Slimy Pollywogs & Trusty Shellbacks

Today, we entered the mighty Amazon River!  A bucket list moment for me -- I remember being fascinated by this river when I was a child in school, and learned about it in Geography class.

We also crossed the Equator once again this afternoon, and had an amusing ceremony to commemorate the fact.  Because the weather was rainy and sultry (there's a reason they call this a "rain forest"), it was held in the ship's theatre instead of outside on the pool deck.  King Neptune came on stage, and ordered all slimy Pollywogs (people who had never crossed the Equator before) to come forward and fist bump (no kissing, because of the ever-present gastrointestinal virus plaguing the ship) the "Sacred Mermaid".  The Sacred Mermaid was a burly deck hand all dolled up, and greeted with much laughter by everyone.  You can see a fist bump in progress in the first picture of this collage, followed by a portrait of King Neptune himself, and lastly a shot of a minor "wardrobe malfunction" on the part of the Sacred Mermaid!  After all Pollywogs had paid homage to her, they were duly enlisted in the company of Trusty Shellbacks (people who have crossed the Equator).  Very funny and silly!