WEEK TWO

Tonight at midnight we crossed the Equator. The imaginary line on the Earth’s surface equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole that divides the Earth into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere. We earned a EQUATOR CERTIFICATE….

No the water does not go down the other way…

January 13, 2010

Arrived in Monta,Ecuador to a port filled with Tuna fishing boats. Here also lots of boats at anchor and many being repaired hoping to be able to go back to work soon. Starkist tuna is the big employer here, along with Panama Hats. We walked around the port area and stopped to shop at a small flea market. Of course I bought a necklace and a neat T-shirt.

So far the ports have been very much like Caribbean Islands. Interesting, poor and not much different from each other.

Observations: January 15, 2010

The age of the passengers keeps amazing us, along with the amount of times they have cruised around the world and other cruises. At dinner we sat with a 80 year old women from the Panhandle. She sits at a table for 12 with people she has met on previous trips.

Then there are the people who move around in wheelchairs, manual and electric, walkers, and those pulling oxygen. Amazing. They are all over the ship and shore doing their thing. Keeps life in perspective.

Last night was our Captain’s Grand Voyage Dinner. Our host crew member was the man in charge of ENVIRERMENT. Right one to have at our table. They must only pick the charming crew members to sit at the tables. He was from Australia and a wonderful accent. We learned all about preserving the ocean,

How the ship conserves, picks up fresh water at ports and disposes of waste. Each port has its own rules, plus the country and last the ocean. My favorite government authority rules, EPA.

The dress code for the night was formal black and white. Didn’t have anything white dressy enough so I just went black. First was wine and appetizers in the Rembrandt Lounge and then Dinner in the Pinnacle Dinning Room. A five course dinner, plus wine, then a fabulous dessert. For Bill, the vegetarian food and presentation was right out of a magazine. Beautiful and delicious. The chocolate (very dark) filled puffed pastry was to die for. The first chocolate I have eaten. Well worth the wait. We rolled back to our room.

Lazy this morning. Still at sea and we slept in. Had breakfast on the Veranda, with the sunrise. going to spend the day by the pool reading and then late afternoon attend Friday night Services. Tough life. Could get used to being pampered.