February 4- Off the coast of Brazil

From Stacey:

TuDoBem (a Portuguese greeting) from the deep blue Mid-Atlantic Ocean.  We crossed over the equator at 2:45 p.m. Saturday Feb 2, 2008.  From the Captain's Bridge it was quite a view but very calm.  We haven't seen land in days now, but have adopted one lone seagull today, although we are roughly 250 miles from the coast of Brazil  We will arrive in Salvador, Brazil on Tuesday, February 5th after 7 days a sea.  Carnival will be winding down as it will be the final day of this huge celebration.  Everything closes down for the 4 days of the annual party, Carnival.  It is one wild and crazy celebration that I am a little apprehensive about, to say the least.  Crowds of millions in the streets.  We'll have 5 days in port before an even longer voyage to Cape Town, South Africa.

Sea sickness has subsided as we are getting use to the rolling waves and when to take medicine.  Kelsey and Eric have made friends and now have a boatload of "big brothers and big sisters".  Last night we learned how to Samba and Cha Cha.  Eric and I have been attending Portuguese language classes for travelers, so we have a few words to get buy on.  It is a tricky language with varying tones and nasalization.

Tudobem Is everything well?

Por favor Please

Obrigado/a Thank You

Sim Yes

Nao No

Quanto e? How much?

Desculpa Excuse me.

Chow Goodbye

Onde e banheiro? Where is the bathroom?

Beleza A cool, hip, greeting used by people under the age of 30.

Chocanche Awesome

We've learned numbers and some other words that will be helpful for shopping, dining, or finding our way back to he port.  We also learned what not to do.  Such as the A OK hand sign is extremely offensive and will insight a brawl.  Payday (like the candy bar name) means, "I farted".  Desculpa.  In Puerto Rico we were joined by an inter-port lecturer and a student from Brazil.  It's great that we have folks on board who speak the language and can teach the rest of us the inside scoop before we arrive.

Chow,