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“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Norden's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
  m/t Nord Swift
Picture from www.shipspotting.com
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Sunday 13th of October 2024 and finally, I got in contact with our agent and they will come to pick me up at 14:00 for transportation to m/t Nord Swift.
This information reached me at 12 o'clock. I have sent emails and I have tried to call, but nothing from the Agent until 12 o'clock.
I was hungry and I went to the reception to investigate if there was any restaurants near by. - OH! Try our restaurant, they suggested. I went to ask for a menu and the pointed to a very tired looking buffet. And it was pretty much the same situation as when I had breakfast the first morning, full pandemonium. I could not believe my luck, there is a pasta restaurant just around the corner from the hotel. Yes, internet can come in handy at times. I walked there, took a couple of minutes and it looked to be an expensive place, good! I took my seat and it was a really nice restaurant and it was almost full. But I found a table and I got the menu. And I took the chance to ask for bread, a restaurant like this will for sure have fresh bread. If you go to some Scooby Doo restaurant they will have sliced bread. And they brough tin a basked with fresh bread and a bowl of butter, and, yes a bowl of butter.  Excellent bread
 Nothing worse than to enjoy good bread and the butter coming in the size of an aspirin. And of course, they offered olive oil. I ordered one Spaghetti Carbonara “SPECIAL” and one lasagna. The waiter called back-up to make sure I wanted both the Carbonara and the lasagna. I confirmed this and the left me alone with my bread. Sounds like a perfect restaurant, but it wa snot all song and dance, there was setbacks as well. - Do you have tea? - We only have coffee! I always approach restaurant with a 5-star rating in mind for my mental review of the place. One star came right off with the “we only have coffee” So today it was not necessary to consider if the served tea in pots or cups.  Carbonara special
The special was the shrimps that I put aside
 Carbonara special and lasagna
 They brought both the carbonara and the lasagna at the same time, another half star disappeared. People were looking at “PORKY” wondering what the hell is wrong with him eating like the Two-ton  Superman. It must be a cry for help!
I put back half a star again when they removed all the plates. No need to have separate plates for all the dishes. The carbonara came on one plate and they wanted to give me a plate to eat from. Same with the lasagna, came in a pan and there were so many plates on the table. But they understood when I told them that the plate with carbonara and the pan with the lasagna was enough. And there must have been a ton of cutlery and I told them that a fork and knife was enough. I was soon alone and I could enjoy my meal.  Lasagna
Final verdict ended up somewhere between 3 star and 4 stars, closer to 3 stars. I did not finish the food, but this I cannot blame on the restaurant. But for this price, well, a strong 3-star grading. I will come back if I ever stay in Belem again I was back at the hotel at 12 thirt and my driver was waiting for me. I went to my room to pick up my luggage. The driver needed to take a picture to send to the Agent in Rio de Janeiro. This is something they have started with the last couple of years. Taking pictures to prove that they have done the job. No one have any own personnel anymore, just hire per job and then duck off. No need to keep any expensive staff hanging around doing nothing.  A picture before we can leave
 Loading my luggage in to the car
 Leaving the hotel
Loading my luggage in the back of the car and we were soon on our way. Heavy traffic in town and it took us quite some time to get out of Belem. Sunday afternoon and I had expected light traffic. We made a stop to buy refreshments when we were out of the city, last opportunity as my driver said. From here on it is only wilderness. My driver told us that it was about 90 minutes to go before we would reach Vila Do Conde. I was in the back enjoying my newly bought water studying the surroundings while we were plunging down the highway. we passed through some villages otherwise it was forest along the road. We crossed a few huge rivers on the way and I could see some birds, and of course there were many American Black Vultures.  On our way to Vila do Conde
 Approaching a bridge
 Coming down from the bridge
 Reaching Vila Do Conde and I am pretty sure I have been here before, so I checked my records. And yes, we discharged Caustic Soda here with m/t Barcarolle 16 years ago. Passing the security and we had to go in to an office. They took my passport and after a while the driver asked where I came from. The girl in the security needed to go. - She just took my passport, I said. We entered the area and then we stopped at the immigration. I was waiting in the car while the driver went in to their office and he was back after a couple of minutes. We could see m/t Nord Swift far out in the river and we had to drive on a small pier to reach her. The pier must have been at least 1km long, so I was happy that we were allowed to get out there by car.  Driving along the pier
 We can see m/t Nord Swift
 Finally, at the jetty
 Finally, at the jetty
 The Driver needed one last picture
 Two good things with this job, when you put your luggage in your room when joining, and when you put your luggage in your room coming back home again. Everything in-between is, well, not so very fun. So it was nice to finally have arrived. The Driver took a last picture and he left. The crew came down on the jetty and they took care of my luggage and I went on board and the luggage was in my room when I got to my cabin. Looks like we are ready in the morning of the 15th and Chief Officer will leave tomorrow night. I was in bed at 8 o'clock with the alarm set to go off at 03:45. Will I make it out of bed? Click HERE to find out! October 2024 November 2024 December 2024
    
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To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
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