I would have quite liked to walk around Parentins in Brazil but the temperature of 34 degrees with very high humidity put us off. We were tendered ashore for a Boi Bumba show. This is a mini equivalent of the carnival which happens every year and is the second largest after Rio. It was very loud mostly due to drums and singing but it was very colourful with great costumes and sets and really gave us an idea of the carnival atmosphere. I didn't get really good photos thanks to an American sitting in front of me who stood up to take photos every time there was a good moment. He didn’t take a quick photo either but stood there for a minute each time obviously oblivious to the fact that people behind him couldn’t see. We did yell at him to sit down but he was either deaf or the music was too loud for him to hear.

Meanwhile back on the ship, people on the whole have settled into their coteries of people who like doing the same things . After a good start the Brainless Brits Trivia team have gone very downhill. I suspect this could be due to excesses elsewhere in the ship! Feuding has broken out amongst the laundrette goers. An obnoxious American lady insists on taking up both machines at the same time with hardly any clothes in each. As the machines take an hour there is then a build up of irate customers. She was told off by one of our quiz team but clearly is just not a nice person. Some of them sit in the laundrette and watch their washing go round! This habit may have been stimulated by the story of the "Laundry Thief", who apparently stole one woman’s washing. I have only been in their twice and on the second occasion I asked Stefan to retrieve our stuff out of the dryer while I went to the hairdresser. It was only later that evening that he confessed he had gone into the laundrette brought the stuff back to the cabin, emptied it onto the bed and then realised he didn’t recognize any of it. He furtively put it back when no one was around and hence the identity of the Laundry Thief has been established!

Apart from the one obnoxious American lady we have only met really nice people and it is funny how the Brits tend to find each other. Quite a few of the staff and dancers are English and we had dinner with two of the girls, who can only eat in the restaurant if they are invited by guests. Some of the guests have been sailing with Regent for years and have reached Platinum standard which allows them free laundry, definitely a level to be aspired! We are mere Silver members which gives us free Internet. There is a 92 year old aboard who lives on the ship and never gets off. I suppose if you are on your own it is an amazing way of being looked after and meeting new people. Am not quite at that stage yet! This will be our longest cruise at 3 weeks and all agree that the time is flying by.