It's HOT here!

Hello again!
I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post! I thought I had put something up a few days ago…but apparently I got kicked off the internet before it actually got up…oops!
Anyways! I’ll try to catch everyone up now! We are stopped today in Belem, Brazil. Unfortunately, I’ve been in rehearsal all day so I won’t be seeing this port. The past few ports have been pretty nice though! Parintins was a smaller town and Audrey and I just got off the ship and walked around some of the markets. They had a lot of artwork that was really beautiful but it was all too large for me to get home so I didn’t purchase any. Alter de Chao, Brazil was kind of a resort town. There was a really nice beach and a few hotels and condos that you could see from the river. We pretty much spent the day lying on the beach and playing in the Amazon River. The water felt great because it was SOOOO hot outside (I’m the genius who fell asleep on my back and got sunburn…go me!)
We left the Amazon early yesterday morning (Sunday) and had our crossing the equator ceremony around 2pm. They have a ceremony when King Neptune comes on the ship and all of the “pollywogs” (those of us who have never crossed the equator before) have to be judged by him so that the ship has his blessing. It was MESSY and cheesy and STINKY (it involved us being slimed by a grotesque combination of foam, dirty water, and goopy foods…(YUCK!) but it was fun in the end. Next time we cross the equator I can be the one sliming the pollywogs…and keep the distance from it myself!
Today we are learning our last show and then we’ll start preparing for Showgirl next weekend. Our next performance will be on the 25th(the night before we get to Rio!) Tomorrow night they are having a Black and White ball to celebrate the inauguration day and we have the whole day off of rehearsal so we can get all dressed up and enjoy the evening together…I can’t wait! I’ll be sure to write again soon and more often from now on… I think I’ve finally got this internet thing figured out here!
<3Katie

Ps-for all of you who are cold right now…I just thought I might take a moment to rub it in that it is HOT as FIRE here…I love the beach!