Itinerary

I have had a few requests for my itinerary... here it is.

On 1 Apr. at 3AM I drive to SFO and drop the car at Hertz rental return by 5AM.
I check in at American Airlines by 5:30AM. My flight departs SFO at 7AM and arrives in Miami [MIA] at 3:15PM [no cell phone until MIA]: it takes 5hrs. 15min. I'll have to kill time at MIA before checking in at 7:30PM [cell phone until 8:35]. The flight departs MIA at 8:35PM and arrives at GIG [Rio De Janeiro] the next morning at 6:05 AM. 8hrs. 30mins.

2 Apr. [I collect baggage then go to Customs/Passport Control]. The Othon Shuttle starts running at 8AM [I don’t know if I’ll wait or take a taxi].

2 Apr. I am staying at The Lancaster Othon Travel Hotel – Av. Atlantica, 1470, Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Check in is at 3PM!!! I hope I can get in earlier.

2 Apr. I will have lunch and go sightseeing with a Brazilian friend and then off to the beach. He will be picking me up at 11:30AM

3 Apr. Sightseeing and Beach.

4 Apr. I pack and take a taxi to Port Maua and board the Rotterdam.
The cruise begins.

5 Apr. At sea.

6 Apr. We arrive at Salvador De Bahia at 9AM. We are ashore from 9AM to 6PM
The cruise continues.

7 Apr. We arrive Maceio at 10AM. we are ashore from 10AM to 7PM. I celebrate 61 years on the planet! Happy Birthday to Rick and Kathy! The cruise contines.

8 Apr. We arrive at Recife at 8AM. we are ashore 8AM to3PM [a short stay]. I hope to visit Olinda. The cruise continues.

9 Apr. to 12 Apr. at sea.

12 Apr. We arrive at Banjul, The Gambia at 10 AM. We are ashore 10AM to 6PM and i will go on a HAL excursion called "Banjul Highlights." The cruise continues.

13 Apr. We arrive at Dakar, Senegal at 8AM. we are ashore 8AM to 7PM. I plan visit the Isle De Goree, the sight of an old slave depot; now a museum. The cruise continues.

14 Apr. at sea.

15 Apr. We arrive at Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Tenerife in the Canary Islands at 12 noon. We are ashore 12 noon to 9PM. I am visiting the pyramids at Guimar. It's a HAL excursion. The cruise continues.

16 Apr. We arrive at Arrecife, Lanzarote in the Canary Islands at 8AM. We are ashore 8AM to 5PM. it's a barren islands so I think I'll just do the beach and shops.

17 Apr. At sea.

18 Apr. We arrive at Casablanca at 6AM. we are ashore 6AM to 7:30 PM.
The extended hours is to accomodate a couple of excursions [to Fez and to Marakesh]that take 8 to 12 hours. I will visit the great Mosque in Casablanca and then take the train to Rabat for the day. The cruise continues.

19 Apr. We arrive Cadiz at 8AM. we are ashore 8AM to 4:30PM.
I will try to visit Sevilla [or Jerez if Sevilla doesn’t work]. The cruise continues.

20 Apr. We arrive in Lisbon at 7AM and disembark around 10AM. I will take a taxi to the Borges Residencial [Hotel] on Rua Garrett 108, Lisboa, Portugal. Check in time is at 2PM.

24 Apr. I check out of Borges Residential at 2PM, then fly from Lisbon to GIG [Rio] arriving at 9:40PM on Air Portugal.

24 Apr. I will taxi to a late arrival at the Aeroporto Othon Travel Hotel in Centro.
Av. Beira-Mar 280, Centro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. I have three days with nothing planned save for checking out Lapa, Niteroi [Oscar Niemeyer's wonderful Art Museum]and maybe Buzios.

28 Apr. I depart GIG [Rio] at 8:45PM on American Airlines to Miami arriving at
4:15 AM on 29 Apr. 8hrs. 30mins. I have a 3hr. 35min. layover at MIA [do breakfast].

29 Apr. I depart MIA at 7:50AM on American Airlines to SFO arriving at 10:50AM.

I will catch Airporter to Sonoma around 12 Noon arriving home by 2PM.