Floating on a cloud up the Amazon.

I did promise some that I would do one of my reports on our recent Amazon cruise to the Amazon.The delay is partly due to the fact that today is just one week since we got back and then there have been the Christmas functions,Also I am pretty good at procrastination!

We started off with 3 nights in Barbados at the Hilton.I will start the report from there.

So a few pics of the grounds and surrounds of the Hilton Barbados-

The pools and now the beaches.First the small beach protected from the waves and then the larger one-

On one side a fort,the other a lighthouse-

To the side a large cemetery-

And in the distance the barracks and racecourse.You can even see the trackwork-

So a few more pics of the fort on the Hilton property-

Great view-

So you can see how well placed the fort was-0great coverage of the entrance to the harbour.It is said that Barbados has the most cannon of any country in the world now.I can believe it.Good British ones at that-

Of course cannon are not the only thing that Barbados has and the British military relied upon-

Yes that great neccessity in life,rum.

Review of Hilton now done here-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...tml#post717117 (Hilton Barbados.)

And even more of Barbados to come.

Now to some Barbadian meals.On our first night we ate at the Hilton's upmarket restaurant-The Grille.There is a large BBQ hot plate but looks like it hadn't been used in quite some time.There is a dress code but enforced as well as in QPs.I was the only male dressed according to the code wearing casual slacks.Shorts,T shirts and footwear optional was the norm.

Service was hit and miss.Served and Amusee bouche-blackened shrimp-

OK.For starters mrsdrron had the pork belly,overcooked,and I had the "beef flags".I hope the animal had a happy life-he sure did have a long one-

For mains mrsdrron had the appetiser lobster cocktail.I had the fillet mignon with shrimp and scallops.The seafood was overcooked and dry.The fillet I ordered medium to rare and it came well done-

For dessert mrsdrron had a lime and coconut rice pudding.Unfortunately both advertised flavors were missing.I had an apple and pecan pouch.Basically a misshapen streudel.Very occasional very small bits of pecan.Burnt on the outside but inside the pastry not cooked-

With the cheapest wine available,a Chilean SB,this came to $US165.

Dont bother.

Better was dinner at Brown Sugar just down from the Hilton-an easy walk.Mrsdrron had coconut and beer battered prawns plus lobster-

I had the jerk pork and a mixed seafood plate.A large amount and only just overcooked-

The food was OK but definitely better than the Hilton.With a bottle of Marlborough SB the bill was $US150.

Hints for barbados.No need to tip as everywhere adds 10% service fee.Service definitely not worth any more.

Just use US dollars-accepted everywhere though often change given in Barbadian dollars-2 of these equals $US1.At airport the money exchange was charging 5% commission.

However bring lots.Barbados is expensive.

Next motoring around the Island.

Sunday and it is off driving across the Island.Object was to see some of the Island's gardens and the Atlantic coast.Once you get off the major highway the roads are quite narrow and not well maintained even though they are called highways.Twice we got stuck behind busses that had broken down.Our first visit was to the Orchid Garden.Not peak blooming time but still an enjoyable walk with some typical Barbadian views over the canefields.

The orchids were beautiful-

Also some wildlife-

We then went by some hairy back roads to Flower forest-the site of an old plantation house that burnt down a few years ago.This was more about the trees etc rather than flowers.Still very pleasant.

Here there was also good use of coloured foliage-

And there were some surviving bits from plantation days such as this molasses pot-

Next it was down to the Atlantic coast and the dramatic coastline at Bathsheba-

This should not be missed

Bring a picnis or have lunch at the small local restaurant over the road-

The Andromeda Gardens are on the road that climbs up the hill at the south end of Bathsheba.Good views from the road.

Again structure and foliage are used well in this garden-

and a lovely pool-

The last is the Barbados gooseberry which I have tried in various sauces.

We got back to the Hilton just after 1500 and decided it was time for a swim.Down to the pool and they had run out of towels.I had noticed the maid on our floor so went back and asked for 2 extra room towels-sorry sir we have run out.Another bad mark for the Hilton.Fortunately our room had 3 towels so one doubled as a beach towel.Didn't make the same mistake twice as the next morning we went down and got our beach towels before going on our drive.

Monday and a drive up the west coast where many of the resorts are situated.Many seem to have gone since my last visit and many new ones being built-though it looked like work had stalled on many of them.Go past the resort I stayed at in 2007 and it looked like the maintenance budget had been slashed.

We stop at a large duty free shop but prices are exorbitant.So we continue on to the north of the island.Look at the St.Lucy church-some 350 years old.cemetery not maintained but saw a few prominent Barbadian names-

We then tried to find a cave advertised as a tourist attraction but ended up at a wild area of the coast with lava tubes anyway-

Monday is a fish fry so we decided to give it a go.It is held at the pool.We had reserved a table but our name was not on the list.Fortunately the F&B manager was there and heard this.Mrsdrron had talked to him after our first meal so he knew she was HH diamond and I SPG plat so an extra table was set up right next to the welcome set up.Several other couples found their booked table had disappeared.

The fry up consisted of flying fish and mahi-mahi.Not great and at $US37.50 not good value.Go to Oistins instead-major night there is friday.

A lazy morning before checking out of the Hilton.Checked out at midday.When we checked in we asked about leaving bags here when we went on our cruise-no problem.So on checkout,which had taken some time the same question was asked-no problem just see the concierge.So over to the concierge-oh no you cant do that unless you have a manager's permission.Finally a manager is found and we leave our bags.

Drive to the "Cruise"terminal and drop our car there-Stoutes has an office there.So then we board the Cloud.The terminal has seen better days-

We get a last view of the Hilton-

So a few pics of the ship with the bar-

The restaurant-

And our room-

And more of the room,a silver suite-

Now the verandah and bathroom-

Re: Up the Amazon Without a Paddle.

So that completes the pics of our cabin.The Cloud went into dry dock recently,this is the second cruise since that happened.One change was taking out bathtubs in most suites including the silver suites we usually have.We are not impressed as we both enjoy a soak in a bath.

We left Barbados about an hour late which meant we saw the Aurora leave before us.Looked good in the evening-

Immigration at Bridgetown port was a mere formality.Soon aboard the Cloud and champagne in hand.Suites are available at 1430.So we lunch at the pool bar and I have the first of many mojitos.Then we tour the ship.Soon meet 3 crew members from our last cruise as well as the couple from Vermont who we befriended in July.Also an Australian couple who were on the Shadow with us last year.75% of the passengers are repeat Silverseas cruisers.

Get our cabin keys but first have afternoon tea with an English couple.The real pleasure is meeting many interesting fellow passengers with quite remarkable lives.Then unpacking,downloading photos before our safety drill.This is followed by a Welcome reception on the Pool deck.

Dinner is in La Terraza with the couple from Vermont.I had the octopus salad and papardelle with duck ragout-

Mrsdrron had the parmesan tart,the pappardelle and veal liver with onions-she loved the lot.I had Groper for my mains-

All washed down with some nice italian wines.All included on Silverseas.

Wednesday we arrived in Grenada.The Cloud looks impressive at the dock-

However the Celebrity Summit had docked just before us.The contrast is massive-

Overlooking the port is St.Georges fort-

Then we took a drive around the Island.Some views-

So this is Grenadas main crop-

Nutmeg.When cut open it reveals the nut and mace-a separate spice.Though Cacao was also common-

And there were a couple of specialty chocolate shops.Next was a nutmeg factory-

The nuts are first sorted manually and then taken upstairs for drying-

When dried the nuts are cracked and fall downstairs to be sorted again-

Outside you could buy a variety of spices.I doubt Australian customs would be impressed by the packaging-

After leaving the nutmeg factory we continued our drive around the island.There were some large homes apparently built by remittances of overseas workers-

We came across some locals fishing in the traditional way netting from the beach-

We then went to St Patricks cathedral.The cemetery there is the site of the last stand of the Caribs against the French who had decided to cleanse them from the island.The last 30 or so Caribs jumped from the cliffs to their death.Today a peaceful site with fantastic views-

For the mornings stops it was quite crowded as we ran into many groups from the Celebrity.As the day progressed that became a lot less but even at our next stop-a rum distillery we fortunately only had 2 Silverseas tours.When we departed though the throngs arrived-

So we arrived at the distillery before any other tour so not rushed.This place was established in 1785 and still produces rum in the old way powered by a water wheel.The cane though arrives a lot differently to QLD.

And now the crushing through to bagasse-

The juice then goes to the boiling house to concentrate the cane juice and then to a cooling vat before the distillation occurs-

So to the distillation process-

And then to the final product which we got to taste.None is exported,only sold on Grenada-

Then it was off to yet another Plantation house for lunch.I had the local Cooloola soup and mains were a buffet.The soup is an acquired taste I guess-

For desserts mrsdrron had nutmeg icecream and I had bergamot icecream-both very nice.They had a chocolate shop there.Just as I was about to be served a German tour group walked in,I was pushed out of the way and a sale was lost.

After that it was a narrow winding road to the top of the island and their water source,a crater lake-

It was then to a waterfall where some local lads jump into a pond from a height-for a fee of course-

Though other locals let you take their photo for free-

Then back to the ship and surprise,surprise you have to walk through an arcade of shops.I doubt this one was the original-

Next-off to Devil's Island.

As we sailed away from Grenada we had a great sunset-

That night at predinner drinks we met a couple from Philly.Had dinner with them,our friends from Vermont and a delightful Scots couple Pat and Bill.He was a retired sports writerA great dining experience and then slept like logs.So pictures of our meal.First the appetiser,duck terrine and foie gras-

Then mrsdrron had the pork loin and I had smoked duck breast with red cabbage-

Then she had the apple crumble and I the chocolate and raspberry creme mille feuille-

Thursday and a sea day.Breakfast as always in the main dining room with my favourite waitress Cherry.Then a lecture on Devil's Island and Dreyfuss-very interesting.Back to our suite and slept until lunch.Another enjoyable meal.Mrsdrron started with a mezze plate and I with a lamb lasagne-

She then had the roast lamb and I the lamb meatballs-

So the finish of my meal with bread and butter pudding with figs-