Wed. 2/28/07 approaching Cape Town South Africa thaw weather is cloudy and the seas rough as predicted. The Indian Ocean is flowing over the Atlantic and clouds and rain are produced. Lecture today by Desmond Tutu, very charismatic speaker who carries hisaudience along with jokes and stories. As chief of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission he was He was instrumental in preventing a blood bath in South Africa. I wonder what he would say about Iraq. Visited the Bridge all automatic and tied to gps. Generators use 16000 gallons of fuel each day to make water and supply airconditioning. The are always a pair of eyes looking for whatever the radar misses. Alarms and firedoors are automatically coordinated. Always carries paper charts to backup the computer. Advance the clocksone hour again tonite these 23 hour days are difficult with all mandatory meetings in addition to the classes.

Salvador Brazil 12*5729N 38*30.59W Major pry city I northern part of the country. Have ost much of the typring that I did but have my notes. Old city on high cliff access by elevator free during Carnaval . Favellas homes of poor set very clos together surround The town. Squatters are alowede to occupy atny vacant space for three years then the govt wilol bring I water and sewers, May build up to 5 stories and they own the property. No outside yards overcrowding brings crime. Trip to Itaparica Island by converted fishing boat- two masts no sails island and snorkel no fish a volcanic isinssland. Harbor inside breakwater many cruising boats from around the world this is where they resupply. Good local food beans and rice, Pelorinho, old town many churches closed due to Carnaval.also museum an d post office. Carnaval viewing from platformalong ing thrshitteam te route central location=most noise. Continuous line of huge semi transport vans loaded with amplifiers. And fans all wearing the team t eac shirt. The t shirt is your ticket. Rock star ocn each truck blasting away. Colorfull costumes have givenway to t shirts. Dinner at typical barbeque restaurant with meatofs served on swords like Central Ave. Steady line of cruise ships at least 7 enterred port for the last day o carnival then left. Many gemstone store4 around the square. Brazil exports largest quatities and qualities resourses of the coutry are vast. Bolsa Famalia credit card with money given poor families for income a start o n redistributuion the socialist scheme. nWe lost another hour last night.Now at sea for eight days to South Africa.

Noow Braxil is doing onw in Salvadoe Arrived 7 am and still havent been able to get off the ship. Immigration wanted to see everyones face. I want to make a phone call but the companies are limited to the state company. Will try to call collect . The trip isgreat so far I will take a tour with the global studies prof to see h of Because on globaliztion.ow Brazil is doinggh onglobalization. Carnival has everhing shut dow including the markets and shops. I have a tour to Carnival, one to an island in the harbor and one to the country. If nothying else I am learning the computer.Everything is great and if I dont call here I will on thr high seas . The snow seems Quite hot and hmbut at 12 degrees northlatitude it is very hot

One day to go to Salvadore. The classes have beeninteresting but we are all ready for a change The satellite has been cown all day but I will try to write and send a long message.

I am on WORD TO WRITE WHAT I WANT TO SEND THE COPY AND PASTE FOR THE Blog..a

Hi everyone. I found out how to accsess th Blog. I did not get lost at sea. Will send more later.

followme

aboard m.v.explorer. here I am ! Quite an elegant ship. A dorm room was nver like this. Gary was my porter and my things will only fill half the space. The dining rooms are extensive the swimming pool is tiny and everybody very friendly. We met Archbishop Tutu in the lounge surfing the web.

marc is helping me with posting pictures. he is so fast i can hardly follow his fingers.

follow me

First Stop Ft Lauderdale. Travelling through security with a computer made all my organizing of packages fall apart. But the security camera would not let me go --it turned out the metal hair clips were setting off all the bells. lauderdale yacht club is having four day reggatta starting today. 25 lasers on the line sailed by college freshmen and 15 Finns from around the world-Ireland, Spain, Great Britian, and the USA.