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Rio de Janeiro (River of January), Brazil
From 1450 to 1850 African exported 21 million slaves captured inland to the Americas. Almost 20% died enroute. Most went to Brazil and Caribbean sugar plantations. Less than 500,000 went to the USA. Even today an estimated 20,000 people annually are sold in the USA alone mostly from Asia. South America has more natural resources than North American but has yet to reach anywhere near its economic potential believed to be primarily because of lingering rigid social class structures and often unstable politics.

Slaves exported mostly to Brazil	Christ the Redeemer dominates Rio skyline of 12 million people	130 feet high statue made in Italy	Christ this thing is really really huge	Really big when compared to people at railing
Holy or cooling water it all feels good in unbearable heat	70% of Brazil now live in cities (reverse of 30 years ago) resulting in huge urban slums	Sugar Loaf Mountain in background	200,000 capacity stadium is largest in world where soccer is a passion	Slum and most expensive hotels share most expensive land
4 mile long Copacabana and Ipanema (Lady from Ipanema) beaches only 2 of hundreds	4 million annual New Year' Eve beach parities must be something	A little warm on street adjoining beach	Outstanding palace a reminder of colonial past	Downtown domestic airport provides thrilling approaches

Salvador and Fortaleza, Brazil
Both northern Brazilian cities of several million each are dominated by black populations being closest points to Africa. The modern sections of the cities are run down with litter everywhere. In Salvador there was a festival in progress which limited our visit to the oldest section go the city and the crowds were a dream for pick pockets

All day parade and serious drinking started at 9:00 AM	Small decorated wagon or family group made up most parade entries	Limes for drinks and other goodies sold from wheel barrow vending carts	Smirnoff Ice a dollar local currency or do you want a cheaper drink	What a party in sweltering temperatures
Run down buildings but church inside walls nearly all adorned with gold leaf	Modern part of town looks much better at distance	Any vacant area strewn with litter and people just dropped beer cans etc	White sand beaches for miles but shuttle bus dropped us at what boat comedian described as worlds largest garage sale	Brazil has thousand miles beaches along its entire coast

Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies

Fattening up for winter hibernation
on Crystal Symphony Cruise

Cappuccino with sugar stick just to set the mood	Lets save the edible gold leaf to last or have it on antipasti in specialty restaurant	Lobster appetizers would be good place to start	Then maybe some fresh baked bread sticks	Opps, an Alligator is guarding the bread
Penguin eggs are also on duty	Except for this one penguin that escaped	Shrimp looks unguarded	or let's come back for some cheese	Looks like lots of crackers to go with cheese
Norwegian's have my kind of cake	Looks like someone just threw some on a plate ?	Might as well dress up the cake for the occasion	Flowers always look better with a little chocolate detail	The kitchen must have run out of stainless bowls
Chocolate fountain must mean goodies nearby	Lots for everyone	Turnip bird not found in nature	Oh yes any hot food you desire	or cold fish if that's your choice
2 hours after buffet kitchen is spotless, ready for supper	and lobby back to normal	Does chocolate go with tea?	Mozart Tea servers	La Provence tea service
Think I ate to much