They reached the end of Long Wharf and stared. From three towering masts, a web of rigging fell to a deck gleaming with mahogany and brass. It's so big, you can't get it all in one picture. The Cisne Branco will be open to tours from noon to 8 p.m. today and through Saturday. Visitors will glimpse the pride of the Brazilian Navy.
Wide stairways lead to handsome crew quarters below.
Carpeting softens the officers' mess, where the portholes are curtained, and a piano rests in the corner. The vessel, on its maiden voyage around the world, sailed here from Rio de Janeiro with a crew of 50. While Rhode Islanders visit the tall ships, sailors like Rodriguez are eager to visit Rhode Island. He said he's a student of architecture and engineering, and he has plans for his liberty in Newport.