disappeared.
The fry up consisted of flying fish and mahi-mahi.Not great and at $US37.50 not good value.Go to Oistins instead-major night there is friday.

And a last view from our Hilton room-

Next off on our cruise.

 

[drron]

A lazy morning before checking out of the Hilton.Checked out at midday.When we checked in we asked about leaving bags here when we went on our cruise-no problem.So on checkout,which had taken some time the same question was asked-no problem just see the concierge.So over to the concierge-oh no you cant do that unless you have a manager's permission.Finally a manager is found and we leave our bags.
Drive to the "Cruise"terminal and drop our car there-Stoutes has an office there.So then we board the Cloud.The terminal has seen better days-

We get a last view of the Hilton-

So a few pics of the ship with the bar-

The restaurant-

And our room-

 

[drron]

So that completes the pics of our cabin.Excuse the wait but for the last 2 days pictures wouldn't post.The Cloud went into dry dock recently,this is the second cruise since that happened.One change was taking out bathtubs in most suites including the silver suites we usually have.We are not impressed.
We left Barbados about an hour late which meant we saw the Aurora leave before us.Looked good in the evening-

Next-Grenada.

 

[drron]

Immigration at Bridgetown port was a mere formality.Soon aboard the Cloud and champagne in hand.As with Turtlemichael and his cruise Silverseas has the same policy that suites are available at 1430.So we lunch at the pool bar and I have the first of many mojitos.Then we tour the ship.Soon meet 3 crew members from our last cruise as well as the couple from Vermont who we befriended in July.Also an Australian couple who were on the Shadow with us last year.75% of the passengers are repeat Silverseas cruisers.
Get our cabin keys but first have afternoon tea with an English couple.The real pleasure is meeting many interesting fellow passengers with quite remarkable lives.Then unpacking,downloading photos before our safety drill.This is followed by a Welcome reception on the Pool deck.
Dinner is in La Terraza with the couple from Vermont.I had the octopus salad and papardelle with duck ragout-

Mrsdrron had the parmesan tart,the pappardelle and veal liver with onions-she loved the lot.I had Groper for my mains-

All washed down with some nice italian wines.All included on Silverseas.

Wednesday we arrived in Grenada.The Cloud looks impressive at the dock-

However the Celebrity Summit had docked just before us.The contrast is massive-

Overlooking the port is St.Georges fort-

Then we took a drive around the Island.Some views-

More of Grenada next.

 

[drron]

So this is Grenadas main crop-

Nutmeg.When cut open it reveals the nut and mace-a separate spice.Though Cacao was also common-

And there were a couple of specialty chocolate shops.Next was a nutmeg factory-

The nuts are first sorted manually and then taken upstairs for drying-

When dried the nuts are cracked and fall downstairs to be sorted again-

Outside you could buy a variety of spices.I doubt Australian customs would be impressed by the packaging-

More Grenada to come.

 

[drron]

After leaving the nutmeg factory we continued our drive around the island.There were some large homes apparently built by remittances of overseas workers-

We came across some locals fishing in the traditional way netting from the beach-

We then went to St Patricks cathedral.The cemetery there is the site of the last stand of the Caribs against the French who had decided to cleanse them from the island.The last 30 or so Caribs jumped from the cliffs to their death.Today a peaceful site with fantastic views-

For the mornings stops it was quite crowded as we ran into many groups from the Celebrity.As the day progressed that became a lot less but even at our next stop-a rum distillery we fortunately only had 2 Silverseas tours.When we departed though the throngs arrived-

The distillery is next.

 

[drron]

So we arrived at the distillery before any other tour so not rushed.This place was established in 1785 and still produces rum in the old way powered by a water wheel.The cane though arrives a lot differently to QLD.

And now the crushing through to bagasse-

The juice then goes to the boiling house to concentrate the cane juice and then to a cooling vat before the distillation occurs-

Making the good stuff next.

 

[drron]

So to the distillation process-

And then to the final product which we got to taste.None is exported,only sold on Grenada-

Then it was off to yet another Plantation house for lunch.I had the local Cooloola soup and mains were a buffet.The soup is an acquired taste I guess-

For desserts mrsdrron had nutmeg icecream and I had bergamot icecream-both very nice.They had a chocolate shop there.Just as I was about to be served a German tour group walked in,I was pushed out of the way and a sale was lost.
After that it was a narrow winding road to the top of the island and their water source,a crater lake-

It was then to a waterfall where some local lads jump into a pond from a height-for a fee of course-

Though other locals let you take their photo for free-

Then back to the ship and surprise,surprise you have to walk through an arcade of shops.I doubt this one was the original-

Next-off to Devil's Island.

 

[drron]

As we sailed away from Grenada we had a great sunset-

That night at predinner drinks we met a couple from Philly.Had dinner with them,our friends from Vermont and a delightful Scots couple Pat and Bill.He was a retired sports writerA great dining experience and then slept like logs.So pictures of our meal.First the appetiser,duck terrine and foie gras-

Then mrsdrron had the pork loin and I had smoked duck breast with red cabbage-

Then she had the apple crumble and I the chocolate and raspberry creme mille feuille-

Thursday and a sea day.Breakfast as always in the main dining room with my favourite waitress Cherry.Then a lecture on Devil's Island and Dreyfuss-very interesting.Back to our suite and slept until lunch.Another enjoyable meal.Mrsdrron started with a mezze plate and I with a lamb lasagne-

She then had the roast lamb and I the lamb meatballs-

IMore food to come plus a bit of cruising.

 

[drron]

So the finish of my meal with bread and butter pudding with figs-

After lunch I sat on the verandah for a while watching the flying fish and sea birds-

I then started to do soduku and once more fell off to sleep.Awoke with time to book our 2014 cruises-Otaru(Sapporo) to Fiji via guam,PNG,Solomons and many smaller islands.Now here is where cruising gets interesting for us points junkies.We get 5% discount as repeat cruisers,5% for booking on board,5% for back to back cruisers and after our next cruise will get a further 5% discount as our day numbers get to 100.

That night was the first formal night.If I say so myself I scrub up all right and not a pair of golf shorts in sight-

We were on the table of the Human Resources manager,Jessica Lam.A good night shared with a couple from Jersey.I started with crab timbale and mrsdrron with foie gras with risotto and then both had lobster-

The next morning we awoke and got our first view of the Isles Royale one of which is Devil's Island-

More of Devil's Island next.

 

[drron]

So a pictorial of the islands.We landed on the largest-basically no one gets to land on the actual Devil's Island.However this island contained the main prison.It is still part of provincial France so is part of the EC and uses the Euro.It is also a testament to the fact that Australia would have been a far different place if it was La Perouse who convinced the French Government to set up a prison colony in Australia.60% of those sent here died before their sentence was completed.Women and children were buried on the island but the bodies of male prisoners who died were thrown into the ocean.this had the effect of keeping the sharks around which added to the prisoners misery.
The story of Dreyfus certainly does not put the French in a good light as to human rights.Basically because he was a Jew he was framed as being a German spy.Even when the real spy was caught Dreyfus remained in solitary confinement on Devil's Island.
The Cloud anchored off shore and we were tendered to shore-

The French presence was here-

It is sobering to realise that the roads,walls and buildings were built by hand by the prisoners and this place is just north of the Equator.Just climbing the hill to the main prison was exhausting in the heat.

At the top was the welcome presence of shade under huge mango trees-

There was also the hospital-

But this of course was not for the prisoners-

At best they got to stay in the cellar.A later day addition to the walls I presume-

More of Devil's island next.

 

[drron]

The largest Island is Isle De La Royale.Also inhabited is St.Joseph's Island.At the top of the hill with sea views are the houses of government officials and the Post Office-

On the other side the prison buildings-

And then the cells-

Still more to come.

 

[drron]

If you were a naughty boy this is where you ended up-

Though now people pay for solitary confinement-

But at least they have a view of the real Devil's Island.The prisoners solitary cells had no windows and they spent 23 hours a day there.

This sign looks ominous-

But I doubt it is relevant now-

This sign however is very welcome on a hot day-

A paucity of animals but at least there was the French rugby mascot-

It was extremely hot so after 2 hours it was time to head back.Unfortunately we just missed a tender.The presence of the Pilot's boat was a worry-

The only other way out of the place quickly would probably be expensive-

Next we leave Devil's Island

 

[drron]

Back on the ship and it was a cold shower and then a snack on the pool deck.A view of the 3 islands-

It seemed that the water was not that deep-

That night it was dinner with 2 English couples.very good mains I had a Pecan pork chop and mrsdrron lime marinated shrimp in coconut sauce.
Saturday was another sea day.A good lecture on Brazil.Lunch with our Philly friends and then an afternoon nap.That night a function was put on for Cruise Critic posters-some 38 of us or 10% of the passengers-

After that it was dinner in La Champagne-$30 a head supplement but worth it.Start with an amusee bouche-

Porcini cappucino,foie gras cone,marinated lobster and a scallop on pumpkin mash.Then I had asparagus with truffle infused hollandaise,delicious-

We both then had the lobster thermidor,not as good as on the wind in july,brandy overdone-

Finished as usual with a cointreau souffle-

And then some petit fours-

Sunday and we awoke as we were nearing Belem-our first Brazilian port.That next.

 

[drron]

Belem is south of the major Amazon channels.It is a city of nearly 2 million.We had to anchor off shore as it was low tide.

As you can see we were a fair way out and it was a long tender ride to the dock.We went on a tour called the Cultural Highlights of Belem.Basically there are none.Our first stop was a "botanic"garden.A few trees but a butterfly house and many birds.Driving there the impression was of filth and rubbish.

So a few pictures of the gardens-

More of the gardens next.

 

[drron]

There was a great variety of birds at the gardens.Most were able to fly out if they wished-

Obviously the supplied food was enough to keep most around.Many were colouful-

others though were in an aviary-

And others just weren't allowed to leave-

 

[tgh]

Great trip report .. keep up the good work

 

[drron]

After leaving the gardens we were taken to a gem museum.Unfortunately it was closed as it was Sunday.So they took us to the adjoining craft market.Not at all like the rest of Belem and had tourist trap written all over it.Next to the Cathedral but of course it was Sunday so we went to the museum of Religious art across the road-

Well that was another 40 minutes of my life I wont get back.Next door however was the fort with good views over the anchorage-

It is amazing what zoom can do!So more of the fort and views towards the markets.

Those black birds will feature later.Close up of the fish market plus one of the few restored buildings in the old town-

More of Belem to come.