A beauty pageant was being held this weekend at the hotel/marina where we are staying in Fortaleza. The winner was crowned Saturday night and she and the runners-up were being photographed by the pool on Sunday. The photographers stopped by BRIZO to ask if they could bring Miss Brazil on board for a photo shoot. Although he wouldn't ordinarily let anyone on board wearing platform heels, Lew was a gracious host and welcomed Miss Brazil and her entourage on board. After finishing their photos on the foredeck, the last photos were of Miss Brazil giving Lew a big hug and kiss by the helm.
Our first day in Fortaleza was busy: completing all of the clearance formalities, arranging to have fuel delivered dockside, and getting settled for what will be a one month stay at the marina. The marina itself leaves a lot to be desired and is expensive for what it is, but there are no alternatives nearby. It is nice to have a hotel adjacent to the marina for the amenities of a pool, restaurants and laundry.
Over-all we are happy to be here and look forward to our time exploring Brazil. We will fly to Salvador Tuesday afternoon to catch up with the fleet and participate in the WARC events there. Corinne and the girls will join the Mays on Anastasia over the following three weeks while Lew is back in Cleveland for work. Karson plans to arrange her own touring of Brazil on land. We will all be together again by the end of February in Fortaleza for the Fleet's restart to Grenada in early March, the final long distance sail of our circumnavigation!
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