We are in sight of the coast of Brazil! We passed the Northeast port city of Recife last night during the nightly collaboration and exchange of ideas, that is to say, Happy Hour. Most of the afternoon we have had a masked booby escort, sometimes as many as two dozen. I watched them float and dive for about an hour this afternoon. They seem to hover just beyond the deck rail, almost within reach, then suddenly dive down vertically into the ocean, completely submerging, then popping up a few feet away. Obviously they see something good to eat, but their eyes are better than mine.
Some of the students had a petition going around yesterday to try to use valuable bandwidth to watch the Superbowl. I think it would have meant cutting off all internet access, so I doubt it happened. Sounds like it was quite a game, though. Congratulations to the New York Eli Mannings, I mean, Giants!
It has been a long stretch at sea, and everyone is ready for something different. Global Studies was canceled this morning, which delighted the students and faculty, but not the librarians! I shouldn’t complain; it will probably be quiet in the library until at least mid-morning. We dock tomorrow morning in Salvador, and then it is on to experience Carnival!
Posted by Melinda Baumann 
