March 7, 2019

Cruising the Amazon River

Summer is back!  We crossed the Equator again early this morning.  One day of winter is plenty for me.

The schedule was changed a little today because of our entrance into the Amazon River.  Heather (the EXC guide) started commentary at 10 am but it was pouring rain (it is the rainy season) and the difference of the inside and outside temperatures fogged up the windows in the Crow’s Nest.  A few of the facts she gave us about the river and the Amazon basin:

·       The Amazon discharges more water into the ocean than the next seven rivers put together

·       The headwaters of the river is in Peru

·       The Amazon drainage basin covers about 40% of the South American continent

·       There is some disagreement as to whether the Amazon or Nile is the longest river in the world

Knitters and Stitchers was scheduled for 11:00 because of the commentary but most of the group showed up at the usual time.  We had a total of about ten present.

Due to a Jewelry and Watch auction in the Ocean Bar at 1:30, we had trivia at 12:30.  We had 12 out of 19 but two teams tied with 13.

1) In boxing, where does a rabbit punch land?

2) What is the name of the narrator of Moby Dick?

3) Stephen Perry patented what organizational device in 1845?

4) What entertainer’s wedding prompted NBC to order 10,000 tulips?

5) What four things did Ernest Hemingway say he had to do to be a man?

Pat and I went to lunch in the Lido before going to arts and crafts where we finished our dream catchers.  Afterwards, Pat knitted while I tried to figure out what I wanted to do in port tomorrow.

Before getting ready for dinner I spent about a half hour on my deck looking at the muddy waters of the Amazon and the rainforest on each side.

We had 13 out of 20 for evening trivia.  Two teams tied for the win with 15.

1) Who was the first actress to demand and receive a million dollars for a role?

2) In mythology, Harpies have the heads of women and the bodies of ___.

3) Howard Hughes’ plane the Spruce Goose was actually made from what kind of wood?

4) Which entertainer has won 2 Oscars, 5 Emmys, 7 Grammys, 7 Golden Globes, and a special Tony?

5) Which came first – jello, Peter Pan peanut butter, Spam, French’s mustard, Good Humor ice cream bar, or Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum?

Phillip and I were the only ones at the dinner table.  I had cold blueberry soup (very good), chicken and steak satay (delicious), beef tri-tips (so-so) and a peach crisp for dessert.

Ann, Pat, Patty, and I watched the Brazilian Dance Night which was kind of a dud.  I did not go to the comedian’s show.

On the way back to my cabin I turned in the pencils I had bought for the school in Boca da Valeria where we go on Saturday.

there were lots of pieces of floating plantlife

we passed two barges while I was on my deck

containers on one of the barges

Marcos, the penguin cultural ambassador, is in charge of the collection for the school children

Afternoon trivia

1) Back of the neck

2) Ishmael

3) Rubber band

4) Tiny Tim

5) Fight a bull, father a son, write a book, and plant a tree (this was the bonus question)

Evening trivia

1) Elizabeth Taylor

2) Birds

3) Birch

4) Barbra Streisand

5) Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum in 1893 (bonus question)

Smooth sailing until next time!