I am back! If one has to be sick with a gastro-intestinal illness, which we all know to be horrible, a ship is a pretty amazing place to be.
They certainly have the routine of caring for guests down to a fine art. Once I reported my illness, the clean-up/disinfectant team arrives dressed in suitable garb so as not to spread the virus, the nurse arrives, also in isolation gear, with a special package of information, and drugs, and a hypodermic needle to calm your shattered body. After a 2 day isolation, I was released and although I missed Manta, Equador, it was wonderful to be among the few souls left on the ship, just drinking in the fresh air on the stern of the ship, trying to get back to good health. Today, I had a massage, which really helped me recover fully. I am especially concerned to be back to my old self for our Machu Picchu trip on Monday.
I am posting a picture from the day in Manta, that Barry forgot to post. Manta is famous for its tuna industry, and most of the tuna caught here is shipped to the U.S. We are docked beside a fleet of commercial tuna boats, owned by a local man, who lives in Naples Florida. We watched as tons of big beautiful tuna were offloaded into dry ice shipping containers. The owner, offered, as a good will gesture to the Amsterdam, a large quantity of freshly caught tuna, as a gift. Can't wait for that dinner.
Captain Jonathan told us at his daily noon address, that we may have noticed how cool it was even though we were only 4 degrees south of the equator. The reason for the chill, is that we are in the Humboldt current, which is the most productive current in the world, and flows along the western coast of Peru and Chile, providing the rich fishing grounds, and moderating coastal temperatures. There is a particularly rich upwelling from the bottom of the ocean in this current which feeds the productivity of the sea life.
Tonight was our first main formal ball, - the Black and Silver Ball - when both dining sessions gather in the Queen's Lounge at 10 pm. for a formal 2 hour party, hosted by The Captain and the Officers of the ship. Karen and Jonathan host a lot of Captain's dinners during this voyage, and so they were absent from our dinner table to host the first one. The rest of us had a great evening with a delicious dinner, post dinner drinks and dancing in the Crow's Nest BEFORE the Ball, where the lead singer of that band sounds exactly like Timothy B Findlay of The Eagles. Then by chance I won a bottle of champagne, while dancing with The Captain in a spot dance. ( I think it was a set up!).
Another note, that Barry didn't mention was that on Friday evening we attended the violinist show, and were simply knocked over by her talent. She has just finished recording with Sir Paul McCartney, and previously with David Foster, Josh Grobin, Barbara Streisand, Rod Stewart and Yo Yo Mah... not to shabby company. Her name is Alwyn Wright. We highly recommend you find her CDs.
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