(Backup) Hats

Hats

January 12, 2018

Good evening, somewhere out in the South Pacific, we just returned from a wonderful show with Helen Wilding, she has done theater, opera, television and film. She looks about 30 but has been a pro for over 20 years. She was wonderful.. 

it has been a very busy few days. People asked before we left, what would we do on all the sea days? Wouldn’t we get board, well so far we are both so busy we don’t have time to even go to one of the movies, in the afternoon. 

Ed is going to tie-chee  every morning at 9 and yesterday because I awoke early, because of the time change, he went early and found, there was another one that started at 8. So he had two hours of exercise!  I go to watercolor classes at 9, and you have to get there early or you don’t get a decent seat. Then I go to the arts and crafts at two thirty and that sounds like we would have lots of time, but in reality, there was a Port lecture in between and lunch. Luckily the arts and crafts was in the lunch area, so I was able to secure a seat, way ahead, as they had over 100 people show up! People were turned away, as they only had kits for 100. Nancy the teacher was told by the cruise line to plan for 50, and she made up a 100! And now Ed has gone to the afternoon lecture, and we get back in the room at around four. I am still trying to fit in the Americas Test Kitchen! Maybe later. 

Then it is time to shower, and have a chat, and get ready for dinner, thank God we have 8 o’clock seating. It was Dutch day, so at Dinner we’re each given a hat Ed’s was a black hat that was a bit like a baseball hat and mine was a traditional white hat that has little wings, we’ll put them on in the morning and take a selfie. 

January 9, 2018 Panama

Well here I am two days behind again, but T-Mobile has come through again. We have full usage for free, so I will try to catch up, again. 

I left off with getting ready to go to the first formal/ Galla night, it as the Black & Gold night and there was a captain's cocktail party. It was wonderful, best we have ever attended. No running for seats, plenty of hor'dourves and drinks flowed like water, and they were good. Best G&T so far. 

The other thing I liked was there was no introducing the most traveled, etc. they did introduce the heads of each department, and that was nice, to put faces to thease people.  All and all very classy. 

Then we went to dinner, and I would say 90% of the men were in a tux. And the women were very dressy. The dinner was the best, surf and turf for me, and I think Ed had the veal. He thought the lobster tail would be, like the past, but it was really, really good, and the steak was so tender, and cooked just like I asked. 

We then called it a night as the show was a comedian and we didn't think that was the way to end the evening, and heard later, it was a good choice. 

Next day we were in Puerto Limon Costa Rica, not much there, and we had done the tours in the past, so we chose, to walk around, which mention we could sleep in. It got very warm by the end of the day, but that was kind of nice.  I got a little sun, even with spf 50. 

So now it was once again, get ready for dinner. Dinner was great again, fried chicken fo me and liver for Ed. 

Then on to the show, it was a dance theme, and it was really good, we very much enjoyed it. 

When we returned we were both given a real Panama hat, wow these pillow gifts are really going over the top. And it was really timely as I had not packed Ed's right and it needed to be replaced, figured I'd do it tomorrow, while on our tour to Eumbara people's village, but now we don't have to. 

So now we are transiting the Panama Canal, it is hot and muggy, that is to be expected. They have two Panamains selling Han woven Mola, known as Los Cayos, I will try to sen a picture. 

January 6, 2018 Grand Cayman

I am not sure where the last two days have gone, I did have a wonderful birthday. It was busy, Ed went to a lecturer, and I signed up for water color, and craft classes.  So sea days will be busy. I learned to tie a slip knot (not) at the craft class, but maybe with a bit of practice I will. She said once you get it you will never forget. 

Today we are tendering to George Town, Grand Cayman. The weather doesn’t look to promising, but after the crowd subsides we will go over to the island and see what has changed, since the last time we were here. They just announced there is liquid sunshine going on,,, so we shall see how this goes.  So much for needing to do my hair. 

We walked around a bit, I looked for an aperon, to use for a smok at the water color classes but didn’t find one. So we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and had huge hamburgers, and a local beer. We also had some huge chocolate brownie, ice cream concoction, that we sheared, and couldn’t eat it all. We were both hungry as we had skipped breakfast, we weren’t hungry any longer,,, good thing dinner isn’t until eight. 

It started raining again, so now it was time to catch the tender back to the ship. 

Back on the ship, I started on trying to find room for the last bag of stuff. Which just happened to be mostly Ed’s clothes, he needed something to wear to dinner, don’t ya know. I think every crack and cranny is full. But we got it done!  As time goes on, and a few sea days I’ll make more order out of everything, I hope. 

Ed went to sail away and I worked on the unpacking I was determined to get it all done.  Ed said I didn’t miss anything there we not many people, and even the cruise director didn’t come. So we dressed for dinner. 

We have an interesting dinner table. We are at a table for eight, but there is only seven of us, a couple from Seattle, and a couple from Tulsa Oklahoma, and Cathy from Ashland, Virginia! We met Cathy on a tour, when we were on the Westerdam, and she has been in charge of the role-call, on cruise critic.    She did a great job. 

We have seen two great shows since we boarded the ship, the first one was ABBA FAB, they sounded so much like ABBA that it was uncanny. They sang many of there hits, and of coarse Mama Mia!  Then last night we saw the most amazing show I have ever seen,,, David Meyer, played a Xylosynthesis, it’s a combination of a xylophone and a synthesizer, and his energy for playing it was unmatched by any thing I have ever seen. But he wasn’t finished impressing us..... he then played an instrument he envented.. he played laser beams!! Unbelievable!  Then his beautiful wife how was and is a pro dancer danced to the music he played on the laser and she had laser wands, that when twirled made the most beautiful patterns. Then she danced to Carman. It was wonderful, it really rounded out the day. Then we got to sleep in a bit as we moved to central time.   And we got our second pillow gift, each of us have revived a very nice messenger bag, and last night we go moleskin travel books. I’m going to need to find things to leave behind, if this keeps up. LOL

Today. Has been busy. Ed worked out our internet glitches, with a most accommodating young woman at the Internet cafe Courtney, she is very familiar with Apple products, so that really helps. So now I think we have it all worked out. 

Meanwhile I went to the first water color class, and I think I might like it, and after brunch, more on that later, I went to arts and crafts class. The woman teaching that, Nancy, is amazing, the amount of work she has infested in the class, and classes, to come, is over the top. So I will attend all I can.  I learned how to make a slip knot and attach a cute little zipped pouch, so you can carry your cruise card, a wee bit of money and hide it under your shirt. 

Now on to Sunday brunch, which was excellent it was a preset menu of small bites, in three courses. So no Buffett, but better, as you could have all you wanted, they would bring you more. I hadn’t eaten breakfast so I was starved, but was really filled up before desert, but still managed to eat most of it. LOL

So now we are getting getting ready for the first Gala Night, Black & Gold, it is the Captins Party, more on that later.