Our last day

Oct 14, 2010  81 degrees and still humid

We have alot of finishing up things today. Joan made her last purchases. I have done enough. Joan went to learn how to fold napkins and I listened to a talk on Ft Lauderdale. Then we heard the disembarkation talk so we know how to get off the ship. We are meeting another couple who are on the same plane and will share a taxi with them. After the talk we learned another recipe from one of the chef’s (pic 2). After lunch we learned how to make cake decorations out of marzipan (pic 3) – very interesting. We sat in on a chit chat with the cast of the showroom. I picked up the computer lesson papers that we have missed. We went to the last bingo and I won a game, so we shared $168. That might pay our bar bill!!! From there we changed and went to the Chef’s dinner, where they end with the baked alaska  (pic 1)parade. We sat with a couple from New Mexico and a man from Vancouver, WA and a lady from Oregon. The show tonight was Paul Pappas, the pianist and John Lenahan the magician/comedian. We enjoyed them very much again. Now we have spent an hour and a half trying to get our luggage to weigh the right amount!!! We’ll be home tomorrow.

Sailing the Caribbean Sea

Oct 13, 2010  - 31 degres, with a breeze

It was fairly rough during the night with a wind pushing against the side of the ship. Still rocky in the morning so Joan decided to stay in bed with her bands and medication. I went up for breakfast then sat in on a question and answer with the members of the cruise activities staff. They told us about their life aboard ship  - how they work and live. Next I watched some people play bocci. I picked up a recipe for stir-fry beef, then went to change for lunch. Today we were invited to a brunch with the captain for previous HAL sailors, for which Joan was feeling better, and hungry. We had a nice meal, champagne and got our tile coasters for being previous cruisers. The motion has settled down and is supposed to get very calm later today. It was very warm in the dining room, and we heard it was nice and cool up in the crows nest on deck 12 so we went up there to cool off. Whew, much better. Joan went to the back pool to enjoy the sun and I went to a class on tandoori chicken, by Chef Bitta, second in command and Indian, so he used his traditional recipe with a few extras not on the ship’s recipe. I also attended a trivia game about chocolate. A group of ladies were sitting there when I went in and called me over, so I sat with them and they were very smart, as we won and received some pins as well as some chocolate. We met up again for happy hour and the men from yesterday joined us while their wives were practicing for a skit they are doing tomorrow. We had made a reservation for dinner in Canaletto, the Italian restaurant tonight and it was very good. The show was a variety of music by the band, the string orchestra, and a guitarist as well as 2 of the singers (Pic 3) from the ship’s cast. It was very good. From there we went to the oceans bar to listen to the trio there who play music from the 40’s etc. As we were there Dan the Cruise director (pic 4) came along and sang a few songs with the band. All very entertaining. Tonight was the dessert extravaganza, and we went up to take pictures (pics 1 & 2). It was so hot and humid even though they had the roof open a little. We took a walk around and took pictures, and were talking to people when all of a sudden there was rain coming in through the roof that was open and a great scramble to shut the roof and move the audio equipment that was set up. Water was all over the floor and we couldn’t stand the heat so came back to the room where it is nice and cool.

 

Cartagena, Columbia

Oct 12, 2010  38 Celsius and hummmid

Happy Birthday Chuck!!!

We sailed into Cartagena about 10am. A very large city, which has a new town and an old town with 14 million people. The heat just hits you like a wall when you get off the ship. Fortunately we found out there was a shuttle to the entrance to the port where the taxis are. There were parrots all over the area (pic). Another couple, Buttons and Terry, who we talk to frequently are leaving at the same time so Terry negotiated for a taxi - $20 for all of us. It takes about 15 minutes and the air conditioning is not very good. He lets us off at the entrance to Old Town, which is where we decided to go. We only have 5 hours here so can’t do everything. We go into the walled city and the architecture (pic 2 & 3) from centuries ago is everywhere. We start walking and darting into one shop after another. Of course they all have much the same stuff, but many of them are air conditioned so we go in for the reprieve. Buttons and Joan are leading the way from shop to shop, while Terry and I are trying to take pictures, then we look around for the girls and the people on the street tell us where they are. Finally we ask where we can go for a cerveza, (pic 6) and one guy says just a minute and another runs down the street, and comes back with a guy with a cart with drinks!! We said “no” we want to sit down, so he tells us where there is a place to sit down. Just a few blocks away there were several small restaurants, all with tables outside in the square, but you don’t know who’s is who’s so we start bargaining with the girls for 2 for 1. We get $3 but sit down at someone else’s table and try to get her down to $3 but they won’t budge. Another girls comes to us and says $3 and takes us over to her table, so after all that the beer was so good. There were people with their wares constantly after us, but we just kept brushing them off. We saw women carrying fruit and baking (pic 5) on their heads. We also saw Juan Valdez and his donkey (pic 40. After our rest we start heading back towards the gate we came through in the wall. Eventually and many shops later we find it and as we emerged, Joan said she didn’t think there was a taxi when all of a sudden there were about 15 right there, and we said we would pay $15 and he said ok, so we headed back. Many people speak English well. It is a great city to visit (pic 1). Once back on board we had lunch and then into the pool. It doesn’t feel quite as cool today, but was very refreshing anyway. At happy hour we chatted with a couple of the men who were at the Indian village tour I went on. One was from New Jersey and one from Calgary. At dinner we sat with 3 people from Seattle, and a couple from Arizona. The show tonight was a female singer Robin Fellows. She was a good singer, but too much theatrics. Back to our room where it is much cooler and we have to turn our clocks ahead one hour anyway.

    

 

Panama Canal

Oct 11, 2010  cloudy, hot and muggy

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

We started into the canal about 6:30, after getting into our spot in the line-up. Someone is commentating the entire process. Joan and I head out to the front deck on level 6 but it seems too low, so we go up the level 9 and we can see everything from there. They explain the process of the building of the canal and how the locks work. The ships are sailed through the locks, as the mules on the tracks on either side are just to keep the ship in the middle of the lock (pic 1). The doors that open from one lock to another are still the originals from 1914! We are in a lock next to the Celebrity Mercury so we are all waving to each other. There is coffee and Panama buns (filled with fruit and custard) on deck – yum. All along the way they are building new locks which will carry larger ships. Bothe sets of locks will operate simultaneously. The cost for the Statendam to go through the canal was 436 thousand dollars. Today 36 ships went through the canal. We watch the process then go for breakfast while in the first lake. It is very hot now as we are moving so slowly and are enclosed in the narrow channel through the continental divide (pic 3) where they had to clear the longest part of the canal, blasting through the mountains. After that we cross the manmade lake, Gatun, – verrrrry large. Joan has been out on deck by the pool since breakfast – after shopping of course. After lunch I also get into the pool. At 1pm the cruise director and his staff had a swim the canal event (pic 4). We had to get in the pool and swim (or walk) the length for a certificate!! We stayed by the pool for the last of the locks, then back to the room to shower. We had a glass of wine and Joan read while I blogged. We had happy hour and talked to a fellow from our dinner table last night. At dinner we sat with a couple of ladies from Calgary, a lady and her son from Minnesota, and 2 ladies from Kansas. Most of us had turkey – yummm. The service was very slow tonight, so we skipped coffee. Joan was getting a scratchy throat so the went for a cup of tea from the lido and went to bed. Ruth went to the show which was Paul Pappas, a pianist who played everything from Bach to honkey tonk. He was very entertaining. We are tired from all the heat today, so an early night.

 

Fuerte Amador

 

Oct 10, 2010  90’s sun/cloud/rain

We arrived in Fuerte Amador about 9am. It is the end of a peninsula about 1/2 hour from Panama City (pic 1 above). The peninsula is actually 3 bunkers built by the US when the canal was being built to give protection. They are no longer bunkers and are connected by a road and on to Panama and the rest of the former canal zone. Ruth is going on a tour to an Indian village. Joan has decided to stay around and just go to the marina area where there is a little shopping. I found out about the Indian village tour by connecting with folks online who were also on this ship and had arranged for this tour. I met with them after they got on the ship in San Diego. By the time this day has come around we ended up with 14 people for the tour. We drove about 40 minutes to a small village on the Cagres river. On the way we were stopped by the tourist police to find out where we are going, and they followed us to the village and stayed until the dugout canoes (pic 1 below) came for us, to be sure we were safe. We got into 2 canoes and set off for the camp. It was about a 35 minute canoe ride down the river and into Alhajuela Lake and across that. We arrived in the Embera tribe camp and were greeted by the men playing music on instruments they made from trees (pic 2 below), animals etc. from the jungle. We walked up to a very large open sided building with 3 sides lined with tables of the crafts they make. There were beautiful baskets, jewellery and carved ironwood. They put a price on the items of $1 per hour it took to make the item. Most items were over $20 each. We were served lunch (pic 2 above) of fried plantain and fish in a cone made of a leaf, and fruit. Next we sat on benches in the middle of the large building and were shown how they make the thin pieces fiber from the leaves, that they use to make the baskets and how they color them, using soil, parts of trees etc. They also showed the ironwood and how they carve with the knives they make and how they polish the wood. They also showed the nuts they use to carve animals out of to show their children all about the animals. Next they did a couple of dances and got us all up to dance. They are completely self sufficient and have no modern conveniences. They start their day at sunrise and end it at sunset. Their homes are made of wood and palm leaves for the roof. They are built on stilts (pic 3 below) because they have 9 months of rain and frequent flooding. There were about 25 children (pic 4 below) running around, helping or swinging in hammocks under the tables. It was all very educational and fascinating. We got back to the ship about 6 pm. Our guide Ivan was very knowledgeable. It was a great day. I went looking for Joan and found her fairly quickly, and we went for dinner. She had a good day too. She shopped a little at the marina, and spent the rest of the day at the pool, and reading. At dinner we sat with a couple from New Jersey, one from Minnesota, and one from Mexico. After dinner we went to the Lido to listen to a Marimba band brought on board for a few hours. They also had a fund raiser for the needy. They have been collecting money and clothing all cruise for the 10-10-10- event, so they took donations tonight and all who donated got to push an officer from the engineering dept into the pool. It was quite entertaining. They also had appies and chocolate fountains and fruit available. We decided to call it a night after a little fruit. Tomorrow the canal!!!

 

At sea again

Oct 9, 2010  It’s hot again, with a few clouds and showers at times.

Lots of activities again today. After breakfast Joan went to the sun. Ruth attended a cooking class about crepes(pic 1). After that were talks about the Panama Canal, and some of the cruises coming up in the next few years. The ship’s officers made themselves available to mingle about the room and answer questions(pic 2).Joan caught up with me and we went to a singles and solos get together. Talked to a few of the ladies briefly then off to lunch. After lunch it was another talk on emeralds and other stones. The tour guide told us all about the next 2 stops we will be making. Joan went back out into the sun. Ruth went to a computer class, but I had already done that one, so I checked emails etc. It is formal night so we dress for dinner and have our wine while catching up on CNN. At dinner we sat with a couple from Lynden WA and a couple from Richmond who we had dined with before – a good meal and conversation. The show tonight is the cast of the ship’s show, and they are excellent as usual (pic 3). Nothing else we are interested in so Joan is watching a movie while I do this. There is a camera watching the ships go through the locks that anyone can access at   www.pancanl.com . We are scheduled to start through about 5am tomorrow, which is 7am in Vanc.

 

Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua

 

This morning we arrived in Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua. It is the only seaport for Nicaragua, so very busy with containers, but the cruise ship is somewhat separated. We have a tour this morning at 8:30 to the major city of Leon and the bubbling mud pots. We are grateful for the air conditioned bus. Our tour guide is Gerald and he speaks english very well. On the way he tells us all about the agriculture – sugar cane, coffee, cotton. Near the sea is swamp and it produces some black sea shell creature that is collected from the mud and the locals eat and apparently it tastes muddy, but they all like it. There are also many active and inactive volcano's in the country, and we go by San Cristobal which is active and spewing steam. Unemployment is high and making textiles and selling to tourists is a major way of making money. There are carts carrying stuff, little drink stands, and children begging all along the highway. Their homes are often connected and look run down(pic 1) but many have beautiful courtyards. We get to the city of Leon and stop at the central square. We go first to the cathedral, which doesn’t look like much from the outside (pic 2), but is beautiful inside, and we start climbing a very narrow stone stairway. We stop at 2 different levels and look at the view, and on the 3rd level we go out on the rooftop and can see all over the city and the surrounding countryside. It is very hot and no shade up here, so we are happy to go back down the stairs. Outside is a market of handicrafts – textiles and pottery. Much the same stuff we have seen all over except the pottery. Gerald tells us there is a good coffee house nearby, so we find it and have a cold coffee drinks. It is very refreshing, and sit in a little courtyard behind the counter – there is internet here, and many students. Next we are off to the bubbling mud pots (pic 4). It is a geothermal area at the base of one of the volcano's, which is only active on the sides and these mud pots. The area belongs to the gov’t, but there is a little town beside them and these people get the money from the tours – admission is $1. The children (pic 3) of the village follow you around and ask for a dollar. They also sell mud and artefacts supposedly found in the area. On the return drive Gerald tells us the history of Nicaragua, including the political regimes. It connected all the dots from the news stories I remember over the years. Once we returned we went for a little lunch – Joan’s tummy was a little upset as she wasn’t able to see the road from her seat on the bus. After a little rest she came with me to the local Corinto market – nothing new. We came back for a dip in the pool, and it was so refreshing – that’s 3 times in the pool for me. After a shower to remove the salt water it was time for happy hour. At dinner we sat with a couple from Red Deer, AB and a couple from Delta BC. The show tonight was a comedian by the name of Dave Konig. He was pretty good.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Oct 7, 2010   90 some degrees again

Today we took a tour to Antigua, about 1.5 hours away. Our bus didn’t leave until 9am so after breakfast we went to the kiosks by the ship to see what they had – an incredible amount of wares these people brought from their homes 2 hours away, just for this one day. Our tour guide spoke very good english, and was very knowledgeable about her country. Today was the first day with not rain since April, and there were many places along the way where you could see areas had been washed away. It was a beautiful day for us as the local active volcanoes (pic2) were spewing ash and steam all day long. We passed by sugar cane, coffee and banana fields along the way. People were walking everywhere carrying loads, like bundles of sticks, bananas etc. Once we arrived in Antigua, they dropped us at a Jade factory but we decided to avoid the large crowd from the buses there and we headed toward the town square. We hooked up with Buttons (her actual name), from Florida and looked in all the little shops along the way. Almost every door had a shop at the front with all sorts of textiles, jewellery, artwork etc. Some of the doors opened into large courtyards, or more rooms. We were constantly approached by the street sellers (pic 4). We made our way past the central square and up toward the arch across the road and church beyond (pic 3). We turned around and came down the other side of the street heading back. We stopped to have lunch in a little place recommended by Karla, our tour guide. The beer and food was very good. Buttons ordered coffee and then asked to buy the cup, which was only $4. We only had 15 minutes to get back to the bus and we still had shops to look in!!! We hurried and they were gathering us all together so we did not see the jade – probably a good thing.  The temperature here at 1500 meters was a little cooler, about 80 and felt really good. Our bus driver had an amazing obstacle course to manouver through – narrow streets, one way the wrong way to avoid and extra 25 minute drive and lots of crazy drivers. We arrived back at the ship with an hour to spare and it was very hot here. We looked through the shops again and came back for happy hour. It is formal night but we are zapped from the heat and walking, so decide to eat on the lido back deck, and it was beautiful with a nice breeze and the setting sun (pic 1). The show tonight was a repeat, but one we wanted to see again with the 4 men from the ships cast. It was just as good the second time.

Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Oct 6, 2010  88 and humid+++++

This little spot is very different. Everything is very new. Pier, and surrounding look like they have been built by the cruise lines. There are 2 large grass roofed buildings, which we investigated after breakfast. One has little craft kiosks,entertainment and where you walk through to get the tour busses. The other is a restaurant, bar and outdoor pool. We have booked a bus tour of the Izapa ruins (pic 2) and the town of Tapachula. This area is Mayan, but very close to the Guatamala border which is Aztec. The ruins are small, as all that is left is the rock base, and the top which was built of wood has not survived. Our tour guide is very good, but you have to listen carefully past her thick accent. She explained the school system, the medical system and pointed out the important agricultural crops – mango, avocado, banana, coffee and cocao. The bus was air conditioned but the city, where we saw a government building with beautiful stained glass windows (pic 3) depicting the land and people, a church and the museum. We had only 20 minutes for shopping but it was too hot and we didn’t want to get too far from the bus. After we returned to the pier we looked around the kiosks, but we should have made some purchases before we left because the coffee was gone, and some other things we were interested in were picked over. We managed to spend our money anyway. We took our purchases back to the ship and Joan went to the local outdoor pool. I went to try to download my emails from my phone but they didn’t have wireless, so I went to the pool and we each had a cerveza. The male singers from the crew show were in the pool and one of them was carrying on with a water coconut – very funny (pic 4).The restaurant served mexican food and it all looked very good and a huge plate and huge selection for $8. US. The ship was having a BBQ on the pool deck so that’s what we had. It was very good but so hot up there. I went out on the deck to take sunset pictures when dancing broke out on the other side of the ship – such colorful costumes (pic 1). Needless to say I missed the sunset. The show tonight was a “swing” singer by the name of Ned Rifken. We enjoyed him very much. It is the Indonesian crew show tonight, but not until 11pm and we are beat so off to bed early.

Huatulco

Oct 5, 2010  90 something and very humid

We didn’t have to get up real early today, so we had coffee, breakfast, and did our laundry with lots of time to spare before we docked at 10am. The pier is long but ends at the beach (pic 2) so that was our ultimate destination. First, though we got a taxi to take us to La Crucecita a few miles away. It is a quaint little old mexican town. He dropped us at the town square, in front of the church. We went into the church and were awed at the beautiful painting on the ceiling (pic 3) and elsewhere. We walked up and down the streets and into the shops – mostly clothing and silver jewellery.

 

 

We left about 1pm and got a taxi back to the pier. We shopped around Hautulco a little then stopped at one of the bars lining the beach for a beer (pic 1). It tasted so good and cooled us off. We went back to the ship, put our bathing suits on and headed back to the beach, into the water for a short swim – Joan swam, I just walked in the water. We had another beer and went back to the ship and into the salt water pool – so refreshing. After we dress we are off to dinner. Our table mates are a couple from California and their friend, as well as a man from Germany. Very fascinating group of people. The show tonight was a comedian/magician by the name of John Lenahan. He was a fair comedian, did a little juggling and pretty good at ESP!!! The ship started rocking while we were at dinner so Joan went to the room after the show but I stayed to listen to the house band play between shows. Joan is sawing logs and I will be rocked to sleep fairly soon. We have had internet trouble all day so posting will be iffy.

Tropical sailing

Oct 4, 2010  sunny, hot & humid

We started off with our usual morning routine, then went to a talk by our captain, Tim Roberts. Very interesting details about his career and sailing. Next there was a talk about the next few ports – a few things we needed to know. I went to get the recipe for creme brulee (pic #2), then a talk on emeralds and a chance to win $500. towards emeralds – we didn’t. We stopped for a quick lunch then Joan was off to the pool and sunshine. Ruth attended the cooking class for crepe suzettes – a few chef secrets there. I listened to a talk on the newest ship in the fleet and how she was built. Very interesting. A class on making Margareta’s followed, and a few more secrets. I learned how to shake it and get the glass out!!!! I met Joan for bingo, but we didn’t win again. We headed to the bar and on the way Joan asked what time it was. I said one minute to 5 so we ran up the stairs and Wellah was by the till and said hurry up, give me your key, and she rang our drinks in. She knew what we wanted. This is really bad. After leisurely drinks we changed for dinner – another formal nite. We sat with a couple from Ottawa, a man from Alabama and a lady from New Jersey. Interesting conversation, but really slow service. The show tonight was the ship’s cast (pic #1) performing tunes from the 50’s and 60’s and they were fantastic as usual. 11pm and bedtime

.

Puerto Vallarta

Sun Oct 3, 2010 sunny and 93

Our coffee came early this morning – he said they had too many calls for 7am, so I guess we told too many people about this. Breakfast on the back deck – a nice breeze so it wasn’t too hot (the sun wasn’t even up). We were off the ship shortly after 8 and hooked up with 3 other people for a taxi, so it was only $3 for the ride. We were let off at one end of the malecon (pic #3) and walked past the other end before most of the shops opened. It was mostly tourist stuff so we didn’t buy anything. We were heading back when we met up with Molly and hubby (can’t remember name) from Portland who we had dinner with a few evenings ago. They were looking for a restaurant for lunch so we hooked up with them. The place they were going was closed Sunday, so we asked a local and he pointed us toward a place 5 blocks away. In one block we found one right on the beach so in we went (pic #2). We wanted authentic mexican food. I had a huge margarita –bigger than a beer glass and Joan had beer. We both had burritos and all was very good. We found a taxi right outside the cafe and off we went back to the ship. I decided I needed to go to Walmart across the street from ship to get more wine – good prices. Thought we might find another light t-shirt, but no selection at all. Back to the ship – it is about 100 degrees with 100% humidity – we are zapped!! I flopped on the bed and Joan put her swim suit on. Once my heart rated came down to normal I put my swim suit on and we headed for the outdoor salt water pool which we were told is colder than the lido pool. It was cold and refreshing – yes I did go in!!!! After about 10 minutes I felt better and went back for a cool shower. I was in the Ocean bar having lemon drop martinis when Joan whizzed in with 1 minute to spare for happy hour – Wellah met her as she arrived and asked what she wanted. After the bar I went on a reconnaissance tour to find out the coolest place to eat dinner, and it was the dining room, so we changed and had dinner with a couple from San Diego and 2 men from Whidby Island . After dinner we were off to the show which was amazing – Johnny O (Pic #1) an instrumentalist who played and instrument called E-Wii. It could be played as many different instruments. He was bagpipes, all different horns, and the most amazing was as a violin piece where he had to sustain his breath for long periods of time which he did by “circular breathing” – absolutely beautiful!!! After the show we stopped by the casino for some merchandise draws but we didn’t win. To the room and to bed early. The room is comfortable – hope tomorrow is not quite so warm. I am unable to download emails as there are too many. You can contact me at ruth.e.steer@gmail.com . Cal, are you going to APAC?

Sailing past Cabo

Oct 2, 2010  Hot and muggy

An eventful day started out about 7am with coffee. Small breakfast followed by a lesson in cold soup –yummm!! The sun was out so Joan was off to the pool to claim a chair for the day. Ruth attended a talk on Puerto Vallarta, a walk through the pool area but could not stand the heat. Back indoors to learn a couple of new appetizers. Our room is still very warm so we talked to the front desk, and by the time we came back up to the room there was someone here checking. They turned up the air conditioning, so we will see if there is any difference. Next was the computer class on making a video out of my pics. Sure hope I can do all this when I get home. I went for a quick lunch then a lesson on making biscotti (pictured). I talked to the cruise booking gal, about future cruises. There is going to be a big sale starting Oct 9, so we’ll see what they have on sale. I discussed what to do in PV with the travel guide, then off to a demonstration on cocktail garnishing (pictured), where Joan caught up to me. She had baked long enough.We went to bingo and lost the big game ($300) by one number – bummer. We made it to happy hour just before last call. Not sure what this means but they greet us by name!!  Talked to the nice British couple for awhile. We went back to the room to change for dinner and had a glass of wine. The air conditioning guy came back and set out room to the coolest he could. It was already better. We went to dinner a little later and sat with a couple from California and another from Florida. The couple from Florida – Buttons and Terry were hilarious. Buttons is a prankster and they were telling stories of some of the pranks she pulled on Terry – no boredom in that marriage!!! After dinner we went up to the Crows Nest to hear Buttons sing at Karaoke, as we told her if she did she could get 5 free bingo cards. She was very good, as were many others, but not either of us. Next was the show – a magician/juggler named Sideshow Bert – he was very entertaining. He was followed immediately by the Filipino Crew show and it was very good as well (pictured). One of our waitresses in the Ocean Bar was in it. It is after midnight and the ship is rocking a little. Joan is already sawing logs with her anti-motion wrist bands on. Nite, nite.

Another day at sea

singer – Tamika                               captain’s gala

 

Oct 1, 2010

Today we slept in until 7, since we set the clock ahead last night. The weather has improved as we can see the bright blue sea meet the blue sky-yippee. After breakfast Ruth went to an interview with the head of the culinary dept. who told us all about the amount of food, training, sanitary precautions etc. Very interesting. Joan went to a demonstration on garnishing. Next we listened to a talk about the shore excursions coming up. After that we had a meet and greet in the Crows Nest bar (free champagne) with a group I connected with on the internet to try to get groups who want to join up for shore excursions on our own. We met a few folks who may be good companions. Whew, now it is time for lunch with the singles and solos – we had a table of 7 ladies and one man. It was very pleasant and the wine was free. Joan found the sun and settled by the pool, and had a little nap. Ruth popped on the end of a demonstration on cheese fondue, listened to the band for awhile but it was too hot in the sun. I listened to a talk on the history of the Baja, but it was a little boring. I changed for dinner (formal night) and went to another computer class, then to happy hour – stopping off at the perfume testers for a new scent. It has become a daily habit. Lemon drops martinis today. Joan has come in from the sun and meets me there. We go to dinner a little earlier and get a big table for 8 with a couple from Oklahoma, one from Oregon and 2 ladies from Kansas, who were also at the singles luncheon. Very good conversation. Stopped at the photographers and had my picture taken with a necklace of black and chocolate diamonds worth $2600.00. The closest I’ll ever get to diamonds!!!! I could go on a good cruise for that! On the the Captain’s welcome toast – more free wine. Following that was the show which was Broadway tunes performed by the ship’s entertainers (pic above) wearing gowns designed especially for the show by Bob Mackie – a fantastic show. Off to bed now.