The first of three ‘at sea’ days it rained.  How dare it rain for our cruise!  So we dined indoors all day, played (and learned) bridge, and watched a movie.  The following two days were pleasant and still full of bridge.  One evening we dined at the other specialty restaurant (having dined twice at Manfredi’s the Italian specialty restaurant) called The Chef’s Table.  This is a fixed menu four course (including an ‘amuse bouche’) plus a lovely ‘palate cleanser’ that has a paired wine with each course.  It was very nice and we’ll go again (for a different fixed menu). 

Unfortunately, during the second day we learned that our stop at Recife, Brazil intended for Jan. 14 is cancelled so we will actually have 5 consecutive sea days,  That’s fine, but I’m sorry to miss the port.  It seems we have a ‘mechanical problem’ that means we can’t travel at full speed so we need to cut out a port.  Presumably when we reach Rio, they will get the part or whatever we need to fix the problem.  On the other hand, despite the current sunshine, the weather report for the next two ports (as well as Recife) is for rain.  Not auspicious. –Cynthia

Nordic Dark Humor?  The Viking Cruise Line is noted for its patronage of such middle-brow art as Masterpiece Theater.  Thus, It’s not unusual for the Viking Cruise ships to exhibit works of art.  In the case of Viking Sun (our ship), most of the art is impressionistic in style and featured original lithographs by the Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch (perhaps best known for Panic), as illustrated by the photographs above.  The lithographs are starkly black on either white or sepia paper, and the one of the couple on the right could well be titled Norwegian Gothic, while the other is titled, strangely, On Waves of Love.  Munch is not Gauguin, however, and his art doesn’t seem appropriate for a Cruise in the Southern Hemisphere.  — Chris