tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63321857337572283742024-03-05T21:19:28.425-08:00Cruising the Baltics and back to NZFlying to the UK for a month, then cruising the Baltics on the Emerald Princess before switching to the Dawn Princess for the second half of the world cruise. Not the Nottingham Princess as pictured...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-72785840219156617252014-08-30T22:05:00.000-07:002014-09-12T00:33:11.987-07:00It's a wrap!<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Three months away is a long time, but the memories are fresh – well, fairly fresh and probably an opportune time to sum up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">I’ll not dwell too long on the UK month, other than to say we thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was great (just three patches of rain in 30 days), the company was great (especially the family) and the food was as good as anywhere. Somewhat surprisingly for some, the service and friendliness in shops, cafés and restaurants was also most impressive. Prices, particularly in the larger supermarkets, including their non-food outlets, were a lot cheaper than we expected and it is only the cost of petrol which makes the UK seem expensive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Driving in the UK is still a revelation compared to NZ, as generally, they keep left except when overtaking and apart from the southern end of the M1, where they seem to have installed a load of average speed cameras (revenue collectors), traffic moves pretty quickly and safely. Given the proliferation of speed cameras in the towns, there seems to be far too many sleeping policemen/speed bumps, meaning extra pollution and poor fuel consumption. Parking is a bit of an issue in some places and thankfully, back at our home base, they have abolished the paid parking for the first two hours, which is an application of common-sense. Within the City it is a different story and most travel by bus and the car parks always have spaces. With even the local buses now having free WiFi and on most routes, buses about every 10 minutes at worst, no wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">The middle section of our trip was the 14 day Emerald Princess Baltic’s Cruise. We loved it! Sure the Emerald is bigger than the Dawn and a bit less homely, but for a cruise where most days were in port anyway, the ship assumes less importance than on a long cruise with loads of sea days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">I compared the Diamond Princess with the Dawn way back at the beginning of 2012. Much of what I wrote then still holds, as the Emerald is similar. Not identical, but similar. In terms of the deck 5 area, the Emerald boasts an International Café which we enjoyed, but the secondary entertainment lounges, just like the Diamond, are disappointing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Where the Emerald really scored over the Dawn was the theatre. Far more modern. A larger production cast and good scenery made the Dawn look drab by comparison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">The destinations were excellent and the only down sides were a couple of Princess tours where the guides talked non-stop and bored us to death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Northern Europe’s life style isn’t so different from what we are used to. I’ll cover that later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Having a few hours with brother Malcolm between transferring from the Emerald to the Dawn Princess was a bonus and an opportunity to visit the National Motor Museum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Hopping aboard the Dawn was like returning home. Loads of people we already knew from past cruises and three of the entertainment staff just made is so easy to slot back in. It wasn’t long before we caught up with those we’d met previously at Alana’s dance classes (and on then to those great fun evenings in the atrium). The one sour note of the whole cruise was the deck 7 atrium area... Putting the same self-centred and rather arrogant pianist in there last year for 90 days was bad enough, but having to suffer again all the way back to Auckland was just one factor in deciding to cancel next year’s second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">To his credit, Cruise Director Mark was well aware of the feeling of those who were not sycophantic choir members (the pianist also runs the passenger choir) and did his level best to get other musicians in there for dancing, even if only for a couple of hours most nights. It helped, but whereas in 2011 and 2012, those who’d been to a dance class in the morning were encouraged to come along in the evenings and practice, so the group continued to grow. Without that continuity and support, the dance group didn’t grow at all this time, which is shame. We are convinced the deck 7 bar takings would be well down on 2011 and 2012!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">As you may well have read from the blog, this leg of the cruise didn’t really inspire us to repeat it next year. Too similar and unlike the Med last year, it was much cooler once we’d left the Panama Canal than we expected. With Easter Island cancelled and nothing more than a sedate trundle around Pitcairn Island, a history of the ship never managing to get passengers to Easter Island, we felt that the ten continuous days at sea and basically most passengers indoors, wasn’t ideal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Those who made the trek to Machu Picchu thoroughly enjoyed it and for them, it probably made the itinerary worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">As always, the on board staff were superb on both cruises and our Elite status giving us free laundry and a fair few internet minutes, makes continuing with Princess attractive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">Over the last three years we have been fortunate enough to experience various different cultures and seen some of what is behind the glossy brochures. Looking at a white sand beach resort for the wealthy on Antigua for example, is one thing. Seeing the poverty one street back is an eye opener. Those on benefits in NZ, UK, Aus etc., moaning about their lot in life, need to check out Peru and other countries where there is no dole money. The eldest son pays for the upkeep of his aged parents, the eldest daughter looks after them and if a brother loses his job, they all chip in to help him out. So on the streets, in the traffic queues, you get people trying to sell you tea towels, drinks, sweets, water. Anything to make a dollar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">The Baltic cruise we loved, as we probably identify with the people rather more than the Caribbean, the Arab States, South America, the Pacific Islands, even the Mediterranean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C;">We now look forward to doing Sydney to Southampton on the Sea Princess (sister ship to the Dawn) next year. Hopefully, we’ll be catching up with even more old friends but the last word has to be a massive thank you to Darryl and Sue from Adelaide, for the fun, the laughs and even 2 trivia wins!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="color: #843c0c;">POST SCRIPT</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="color: #843c0c;">We have booked for the Royal Princess round Britain 12 day cruise July 20th 2015...</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-84871289653623940772014-08-29T01:37:00.001-07:002014-08-29T01:37:31.075-07:00Auckland and home - but with visitors!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbS6WuUg4dA4hFP16KlCb8pjvpz2gAsSiwtccyyAE3nJ_TVf81B34hvMxdF-pFKAaOq66OGMWr2IUWnLFmgf39gPl2Atx0GXF37RosC9158M2DGu_tzp-qiqIRuX6apHY-1XveY87JA/s1600/214_0827_02-751076.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbS6WuUg4dA4hFP16KlCb8pjvpz2gAsSiwtccyyAE3nJ_TVf81B34hvMxdF-pFKAaOq66OGMWr2IUWnLFmgf39gPl2Atx0GXF37RosC9158M2DGu_tzp-qiqIRuX6apHY-1XveY87JA/s320/214_0827_02-751076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052903649677628994" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg334IrQEEuZ1hsABT4WMd_GDMcwv5fFxoc-0P4fBN-pKNQw9MxsveX6DPy3wJ-RkqIlWrJAOSh5Ks6ROEAg4dyvcg4hX9OoV4zaCtdMtK9c1viVtiyoWYa2CL7J9F5XwkO3LCYsVrKgQ/s1600/214_0827_04-755747.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg334IrQEEuZ1hsABT4WMd_GDMcwv5fFxoc-0P4fBN-pKNQw9MxsveX6DPy3wJ-RkqIlWrJAOSh5Ks6ROEAg4dyvcg4hX9OoV4zaCtdMtK9c1viVtiyoWYa2CL7J9F5XwkO3LCYsVrKgQ/s320/214_0827_04-755747.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052903669283337490" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Although it was late to bed and we were tired, Paula couldn’t sleep! We’d set the alarm for 6:30am and the ship was already lining up to dock at Queen’s Wharf – not Prince’s Wharf as last time. That meant the meeting instructions I’d given to Darryl & Sue were a bit out, so I scribbled a quick note and pushed it under their cabin door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>It didn’t take long to get sorted and we left the cabin quite early and parked ourselves in the dining room on deck 5, awaiting the clearance to disembark – once the luggage had been off-loaded.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>It didn’t take long and we were first off along with M & M! Two immigration booths open and then we collected our luggage. The lack of sleep must have affected Paula’s eyesight as she’d loaded someone else’s case onto our trolley! Luckily we spotted it straightaway so we rolled up to the MAF (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries) to declare our wood/nuts etc. after first passing the beagle test. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>For future travellers arriving at that wharf, currently, no Duty Free facilities on arrival. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The official was quite happy with the Panama hat in its balsa wood box and the three or four small ornaments made out of ivory nuts, so straight out for a taxi, parked at the exit to the shed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>First time I had ridden in a Toyota Prius. Eerie silence…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The trip home was against the traffic, so easy enough, but the queue going into town from Onewa Rd. stretched the full length (about 2kms). Missing out on the daily rush hour traffic is something I really am happy to have left well behind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The house was still standing and heaving the four suitcases, two carry-on bags, the backpack with computer and camera and a zip bag with the balsa box and the left over cans of cider, was easy enough. The advantage of arriving home by ship! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>First jobs were turning the water and electricity back on and heading for the garage to see if the 2010 vehicle would start. Luckily it did, (the AA man lives across the road and was on standby) though the remote unlock button is on the way out. Ditto, buttons on the CD/radio remote and also the Sky TV remote…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After a quick sort out and a partial unpack of one case each, we nipped out to the supermarket for a couple of basics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Out again and into town to pick up Darryl & Sue at 11am – though we’d forgotten what a pain it was dealing with Auckland’s unsynchronised traffic lights. All OK and off then to our regular garden centre for the best coffee in two months. Ship coffee is OK but it pales against the local brew.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A bit of a trundle around with our guests then home. We relaxed and also watched Ganjo’s first two DVDs of last year’s cruise, as Darryl & Sue were on until Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Out then for an excellent Indian meal before returning them to the dock, for their last three days to Sydney. It was rather cool so the heaters were on at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>So that is it. Three months away and blogging our progress at every stage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I’ll post a summary in a day or two but that will be aimed more at the future cruisers who I know followed this hoping to pick up tips; those who keep in touch because they couldn’t travel this year and oddly enough, those who were also on the cruise. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#843C0C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I hope you enjoyed the ramble and weren’t too bored but any comments, positive or negative will be welcomed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-75008891772570901452014-08-28T02:35:00.001-07:002014-08-28T17:57:23.084-07:00Day 93 - The last sea day of this cruise - for us.<div class="mobile-photo">
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We are now on NZ time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">A fair sleep and the cough has almost gone, thank goodness. A bit late breakfasting as trivia wasn’t until 11:30 as Chef Marzi had another one of his cooking demonstrations, followed by a tour of the kitchens for those who hadn’t done the tour before. That increased our chances of trivia success, but despite Paula’s earlier Zumba session, it didn’t kick the brain into gear any more than usual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We headed to deck 5 for coffee, but once again, no seating. With so many staff being so friendly, it comes as a bit of a shock to find a couple of the deck 7 waiters/waitresses distinctly cold. (It hadn’t gone unnoticed by our head waiter Vasco, so it wasn’t just our assessment.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">So packing was on my agenda for the afternoon and that all went OK and then an escape to the final Ukulele class with Alex at 4:15pm – exactly the same time as trivia…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">One of the group (another Ray) had organised a whip round for Alex but asked me to propose the vote of thanks. Hopefully Alex will use the loot to buy his own ukulele.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">Sadly, due to the late scheduling, the drinkers started rolling in well before we’d finished and as I was at the rear of the room, their noise was drowning out Alex. I managed to move a couple on, but they were coming in too fast so we just had to put up with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDJTnhvEutHca3A8SEHPoDVhkQTtEq6AxR1BxnJEkmtswwbZiTHaqUloGV4IYXPc5OqbmmU0vEY8787zd-rC4MRXHh-UnvsYmD64lyJRkOH6vQd9YwPmZVVCWca-ghDJkJ5sn9ZEMXQ/s1600/214_0826_02-723168.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDJTnhvEutHca3A8SEHPoDVhkQTtEq6AxR1BxnJEkmtswwbZiTHaqUloGV4IYXPc5OqbmmU0vEY8787zd-rC4MRXHh-UnvsYmD64lyJRkOH6vQd9YwPmZVVCWca-ghDJkJ5sn9ZEMXQ/s320/214_0826_02-723168.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052547474582038354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Dave Watson </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">It was a busy night with another show (that is 3) from Roland Storm. He is a real encyclopaedia of popular music and this was another show backed by the orchestra. Another enjoyable show too. Too few of the entertainers have enough decent material for three shows, some can't even cope with two and several rely on old material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">A bit of dancing and some farewells then our last dinner and I managed to grab a pic with former England football player Dave Watson. He started his professional career with Notts County in 1967 when I was a regular spectator at Meadow Lane then he went via Rotherham and Sunderland to Manchester City and 65 England caps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">A spell overseas before bowing out back at Notts County 1984/85, though he retains a strong interest in the club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">After dinner and a few other farewells and down to the Vista lounge for a Princess favourite, the Marriage Show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvYWxfKSCPKHlBz7dfOwTpm19fY49aT_OtE_xqpavZh4fYeI7u_q6BPC4u99KckeHaluHzw5Sek-veO10rrubqVx-yc9UOb3NkRUAWYA5DDOsACiw5yrufcEDU23t1GiAQiELBXAlzw/s1600/214_0826_03-726699.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvYWxfKSCPKHlBz7dfOwTpm19fY49aT_OtE_xqpavZh4fYeI7u_q6BPC4u99KckeHaluHzw5Sek-veO10rrubqVx-yc9UOb3NkRUAWYA5DDOsACiw5yrufcEDU23t1GiAQiELBXAlzw/s320/214_0826_03-726699.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052547483171580066" /></a><span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We were thrilled to find out that Theresa and Errol had put their names in – as newlyweds. That is a relative term on cruises when the average age is well over 60. They had been married 8 years, but known each other 24. They had no idea what they were letting themselves in for, expecting it to be simple stuff such as what is his favourite film, or her favourite colour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">For those new to Princess cruises, it is a little bit bawdier than that and depending on the Cruise Director/Host and the three couples, can be so-so or hilarious. This was definitely in the latter category, with all three couples creating the laughs. As Errol & Theresa were the newlyweds, the middle couple had been married about 35 years and the final couple 57.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">It started a bit late (no idea why) so after it had finished, we still had Danny McMaster again and another good show. Yes, we’d seen it before but still funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">So, on our last night, Paula was just about asleep standing up as we headed to the cabin for the last time but we managed to drain the last of the port before falling into bed just after midnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-13352454626874360402014-08-28T01:55:00.001-07:002014-08-28T01:55:16.400-07:00We wuz robbed - August 25th<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:red'>Well, what a con. We went to bed August 24<sup>th</sup> and when we woke, it was already August 26<sup>th</sup>, so no treats, no top line guests, no free drinks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:red'>On the positive side, August 25<sup>th</sup> was designated a low calorie fasting day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:red'>(For those unaware, we crossed the International Date line, which is 180 degrees west of Greenwich, so we lost a whole day.) <o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-83077435973274652622014-08-28T01:49:00.001-07:002014-08-28T01:49:35.358-07:00Day 92 - Penultimate sea day <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiM9ftrZfSl9cGfLSs5jdhSM0CbiJ-w8kyOnorv4VaLZAQBKn8Ti2nA1LxpsN_nENZntvweZq-XUn4N9f9527AH9qZrpgVPQdwAEvDEIIWfhIfBdxWqv0JetxZgek7SMM59eVVa-XfA/s1600/214_0822_80-775359.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiM9ftrZfSl9cGfLSs5jdhSM0CbiJ-w8kyOnorv4VaLZAQBKn8Ti2nA1LxpsN_nENZntvweZq-XUn4N9f9527AH9qZrpgVPQdwAEvDEIIWfhIfBdxWqv0JetxZgek7SMM59eVVa-XfA/s320/214_0822_80-775359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052535675039614354" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozWzpmcS59yPISoyy5ET9js7a-b3Pb5i6mfYdlEm5LmVAvcrkHZZQeWwNER2jiW6sJMXS3jrDMQgn6RXqhW_xhF5CWuOU5qxfxmdcyllQWbYSXiexIdTi60e8KUCCdkoCaWCnUFq7UQ/s1600/214_0824_01-780214.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozWzpmcS59yPISoyy5ET9js7a-b3Pb5i6mfYdlEm5LmVAvcrkHZZQeWwNER2jiW6sJMXS3jrDMQgn6RXqhW_xhF5CWuOU5qxfxmdcyllQWbYSXiexIdTi60e8KUCCdkoCaWCnUFq7UQ/s320/214_0824_01-780214.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6052535694356043202" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>More rocking and rolling and at 2am we were awake so I switched on the TV. The Grand Prix wasn’t on live but the sports news channel was enough to find out that Hamilton had been tapped by his team mate. Oh dear. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I finally woke 8am and did manage to watch the last 5 laps. Better than nothing! Paula was still asleep so I managed to watch most of ‘The Sting’, one of my favourite movies and one that brought Ragtime piano back into popularity for a while. The title tune ‘The Sting’ is in fact ‘The Entertainer Rag’ and when (if) my left hand is restored, I am determined to learn how to play it, having started to learn it well over 30 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Juts for a change, breakfast was with ace Rock n’ Roll dancers Graham and Linda. (That first pic is Graham resting his feet, ready for some energetic dancing later.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After trivia, once again, no seats so no morning coffee, but lunch at 12:30. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>For our last formal night, we had an early show – impressionist Danny McMaster. We’d seen his show before and enjoyed it this time too. An amazing range of characters and almost all done very well. On then to the Captain’s farewell drinks in the Atrium, but this time, Paula steered well clear of the red wine! We caught up with new evening musical trivia friends, Theresa and Errol from the UK. (Picture 2.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Dinner was one of my Princess favourites ‘Veal Orloff’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The last Production Show for us was a tribute to ‘The Beatles’ – ‘ Here There and Everywhere’. Not very impressed. As noted before, the scenery is virtually non-existent and the mismatched male singers (one tall, hefty and bald, the other small and swarthy – who can at least sing); mismatched male dancers (one tall, thin and young, the other solid, dark and squat and looking more like a boxer) made it almost awkward to watch at times. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>However, tomorrow is the big day, August 25<sup>th</sup>, with so many promises and treats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Can’t wait!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Clocks back another hour tonight.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-75698547393126699772014-08-25T22:17:00.000-07:002014-08-29T00:49:48.453-07:00Day 91 - At sea - Rock 'n Rolling<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">A good, undisturbed sleep – which is a bit of a luxury, but not long after leaving Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango) the ship started moving around a bit, so not the smoothest of nights. The coughing seems to be fading but hasn’t yet gone altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We were up for breakfast about 9am and headed for trivia at 11am, but as usual, Alfredo Marzi, the Princess Executive chef was doing one of his culinary demonstrations. In the past, he has always been ‘assisted’ by the Maitre d’Hotel, but not on this cruise. The Maitre D’ is a very likeable and quite funny so maybe he doesn’t care for the rather arrogant Excecutive chef? As usual, the demo ran well over time (20 minutes) which then puts pressure on several other activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We didn’t win. After a deck 7 coffee, Paula and I went to the front desk and drew out the remainder of our credit in cash. We now have a positive balance of just $2.51, which I am sure we’ll be able to spend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">Paula and Sue went off to see the film at 1pm – but there wasn’t one!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">Meanwhile, I’d been sorting out some minor packing, including the contents of the drawers and also the safe. I started to panic when I couldn’t find my wallet containing my UK driving licence, Costa’s coffee card (most important!) and my credit card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">I didn’t really panic, but as the safe is located in a dark cupboard and the lining is black, the black wallet was eventually found tucked up against the dark end. Phew! I know I am not the first who has had that problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">We headed for trivia but Mike didn’t make it as he’d cut his head. We were joined by an odd lady who didn’t exactly endear herself as she took over the writing and spent more time writing out the questions than contributing to the answers, leaving gaps all over the place, which didn’t go down too well – nor did her very smelly feet! Paula was just about gagging and we were so pleased when trivia was over and we could grab some fresh air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">The early show at 6:15 was Roland Storm again, this time just with his keyboard. Lots of short versions of various Rock ‘n Roll numbers and a bit of current history of the stars of yesteryear. He just loves performing. Given the chance, I think he’d be running for at least 2 hours but at least he has that amount of material, unlike some. I really enjoyed his style and presentation. He loves performing so much that he overran by 15 minutes, so the second show people were queuing up in the corridor and we had to rush to the pizzeria, where we were supposed to be at 7pm, with the dance group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">A nice meal and 14 of us to enjoy it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">The 9:45pm show was billed as ‘comedy vocalist’ Shayne-Ann O’Leary. A rather buxom blonde and her show was all about blonde singers. She wasn’t a vocal impressionist (if she was, they all sounded the same) and she wasn’t really much of a comedienne either. No better than a 7/10 I’m afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">Just Paula and I for a late night drink on deck 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597;">Bed 11:40pm and hoping that the Belgian GP would be live on TV. It wasn’t. The ship was still rocking and rolling and I suspect we won’t have an easy night’s sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-14687143805089350652014-08-23T22:04:00.000-07:002014-08-28T18:03:37.107-07:00Day 90 - Pago Pago - our last port - and a good one. <div class="mobile-photo">
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Once again, the Tannoy woke us in the middle of the night. At 2am, there was a call from the bridge for the ‘1<sup>st</sup> Aid’ team (not to be confused with ‘First Aid’ – which is a medical response and is called differently!) to investigate dense smoke in the garbage sorting area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">The Captain came on a few minutes later to confirm and then again a few more minutes later to stand down the team when all was found to be OK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERFiMxkSAUxrfJMi8eMwVksUkhGEROlv9cpiEqSTOOKTAtCOb50Iav3Xmqdld8CWYXo6A4vvF3s65kYdomcY9sb5PdnUYQu2ncg1GSwx2hJ4NkdsdrT8-jF5JJt-zbpiw1PXhJyGSbw/s1600/214_0822_52b-766505.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERFiMxkSAUxrfJMi8eMwVksUkhGEROlv9cpiEqSTOOKTAtCOb50Iav3Xmqdld8CWYXo6A4vvF3s65kYdomcY9sb5PdnUYQu2ncg1GSwx2hJ4NkdsdrT8-jF5JJt-zbpiw1PXhJyGSbw/s320/214_0822_52b-766505.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6051348929494900786" /></a><span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Whilst one or two passengers have moaned recently about these announcement calls, they are obviously unaware of the fallout from the Costa Concordia, a couple of years ago. The maritime industry has had to lift its game. Along with having to do the lifeboat drill within every 30 day period, the Captain is presumably now obliged to make passengers aware of any incidents that could in any way escalate or put passengers or crew in danger. Princess takes all aspects of safety seriously so we just have to put up with these minor hiccups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">However, Paula’s sleep was disturbed and I started coughing again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We docked at Pago Pago in American Samoa about 8am and as this is a very small island, there was no rush to go ashore. We made it about 9:50 with D & S and just wandered through the stalls set up on the dockside and straight out to the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpObJCbtpKnoG6GbVPE9hoOFurTmp80EpaOHhKrPPAl0M4MSlFLlKk2DZXgjOdbeOQTp0QFXL78N7tlwfuKzW0dpJmxvtVcb4k1RJm0J_Nagno_QWa3MFZNTU3xUbhWp_EO4dvJLN0_Q/s1600/214_0822_20b-753806.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpObJCbtpKnoG6GbVPE9hoOFurTmp80EpaOHhKrPPAl0M4MSlFLlKk2DZXgjOdbeOQTp0QFXL78N7tlwfuKzW0dpJmxvtVcb4k1RJm0J_Nagno_QWa3MFZNTU3xUbhWp_EO4dvJLN0_Q/s320/214_0822_20b-753806.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6051348880835079554" /></a><span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We studied one or two tour offers – most of which were about $20 (USD is the local currency) but on what can be best described as Toyota Hilux utes with truck bodies atop (see pic), basic wooden seats, no windows. The thought of sitting on those with no knee room and a very lack lustre tour for three hours, didn’t really appeal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We spied one fit looking guy, quietly holding a plain ‘TAXI’ sign and just patiently waiting to be approached. A very quick discussion followed and we agreed a 3 hour tour for a total of $120.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Ziggy was his name and he led us across the road to a Toyota showing a few battle scars. He explained later that he owned a truck but had picked up this Toyota for $800 from someone heading overseas and had converted it to commercial just yesterday, so we were the first paying passengers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We headed out through the town (that took approximately 3 minutes!) and past the very smelly tuna canning factory to open country. Well, the one road that runs out to the eastern end of the island anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">With a 25mph speed limit and a rather pot-holed road, progress was stately and we passed through several villages. On the island, there are 67 of these villages, each with its own chief and that means that misdemeanours are usually dealt with within the village. We have to say that of all the stops on this trip, this would be one of the very few with minimal graffiti. The Tsunami of 2010 had left its mark so there was a mix of buildings still unrestored, buildings that were new and others that had been repaired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">At each village was an open walled building which was the chief’s guest-house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Land is cheap here with a 1/4 acre section at about $30,000 and a three bedroom house could be built for about $20,000. No planning permission required as it is YOUR land. Sounds blissful, though the 25mph limit and a tiny island wouldn’t be much fun for petrol-heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We thoroughly enjoyed our trundle out and Ziggy was more than happy to stop for photos whenever we wanted. He happily answered questions and pointed out a few things of interest. We hopped out briefly at ‘The Barefoot Bar’ at an idyllic beach setting to take pics and found our table mates, Mike and Sue sampling the local hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd2DreOxQjVOmyLu9b5aO97oWtjdrXRhMwGym4WEf6SCPy0UZ1_HXPFutwFiBeWg-qoVMjMaOIKE1UgHztxtET3viVPRM58U5R7r_Uwu6oJoaKlEZj-s3wKmN41xhWNA2dFxzr342wg/s1600/214_0822p_11b-758169.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd2DreOxQjVOmyLu9b5aO97oWtjdrXRhMwGym4WEf6SCPy0UZ1_HXPFutwFiBeWg-qoVMjMaOIKE1UgHztxtET3viVPRM58U5R7r_Uwu6oJoaKlEZj-s3wKmN41xhWNA2dFxzr342wg/s320/214_0822p_11b-758169.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6051348894808918994" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KVZ28s6im_G4An5qNAUGd8sylm7_OO7iL6OG5QyciiPVtcEvWvRP9dYyLDa5pjvMQ_WxTR9RtpNghCvo0x1hpg0Ku7y0ZOo9tkCp51HH1dG4X6d2S6oQ8NNQDfQ9bcnfHL0pEOAHSg/s1600/214_0822_35b-764602.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KVZ28s6im_G4An5qNAUGd8sylm7_OO7iL6OG5QyciiPVtcEvWvRP9dYyLDa5pjvMQ_WxTR9RtpNghCvo0x1hpg0Ku7y0ZOo9tkCp51HH1dG4X6d2S6oQ8NNQDfQ9bcnfHL0pEOAHSg/s320/214_0822_35b-764602.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6051348922556853810" /></a><span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Out effectively to the end of the island, to a church (there are a fair few churches here, most are Anglican) then we turned around and called in at ‘Two Dollar Beach’ where there were several Princess tour trucks and taxis, enjoying a local show. There was a charge to enter the beach area, even to take photographs. That is how it gets its name… We didn’t stay more than 5 minutes but Paula decided that as we’d paid, she may as well use their rest room!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Back then to ‘Tisa’s Bar & Grill’ – the ‘Barefoot Bar’. Tisa is a local chief – the only female chief on the island and she owns the bar and runs it with her NZ partner. By this time, there were cruisers everywhere and we relaxed with a cold drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Ziggy had turned down our invitation for a drink but time was marching on so we returned to the taxi. He drove us back into town then out the other side to the ‘flower pot’ rocks and then to the abandoned cable car station. We passed one of the world famous Wyland whale paintings on the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Wyland Whale mural</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">At one time, this was the longest unsupported cable car in the world, but years ago, a military aircraft clipped it and several lives were lost and it has never been used since. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Back then to the ship and as we’d extended our tour by half an hour or more, we paid Ziggy the extra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">We preferred today to Apia in Western Samoa three years ago so along with Moorea and even Papeete, the gloss was restored to this section of the cruise. When we do a summary at the end of the trip, it may well be that the South American stops were the ones that didn’t really live up to our expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Back on board and suitably refreshed, we joined not only the regular Cruise Critic group for our final sail-away, but also those of our dance group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLStTucEYmMiinpGzAqXGnxxSZXxL-r3pxcEeCwH_i2EOBH5Ci2go470AwrZXtequa_Ljr19RlFXVW2oIfZF6Jl_hDtZ2G6cy43ps994vydVQH7rqAYeaIqsGRXJpVEcm1dIZWy_xgQ/s1600/214_0822_64b-771744.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLStTucEYmMiinpGzAqXGnxxSZXxL-r3pxcEeCwH_i2EOBH5Ci2go470AwrZXtequa_Ljr19RlFXVW2oIfZF6Jl_hDtZ2G6cy43ps994vydVQH7rqAYeaIqsGRXJpVEcm1dIZWy_xgQ/s320/214_0822_64b-771744.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6051348956052042146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The abandoned cable car</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">At dinner, I managed to mix a starter of beef and chicken satays, with a main of vegetable korma, to make a very nice curry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">I introduced myself to an ex-English league soccer player on a nearby table who I’d been told about and he is happy enough to have his pic taken with me, so hopefully I’ll manage that. There is a good reason for that as son Stewart keeps posting pics of himself with soccer players, usually ex-Nottingham Forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">To the theatre to see a performer we’d only half seen before, last year I think - Roland Storm. I really enjoyed the show. He was well known in Australia in the 1960’s and has a pleasant voice and although with the orchestra, plays his own piano (keyboard) accompaniment. The tunes might have been a bit before Sue’s time, but we knew them! I’ll give him an 8.5/10 as I believe much of his show was as before as he covers quite a few musical icons of that era but without trying to be a vocal impressionist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">A hot chocolate before bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Just three days at sea now and we are home. Not sure whether or not I’ll be posting again before then, but keep your fingers crossed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt;">Plans are filtering through about August 25<sup>th</sup>. These include free drinks at the bar and a class entertainer making a special one night appearance, just for the Elite passengers. Rumour has it that it may even be Rod Stewart.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-12973130209956425282014-08-22T22:11:00.000-07:002014-08-23T21:10:32.836-07:00Days 88 & 89 - At sea, but at least it is warm.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>With no shark attack nightmares, the best sleep I have had in months, right through to 7am. The cough seemed to have taken hold as soon as I woke, so all is not yet back to normal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The usual morning routine other than coffee had to be on deck 7. No favourite waiter or waitress, so two clips on the coffee card, which seems to have lasted very well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Ukulele class was scheduled later than normal so too late for trivia. The group have been so impressed with Alex that we have had a whip round so that Alex can get his own ukulele. He hadn’t even played one before this voyage so he has done really well, though I believe he does have some musical experience. Probably almost everyone’s favourite Entertainment staffer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We had been pre-warned, so we were all at dinner on time for another table special, lamb curry. Too much this time and also a bit spicier than before – though still not potent enough for Mike. I didn’t make the same mistake as last time and over-eat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A quick call into the Vista for the end of the ‘Movie Themes’ trivia, joining Errol and Theresa from Essex and Darryl and Sue of course. We didn’t win that one either.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The late show in the theatre was guitarist Bob Howe. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it was very much my sort of music. He was playing and promoting an Australian custom built Thompson guitar. The others weren’t exactly excited by the show, which is fair enough, but enjoyable enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We had to put up with Deck 7 for the late night hot chocolate, as deck 5 were all cleaned up. However, we have become aware of a younger female passenger stalking the wait staff! Embarassing. As if the wait staff didn’t have enough to put up with old RB’s, without unwanted attention from the younger generation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>August 21<sup>st</sup> – Thursday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Very much as yesterday other than not quite as a good a sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After the deck 5 coffee, we took the plunge into the Oasis pool at the rear of the ship. With D & S, we had the pool to ourselves. Lovely warm water so we made the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A bit of computer updating and then Paula went to a movie with Sue and after a light lunch with Mal & Megan, a casual lap of deck 7, I eventually found my way to Jammers. The Ukulele class had been shifted - but I hadn’t noticed the change in the Patter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We headed for the Wheelhouse bar before dinner for a dance, but it was a bit crowded. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Just four of us for dinner and an excellent pate, followed by my favourite – French onion soup. Delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Paula and I went to the Vista lounge for a ‘Flags’ trivia and we managed 15/25 – but the winners got 20.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We shifted to the end of the row for comedian (sic) Glynn Nickolas. We had heard that several people walked out the night before and reviews were mixed, ranging from crude, to slow, to not funny.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>He wasn’t crude – he was definitely slow. Apart from one skit (that went on too long anyway) using three members of the audience for an imaginary flying flea act, an abysmal performance. We had more laughs from Alex and Kim doing the flags trivia. A 3/10 and I think I may be being generous. Loads of people walked out again but we hung on. We are just too polite sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Fortunately, we got to the deck 5 Patisserie (though no pastries at that time of night) before they’d shut up shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Last port for us tomorrow. Pago Pago in American Samoa. No plans as it is a tiny place and the ship docks in town. It will probably be our last warm day for a while too, as we then head straight for NZ, towards the end of their winter. We have already thrown one or two items into the suitcases as they are returned from the laundry.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-30107168513797158512014-08-20T22:11:00.000-07:002014-08-28T18:04:52.192-07:00More Moorea - pics<div class="mobile-photo">
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F6000;">Too many to post in one go, at sea, so just a few more, starting with Darryl, who got bored with patting manta rays and patted a passing twin-bumper red head instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F6000;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F6000;">The rays at the beach came right into the shallows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F6000;">Susie demonstrated her newly acquired French Polynesian wiggle to an appreciative audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-71046987939729701882014-08-20T22:10:00.000-07:002014-08-21T20:10:05.550-07:00Day 87 - Cruiser escapes from massive sharks and rays!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Oz0LIKcQQ9JL85YXBEUMWNftqd42H-H6hr139AcoeXA6OtgLn7boCcCHiJxo9oKedLWZy_wNFteEmkp0VYR2dK58AyiCEPdKhu85ql19FSCvlJ6OaE5e8vAeVyMWG_TQG7WohPjBug/s1600/214_0819_03-705551.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Oz0LIKcQQ9JL85YXBEUMWNftqd42H-H6hr139AcoeXA6OtgLn7boCcCHiJxo9oKedLWZy_wNFteEmkp0VYR2dK58AyiCEPdKhu85ql19FSCvlJ6OaE5e8vAeVyMWG_TQG7WohPjBug/s320/214_0819_03-705551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221673977751586" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf1h7BotVPbdo3eKM8mBWPJ3LCbYIRDHGPadC15P5N3uzVKqbyyyGOx0ZKUhInjk6OgJ7I8BPEP_Wfl9NjWfMapXSCgvvi6iZKTyTdyiInnCm7S_7tu6ixYHs9gFS0PvEcCzWo6qG3A/s1600/214_0819_04-709326.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf1h7BotVPbdo3eKM8mBWPJ3LCbYIRDHGPadC15P5N3uzVKqbyyyGOx0ZKUhInjk6OgJ7I8BPEP_Wfl9NjWfMapXSCgvvi6iZKTyTdyiInnCm7S_7tu6ixYHs9gFS0PvEcCzWo6qG3A/s320/214_0819_04-709326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221691196175474" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa7Ih1BJn9WcoJRfyKuQve7lMS-NUYLvizOfSzQgbneZdgy2TST4KcMqiNovzlUL8sjlBgmfMwq-iGwZeLjFLStU7LEd4yvzi2fMvDgAUDcfjQZWtFEOMgbU9CR7Yhr15Qpb7nMBS4w/s1600/214_0819_06-713152.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa7Ih1BJn9WcoJRfyKuQve7lMS-NUYLvizOfSzQgbneZdgy2TST4KcMqiNovzlUL8sjlBgmfMwq-iGwZeLjFLStU7LEd4yvzi2fMvDgAUDcfjQZWtFEOMgbU9CR7Yhr15Qpb7nMBS4w/s320/214_0819_06-713152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221705438634034" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAofWKzF-51WmwNRyHiiVFWCzziXFGkBRaJHzPFFKJYOKw9MqqxG9ieLYfyY6vf1OhTy49M3BmdY3Iv1sYmcJLFPYUdru5ZH9iVA-SkVaxBDMiZ9TJmLPNqFKsIF7XMcsPBNvDadGZ0A/s1600/214_0819_26-716263.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAofWKzF-51WmwNRyHiiVFWCzziXFGkBRaJHzPFFKJYOKw9MqqxG9ieLYfyY6vf1OhTy49M3BmdY3Iv1sYmcJLFPYUdru5ZH9iVA-SkVaxBDMiZ9TJmLPNqFKsIF7XMcsPBNvDadGZ0A/s320/214_0819_26-716263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221715529349026" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5krgwmxb6cOT6yQrZMas8OBC_rYKqpQ0CA7xaF_pFURv0wfIStIsxm7JsOJ9DSauhxytLGoUR8Imt4ETe6IYvQGG2bNDaPJwoHC1zxKdTWtERQCPlzgTBActCyz4cyPHIlku4z8wlvg/s1600/214_0819_38-719270.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5krgwmxb6cOT6yQrZMas8OBC_rYKqpQ0CA7xaF_pFURv0wfIStIsxm7JsOJ9DSauhxytLGoUR8Imt4ETe6IYvQGG2bNDaPJwoHC1zxKdTWtERQCPlzgTBActCyz4cyPHIlku4z8wlvg/s320/214_0819_38-719270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221730660944434" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIY4NkakYPdt-_IDt8hieMT6V_wUWg_FofwLlSkG-fnyKZbi7M6k6eWpIbOxbbnyKPFOyd_lvN8GHh1gwqQLF8OPw9HCGMqldNtCoAIOEQ__eP4mnzsXVCdGIA6i0lqvzh7w2Dq2bHA/s1600/214_0819_46-722071.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIY4NkakYPdt-_IDt8hieMT6V_wUWg_FofwLlSkG-fnyKZbi7M6k6eWpIbOxbbnyKPFOyd_lvN8GHh1gwqQLF8OPw9HCGMqldNtCoAIOEQ__eP4mnzsXVCdGIA6i0lqvzh7w2Dq2bHA/s320/214_0819_46-722071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221741425631650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTJwCP1FHOBJtP1fZK1ZI8RcaseCrda9K6e0dNVKbZ9c6sDVf3a6lJAAQII2DyYRnkMbWQoSlu8UH83Lrp-Rt-yxrF_535h8NzV-HYiGZBfgUhgTHeQRyNtcwjLtDL7Ni-zIjAnyGww/s1600/214_0819_49-724310.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTJwCP1FHOBJtP1fZK1ZI8RcaseCrda9K6e0dNVKbZ9c6sDVf3a6lJAAQII2DyYRnkMbWQoSlu8UH83Lrp-Rt-yxrF_535h8NzV-HYiGZBfgUhgTHeQRyNtcwjLtDL7Ni-zIjAnyGww/s320/214_0819_49-724310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050221756950328242" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Another not so good night so the bugs aren’t yet gone. When it got around to getting up time, Paula wasn’t sure that I sounded well enough, but once I was vertical and fortified with a Coldrex, I passed myself fit enough to cope with day on Moorea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We discussed our options at breakfast and decided that if there were any vacancies (only a few left last night according to those on the Papeete dock), we’d take the Hiro’s Tour. As a tender port, those of us at the top of the Princess loyalty scale get preferential tender access. In truth, the boats hold about 75 passengers, so the first 55 or so come from the Elite’s meeting area and the other 20 from those waiting in a separate area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We met D & S at 9:20 and we managed the 4<sup>th</sup> tender (D & S still have a few days before they get their prized black cards) and that was only 9:40, by which time, the Elites had all gone, so no big deal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>A smooth and fairly quick run to land and we headed straight for the Hiro’s stand (there were others) and were charged $40 each (without the BBQ). The guy running it claimed it was the only tour where they fed tourists to the sharks…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We had to wait about 30 minutes for the small boat to come in, which already had some passengers on, as they had already done a whale watch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>What a hoot! Our tour leader Marco was an enormous man with a great sense of humour. First of all, we headed anti-clockwise, fairly close to the coast of this spectacular island, towards a shallow area about 15 minutes away, not too far from the burres of one of the local resorts. At the resort, we just caught a glimpse of their dolphin finishing off a show.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Just past the resort, they dropped anchor and the sharks and manta rays were plainly visible in the crystal clear water. (Makes ‘Jaws’ noises…) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>The dark skinned Marco headed for the water and his parting words were not to worry, as the sharks only ate white meat…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Now as many of you will know, I am no water baby, but Paula is. So she grabbed the camera and ushered me into the water. Collecting evidence that I was in fact eaten by sharks?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>This was a simply stunning experience. The massive reef sharks (hey, all fishermen lie about the size of the ones that got away) were around, but the manta rays came up really close and were pettable. I doubt there was anyone who didn’t enjoy the experience, certainly after they had touched them for the first time. (They feel very smooth like a wet chamois leather.) Paula was busy taking pics, not just with our camera, but also one owned by a couple of ladies. The best pic she took was on their camera.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>After half an hour or so, during which time I found a floating cocoanut (taken on board) and Marco fed flakes of fish to the sea life, we clambered back aboard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We headed for an island just a few minutes away and they ran the boat up the beach, which just happened to be festooned with Princess blue and white striped pool towels. The crew got busy lighting a BBQ from bits and pieces they found around the place whilst Marco opened the bar. Which is to say, either fruit juice or ice cold beer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We had a BBQ table under the trees giving us plenty of shade, just 20 yards from the water’s edge. More manta rays plus other small fish in the shallows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Marco did a couple of demonstrations. The first was several of the ways to tie a pareo using Susie as a willing model. He claimed he’d learned how to do it on YouTube. He also showed the male method.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Using nothing more than a wooden spike he also showed us how to split the outer and inner. The outer fibre (copra?) he claimed they used to clean the pots (along with Palmolive) and twisted it into rope to tie down anything, including houses, tarps - and their women. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>He warned that a dropping ripe cocoanut was lethal so to watch out for them. The biggest casualties were Japanese, as they were too busy taking photographs. (Loved his humour.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We stayed until 2pm and then headed back to the wharf having had a simply great experience. Probably the highlight of this cruise for many. Seeing Moorea, even the small portion that we saw, from the water rather than from the land, just added to the magic. Picture postcard perfect; warm water; interacting with manta rays; fantastic crew, who could ask for more?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>No queue for the tender return, as no doubt many were leaving it as late as possible – and who could blame them?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>We were of course famished so the first call was the buffet (after washing our hands of course) and just a bowl of soup. (Hey, I am trying.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Trivia, then an attractive sailaway, with a whale too far away for my camera to catch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>After dinner, the late show in the Vista was Australian ventriloquist, Sarah Jones. She isn’t a bad ventriloquist but apart from the last five minutes, with a member of the audience as the dummy, the show was a bit too flat. She needs a much better script, so sorry Sarah, only a 6/10 from me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>Paula and I had a hot chocolate before retiring. We were pretty tired but so pleased that Moorea was a huge success. Exactly what we wanted. Just two days at sea before Pago Pago now and that is it as far as ports go for us. After that, just 3 more days at sea and we not exactly looking forward to the huge temperature drop in NZ, but we will be happy to be home. There are huge plans afoot for August 25<sup>th</sup> – more of which later.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7F6000'>PS: Reef sharks are about 500mm long and unlike the sting rays, manta rays don’t kill.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-36233503588029565022014-08-20T18:26:00.000-07:002014-08-21T16:26:04.038-07:00Day 86 - Papeete - land at last!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUqzmG3DAVydZAKj4xrs0dXxajUHzi9OCn1K8XaKM3c7I1__fsuM8hKPhum6nzFnBP7FNwwsPxiQVn9KVwtBZC0Ax67rcBeZrtzlDCadfI9WK51CxFU1H14AMShyyEcCUV7__r47Y1A/s1600/214_0818_04b-764039.JPG"><img 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8MMe-TH8DJq_UJbzQ3C67unEvcsNH6lOwijGkb7h9qRg1l7FZvm7sKG5NiG9PywG9SLGOzbF517vwO93y629F8fIPsQ6ClST5Qacbj1KngQPuEZT43RMX5c0_i9VXLa2sH_go4hQlA/s1600/214_0818_20b-770691.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8MMe-TH8DJq_UJbzQ3C67unEvcsNH6lOwijGkb7h9qRg1l7FZvm7sKG5NiG9PywG9SLGOzbF517vwO93y629F8fIPsQ6ClST5Qacbj1KngQPuEZT43RMX5c0_i9VXLa2sH_go4hQlA/s320/214_0818_20b-770691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050163970636725442" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcow_HWXJA59iyOTCAY3TwkPKjoukZ3UnwuS9IP0Kk9nK34vrEE84ZnXMzfeRacwdedbtQuZ_CsMkxGx4k7mVgn6t7_fFfGH0X1cGc5Um1AnBy0y44iqEeTVP8Ztp18rYOlMJT4tf9pA/s1600/214_0818_32b-774475.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcow_HWXJA59iyOTCAY3TwkPKjoukZ3UnwuS9IP0Kk9nK34vrEE84ZnXMzfeRacwdedbtQuZ_CsMkxGx4k7mVgn6t7_fFfGH0X1cGc5Um1AnBy0y44iqEeTVP8Ztp18rYOlMJT4tf9pA/s320/214_0818_32b-774475.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050163984118451106" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hOJJ_ChoxGbAah89x_u-JwCvjTEqfucRthupAfbsWN5KRFk-8zNkpAHC4C8AGs-pUmc7j1xTsKj6MpMsq9JXVv3Eh19HjOF67fXFZ-_qbrJPQZLB9apwSnY1c46IpcigujN6zgmfTw/s1600/214_0818_35b-777727.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hOJJ_ChoxGbAah89x_u-JwCvjTEqfucRthupAfbsWN5KRFk-8zNkpAHC4C8AGs-pUmc7j1xTsKj6MpMsq9JXVv3Eh19HjOF67fXFZ-_qbrJPQZLB9apwSnY1c46IpcigujN6zgmfTw/s320/214_0818_35b-777727.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050164002044136194" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4iBea-XXPCRkMuYdhMIIV95sfC2lqFAkxkU1kIkHaqK2Cyj4in2mvnD36f38EaWyTq-_WfxGFOUonIn2VJWBsPnTn_PjB6jDsYgx4eSibpnHkQ1wnZbSKSwHduLYW-ftrcYGWYhU7g/s1600/214_0818_37b-780822.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4iBea-XXPCRkMuYdhMIIV95sfC2lqFAkxkU1kIkHaqK2Cyj4in2mvnD36f38EaWyTq-_WfxGFOUonIn2VJWBsPnTn_PjB6jDsYgx4eSibpnHkQ1wnZbSKSwHduLYW-ftrcYGWYhU7g/s320/214_0818_37b-780822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050164012973268658" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUoo96tyRSS4eMc-TYqxqMrFJW81q-984kh-A9FCHgW9zVgEPrWK4yv8VdfqZ0an0ch0ya3jP9bdZRJLMVUFITdsmJZMshdpG8u3WaNhqHpJ_lw1J4Wj-_hkiIZi7AePfizdSg8MfEw/s1600/214_0818_39b-783681.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUoo96tyRSS4eMc-TYqxqMrFJW81q-984kh-A9FCHgW9zVgEPrWK4yv8VdfqZ0an0ch0ya3jP9bdZRJLMVUFITdsmJZMshdpG8u3WaNhqHpJ_lw1J4Wj-_hkiIZi7AePfizdSg8MfEw/s320/214_0818_39b-783681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050164024801462978" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTZDTOaQp6mVEvt7omJldudxj6IbyiFYZZYh89eTSNBBVJlVS2DqDHpHPNqrW24lJYXfuiWGGfzeEdZYe2ZWInT6ATGK4bD15TZFqtv5Fv-gcCR1UEVYHDp38i1n-l8Yn29L6Ap_YfA/s1600/214_0818_41b-786879.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTZDTOaQp6mVEvt7omJldudxj6IbyiFYZZYh89eTSNBBVJlVS2DqDHpHPNqrW24lJYXfuiWGGfzeEdZYe2ZWInT6ATGK4bD15TZFqtv5Fv-gcCR1UEVYHDp38i1n-l8Yn29L6Ap_YfA/s320/214_0818_41b-786879.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050164039204985074" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipvNmJu1ROq7G12uEkBcH2r32FIIy-TFjifdTQUo2PpYiRG8y56AosunCheyg6pGEJVAem1D1RDWEL_2XEOZK_82pZKJl8xaVTeoKZWkojzSR0AWEMq7U5UWuVqTPyxjXI0fp-v_A0Q/s1600/214_0818_44b-789881.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipvNmJu1ROq7G12uEkBcH2r32FIIy-TFjifdTQUo2PpYiRG8y56AosunCheyg6pGEJVAem1D1RDWEL_2XEOZK_82pZKJl8xaVTeoKZWkojzSR0AWEMq7U5UWuVqTPyxjXI0fp-v_A0Q/s320/214_0818_44b-789881.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6050164051106810082" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>Oh dear. Cough getting worse not better, so not much sleep after 1:40am. A Coldrex on getting up helped, so we met D & S as planned. We simply walked off about 9:45am, past the various enterprising sellers of tours for Moorea tomorrow, across the main road (where everyone stops for you at pedestrian crossings) and a matter of a couple of hundred yards, to try and negotiate for a taxi. Considering the pushy drivers in other ports, Papeete was almost the total opposite. It took time to find anyone willing to take us for a couple of hours, but we eventually managed it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>A cost of $120USD was agreed and although Paula and I had been out to the west before, D & S hadn’t. The taxi driver didn’t say much, but we had a very pleasant couple of hours, with several stops at the usual tourist places such as a lookout, the waterfall and the blow-hole etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>Back in exactly 2 hours, we headed back to the ship. A very, very light lunch and we all went back out again just after afternoon tea. We should have gone out a bit earlier as the market was just closing. I managed to not buy a solid, carved, 8 string ukulele for about $200. Sue had great difficulty in the pharmacy, explaining that she wanted cough lollies/sweets. When Paula finally fished out a Strepsil from her bag, after 15 minutes, the pharmacist explained that he had them in stock!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>Darryl and Sue did bit more wandering whilst and Paula and I headed back to the dock area. We got back about 5:30 just as ‘the Trucks’ were setting up for the famous evening food market. I think they have been relocated from our first visit and are now much nearer the ship. I’m sure that in the past, they only set up on a Friday, so as a Monday, it probably explains why there were fewer than I remember. Those who went and ate there enjoyed it, but we opted for the ship’s buffet instead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>We called at the theatre after eating for the latter part of the Folkloric show. The theatre was packed so we watched from the rear. Some very good dancing – particularly the shimmy by the girls! The audience loved it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>We retired early at 10:45 and we now have Moorea to look forward to, but have nothing really planned other than maybe a return to the ‘Lagoonarium’ we visited a few years ago. Well, that was the plan, until we actually got to the cabin and found out that the ship docks nowhere near the ferry terminal, which means we are half way around the island, opposite where we wanted to be.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>We did pick up a flyer on the dock for ‘Hiro Tours’, for $50 a head, so maybe we’ll do that instead. Maybe we’ll investigate hiring a car – but I doubt it. We’ll just have to discuss it at breakfast. Moorea is a tender port, so we won’t be getting off early.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235'>Sailaway from Papeete is about 4am tomorrow, so I think we may just skip that and try and catch up with some sleep instead. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-83353639781395826972014-08-19T19:40:00.000-07:002014-08-20T17:40:14.645-07:00Days 84 & 85 - Yup, still at sea<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWYxTPTH9-T0InFMQBKhCzNRZwckmcoOXQw7tjozu8AtOBbR0hVfZVp_G0mg5OA93OOX0Moa4RSyItjgvCaKDhn6GA2VuG5lz-vqQYNVFyTDjgQOwgmdrH89zMnDBbJU-yzNsIG7sHA/s1600/214_0816_01b-714645.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWYxTPTH9-T0InFMQBKhCzNRZwckmcoOXQw7tjozu8AtOBbR0hVfZVp_G0mg5OA93OOX0Moa4RSyItjgvCaKDhn6GA2VuG5lz-vqQYNVFyTDjgQOwgmdrH89zMnDBbJU-yzNsIG7sHA/s320/214_0816_01b-714645.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6049811973610976146" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE2Uua9xxDa2tvh1tnrIog8IrjPS2B4q2924aFSG9GYqpEiAzFcDHcEesBi0hHO9tbfOm0QWF6-pOAVO-F5cWlrNJRHPbSwmS8j98vUU_mqvVN6ceLwZ4WxSGx97KGRDSrFKW2f33ng/s1600/214_0816_02b-717903.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE2Uua9xxDa2tvh1tnrIog8IrjPS2B4q2924aFSG9GYqpEiAzFcDHcEesBi0hHO9tbfOm0QWF6-pOAVO-F5cWlrNJRHPbSwmS8j98vUU_mqvVN6ceLwZ4WxSGx97KGRDSrFKW2f33ng/s320/214_0816_02b-717903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6049811985019647890" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM7Nz0YOYmCb2shy8_L4XJIArqi-m6ceUnL-yAZG345-UD1Ml7OYSspIfQ_0U6n0Qdu5tX8Y7ysDGovseh1Ydb1uQfu4ATNXPklfSpckOEEdcWzPhRYxOlScyWvDOpLwiTDvBB4au_g/s1600/214_0816p_04b-721437.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM7Nz0YOYmCb2shy8_L4XJIArqi-m6ceUnL-yAZG345-UD1Ml7OYSspIfQ_0U6n0Qdu5tX8Y7ysDGovseh1Ydb1uQfu4ATNXPklfSpckOEEdcWzPhRYxOlScyWvDOpLwiTDvBB4au_g/s320/214_0816p_04b-721437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6049811996792322610" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Two more days of sea life before we hit Papeete. Cabin fever seems to have made one or two more people than usual grumpy, or maybe it is just that we are still meeting new people? Darryl’s favourite is when using the lifts, to ask for someone to press the button for deck 13. Some people really do not have a sense of humour.<i> </i></span><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>(For those new to cruise or shipboard life, the superstitions around maritime life include the number 13, so there is no deck 13...)</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Another terrible night’s sleep, as despite the Vick’s ‘First Defence’ some enterprising bugs seem to have made it through, so a croaky voice and a bit of a cough. I had the coffee-bag coffee with the fairly late breakfast – and succumbed to a cherry Danish too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>After a bit of a rest (OK, some may say there is touch of irony there) we ambled up for lunch just a minute or two before the Indian buffet closed. We probably grabbed the very last pieces of chicken, which may not have been such a good idea. We stayed outside on deck 14 to watch the tug o’war between the various staff departments. The first time we have ever seen a team booed! It was the casino staff team (with the fitness instructors). Probably the two departments on the ship that empty your wallets with nothing much to show for it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The Musician’s team under Sarah Dyer turned up a couple of minutes late and weren’t allowed to compete, which we think was a harsh decision. The Entertainment staff team had Kim who weighs next to nothing and Prince who probably doesn’t weigh much more, eliminated in round one. No surprise there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The casino/salon team won.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The afternoon ukulele class was the usual test of dexterity, before rushing to trivia – but I needn’t have bothered, as I couldn’t add any value to the questions our team couldn’t answer without me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Captain’s Circle drinks in the atrium before dinner and the Chateau Cask Red had a few takers who may have regretted it later. One most obviously so, late in the evening needing some assistance to stand after he had presumably keeled over.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We decided to have a go at Matt’s TV Themes trivia. On Matt’s own admission, giving us too many TV themes that went so far back, that most in the audience probably didn’t even have a TV set, probably wasn’t such a good idea as even the winners only managed 9/15!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>On then to another production show “Motown Gold”. No prizes for guessing the theme.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>An atrium hot chocolate and down on deck 5, a fairly well lubricated group were having a whale of a time with a sing-song. We are not too sure what the deck 7 pianist thought about the noise wafting upwards, but we thought it hilarious! At 10:50, just before the pizzeria closed, they had a couple of pizzas to share which was a good move.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Sunday August 17<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Not such a good night, but this time, either the chicken curry or the one glass of cardboard red upset Paula’s sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>She felt much better later in the day having watched Federer win.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>After dinner and a little bit of dancing to the Tritones Duo, we opted to see Maggie Scott’s second show, ‘Live is a Lemon’ which we had seen before. As we enjoyed her first show which had changed from earlier cruises, we thought that maybe her second show would also be worth a go. We were not disappointed and a packed house thoroughly enjoyed what was rated as an R15 show. She is obviously much loved by the Australians and got a deserved standing ovation. Some of her material was indeed R15, but we didn’t see anyone walk out - and some of the more risqué material got the biggest laughs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Land tomorrow! We never thought we’d be so excited to be arriving in Papeete. Clocks back another hour tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-24680817707355765132014-08-16T22:48:00.000-07:002014-08-17T19:48:23.701-07:00Day 83 - If we can't go to an island, can an island come to the ship?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU247z9Dto4Z_xNHAuRBRTBOh_OWjjV3XK0MO2n_wJ-PC7yx6MVLsnisKe6oWzG_6DOhNA9aE5LliWm7OxBpagpjRNiRMeT3q85utBtpWlJdOpbt9i2Y_ii1eb4xA8P4NpZZ9C8ago7g/s1600/214_0815_01b-703702.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU247z9Dto4Z_xNHAuRBRTBOh_OWjjV3XK0MO2n_wJ-PC7yx6MVLsnisKe6oWzG_6DOhNA9aE5LliWm7OxBpagpjRNiRMeT3q85utBtpWlJdOpbt9i2Y_ii1eb4xA8P4NpZZ9C8ago7g/s320/214_0815_01b-703702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6048731741902400626" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VQ2S76gM9nVkihtocV_e9eMI7aK08H5NvVdV3ErlF0CUcdETXoPfYWbA7Ti2XlKmIbLXRMktJGv3VoZM3U_f0Gm22SCreeJUTtVPFT71OCGiRF_zRK4Ym5Nr9l0LzWJ8nFIuwJVMxg/s1600/214_0815_05b-706950.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VQ2S76gM9nVkihtocV_e9eMI7aK08H5NvVdV3ErlF0CUcdETXoPfYWbA7Ti2XlKmIbLXRMktJGv3VoZM3U_f0Gm22SCreeJUTtVPFT71OCGiRF_zRK4Ym5Nr9l0LzWJ8nFIuwJVMxg/s320/214_0815_05b-706950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6048731753572863394" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDcahq3btrwTQdZiwaZgh05-tM-jXOGWuuKmviyC8_SgidZFsJJcKLJa12Gn9zadMlr-edwSjbB6GPlOty-2Ea01U0lEFyxjIFx6A0EdFRtk5UF9jyBzRqDq9h7rmiHsjdEPXnTjBtg/s1600/214_0815_16b-709761.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDcahq3btrwTQdZiwaZgh05-tM-jXOGWuuKmviyC8_SgidZFsJJcKLJa12Gn9zadMlr-edwSjbB6GPlOty-2Ea01U0lEFyxjIFx6A0EdFRtk5UF9jyBzRqDq9h7rmiHsjdEPXnTjBtg/s320/214_0815_16b-709761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6048731766415931602" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFd6M2bS0EXSjjPk1efZELLRxcT14wSbB1P5q5myaWH2y-8cZ_s4KnH5CLb50zO8UbqGWZIUWkougeBs8GXUwSdP9wZc1fCoUR8EoMELHn7z3FitVjwPp2TJ5OjRExR4V7Uk_9up4DQ/s1600/214_0815_19b-712678.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFd6M2bS0EXSjjPk1efZELLRxcT14wSbB1P5q5myaWH2y-8cZ_s4KnH5CLb50zO8UbqGWZIUWkougeBs8GXUwSdP9wZc1fCoUR8EoMELHn7z3FitVjwPp2TJ5OjRExR4V7Uk_9up4DQ/s320/214_0815_19b-712678.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6048731774730013666" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>A slightly different day in prospect. If you have ever seen any of the various versions of the film, ‘Mutiny On The Bounty’, you may be familiar with Pitcairn Island. Our schedule was for scenic cruising (ie. a lap of the island) but a stop first thing to allow Pitcairn Islanders on board to set up a market. It appears that the ship also traded some of its stock of toilet paper for fresh fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>Anyway, all seemed to go to plan. A fine enough day so a traditional breakfast then we caught up with Darryl & Sue for a coffee in the atrium, ready to see how 1900 passengers would cram into the deck 5 dining room eager to purchase souvenirs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>Anyway, Paula and I legged it to trivia but joined Mike & Sue’s team of three and we were then joined by Sam, who often sits with us. Much to our surprise, we made the playoff for first place, with a modest 15/20, but lost out as we didn’t get the correct year for the commencement of Wimbledon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>We wandered the open decks for a while before giving the lunchtime ‘International Buffet’ a whirl and we sat outside on deck 14 for a change. We can’t remember the last time we were able to sit outside and enjoy the ambience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>Back down to deck 5 to check out the merchandise and I am not going here into the history of the island (past or present), but suffice to say that most inhabitants are 7<sup>th</sup> Day Adventists and as the population is tiny (and I do mean tiny – like 40…), most also appear to be related. Tourism provides 80% of their income, so many items for sale seemed to carry the name ‘Christian’ – from Fletcher Christian. It is still a British outpost, but is administered from NZ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>We left the area about 2pm to carry on towards Papeete after two more days at sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>After another losing trivia, we had a fair dinner but elected to skip Bayne Bacon’s second show, on the assumption that as his first show was the same for all previous cruises, there was no reason to believe his second show wouldn’t be any different from his previous second shows either. So we went up to the open deck to check out Maggie Scott’s show, but it was a bit nippy, so we didn’t stay. We (D & S too) opted for an early night and a bit of reading, rather than a late hot chocolate. A bit of a throat creeping in. I thought I was doing well, but now the trip is almost over, I am not too concerned…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#203864'>I did manage to read a couple of emails from NZ. Yes guys, we are indeed back WEDNESDAY August 27<sup>th</sup> . Our first yoga will be the Thursday.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#203864'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#203864'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-88241371746044711512014-08-15T05:59:00.000-07:002014-08-15T15:01:37.987-07:00Days 81 & 82 At sea - still. Yawn...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlGmnfgu1uqdtyIJITHaMND94r2nxb5hLxCXovMAkRlLjtrFAE1HXJnQyWPStx02QQqZgNfyYjuNNblejjpGwkMUiPNuJNG7XgPkdOLEZ0FrKu4gnfwlW4OEZJqCDfE8D-DjtdUX0-A/s1600/214_0813_03-797988.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlGmnfgu1uqdtyIJITHaMND94r2nxb5hLxCXovMAkRlLjtrFAE1HXJnQyWPStx02QQqZgNfyYjuNNblejjpGwkMUiPNuJNG7XgPkdOLEZ0FrKu4gnfwlW4OEZJqCDfE8D-DjtdUX0-A/s320/214_0813_03-797988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6047915681960012498" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We were a bit early going to breakfast but we still met Darryl & Sue! Sunrise is quite late really, about 7am. Having had the UK and the Baltics with really long hours of daylight, it is quite a change. We opted for a cuppa in the atrium to get tea in decent china cups rather than the plastic mugs of the buffet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We headed back to the cabin but our routine was thrown a little out of kilter as the water was turned off, as they were replacing water pipes. On-going maintenance must be a nightmare. Paula escaped to Zumba and I went for a haircut by Sarah from Denmark. It certainly is a very international crew. A bill for $30 wasn’t too painful and helped reduce our on board credit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Trivia score wasn’t worth bragging about but as we had already had a decent drink, we headed for the atrium anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Whilst Paula had a mooch around the $15 items for sale, I approached the front desk. I asked if we could withdraw cash from our on board credit as the cancelled Easter Island tour put us $400 up. Up until now, we had contemplated the best ways to use up the credit, ranging from registering for the casino slots and then claiming cash back as winnings, to buying things on behalf of others and them paying us cash!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>As it turned out, getting cash back from the front desk was no problem at all. They merely checked that we were in credit, so handing out cash was no big deal. At least we now know we can do that, so it may help others in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Lunch, I grabbed soup and a couple of pieces of fish whilst Paula made do with half a roll and some rice pud! On the way out, the whiff of fresh chips was just too much - so we shared a portion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Ukulele class was mainly practice on what we’d already done plus another sheet of music that brought in one new chord. Watching some of the others, it is quite interesting to see that some have great difficulty with even a basic chord change, which makes me feel a lot better. Even though the class finished a bit early, a rush to trivia, where Kim was already on question 14! She is probably the fastest trivia host. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Last but one formal night for us and we opted to head for the atrium for a pre-dinner dance, which was a good move, as several of the dancers were there and they managed 3 or 4 New Vogue dances on the trot which we knew - Merilyn, Gypsy Tap and Tangoette.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>It was billed as a special dinner, but with just four mains to choose from, it was less special than usual.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Late theatre show was Rebecca Lowe again, but this time, husband Kuba joined her for most of the show. He really is talented as he not only played guitar, piano, drums and the electronic vibes, but by special request, had also written an arrangement for the orchestra for an Edith Piaf set. He is from Poland and the couple now live in Nashville and apparently, Country and Western music is unheard of in Poland, but he has really taken to it, so they did a Johnny/June Cash number.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Rebecca also went into the audience and found a couple who had been married for 58 years and dragged them on stage whilst she sang something about ‘Dance’, whilst the sweet old couple shuffled around the stage. Maybe she should have limited that number to just two minutes instead of dragging it out, as we feared the old couple might just keel over! Thankfully, they survived. A thoroughly enjoyable show with Kuba doing his own show tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Down to the Atrium with D & S and also M & M for a late night hot chocolate, before once again, walking through Jammers – just for the hell of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Just two weeks tonight and we’ll be home and in our own bed. Frankly, we are now ready for it. Billing Easter Island, for example, as a feature stop in the brochures, is a good sales pitch, but the reality is that even the Customer Services Director has failed to land on all 5 cruises! A ten day run of sea days when often it isn’t even warm enough to sit outside without wrapping up well, is no great attraction. At least the Cruise Director’s team have been working flat out to try and fill in the gaps and they have certainly tried to make the atrium a more popular place, especially in the evenings, but…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>A(nother) new rage emerged today. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>During the early afternoon, they cleared the central, carpeted area of the atrium on deck 5 and put up the table tennis table, with a match between the staff and the passengers. This was hugely popular with spectators on decks 5, 6, 7 and 8. Lots of cheering from all levels apparently, when a grumpy woman (presumably a card player or something), yelled down from deck 8 “WILL YOU LOT BE QUIET!!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>From the assembled masses “NO!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Apparently this happened twice! So stupid. Firstly, it was advertised in the Princess Patter and secondly, there are dozens of places where you can go for a bit of peace and quiet. I just wish I’d been there to identify her, as I just love to know who these people are with the reverse Botox! (Thanks to Shane O’Shea for that description.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Thursday August 14<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We were locked out of the vista lounge whilst Zumba was on, as apparently some impatient old guy tried to muscle his way past yesterday and caught a flying elbow, and word is (unsubstantiated) that he was bowled over. So, they took no chances today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The delay didn’t help our score and Mark had used his two days confined to cabin to come up with a brand new quiz.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>There was a programme clash with ukulele class and a tea dance with the orchestra in the Vista at 3:30. I spent a couple of minutes at the class, grabbed the latest sheet and shot off to the Vista. A tremendous turnout though Paula and I declined the tea, sandwiches, scones, cream etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Back to the 6:15 show and Jonathon Neale again. Another good show with more tricks we can’t explain…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>After dinner, late show – Kuba Kawnik again, but Sue was a bit off colour so they skipped it. Another great show. As someone had pointed out the theme for ‘Midsomer Murders’ used a Theremin, he once again did an arrangement for the orchestra in double quick time, though the movement of the ship made it a bit difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>On to the Wheelhouse bar for a couple of dances. Clocks back 1 hour again tonight and tomorrow, we cruise Pitcairn Island. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-58912057085288338262014-08-13T10:29:00.000-07:002014-08-13T18:31:49.089-07:00Day 80 - All at sea instead of on land...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1NO04KZVRFxarCLsPgXxzDIfpFZAk7sr5Mxj4Qi27S74bqa8TWPyoXFe5vh3V8OiIt8B9lUX8_DdphXPYt2uB-BdtMsaNw4YFffuySLtFVFkZ_vZI0tS_obRE_T20AnIjNE-ke-WCw/s1600/214_0812_06-709090.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1NO04KZVRFxarCLsPgXxzDIfpFZAk7sr5Mxj4Qi27S74bqa8TWPyoXFe5vh3V8OiIt8B9lUX8_DdphXPYt2uB-BdtMsaNw4YFffuySLtFVFkZ_vZI0tS_obRE_T20AnIjNE-ke-WCw/s320/214_0812_06-709090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6047227673562506850" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUtaLEilQLxSWDnCHrgALPvMjTFmMFub1rZoHy4PEDRKsMKsb9wSDyQvTtOVKXVE4E7aohSlOI5hVmlfTRBj8301uRSGPNVPijQJZ6MDvAoQUQ7lkTOIYR5eSK2WLzTJeZeFDbvh7NQ/s1600/214_0812_08-714960.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUtaLEilQLxSWDnCHrgALPvMjTFmMFub1rZoHy4PEDRKsMKsb9wSDyQvTtOVKXVE4E7aohSlOI5hVmlfTRBj8301uRSGPNVPijQJZ6MDvAoQUQ7lkTOIYR5eSK2WLzTJeZeFDbvh7NQ/s320/214_0812_08-714960.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6047227689761142722" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA_Wzw7uS4rotr31nW4eDYW3_1WtIkXn2ECrPZ3rktLeY3-83YrYHmyKQOnAxu6EupMDRTgRrCinJpmMefABIlb3vCHN7vdukvhbjj9y8Bd-ViNGqZ421WcJzG5fomLDHSfBkFnJTkw/s1600/214_0812_14-718407.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA_Wzw7uS4rotr31nW4eDYW3_1WtIkXn2ECrPZ3rktLeY3-83YrYHmyKQOnAxu6EupMDRTgRrCinJpmMefABIlb3vCHN7vdukvhbjj9y8Bd-ViNGqZ421WcJzG5fomLDHSfBkFnJTkw/s320/214_0812_14-718407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6047227701342122466" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA-MLuD9le4ggICVkzDyW4SeLKeWwiyU1j-8TWyFK9xMMQyRQTF2SGyXBO9r_F4vzCLwRA0DV8BSujRbVHo4AROL8VLBrTT43s5wrX702J8_oTQRhjw2_GpO4xG0qoFM4uwp0sV0ltw/s1600/214_0812_16-722608.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA-MLuD9le4ggICVkzDyW4SeLKeWwiyU1j-8TWyFK9xMMQyRQTF2SGyXBO9r_F4vzCLwRA0DV8BSujRbVHo4AROL8VLBrTT43s5wrX702J8_oTQRhjw2_GpO4xG0qoFM4uwp0sV0ltw/s320/214_0812_16-722608.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6047227723056893858" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Oh dear. An early Tannoy announcement from the Captain was that with a considerable swell and a tender port, on the grounds of safety, it wouldn’t be possible to tender ashore, so we’d simply cruise slowly around Easter Island. Oh deep joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We have already had 4 days at sea, so this is the 5<sup>th</sup>, to be followed by 6 & 7, then scenic cruising (again!) of Pitcairn Island (8) followed by two more days at sea (9 & 10) before Papeete, Tahiti…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>No point in getting upset by it, as safety is, as always, paramount, so no-one is to blame, but ten sea days on the trot merely confirms that our decision for next year is probably sound. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We are sorry to miss out on Easter Island (Chile) but the upside is that we now have $400 extra on board credit… Maybe we can just cash it in?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>So, a leisurely stroll up to the buffet with the majority of passengers firmly ensconced on the port side, armed with binoculars and cameras with long lenses, ready to try and salvage usable photographs of an island with a fascinating history and strange statues with a somewhat uncertain history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We stayed on deck near the ice cream parlour - but that didn’t open for coffee until 11am, so Darryl and I went back up to the Horizon Court for the hot chocolates, oh, and some Danish pastries that looked lonely and forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>As we rounded the island, we managed a pic or two of the statues, but at such a distance, not really what we wanted. What you see here is either a cropped still from the video or an even more severely cropped image from the Nikon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We even skipped trivia and after a while, we returned to the cabin – and it wasn’t too long before we’d finished one complete lap and headed west again. Horizon court for a late lunch which included a very nice meat cannelloni, some stewed beef and what looked like a pork rissole.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Paula headed to the theatre for a showing of the ship’s Machu Piccu video. I dozed whilst watching the animated movie ‘Frozen’… Later in the day, we started to get some TV channels back again, but were very saddened to hear of the death of Robin Williams. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Just for change, we each had a pot of tea in the atrium, so my pot ended up with 5 tea bags as the others prefer a weakfish sort of a brew. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>After dinner, we debated on whether or not to go to the theatre for entertainer, Bayne Bacon. Why the debate? Quite simply, out of 7 cruises with Princess, he has been on all except the recent Baltic’s cruise - and his act never changes. He is a fine guitarist, a fair pianist but his patter never changes. Sadly, tonight was no exception, though we didn’t walk out. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Afterwards, we went to the Wheelhouse bar intending to dance a little, but there weren’t many there and the music was a bit slow, so we ended up chatting to Deputy Cruise Director Matt and he was joined a few minutes later by CD Mark, now recovered after a couple of days off. I happened to mention Bayne Bacon and how the repeated shows were a bit of a drag and that I listed and marked the entertainers for my own reference. He asked for a copy of the list, so that is a job for tomorrow - there will be plenty of time…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We called into Jammers night club on the way past along with Darryl & Sue, Mike and Sue and that made the numbers up to 20 – excluding the cruise staff and the Captain’s wife! We didn’t stay long.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Clocks back another hour tonight.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-77583441245098395792014-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:002014-08-12T12:15:36.090-07:00Days 78 & 79 - More sea days<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQicYa61Bj_fKWV2y9b_YvtcbiHHgpUeFumDZM34jN_-j0PkhI0Be_Uk2hK_tPbRPMF9YqQBJ83TgAYwbfD8iestspytGI4qKY_TvUhpPnzSAXG77mCaJFaExyav6zFawILG7rb-u0mg/s1600/214_0811_01-736091.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQicYa61Bj_fKWV2y9b_YvtcbiHHgpUeFumDZM34jN_-j0PkhI0Be_Uk2hK_tPbRPMF9YqQBJ83TgAYwbfD8iestspytGI4qKY_TvUhpPnzSAXG77mCaJFaExyav6zFawILG7rb-u0mg/s320/214_0811_01-736091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046759635126193650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVVByDa3jRvw73qq88X1gKaK2jBEW0iY48yvxZ6Zv704ASIS1MKJ-8VBANYWMrQwH3KEXeZlmx4Tbd9yt903VbSLOjK_499FE7E_VQs0V2iFg8LmWMbQ4gcg8YaGp5s-u_nbDwHaRNw/s1600/214_0811_05-740132.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVVByDa3jRvw73qq88X1gKaK2jBEW0iY48yvxZ6Zv704ASIS1MKJ-8VBANYWMrQwH3KEXeZlmx4Tbd9yt903VbSLOjK_499FE7E_VQs0V2iFg8LmWMbQ4gcg8YaGp5s-u_nbDwHaRNw/s320/214_0811_05-740132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046759644951286242" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After breakfast, we called in at the future cruise desk and cancelled next year’s sector from Southampton to Sydney. We were able to book a suitable cabin from Sydney to Southampton. There just hasn’t been the same sort of ‘must do again’ feeling about the second half of the cruise, so we are confident we have made the right decision. The bonus for me is of course that we’ll be able to catch up with family and friends in the UK, but getting back to Auckland half way through winter, may have us grumbling next year!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>An uneventful, relaxing sea day from then on with nothing out of the ordinary until we ended up sitting in Magnums (bar) on deck 7 as there were no seats in the atrium on 5 or 7. There was much talk about last night’s show and people sitting near us were playing cards. They broke off to join in the chat and the gentleman, although now with a shaky hand, did one or two card tricks for us which was a pleasant way to spend a bit of time. Whoever we spoke to had a different theory about the tied thumbs illusion, so Darryl was the star wherever we went.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I took a Panadol as the toothache was annoying. What annoyed Paula was that the satellite TV channels (all 7 of them) have dropped out and she missed the Toronto tennis final. It also means a total lack of World news and weather info at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Dance class was the Chicago Swing, but John’s classes always start and end with a couple of progressive dances and quite a few people really don’t like them. (I won’t go into their reasons but they will be fairly obvious to regular dancers). Then it comes to the new dances, they often find themselves with a stranger and would prefer to learn with their own partner. Alana’s classes on the other hand concentrated totally on learning the new dance and she broke it down into segments, guys at one side, girls at the other, then you’d practice and learn the first segment pretty well before moving on to the next. My preferred method. John tends to go through the whole dance virtually in one go and this makes learning so much harder – or does for me!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We opted out at the change partner stage and went up to the rear of the lounge - but didn’t really do much. The Chicago Swing isn’t a really difficult sequence dance but it isn’t danced in NZ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>On to the HC and a nice lasagne and a couple of pieces of fish. No ukulele class today (boooo!) so on time for round 2 of the progressive ‘ship’s trivia’ quiz, over three days. Mike and Sue were on fire as it was a pictorial one, with bits and pieces around the ship - and they got most of them. I think we may have got 13/16 and we were then in about 4<sup>th</sup> place overall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Sadly (for them), Sue and Mike were dining at the pizzeria with other friends and missed out on the Indian meal. Both Darry and Sue and Paula and I ordered three mains between us, so we managed the beef, the prawn and the tandoori chicken curries. The consensus was that the chicken was the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>On to a new production show – ‘Rock This Town’. The music was pretty good and the costumes OK, with some good singing, (particularly the female lead singer doing ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ but once again, a totally lack lustre backdrop. The unexpected appearance of Matt dressed as one of the Supremes was a small but significant piece of humour!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>People have been quite critical of the overall cast so far and I’d have to agree. Not the best group we have seen. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Another day at sea tomorrow but it is getting slightly warmer – at last.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Monday August 11<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We managed seats in the atrium deck 5 late morning for our hot chocolate (the other 3) and coffee (me). We then settled in for the Dixieland Jazz session. (Not all of it is Dixie, but it isn’t modern jazz either) and witnessed music rage for the first time! Some oldish chap had been chatting to us earlier and laughing at the slow progress of some of the less mobile passengers. When someone then stopped to chat to friends and blocked his view, he went ape! Bearing in mind we were there to listen, the irony wasn’t lost on a couple of other passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The drummer in this band, unlike the drummer on the Emerald, didn’t have the wooden blocks (no idea what they are called – brother Dave will no doubt tell me!) and some of the character of that sort of jazz was lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Paula and Sue headed off to the theatre to see ‘The Sound of Music’ (yup, loads of modern movies on here) and I retired to the cabin until it was ukulele time. About 40 people again and there are still new ones turning up, but this time, we rattled through our repertoire of 5 pieces quite quickly. The chord changes on one of them I struggle with, but the others are fine. A good class though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I managed the last 4 questions at trivia bit I think we fell off the leader board, but Mal & Meg, with Ed and Bev and two others came out on top. Well done Kiwi Kruisers!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>D & S corrupted us by dragging us up to the buffet again. Toasted sandwich and a scone and cream plus tea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Afterwards, we sat out on deck 7 for a bit of sunshine then just before dinner, one heck of a lightning and thunderstorm with heavy rain. It didn’t last too long.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Dinner was OK and then to the Vista for Maggie Scott’s show. Now I have to confess that I wasn’t sure about this as she (like Bayne Bacon) seems to be on most cruises in the Australian region and if the shows ae the same, I’m not too keen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>This appeared to be a mainly new show with more singing than comedy and she also played piano and sang. Maggie can be a bit bawdy at times and did use a naughty word (she doesn’t normally) but it was a very good show. She sang along to a slide show for a couple of numbers so there was a bit of variety and somewhat unusually, bearing in mind we have seen her before, that I still rated the show a 9/10. We seem to be doing well with the guest entertainers at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Just Paula and I for a late night drink and we had the whole of the deck 5 atrium to ourselves at 10:50!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#2F5597;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Easter Island tomorrow – we hope, as the previous record for landing here isn’t so hot. As the first tender port of this cruise, it depends far more on sea conditions than a traditional port. We are booked on a Princess 1:30pm tour, so no need to get up early. The day’s schedule is arrive 7am and depart 6:30pm, so a long stop at a very, very small island</span>.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-55554422450457488402014-08-10T10:39:00.000-07:002014-08-10T17:41:48.342-07:00Day's 76 & 77 - At sea yet again<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y6YzxRNE4feWb_fgkRAJtkrNUAEnMA5xdm4d9A2mIws5dk4QWvfi4IOCKUHcc6YvwoXwIHFjzdOgMlvY5tUxsXKLNh-ib0uL27gR_gFqd7Yuhe5mIDlh4cwyduuKzpa4JOZCI20R6w/s1600/214_0808_05-708343.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y6YzxRNE4feWb_fgkRAJtkrNUAEnMA5xdm4d9A2mIws5dk4QWvfi4IOCKUHcc6YvwoXwIHFjzdOgMlvY5tUxsXKLNh-ib0uL27gR_gFqd7Yuhe5mIDlh4cwyduuKzpa4JOZCI20R6w/s320/214_0808_05-708343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046101526153028418" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jYdmd2fUlyblaufUNceFDYcDuOlIt3piEOuuoOaSP2rMAgO0T8x1rS3RsBQxalhrcFiEKF5U-LEwRF183EXebk6YbwSh6UUk3H_7T4ARSYlDt2K73Jpz1sAg2CMiZlkbfw4xgjmIhQ/s1600/214_0808_15b-711221.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jYdmd2fUlyblaufUNceFDYcDuOlIt3piEOuuoOaSP2rMAgO0T8x1rS3RsBQxalhrcFiEKF5U-LEwRF183EXebk6YbwSh6UUk3H_7T4ARSYlDt2K73Jpz1sAg2CMiZlkbfw4xgjmIhQ/s320/214_0808_15b-711221.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046101530895284226" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWKvAgMuxMjWpQkblSSbGaM_RPo9z8w4B3C6RAHsRqM32RlErFPz3T5IZ8ks033A-nKj5OLdsGCUktq2RShYhgAAmTrN8I3IIKzVMj8_cn-kO6cjnl33saT6_w0RK7LRmu-0TI0zZZA/s1600/214_0809_01b-713755.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWKvAgMuxMjWpQkblSSbGaM_RPo9z8w4B3C6RAHsRqM32RlErFPz3T5IZ8ks033A-nKj5OLdsGCUktq2RShYhgAAmTrN8I3IIKzVMj8_cn-kO6cjnl33saT6_w0RK7LRmu-0TI0zZZA/s320/214_0809_01b-713755.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046101546253144130" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIEOwgLmNvZDDN7AL-nsXG7DmwG5Kw-6E20bNMQCmFoO6kOjhogOWA3EZOelO_j7Kl2Tv8FCvQR2rQ0105H1Kvtxg9KkuycDhLTLabEXpODQHMg9U3CvuweX690xfbCWU4i57L1LKDQ/s1600/214_0809_02b-716535.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIEOwgLmNvZDDN7AL-nsXG7DmwG5Kw-6E20bNMQCmFoO6kOjhogOWA3EZOelO_j7Kl2Tv8FCvQR2rQ0105H1Kvtxg9KkuycDhLTLabEXpODQHMg9U3CvuweX690xfbCWU4i57L1LKDQ/s320/214_0809_02b-716535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6046101555362448002" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Not a good sleep for either of us so no surprise to hit the buffet as late as 9:30. As a sop to weight-loss, I stuck with just fruit for breakfast. I’m sure there were far more calories in that than a cooked breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>After a forgettable trivia, we headed for a coffee but the atrium was hosting the famous crossing the equator ceremony (indoors as it hasn’t been warm enough outdoors) and the usual colourful buckets of goo and spaghetti were replaced with cream pies (well, cream anyway) as they are much easier to clean up. New boy Jase made a very fetching ‘Queen Double Dee’ (work that one out for yourself) and Customer Services head, James Eaton was the sacrificial Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The middle of the day was uneventful and we watched part of the tango class, but didn’t take part, then headed up for food, before the next ukulele class. Still good exercise for my left hand but some chord changes are a bit tricky.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>After dinner, to the theatre for ‘multi-instrumentalist’ Kuba Kawnik’. A great show. The electronic vibes, like several other electronic instruments these days, such as keyboards and accordions, are capable of replicating a whole range of instruments although in this case, mallets are still used plus a sustain pedal and no doubt, other electronic goodies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Kuba played a good mix of pieces and once again, Sarah had to be on top form to keep in time with him. He then played a small African instrument (the name of which escapes me) then a ‘Theremin’ I think it is called. This is an instrument you don’t touch and it is an electronic device with two aerials sticking out of a wooden box, at 90 degrees. One hand above the horizontal aerial controls volume and the other, the pitch. Interesting and a tough instrument to master and rarely seen, though it does feature on the Beach Boy’s hit, ‘Good Vibrations’ and also the theme to ‘Midsomer Murders’. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>We opted for a late night hot chocolate, just the two of us, then crashed about 11:30.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>August 9<sup>th</sup> – At sea with future changes and a bit of magic<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Another less than perfect night but then at 6am, a Tannoy call from the bridge relating to a potential fire on deck 9, calling the incident crew. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>It was dealt with OK with two further announcements from the Captain, the second ordering the team to stand down. Something to do with a smoke alarm or a ventilation system fault.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>After another uneventful trivia other than it was Cruise Director Mark’s birthday, we couldn’t get seats on decks 5 or 7 with D & S, so we headed up to the pizzeria on deck 8 and ordered a pizza between us – and hot chocolates and a coffee!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>We didn’t join the dancers on the floor but did head up to the buffet with a group of them. Beef curry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Ukulele class yet again for me and afterwards, in to see the Future Cruise consultant to check out some options for 2015. She sorted out an option for us that we will probably take.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Dinner, I had a superb surf and turf with a perfect, tasty piece of steak - and I must learn how to do béarnaise sauce one day…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Vista lounge late show was an illusionist/magician, Jonathon Neal. We had been pre-warned to volunteer Darryl as his second assistant. (His first was Liane who was far better dressed - and far better looking.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>A fast moving show and a very good one, but Darryl’s job was to tie Jonathon’s thumbs together. The illusion was passing his still tied thumbs past a sabre held at both ends by Darryl.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>There were several other ‘tricks’ and the humour was pretty good too, so overall, a good show. Maybe an 8.5/10? I may have to firm up on that after his next show.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>With D & S for a late night hot chocolate then bed about midnight, but as we continue to head due west, another hour back tonight. The toothache is back. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-82749232989962739772014-08-09T09:59:00.000-07:002014-08-09T16:01:42.736-07:00Days 74 & 75 Caillao/Lima - Peru's Premier Port<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVdTStHFtVfOENhX8fJiVQIbQ7nugxSGEtHc2Lu0ZJSsMEs0Hc1C-WIOkgKAgEVPQfo48fdi4eLi2IfzR8D8eBvtaSY8knv5vwOyIS4zxVVhTO1PYuYd-ReTCVBlo7UoHxK4t_IPs0g/s1600/214_0806_01-702737.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVdTStHFtVfOENhX8fJiVQIbQ7nugxSGEtHc2Lu0ZJSsMEs0Hc1C-WIOkgKAgEVPQfo48fdi4eLi2IfzR8D8eBvtaSY8knv5vwOyIS4zxVVhTO1PYuYd-ReTCVBlo7UoHxK4t_IPs0g/s320/214_0806_01-702737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6045704644467059234" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZMZLpkvsX_uQlX-VCGfyPO7NhdzSJ7WVdBYsgDMTmoIEkVOqlgM0xp2Nj-gW_tbNiZTMq5Ukooo38rsIPf8MAdoMhBHzSyRbGqbPnjSo-qZYkDeA8dt23gojoF6ihvq5doMnhQIMLQ/s320/214_0807_01-737663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6045704788659317842" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1lj7TkwVg_s6vgPHKm5Y9eazzHN317cmhzT-QSB_hpFXurB27Io_qtc1-48X89_ovA45wQ13xjlHXomAfUDzCZMgCP9DZl30hKpb68cyqmv9kII5LpoPK7FdquguPd_yHrTq6Efbkw/s1600/214_0807_29-740634.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1lj7TkwVg_s6vgPHKm5Y9eazzHN317cmhzT-QSB_hpFXurB27Io_qtc1-48X89_ovA45wQ13xjlHXomAfUDzCZMgCP9DZl30hKpb68cyqmv9kII5LpoPK7FdquguPd_yHrTq6Efbkw/s320/214_0807_29-740634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6045704802728081682" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_RrCTyQrqqPhjHAXgb4kzvSxpNqMCiNzLxVxSubOM10UMp0gEGcyVyIfOmOsUQGakGT8Nm2L1_kZQWcvu9jsjeaLlfzEd7fHJfPHVvvNzd-wiSwXJHKmrzDKC_q9qhqjg49jBktVRQ/s1600/214_0807_43-743299.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_RrCTyQrqqPhjHAXgb4kzvSxpNqMCiNzLxVxSubOM10UMp0gEGcyVyIfOmOsUQGakGT8Nm2L1_kZQWcvu9jsjeaLlfzEd7fHJfPHVvvNzd-wiSwXJHKmrzDKC_q9qhqjg49jBktVRQ/s320/214_0807_43-743299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6045704813325961138" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>This was a double day in port - and a double port day, almost, as although Paula got up in the night unable to sleep, she was also unable to get the cork out of the port bottle…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We’d docked at Peru’s largest port at Caillou (pronounced Kayo), which over time has morphed onto the outskirts of Lima itself, making one very large city of about 8 or 9 million people. The port is a working container port so passengers are not allowed to walk around. They must exit via a free shuttle bus to the gates and were then advised to grab a taxi, or, take the $8 Princess Shuttle to the San Miguel Shopping Centre or, like us, take a Princess tour.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>It was a bit grey looking outside and first thing, we donned sweatshirts for the walk across the open deck but I then opted for a normal shirt and the old faithful rally jacket.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We had to meet at a leisurely 9am so an easy enough start to this two day stopover.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Our tour guide was Ada and the coach was immaculate, complete with pristine white headrest covers, though it was a bit chilly with the a/c on. The sound system had a lot of echo on it and as we sat at the rear of the coach, I only caught about half of the commentary. We’d booked on the half day city tour and Indian Market.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Almost the first thing Ada told us was that in spite of the very light drizzle we may have experienced first thing, it rarely actually rained!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Downtown Caillao was indeed a bit grim, but probably not as bad as we’d been warned. Sadly, once again, graffiti everywhere and even very high up on some abandoned buildings. It is obviously a worldwide problem and judging by the size of some of the tags, the perpetrators must be carrying around pails of paint, not the spray cans that most of us use in and around the garage, which seem to run out in a matter of minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>As we approached Lima itself (no discernible border) the traffic seemed to be NY style on the main road in, with constant traffic light delays. (No subway here either.) Drivers tend to be quite aggressive (Ada’s comment) and even our coach driver seemed to muscle his way through pretty well when lanes merged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Our first stop was at the Plaza in central Lima but this seemed to be blocked off to traffic, so we were allowed just ten minutes or so to follow our guide through to the plaza and take photographs. I thought it rather amusing to see three (friendly) policewomen with riot or crowd control shields. Think about it. Three…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Out of the square and to catch up with the coach again at a different place. Ada was panicking a bit as she was one short on her count. Maybe if she’d counted us OFF the coach, she wouldn’t have worried, because as the bus drew up, there was still one lady on it happily waving to us!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>There was quite a lot of waving throughout the day as the locals seemed extremely friendly. Waving from cafes, traffic lights, police, adults, children etc. There are a lot of police around but there are several sections. Those wearing white lanyards are tourist police and they’ll do anything to assist wherever they can. There are local police who are there to patrol and keep an eye of things then there are the traditional police – who by the way, also seemed very friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The next stop was a 5 minute photo stop on the cliff top above the beach at Miraflore. This was what could be translated as ‘Lover’s Park’ dominated by a large sculpture of an embracing couple. The pose was being echoed by a couple of engrossed locals, who were somewhat surprised and more than a little embarrassed, when two coachloads of Princess passengers converged on the park, with a chorus of whistles, cheers and applause! Looking down between the mosaic murals down to the sea front was a traditional British style seaside pier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>On then to the Indian Market – but not the Asian Indians. First port of call was a comfort stop but it wasn’t free, but our calls were paid for by one of the tour leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>This was just one section of what is probably a large area with many traditional stalls – but in the section we went to, no food stalls at all, which was a little disappointing, not because I was hungry, but as you will have gathered from earlier posts, I do find them interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We had about 50 minutes here before boarding the coach for the run back to the ship, but instead of going through the traffic clogged city, the driver took the coastal route, but not before he’d driven along the cliff top again. Just over a small wall on the sea side, we couldn’t help noticing loads of unaccompanied dogs. Ada explained that locals, rather than leaving their canine companions cooped up all day, heaved them over the wall in the morning, on the way to work and hopefully, Fido was still there when they got home at night! It isn’t always so…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The seafront road was quite bumpy with heaps of speed bumps as well as rough patches so taken at local speed, it was a bouncy run back to the ship.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Now logic dictates that if there are 9 coaches doing a tour and leaving the ship around the same time, then surely, with an overnight stop, with no time pressures, someone would co-ordinate a staggered arrival back at the dock?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Nope. About four hundred passengers arrived at the same time (port and shop shuttles were also returning) so the queue to re-board was about 200 metres by the time we joined it. Fortunately there was no blazing sun so we weren’t baked, but not the ideal end to what was a pleasant tour.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Needless to say that at 2pm, the Horizon Court buffet was also rather busy – but at least there was a beef curry to enjoy, before ambling down to deck 5 again for an overdue coffee. Whilst there, the Captain was welcoming back the Princess group who had been to Machu Piccu, with a drink! Mrs Captain had taken the tour so that might have had something to do with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We chatted with Len who was one of the returning group and he thought it a great experience. The private tour group were arriving back a day later, but it appears that the Princess group arrived back in Lima last night, so were already in the City when the ship arrived. Quite why we needed an overnight stop hasn’t really been explained. Not being able to walk off the ship and into town at will makes it difficult to make the most of the long stop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Paula and I relaxed in the cabin as it wasn’t warm enough to be outside and with it being open dining, had planned on eating at the buffet, but at about 6:40, Darryl rang to say they’d just returned and after a shower, would meet us in the dining room as usual. Fine by us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We went to the Folkloric Show in the theatre. Although very colourful and the group played well, the South American music is a bit repetitive. The main dancers were good, but the stars of the show were two young guys who did a Peruvian version of what could best be described as acrobatic break dancing! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>So ended day 1 of two, with nothing planned for tomorrow, but all aboard at 3:30pm with sailaway shortly after.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Day 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Just for a change, I skipped the Robert Timms coffee (bag) with breakfast and had lemon and honey. Two reasons. One, my supply is running low. Two, it must be healthier… (This change will only be occasional won’t last long.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We debated the merits of getting the $8 each way shuttle to a shopping plaza, but those who had been said it wasn’t really worth the effort, so we ambled down to the atrium for a leisurely late morning coffee. We sat with Ed & Bev and Bev showed us some nice $5 items she’d just bought at the local stall/market, situated somewhat surprisingly, half way between the ship and the dock gates. Paula decided she may as well have a look and Bev opted to go with her. Ed decided to stay on board and so did I…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>They took the shuttle towards the gates and hopped out at the market. To get back, they had to hop back on the (8 seater!) shuttle when others hopped off, carry on to the gates then stay on for the return run. It was worth it as Paula returned with two colourful hats for herself and two small gifts for the twins.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Meanwhile, I had the camera with the long lens with and spent a happy half an hour or so snapping away, getting some great shots of the local pelicans. Pity the sun wasn’t out for better colours, but I was still pleased with the results.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Up to the buffet only to get an announcement over the ship’s system that there was a compulsory lifeboat safety drill in 15 minutes! As I may have mentioned earlier, new maritime rules are that the drill is compulsory every 30 days, so even though some had only got on in New York, everyone had to sit through it again. All of it. Maybe they need a refresher drill rather than the full one for those who have recently done one, as some of the message is somewhat irrelevant such as using your cruise cards when getting of the ship and the no-smoking rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>As mentioned earlier, all aboard was 3:30 and leaning on our balcony rail after the drill, I watched a van delivering fruit and veg still being unloaded at 3:40, when a Princess coach returned.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The gangplank stayed down and at 4:10, two more coaches returned… Traffic in town was apparently horrendous and several people later mentioned that their taxi drivers were most apologetic. (By the way, taxi fares sounded very reasonable with fares of $7 or so per car being about normal for local trips to Miraflores for example.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Dinner was generally OK, but Darryl & Sue thought their suckling pig a bit too fatty, so asked for extra meat – which of course was no problem. Mike and I had Argentinian veal which to us was just sliced roast veal, but it was nice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>On to the theatre where we weren’t too sure, so sat at the rear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Female singer – Rebecca Lowe. Her best number was her final one – ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ when she was joined on stage by her hubby (who she met on a cruise ship!) playing the electronic vibes. He has a concert of his own tomorrow night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A run of four sea days now as we head to Easter Island, but overall, it is a lot cooler than we thought it would be, especially as we have only just crossed the equator. The ‘motion discomfort devices’ (barf bags’) have reappeared on the stairwells, so it might be a bit choppy again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#548235;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>As it has been much cooler than we expected on this leg, our thoughts and discussions are now focussed on next year, as we have booked the whole trip, Sydney to Southampton and back to Sydney.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-50365237846006497102014-08-07T05:49:00.000-07:002014-08-07T11:51:31.703-07:00Days 72 & 73 - at sea and strumming along nicely.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqheRZxR3RacQeDrx2CDhB4sriO2laaoWH8aeV8U73JrK7QDg_yzEQXWhdJ-aNNVAKOJ-U3BhstVNY6P-Q7dvHpTuZp3YtfKg3Lr7Bik6iqhQVdk507UnyW4YzBSV1HtB00_2UGBIEAA/s1600/214_0804_01-791704.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqheRZxR3RacQeDrx2CDhB4sriO2laaoWH8aeV8U73JrK7QDg_yzEQXWhdJ-aNNVAKOJ-U3BhstVNY6P-Q7dvHpTuZp3YtfKg3Lr7Bik6iqhQVdk507UnyW4YzBSV1HtB00_2UGBIEAA/s320/214_0804_01-791704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044898002674537010" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU0WASD7EEnWayGInFJfj5Ceu4EcZcb75x-9HGhv2dVlJIRcg3eYDh3XvnDxQUWg6MNkTzeg5DkIrKpB_77uEe_KlFusYeEgQCjUGjrv1kXI2qKb7qZzx_F8HswupZsw9iAwaCNPOHg/s1600/214_0805_01-796926.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU0WASD7EEnWayGInFJfj5Ceu4EcZcb75x-9HGhv2dVlJIRcg3eYDh3XvnDxQUWg6MNkTzeg5DkIrKpB_77uEe_KlFusYeEgQCjUGjrv1kXI2qKb7qZzx_F8HswupZsw9iAwaCNPOHg/s320/214_0805_01-796926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044898024746259090" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aa_-m9wUgmyboC1PsUYM6nxGSXZN5FkQuB0HLg1HmcL1fBSyAkjlStoQPN2YTJUNIB8F-trVHlG8Kci6YRri3bQuBAB966qf9SNFcj6Na4k1KiLXBlopTsk4JPWu_DA6g0K14KpAxg/s1600/214_0805_02-799969.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aa_-m9wUgmyboC1PsUYM6nxGSXZN5FkQuB0HLg1HmcL1fBSyAkjlStoQPN2YTJUNIB8F-trVHlG8Kci6YRri3bQuBAB966qf9SNFcj6Na4k1KiLXBlopTsk4JPWu_DA6g0K14KpAxg/s320/214_0805_02-799969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044898037799791570" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The sip of port seemed to do its job OK and I awoke without the tooth-ache. The first thing on the agenda was of course to wish Paula Happy Birthday and hand over her cards and present. We’d chosen and purchased her present way back in Nottingham, so that was easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>For those sending Facebook messages, many thanks from Paula - but she can’t access her own site at the moment, so I add messages for her!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>A bit cool and damp on deck as we are now in a South American winter, so no-one sunning themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>With 1900 or so passengers you’d think that catching up with your friends without pre-arranging a time would be quite difficult. In theory, yes. In practice, most are creatures of habit, so as we tend to use the starboard side buffet (Nadim has my onions on the griddle now on as I walk in and Danka puts my bread through the toaster just twice…) and also sit that side, around the centre front of the ship, it is no surprise that almost every morning we have met Darryl and Sue. Their body-clocks seem to be in sync with ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>At trivia one question was ‘In which sport would you use a chukker’? Although Polo was the majority decision and deemed the correct one, I wasn’t happy with the phrasing as ‘a chukker’ is a period of play, therefore not something you would really use! Quizmaster is always right… We wouldn’t have won anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Other than coffee on deck 7 then dance time (though we didn’t participate) we headed up to the buffet, late again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>I excused myself just before 3:30pm for Alex’s ukulele class. Good exercise for my left hand but some finger positions are just impossible for me, so I have to improvise. Again, over 30 people attended.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>As it was Paula’s birthday and I was sworn to secrecy, (no chance of that with our regular table mates of 2011 and 2013…), the other 4 were surprised to find their wine paid for when they arrived for dinner and only then did they find out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Vasco’s team of waiters sang Happy Birthday and once Paula had blown out the candle on her Princess cake, Vasco picked it up and said he’d now take it to the next table where there was a birthday… Typical Vasco. He really is a great fun head waiter and the Maitre d’ (Jacques) is another with a good sense of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The Production show in the theatre was “Classically Yours”. Not really my cup of tea at all. Three of the 4 singers were basically singing operatically and in the somewhat out of place, ‘River Dance’ set, the 4<sup>th</sup> gave us what is probably the worst rendition we have ever heard of Danny Boy. One female dancer was sick (probably part way through, as we are sure she was there at the start) so the final number with just three female dancers didn’t really look right at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The couple from “Two on Tap” were sitting in the row behind us and Darryl and Sue (who were closest to them) found out that they had been dancing together for 20 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>For the first time this year, we managed a late night hot chocolate and chat with Mal & Megan down on deck 5, where there was initially, just two other couples. They soon left so we had the place to ourselves. Who says that with 1900 passengers on board, that the ship must be crowded?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Latish to bed at 12:15, but no reason to get up early as another day at sea tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Tuesday August 5<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Another cool day. Not quite sweater weather but not far from it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Once again, without any prearrangement, even though we were a bit tardy in getting going, we still met D & S.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Sadly, Zumba instructor Kim was sick again, so 4 lady passengers who knew the routines, managed to get the Vista sound engineer to play Kim’s usual music and they led the class. Just the sort of thing that could only happen on a longer cruise. Paula participated. I didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>We didn’t win the Trivia which follows straight after either, so we shot off before the hordes and whilst there was still the chance of a seat on deck 5 in the atrium. Melody not only brought our drinks, but also a plate of savouries and one of sweet cakes/pastries. We love the wait staff…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Later, we called at dance class (modern waltz) only to pick up Sue and Darryl on the way to the theatre for a film. Woody Allen’s ‘Aging Gigolo’. Too slow and far too Jewish to be entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Straight up to the buffet afterwards for what is proving to be a traditional late lunch, before once again, I left them to it for the ukulele class. A full house this time as all 36 ship ukuleles in use. (They do in fact have about 50 on board, but for Alex to tune 50 before each session is asking a bit much.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Good exercise again for my left hand, but also very frustrating, as it is now exactly 19 months since I lost the use of it and no sign yet of the nerves reconnecting. I’ll be ecstatic if and when that happens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>I managed to get to quiz about question 14 – but we still didn’t win.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Oriental dinner – which is a menu we have had several times before. What you do notice on these cruises is the repetition of menus even from ship to ship. Maybe it is about time they overhauled some of them? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The Vista show was the final appearance of three acts, one act we hadn’t seen – Jade & Sam. Jade is black and sings soul (very well) and Sam is white and plays bass guitar. A strange combination for a duo, even with the orchestra backing. He never says a word on stage but he did play a bass guitar solo, which was very impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>They were followed by Sean O’Shea, who needs a longer session to really get into it, but he was still good, with his own lyrics to a Johnny Cash number which was also a very good vocal impression. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The final act was the very talented ‘Two on Tap’ (Ronnie & Melissa?) who got a tremendous reception when they appeared and great applause at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>A good chat with some of the entertainment staff afterwards and bed just before midnight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>An overnight stop tomorrow in Callou/Lima in Peru. The ship have been giving out warnings regarding crime in the immediate area, so most people are already on their guard.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-59294523824300965602014-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:002014-08-06T14:07:39.520-07:00Day 71 - Manta - Panama hats, ivory nuts and a nutty entertainer!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZHLKKtskCtcB_f7kWNkNXoi6v28i4YNueFIh9WlYmVlhwc-aAV1dnDJfuT-_08DX_uXL6yxbH5fF_Osdkopkswko7dB7fD8ca5pLQOWRjfwyZPFbQ0MkYhhBcoPkV69opJ9NjnubCw/s1600/214_0803_11-759521.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZHLKKtskCtcB_f7kWNkNXoi6v28i4YNueFIh9WlYmVlhwc-aAV1dnDJfuT-_08DX_uXL6yxbH5fF_Osdkopkswko7dB7fD8ca5pLQOWRjfwyZPFbQ0MkYhhBcoPkV69opJ9NjnubCw/s320/214_0803_11-759521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044561999347733394" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVCYkpjlwq6opUgsQ8ec-Vq3WjPu_0xpS-CKeaH5a77P3mcayL-HDZHJnWdd4x76r2Tgsg-qgUqTZDfoAbrefn_tjRvz89YLhsR_QiHC7Rf9OSPw_xvIrOA32SfeA3TNK6T1JNntCfg/s1600/214_0803_25-772905.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVCYkpjlwq6opUgsQ8ec-Vq3WjPu_0xpS-CKeaH5a77P3mcayL-HDZHJnWdd4x76r2Tgsg-qgUqTZDfoAbrefn_tjRvz89YLhsR_QiHC7Rf9OSPw_xvIrOA32SfeA3TNK6T1JNntCfg/s320/214_0803_25-772905.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044562055384347714" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6INdLXPJonO6HmZ1f0_-uLOd3-dshxX9Mz8XbyNTDCI_NsBpYyNp7TGy2XefRhe7B7-ZJcVL0amAbtQh7Hi2e8RSAHvbvCnbcCJFpW7ZilX9ozbj9aEKcEqJra8qrBTYwoYyD3xqGjQ/s1600/214_0803_29-776126.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6INdLXPJonO6HmZ1f0_-uLOd3-dshxX9Mz8XbyNTDCI_NsBpYyNp7TGy2XefRhe7B7-ZJcVL0amAbtQh7Hi2e8RSAHvbvCnbcCJFpW7ZilX9ozbj9aEKcEqJra8qrBTYwoYyD3xqGjQ/s320/214_0803_29-776126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044562067633258546" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_925hrFwEcEoCmO9yvuKOGx9b3hJuJOlAoKM0f55sV1WL86F8nYEXsYXNuUE0IzCHpMVCfQYkDf_FQXiXrDBAWN7s_0oUI71rNqnFeuv2sc8gkfajzopG_fnEhwmxEMqsZbvAwhW3iA/s1600/214_0803_37-780001.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_925hrFwEcEoCmO9yvuKOGx9b3hJuJOlAoKM0f55sV1WL86F8nYEXsYXNuUE0IzCHpMVCfQYkDf_FQXiXrDBAWN7s_0oUI71rNqnFeuv2sc8gkfajzopG_fnEhwmxEMqsZbvAwhW3iA/s320/214_0803_37-780001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044562081926541954" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEzfMt1jbER4Z2nLnSYVaBivhhXl6mgG03EnbA1kX3mT4dZq8j3aSD2fGqzuui21I22lfzZ38wUlqloeeRwWbRWDCiOceJUd1Izn2Sdv4RRBuUreZ0MBZviq61DcCr1DB5dyeAUPK8Q/s1600/214_0803_50-783122.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEzfMt1jbER4Z2nLnSYVaBivhhXl6mgG03EnbA1kX3mT4dZq8j3aSD2fGqzuui21I22lfzZ38wUlqloeeRwWbRWDCiOceJUd1Izn2Sdv4RRBuUreZ0MBZviq61DcCr1DB5dyeAUPK8Q/s320/214_0803_50-783122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044562098464269842" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbgvnGur9lTY3a4Muso39t5DK0-nY5dogsSRlQxRfK4bfwtorFCjNWL-izj3ozTrwdDbI5ejDnnvNMq5BPV_g6e3SBcIAOW2Qpn4LeRILZrD9mdIb8-vj3j5TW3YypvZ907G42ZuLIA/s1600/214_0803_54-786206.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbgvnGur9lTY3a4Muso39t5DK0-nY5dogsSRlQxRfK4bfwtorFCjNWL-izj3ozTrwdDbI5ejDnnvNMq5BPV_g6e3SBcIAOW2Qpn4LeRILZrD9mdIb8-vj3j5TW3YypvZ907G42ZuLIA/s320/214_0803_54-786206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6044562109925321026" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Although awake before the alarm, up in the Horizon Court it appeared quieter than usual. We managed our usual fill before picking up the backpack and heading for the theatre for an 8:15am meet time. Our coach, though of modern design, was a bit tired and a bit noisy towards the rear, and that meant that although not full, we couldn’t really hear the tour guide very easily, especially as the microphone kept dropping out. That was OK by me… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Fortunately, a half day tour with two 1 hour stops made for a balanced sort of day. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Our first trip to south America and Manta seemed quite a poor area. Plenty of graffiti around and also far more than the usual amount of litter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Stop one was at Montecristi and a Panama hat demonstration, from the plant stage, stripping and boiling the fibre, to weaving the finished article. The ladies making the main body of the hats did so, leaning forwards over the former. It didn’t look too comfortable. I can’t really go into the intricacies of what makes a genuine Panama hat, (other than made in Ecuador) but the ones we saw there being made, ranged up to about $200 locally - if sold in Hawaii for example, they could well fetch $2,000! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Whilst the demo was going on, other traders were trying to sell leather belts which seemed exceptionally good value. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>We walked around the corner to the market square and even though this is a strongly Catholic community; and it was a Sunday; and also the square was right in front of the large church, the market was in full swing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Locals were doing a roaring trade in genuine Panama hats to tourists. I managed a genuine hat (complete with balsa wood box), for $25. The cheapest were just $20 but according to some, these were only expected to be worn once, which seems a bit extravagant. The genuine article can be rolled flat and pulled back into shape and lets in neither sun nor rain. Paula bought a scarf or two and three small carved items made from ivory nuts, for $5 the 3. At least we did our bit for the local economy. Although there were many similar stalls, the locals were all very pleasant, polite and friendly and not at all pushy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>On then to higher ground, just a few minutes out of town and just opposite a brand new, large, flash looking 24 hole golf course, to our second stop. Even though this was out of town, there was no respite from the rubbish at the roadside. Goodness knows where it all came from.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Through the narrowest of gates (for a coach) to an ivory nut establishment. We knew nothing about these nuts before today, so it was quite educational. The nuts grow in what looks like a massive pine cone and when dried, this is then quite brittle and the nuts easily removed. They are laid outside for three months or so to dry then fed into a machine that removes the outer shell – which is of course not wasted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>The nuts are then either polished and carved or are sliced on a circular saw. If sliced, the centre is then cut out to be used as buttons. The outer remains are not thrown away, so much of the nut jewellery has a hole in it. Now you know why! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Many such ivory buttons are exported and the largest market is China. Work is going on to try and work out how to use the nuts for covering piano keys, as a substitute for real ivory which it is no longer possible to use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Although initially edible, (I believe they are related to Soy) and containing milk, like coconuts, once dried, they are incredibly hard. Some of the items on offer made from the nuts, included various forms of jewellery and knick-knacks to beautiful chess sets, ranging in size from travelling ones at about $15, to full size sets at $75 – which seemed very reasonable. There were also packs of buttons for sale and one or two ladies certainly bought them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>We returned via the waterfront where there was a fair bit of boat renovation going on, most boats now being made out of mahogany and balsa then skinned with fibreglass. The harbour also had a lot of tuna fishing boats moored, alongside our quay. We thought that the nearest one named Julie L was appropriate for Paula’s daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>We were back on board just before 1pm and for the first time on this cruise, we headed for the pizzeria. A filling calzone (with double pepperoni added…) went down very well - and I even had to help out Paula with her pizza.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>A leisurely afternoon and a return to deck 5 for a coffee later.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>All aboard was set for 6:30pm and we were somewhat staggered to find we were on the move at 6:32! Normally, we leave about 30 minutes after, so as everyone was on board early, the captain made the sensible decision to get moving. Going slower uses up less fuel so an extra half hour to reach our next port has a financial benefit (to Princess, not us).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Dinner was fine, though I had to send my medium rare meat back, as it was almost mooing. The replacement was perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>To the Vista lounge for ‘Sean O’Shea’, billed as a vocal impressionist. The pre-show screen had quite a few funny ex-YouTube clips and other funny stills, so this really set the scene that it wasn’t going to be straight vocal impressions show. We weren’t wrong. This was a great show and Sean not only has a fine voice, but really seemed to enjoy performing too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Doing the inevitable drunken Dean Martin (does every impressionist do this?) and Neil Diamond of course. He jumped off the stage during ‘Sweet Caroline’ and encouraged the audience to do the usual arm waving. Spying a couple sitting dead centre, two rows back, sitting on their hands, he couldn’t arouse any favourable response whatever, so gave the two fingers in the eyes ‘looking at you sunshine’ gesture – and still nothing. So from his back pocket, he whipped out a yellow card. Simple gag, but effective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Two minutes later, after prancing about a bit more, still no response from the miserable duo, red card…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>He did a very good Kermit the frog impression too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>His finale after a costume change and black wig, sunglasses etc., was an Elvis set which really was good – not just the vocals. A few jokes relating to the fact that Elvis was no longer with us and during the song, once again, down amongst the audience, he started kissing the hands of the ladies. He’d done about 4 when from backstage, one of the stagehands rushed out wearing a full medical face mask and from a large container, handed out antiseptic wipes to the same ladies. Another simple but very effective gag, much appreciated by 98% of the audience. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>One of the best, fun shows we have seen and I’m giving him a 9/10.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(We found out later that at the earlier show, during the Tom Jones impression, the audience had thrown a large pair of bloomers on stage. Quite why it wasn’t done on our show we don’t know. Maybe the ‘sit on the hands brigade’ from first sitting had complained?) <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Pity I seem to have developed a bit of toothache, so hopefully, a small sip of port at bedtime will anaesthetise it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Two days at sea to look forward to now - and a birthday…<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-56809426285905652062014-08-03T10:37:00.000-07:002014-08-03T16:39:19.513-07:00Day 70 - Back at sea - with wet weather for a change<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuHZXBTAfIQ817utTuUTN_VH5AUdSxEoyj1EO_Ankfi90UUBuSoT2t9P1gwMPGEXQam3mpsbbwlX-Yo5j7-GtqLh4yfaa-Wk5Dt2gKUnJ7GuAKgI1DgE1pWTVLsq5rqktOiW09M-vLQ/s1600/214_0802_02b-759513.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuHZXBTAfIQ817utTuUTN_VH5AUdSxEoyj1EO_Ankfi90UUBuSoT2t9P1gwMPGEXQam3mpsbbwlX-Yo5j7-GtqLh4yfaa-Wk5Dt2gKUnJ7GuAKgI1DgE1pWTVLsq5rqktOiW09M-vLQ/s320/214_0802_02b-759513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043487827544373810" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN3pDUB7ekT8L17DCD3_e-_Uh1tm527zxsjd2nn8w-fCknXM95CnGJKsInAbs0b_fMzWBkWC-_6RXAiR_hF0tI4IT0BJHzqIEmoX2p4zDTrb86zYgCI-4i5bcnB9vSGPZFOF9LgnCjQ/s1600/214_0802_03b-762319.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN3pDUB7ekT8L17DCD3_e-_Uh1tm527zxsjd2nn8w-fCknXM95CnGJKsInAbs0b_fMzWBkWC-_6RXAiR_hF0tI4IT0BJHzqIEmoX2p4zDTrb86zYgCI-4i5bcnB9vSGPZFOF9LgnCjQ/s320/214_0802_03b-762319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043487836157044706" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-9_hI5JnaiLOrFjXgbikdO4NEAK8H1IDXcxFdXGHSTgnsgb0Z3nSxuGMNpRHcbes2q3zV9nfYI6ZuBuAMvyAqNxo1RkEsF2jBm7awpGuhVGT4Z5jnSJX1QGYqLEOxKr3u5AYc6qhXg/s1600/214_0802_05b-765152.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-9_hI5JnaiLOrFjXgbikdO4NEAK8H1IDXcxFdXGHSTgnsgb0Z3nSxuGMNpRHcbes2q3zV9nfYI6ZuBuAMvyAqNxo1RkEsF2jBm7awpGuhVGT4Z5jnSJX1QGYqLEOxKr3u5AYc6qhXg/s320/214_0802_05b-765152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043487845849676322" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Currently, sunrise is about 6:30am and sunset 6:30pm! That meant a good night’s sleep but we awoke to a fair bit of rain, some of which seemed to be leaking into the buffet up on deck 14, so in several areas, mopping up operations were in progress. There are times when this ship shows its age. This was one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Paula and I left the buffet straight after breakfast and as I’d forgotten to take a coffee bag (buffet coffee is not for the faint hearted – or real coffee lovers) we headed down to deck 5 for a proper coffee. We still have a fair few coffee cards, each of which has a credit of 15 coffees, so no big deal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>After yet another failed trivia, we returned to the atrium with Darryl & Sue, but I stuck to water.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Dance class today was the Viennese Waltz but we didn’t participate, but did watch. Not the easiest of things to learn in a cramped space. We enjoyed watching some of the, how shall we put it, less able participants, but at least they are giving it a go and good on them for that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Once again, I was (fairly) strong and limited lunch to red snapper and a chowder – oh, and a small piece of lemon cake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Paula had a hair appointment booked for 3:30 so I headed to the Wheelhouse Bar for a beginners ukulele lesson, run by Alex. First thing I learned was that the ship has a small supply of instruments and Alex tuned them all before handing them out to those who didn’t have their own. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The second thing we learned was the correct pronunciation. Ookalele, not yukalele.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>As I still only have one working hand, initially I just watched, but then changed my mind and grabbed one of the last loan instruments.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>A great first lesson and although I can’t do some of the chord changes as the fingers just don’t operate, I could at least play along with the chords I could play! Amazing how many people turned up though and although a couple found it beyond them, most seemed to manage. Good fun. Alex is a real star.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Paula was still having her hair done at afternoon trivia time, as was Sue. Darryl forgot so just Mike, the other Sue and myself. We got a couple of questions wrong that we are ashamed to admit to, so naturally, we didn’t win.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Formal night (again) and we headed for the atrium deck 7 before dinner as the Tritones (a duo…) were playing and the dancers turned out in force, as did many pre-dinner passengers who packed all seats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>The undoubted stars were Graham and Linda whose Rock and Roll developed into an exhibition, as everyone let them have the whole floor. Brilliant. The keyboard player (who is also excellent) added a couple of extra choruses so they were pretty well stuffed as they left the floor to a well-deserved round of applause.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Although it was lobster night, I know now to have it as a second course as it is too small for a main.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>To the theatre – somewhat hesitantly I might add for “Two on Tap”. Yes, a couple of tap dancers. However, this was a most professional show and one of the best we have seen and their musical arrangements certainly had Sarah and the boys on their toes, with several pauses for the tap dancing. I’m giving them a 9/10 for their performance. The male half chose the wrong song for his voice for his singing solo (You’ll Never Walk Alone) but that would be my only criticism. Great arrangements, good introductions and a very pleasant duo – who are good friends, not romantic partners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>On leaving the theatre at 10:30pm, we of course, walked back via the atrium. One pianist (singing), just two people across the far side having a drink, four bar staff… What a contrast to earlier in the evening (or 2011/12).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0070C0'>Port day tomorrow – Manta in Ecuador, home of Panama hats and a Princess half day tour for us. About 180 leave the ship for their 2 or 3 day tours to Machu Picchu.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-58652150069358178302014-08-03T06:55:00.000-07:002014-08-03T12:57:34.680-07:00Day 69 - Transit of the Panama Canal - August 1st.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZySeDGGUrINoGGu_hRYCyjGiDKpjhJx4vyg5YC-v3TJQKYVpZH1GhEqkxBkC8MH1_MLdS38ZGvzUjsYx8OvUlL3cOwJxyTXMuTo7pzf-LiFrJAkn-CpFERdzTHI2Ezz1u6QZXxZTKVw/s1600/214_0801_06b-754681.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZySeDGGUrINoGGu_hRYCyjGiDKpjhJx4vyg5YC-v3TJQKYVpZH1GhEqkxBkC8MH1_MLdS38ZGvzUjsYx8OvUlL3cOwJxyTXMuTo7pzf-LiFrJAkn-CpFERdzTHI2Ezz1u6QZXxZTKVw/s320/214_0801_06b-754681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043430680305158434" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dx385Of1h2ws2Wdn44WAfVNtuyqIUSGEgAf4H365iKuZy46blHaP2Vy9IEQ2luFqWXIZNnmwj22AHu3NaK3RsJmGkz7l4LXhIZtfVMX4kzlxJI86fRQ3N3OEUWaRVRgKyzVZo_UdCg/s1600/214_0801_07b-758071.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dx385Of1h2ws2Wdn44WAfVNtuyqIUSGEgAf4H365iKuZy46blHaP2Vy9IEQ2luFqWXIZNnmwj22AHu3NaK3RsJmGkz7l4LXhIZtfVMX4kzlxJI86fRQ3N3OEUWaRVRgKyzVZo_UdCg/s320/214_0801_07b-758071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043430693036044786" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBDtJ6QqlQDIMCS8nPmNW72F1zMONcIP9ZeQsYnMeRJwiyc41k7nhnoCZ9M3q11UTVb-nahr28gSs4qHH70cRxYVKghRmdTo3eeA0k7Awvf3pH4ZkmgLev79Tlz5-mzZgI9FJwitfg/s1600/214_0801_11b-761034.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBDtJ6QqlQDIMCS8nPmNW72F1zMONcIP9ZeQsYnMeRJwiyc41k7nhnoCZ9M3q11UTVb-nahr28gSs4qHH70cRxYVKghRmdTo3eeA0k7Awvf3pH4ZkmgLev79Tlz5-mzZgI9FJwitfg/s320/214_0801_11b-761034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043430706804612258" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-AUvNUk7SpUmByukvZky44d6s7rxpvnqTOHMiv_z_BZATUYlyUBtGj2FJUFqEAfklmPBQAm_4Jt_eB031jQarUXAIi9KH8oxfytjLVVh_bXlbOc2TJKfUkv_I76x-P7X4qPF2S59Fg/s1600/214_0801_14b-764479.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-AUvNUk7SpUmByukvZky44d6s7rxpvnqTOHMiv_z_BZATUYlyUBtGj2FJUFqEAfklmPBQAm_4Jt_eB031jQarUXAIi9KH8oxfytjLVVh_bXlbOc2TJKfUkv_I76x-P7X4qPF2S59Fg/s320/214_0801_14b-764479.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043430725040404898" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQycbPDRSGnFsgxgU90RwKUc9zcY_BoGhnFKiiZIwiKxU7b7U03PgPNRxMw_BH4V5E5Ucva_8sKd0_MNpFg6ozz3OWppGbmApDEVME0FRqBBEOV7HblNlrnLY1u-qjFNMyw-mOhHfJ5g/s1600/214_0801_15b-767090.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQycbPDRSGnFsgxgU90RwKUc9zcY_BoGhnFKiiZIwiKxU7b7U03PgPNRxMw_BH4V5E5Ucva_8sKd0_MNpFg6ozz3OWppGbmApDEVME0FRqBBEOV7HblNlrnLY1u-qjFNMyw-mOhHfJ5g/s320/214_0801_15b-767090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043430731343511122" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Although technically another sea day, for many, this is one of the highlight days of the cruise. We were fortunate in going through in 2011 but this is one of those cruise days that is always interesting and enjoyable. Up to the Horizon Court for the usual breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The day started off extremely warm and bright but the whole Panama Canal system relies on the rainfall flowing into the massive Gatun lake, then through the three sets of locks and down into the Caribbean Sea at the north eastern end and the Pacific Ocean at the south western end. With each lock operation, fresh water is flowing outwards from the top lake level and with the planned expansion of the canal, to cope with wider ships, a form of water reticulation is being incorporated. Incidentally, the new roller lock gates have been built in Italy and weigh 3000 tons each. I hope I got that right. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>It was interesting to learn that the original plan was for a passage 150 feet wide at a time when ships were somewhat narrower than today. The plans were then revised down to just 110 feet wide, as critics were (as usual) being rather short sighted, which has restricted the size of modern ships, cargo and passenger, ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The Dawn Princess has just 30cm/1 foot clearance on each side when entering the current locks, so when the new locks on the expansion are completed, in 2015, they’ll have a capacity of 180 feet wide. This will of course have a considerable impact on the shipping industry and will inevitably mean that the larger cruise ships heading through, may well see the Sun class Princess ships not doing World Cruises, or, it may mean more options. Who knows? Up to now, the largest and therefore the most expensive ship (in terms of levies paid) to pass through, is a Disney cruise ship. The cheapest levy of 37 cents was on a swimmer…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Anyway, back to breakfast. For some reason, the commentary from the bridge was deafening inside the buffet and also out on the open decks. Even though the buffet staff complained, nothing much seemed to happen, yet we know the message did get through, but as passengers, at least we could escape to our cabins. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>I hung out the Union Jack from our balcony for the first set of locks, and Birdie waved to the kids, old and young. The three section Gatun locks, raise the ship a total of 85 ft., but when we returned to the cabins later, flags and notices had been removed – by order of the captain, according to our steward. They were back for the other two sets of locks though…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>As expected, it tipped it down with rain for a while and it was extremely humid from then on and we lost the bright colours, as there was also a fair bit of haze or mist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A light lunch (I am doing my best) of once again, some nice fish and a bowl of corn chowder. After the Pedro Miguel lock, we headed the short distance to the last of the three lock sets, Miraflores, a double lock with a grandstand alongside. As we entered, it looked as though they were filming a TV news show from the dockside and by the time we left, it was about 7pm and darkness had fallen, so we only saw the distant lights of Panama City.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Dinner was fish and chips, with, wait for it, malt vinegar! Wow. No mushy peas or even mashed peas this time. Overall, we are still a little underwhelmed by the vegetables. The roast beef two nights ago had steamed vegetables rather than the advertised roast veg – and no potatoes at all. Most odd. The waiters now bring a plate of green veg to the table every night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After dinner, we went to the Vista lounge for comedian Don Friesan. So-so but only about a 7 out of 10. Being a 40 year old, some of his material was a bit too modern (computer passwords etc.) for the older members of the audience, but at least his material was original, so that was worth a point.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#7C7C7C;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Back at sea tomorrow and heading for South America - our first visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-20681496461255767912014-08-02T10:38:00.000-07:002014-08-02T16:40:22.942-07:00Day 68 - At sea and more excitement - for some<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish2Ut3rRTgcMyDXr7sjcUkp01yqvDVArT88DfANrsv7wWhJpnJd9_JYLJWDEATrhYcDmC2xiToNx89ybNZz5YHFlEeaZrMj9GORxjcfR3vDGKhzNFcTmI52mIf1avVXLU-5xsdPJjeg/s1600/214_0731_01-722943.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish2Ut3rRTgcMyDXr7sjcUkp01yqvDVArT88DfANrsv7wWhJpnJd9_JYLJWDEATrhYcDmC2xiToNx89ybNZz5YHFlEeaZrMj9GORxjcfR3vDGKhzNFcTmI52mIf1avVXLU-5xsdPJjeg/s320/214_0731_01-722943.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6043117013124216562" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>As we went to bed last night, we hadn’t noticed that the ship had not only sped up, but was also heading north, away from the Panama Canal, rather than towards it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>When Sue and Darryl joined us at breakfast, the real story started to unfold. At about 1:30am, they were awoken from their deep sleep by someone hammering on the door. They were simply told that there was a medical emergency and to vacate their cabin and head down to the Vista lounge. There, they were joined by all the passengers from section 7 on the ship, (we are in section 6).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Ross and Susan (yes, a fair few Susans on this ship…) didn’t wake immediately, and someone in full hi-vis protective gear burst in through the door and ordered them out – and that must have been freaky. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Apparently, the Dawn Princess had answered a distress call from a yacht (the ‘Blue Whale’?) where a crew member had been badly injured (broken leg?). A helicopter had also been called but due to the weather and sea conditions, they couldn’t get a medic onto the yacht, but remained hovering at the rear of our ship (hence the evacuation) whilst the ship despatched its own HRC (Highspeed Rescue Craft) to the yacht.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The crew member was shifted to our ship and his condition stabilised by our own medics and then the helicopter left. The passengers returned to their cabins and the crew – particularly the entertainment staff who had not long finished the deck party – returned to theirs, but unlike the passengers, they couldn’t sleep in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Just as we were discussing this at breakfast, the Captain and his lady had just sat down opposite us, when Oswaldo, the Hotel General Manager came and had a quick word with him. With that, the Captain immediately went up to the bridge to tell everyone what had happened and to firstly, assure us that the injured man was OK and secondly, to tell us that it would delay our arrival at the Panama Canal by a couple of hours. Hopefully, the Canal authorities would be able to slot us in OK.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We had quite a busy day with trivia, coffee, then a dance class – ‘The Evening 3 Step’. Up in the buffet afterwards with Darryl and Sue, instructor John joined us just as Vasco was giving us his version of the night’s events. Vasco, had been chatting up (if that is the right word) a 94 year old female passenger. He claimed (in jest) at dinner that he’d see her later. When she got the knock on the door at 2am, she got all excited, only to be disappointed at the real reason for the call.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Whilst talking to John, we mentioned that out of the four of us, only Paula could do the Viennese Waltz, so he kindly offered to spend 5 minutes (it was nearer 15) with a private session, but we did it on the carpeted passageway behind the theatre. Not ideal, but he resolved a couple of issues I had with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>No point in mentioning trivia…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>I had lamb chops for dinner – and very nice too. Off then to the theatre for a new production show “Vintage Vegas”. Once again, although the costumes were good, the background had no glitter (Las Vegas = glitter?) and as most of the songs had been done by previous entertainers – including one or two genuine vocal impressionists – the overall impression was that it wasn’t exactly the best show we have seen. It did come alive with the dancers and once again, when all 4 singers were in harmony, but as a production show, just too much solo singing for our liking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Mark relayed the revised Panama schedule and the two hour delay will probably work in our favour, as with the clocks back another hour, no need for an early start. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Once through the canal, we are of course back in the Pacific Ocean – which has a direct link to NZ, just that it will take over 3 weeks to get there. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-31548491496338636942014-08-01T05:38:00.000-07:002014-08-01T10:40:47.786-07:00Day 67 - Bonaire - More excitement on and off the ship part 1 of 2<p class="mobile-photo"><a 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaHRXI1x8bREiSy8u98XZ1gMs4w0Bop3Sk_DUYwVnChisNZPBXUpsVv8pCN7ZgVG3FymA_E6Uhf_6OXDpmA1I2MNdSNi0U2dcY4kLHhvkbJk14sq4Lr6Fc6mCwklmYn_DCqO-sTQoaA/s1600/214_0730_10-756865.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaHRXI1x8bREiSy8u98XZ1gMs4w0Bop3Sk_DUYwVnChisNZPBXUpsVv8pCN7ZgVG3FymA_E6Uhf_6OXDpmA1I2MNdSNi0U2dcY4kLHhvkbJk14sq4Lr6Fc6mCwklmYn_DCqO-sTQoaA/s320/214_0730_10-756865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6042653302900354130" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7sKokgH5tgPqXOlkSC1nWi5T2dZB01t61pWDAavP6dc6i_iWGGrhNo2VkyB5nfJSj3A7kuytufwHtwvEW-R3DBk-jI6N0i5bAjx945B4KodzTttb1rooPZYw3cY95EbqbzNLg2WKLw/s1600/214_0730_19-759746.JPG"><img 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXYeDp_zLGabVQP0IbGRkGai7PKg-DCk1oUVCf8yQVtt_-KCahWgXVmAFZPicid8q_NzEt-WSsUwAdk3uyHx4CK2TGVtVaIjxe0cGPYwBGsJo7R0-PjtccGxBTTcKDvkX1HzW1X9VSw/s1600/214_0730_23-766584.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXYeDp_zLGabVQP0IbGRkGai7PKg-DCk1oUVCf8yQVtt_-KCahWgXVmAFZPicid8q_NzEt-WSsUwAdk3uyHx4CK2TGVtVaIjxe0cGPYwBGsJo7R0-PjtccGxBTTcKDvkX1HzW1X9VSw/s320/214_0730_23-766584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6042653342868537442" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcHUGNLt-tmRGYNYrZgc8yQ7rle79GKtv0_GLM3IDgG5ElsrrJ8rKobF6p24oL1N6KqrTmZP8PVeNHyic-TmTCQdvjxQEjMX3qTB0YTHNQ_bQM52FOJon5mE0ZoUK_mfQSb6A_QHVDA/s1600/214_0730_26-769118.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcHUGNLt-tmRGYNYrZgc8yQ7rle79GKtv0_GLM3IDgG5ElsrrJ8rKobF6p24oL1N6KqrTmZP8PVeNHyic-TmTCQdvjxQEjMX3qTB0YTHNQ_bQM52FOJon5mE0ZoUK_mfQSb6A_QHVDA/s320/214_0730_26-769118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6042653351846836450" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>The last of our Caribbean calls, Bonaire was arguably the best from some viewpoints, namely that it seemed cleaner and with zero graffiti, colourful buildings and a reasonable range of adjacent shops, plus an attractive wharf/quayside.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Once again, we woke to find we were already tied up at the dock. Movement whilst at sea is often so minimal, you really have no idea whether or not you are moving. Only at tender ports, when they are lowering the lifeboats, do you get woken by the noise of whirring winches. The township on Bonaire where the ship moored is in fact Kralendijk (definitely Dutch!) and after our usual leisurely breakfast, we had planned to meet Sue and Darryl down in the atrium. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>A somewhat flustered Sue eventually appeared, having lost her cruise card. Typical timing, it was at that point that the ship’s computer system was being upgraded, so they couldn’t issue a new card… Some good work by Customer Services and Security allowed Sue off the ship anyway, with a promise that she’d be able to return OK. Darryl of course, was considering his options if she wasn’t allowed back. You’d have to know Darryl to understand that these included finding a leggy blonde to complete the journey…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Much was made of the pink flamingos in the area and we had pencilled that in as a destination. Once on shore, the tourist lady advised against it as most had already left the island, so we changed our plans. Sue and Darryl headed for the water taxi to “No Name Island” for some snorkelling and we ambled across the road into the nearest shop. The ladies in the shop were totally disorganised trying to find the right shoe to match the left that Paula liked and then they gave me the wrong directions, sending us away from town… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Having trudged around the block and found nothing, all civilisation being at the street parallel to the quayside, we settled on an ice cream which was excellent ($1.75 per scoop). If memory serves me correctly, that is considerably cheaper than Darwin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>We wandered along the main street with its colourful buildings then through the “Harborside” building to the sea front, where there were several bars. We spied Mike and Sue from our dinner table, relaxing. One bar however had a blackboard list of ‘shooters’ that included a rather derogatory description of a redhead and one with a naughty slang term that has no place on a public posting such as this, so sadly, the pic had to be edited. Just after we spied the notice, Sue and Darryl returned anyway, so naturally, Sue had her pic taken below the sign... We thought that at $8, she was selling herself too cheaply.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After our fruitless walk around the block in the heat, we returned to the ship ready for liquids and I had a welcome coffee whilst Paula played it safe with tea and a couple of small rolls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Apparently Sue was escorted back onto the ship by a Security officer leading her by the arm – but we missed that photo opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>After our 4pm sailaway, and the usual gathering on deck 11, we headed for the dining room for ‘afternoon tea’ just for a change. We appeared to be the only ones taking advantage at that late hour, so we were swamped by helpful waiters and waitresses with trays of savouries and small cakes, scones, jam and cream and pots of tea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>With one of the famous ‘Ultimate Deck Parties’ later on, Hawaiian shirts were the order of the day for dinner and the emu (Birdie) puppet made its first appearance of this trip. With the promise of the deck buffet at 10pm, I skipped dessert (as usual) but once on deck, we found that the buffet had been cancelled. Drat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>It was a bit noisy and rather warm, so after a short while, we headed for the cooler Wheelhouse bar, where just four couples had the dance-floor to ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#385723;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Bed for us at 12.00, but for some, the excitement continued well into the night, so look out for part 2, as we head towards for the Panama Canal (or do we?) and another day at sea.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332185733757228374.post-81992736602008394722014-07-31T10:45:00.000-07:002014-07-31T15:47:59.595-07:00Day 66 - At sea - yes, again - July 29th<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyoRbmoYmuM4Af5Ws9Nw0hlMWBX8NZSqq2HxlG_X2ZFFLgDwIBgocYww-QleYkiyRKHklerNbAbRTuylmfriyN7ym_6eyel0A-sDIA0KuEJAxC9UXeX-3u7D2T6c62glt2VFdg1lWWg/s1600/214_0729_01-779596.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyoRbmoYmuM4Af5Ws9Nw0hlMWBX8NZSqq2HxlG_X2ZFFLgDwIBgocYww-QleYkiyRKHklerNbAbRTuylmfriyN7ym_6eyel0A-sDIA0KuEJAxC9UXeX-3u7D2T6c62glt2VFdg1lWWg/s320/214_0729_01-779596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6042361342224838226" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D4aZohnLmBbkW5pN4JzSGCWXA89WkyGPoHBS1MGuq0KTkK5bHzXKCkHwcCOF3wTDoIgnRpoHv8MI5oV_UdLDKr-ODLvEYdm1MVi8EMImbcMbwrxXwF886qJ4-D3lN3TT8GWAIcCgsQ/s1600/214_0729_03-783527.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D4aZohnLmBbkW5pN4JzSGCWXA89WkyGPoHBS1MGuq0KTkK5bHzXKCkHwcCOF3wTDoIgnRpoHv8MI5oV_UdLDKr-ODLvEYdm1MVi8EMImbcMbwrxXwF886qJ4-D3lN3TT8GWAIcCgsQ/s320/214_0729_03-783527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6042361355847148514" /></a></p><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>A good night’s sleep and even during the night, it was obvious that Paula was much better – thank goodness. With 4 weeks to go tomorrow, hopefully I’ll keep the lurgi at bay. The Vick’s ‘First Defence’ seems to be working well. Up to the buffet a bit later than usual and I decided to stick with my cooked breakfast, but as a sop to dietary and weight-loss considerations, I managed to do without either bacon or the grilled chicken fillet. Darryl and Sue joined us even later still, suitably relieved that Paula seemed OK again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>New boy Jase had a baptism of fire running his first trivia – and on his birthday! We didn’t win and there were some tough, new, questions so the winning score wasn’t too high.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Afterwards, a quick sprint to deck 5 and our new coffee waiter, Dio, got the order spot on again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Paula still a little off colour but this time, it was a dash for the Immodium rather than Strepsils!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>Lunch around 2pm and once again, I managed some very nice fish – grilled grouper and what was advertised as ‘fish fingers’ but really, crumbed and deep fried fish. We sat with dance instructor John and had a quite a long chat (he is normally a woodwork and arts teacher) and he highly recommended the rice pudding. It was delicious, so that is three days on the trot I had something sweet at lunchtime.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We had a leisurely afternoon (nothing new there) and failed to win trivia, but that was fine. We’ll treasure the two wins for ever more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We accidentally missed the pre-dinner show as we didn’t read the Patter properly, but dinner was Thai night. With chicken satays and also a nice green chicken curry on the menu, the choice was easy enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>We called in at Jammer’s night club for a bit of a dance, but with us and D & S included, there were still only 4 couples in there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The movie under the stars at 9:45pm was “Saving Mr Banks” which we’d already seen at the cinema back in Auckland, but lying outside on the open deck (with free popcorn for those that wanted it) on a warm Caribbean evening was a pleasant enough way to spend time. A before, sitting well forward, you are closer to the screen but the noise from the fans and whatever else is going on behind the funnels, tends to swamp the quieter on screen conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2F5597'>The last of our Caribbean stops tomorrow, Bonaire, with a strong Dutch influence. We cancelled our Princess tour for the afternoon so it will just be a wander off and a wander around again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0