Lughnasa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waxing Honey Extraction Moon<\/p>\n
Mark went to a hospitality industry job fair in St. Louis Park.\u00a0 I took him, then went on out to Minnetonka Travel in Wayzata.\u00a0 I picked these folks almost at random to help with the cruise, but I gotta say, they’re pretty damn good.<\/p>\n
Today we set up the processing for our Brazilian visas.\u00a0 The visa process has taken almost the same effort as booking the entire cruise.\u00a0 When I first learned that each visa would cost $160, I had sticker shock.\u00a0 This was what we would have to pay to get off the ship in Rio and then take a taxi directly to the airport.\u00a0 $320 for passage from one form of transportation to another.\u00a0 Of course, this is not the intent of the Brazilians.\u00a0 They just want reciprocity for the way the US treats their citizens coming here.<\/p>\n
Still, for us, whose 37 day cruise ends in Rio, it creates this very expensive transfer with no additional benefit.\u00a0 So, we changed our minds and added two days in Rio after our cruise.\u00a0 At least we’ll see a little bit of Brazil for our money.<\/p>\n
Our travel agent has been to Rio and says it’s a beautiful, vibrant city, but also very dangerous.\u00a0 I’m a bit dubious about how others see foreign cities since I’ve been many places considered dangerous and never had a problem, even so it’s foolish to ignore advice from someone who’s been on the ground there.\u00a0 She recommends staying in the Ipanema Beach area, a redolent name for this of who grew up in the 60’s.\u00a0 We’ll go to Sugarloaf and a Mardi Gras themed evening.\u00a0 Which, Lori, the travel agent, said, “All the men will enjoy.”<\/p>\n
The visa is the last difficult piece of business necessary to make this cruise happen.\u00a0 The rest, checking out clothes, buying new luggage, deciding what books to take along (on the Kindle) do not require new skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lughnasa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waxing Honey Extraction Moon Mark went to a hospitality industry job fair in St. Louis Park.\u00a0 I took him, then went on out to Minnetonka Travel in Wayzata.\u00a0 I picked these folks almost at random to help with the cruise, but I gotta say, they’re pretty damn good. Today we set up the processing … Continue reading Please Let Me In<\/span>