Days 79, 80, 81 At Sea

Monday March 25th, Tuesday, March 26th, Wednesday March 27th, 2013

At last we had a series of sea days to recoup and do some shipboard activities.  The highlights have been several, including the entertainment.  One night we had a hysterical comedian, who will play again tonight (Wednesday); Tuesday night we had the pleasure of the original star of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, who played Christine 8 times a week for 5 years.  She has a superb voice  even now, 25 years later, that had the entire theatre on its feet.  Monday night Barry and I really jumped out of the box by going to the theatre, then going to the Piano Bar for Hits for the 50's, then going to the movie at 10:15: Silver Linings Playbook.  For two people who have been in bed just after 9:30 every night, this was really running with scissors, but we had a great evening.  

Tuesday evening was the "White" Formal and we all looked like brides, and the men who had white dinner jackets looked like waiters.  Jonathan and Karen didn't have a Captain's dinner because we are sailing in pirate waters, so we really enjoyed having them with us on formal night and Karen wore a fabulous embellished jacket that she bought in Ujung Pandang, Indonesia.  

Speaking of pirates, on Monday morning we had our drill, which involved all the passengers sitting on the floor in our corridors, since the walls between the cabin and the corridor are steel lined, and the crew practising the fire hose procedures, and the ship doing evasive manoeuvres.  We have some pictures so that you can see we are not making this up.  We have been making lots of jokes that since we are on the Lower Promenade, where any pirates would board, if they made it over the razor wire, that we could just call Jonathan if they get into our cabin.  Of course this is no joke for those who have experienced piracy, which is a true scourge of the oceans. 

 

I continue to be treated by Christopher, the Acupuncturist and Herbalist, who has in 3 sessions made me feel like a new woman.  I will be back in the gym on March 29th - oh joy oh bliss, spin class :-).  My hairdresser Violetta is 25 years old and she told me she quit after 1 class because she couldn't breathe and she thought she would die.  I told her that if I, at 65 could do it, she could too.  Made me feel pretty good actually, that I have survived it.  Barry  walks 3 1/2 times around our Lower Promenade Deck for a mile each day to keep his fitness. 

Today was a big event for Leslie, our friend.  She has a fashion flair that is distinctive and unique and people are always complimenting her and asking her for fashion assistance.  Last year she did a little hour's presentation which was repeated today, called Fashion Tips and Tricks.  Leslie is a true bargain hunter, with an eye for style, and a creative genius at turning everything into a stunning look, for unbelievably little money.  There was a crowd of about 75 or 100 men and women.  I modelled one of her outfits that she had made car-wash pants from a sari, last year.  Karen did a demonstration of scarves and pashminas, which was a big hit, and Peggy showed us how to turn wall hangings and table runners into elegant formal attire.  People loved it and we had to rush out before the HAL Chorale started their practice. 

Tomorrow is my 66th birthday and we will be in The Seychelles, which is a group of islands that have an exotic flavour, much like those South Pacific ones of Bora Bora and Moorea.  The temperature is going to be over 90F, so hopefully we can find ourselves some of that beautiful warm Indian Ocean water to swim in.   Karen has a friend, Doreen, who is originally from The Seychelles, but now lives and has a business in Florida.  She has arranged a tour for us which sounds fantastic, and it is certainly wonderful to have a local person advise you on the best things to do, to avoid the tourist traps.  Leslie will also join us, then at dinner, back on the ship, our friend Art is coming for dinner to celebrate.   I feel so lucky to have such nice friends who want to fete me. 

Here is another of the many beautiful flower arrangements on the Amsterdam, this one set in a Chinese hat.