We're heading east, toward the Atlantic today. This is the first of three sea days as we head to St. George's Grenada. I was excited after waking up to see that the ship was so close to shore. I cannot imagine living in the jungle, with the river my only access to transportation. I've lived in a village on a remote island and that was nothing compared to this isolation.
Today marks two weeks on the ship. Long cruises feel very different than a seven-day cruise. All onboard become a community. We each develop routines. Mine is pretty simple, and not that different from being at home, except with better food and scenery. I start on the balcony around 5 -6 a.m., then catch up on email and news. Breakfast with Jolanda at 8 in the Main Dining Room. I'm not much of a breakfast person at home but it's nice to have someone bring me muesli or yogurt and some decaf. Tony tempts me with a tray of pastries each morning but now knows that I just like to admire them and enjoy the scent as they pass by.
After breakfast I walk around the ship. After a mile or so, I head to my cabin to update this blog and spend time reading, usually on the balcony or on the loveseat inside, depending on the weather. Then more walking, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, there may be a nap and I take another walk around the ship. Usually there is an iced coffee and some socializing.
Yesterday, as I waited for my coffee, I sat with a woman who was knitting by the window. As women tend to do, we chatted and I found out she is originally from Belgium, speaks Flemish and has lived in Manitoba for decades. She and her husband winter in Quartzite, near Yuma, where I was born. We talked about going across the line to Algodones, Mexico for medicine and dental work. It is very easy to socialize onboard, even for a hermit like myself. Cruising alone, in my experience, is not at all lonely.
Enough blathering. Here are the photos.
 |
| I slept in today until 6:45 which was blissful and rare. This was what greeted me when I opened the drapes |
 |
| I love it when we are close to shore |
 |
| A canoe is your only transportation when you live here. I dreamed of homesteading in Alaska, and in 1974, drove from the Arizona/Mexico border to Fairbanks, in my VW bug. I'd researched homesteading but after meeting a guy who'd been doing it for a few years, realized that for me, it was a fantasy. The reality of a life so remote is not for most people. But I'm still fascinated by the lifestyle |
 |
| The circle of life, in action |
 |
| So many shades of green |
 |
| Once again, I demonstrate my superior camera skills. I get why many of the nature videos are a bit out of focus but for crap's sake, I couldn't even manage a clear photo of my morning muesli |
 |
| A Brazilian lunch from the Lido. Fried shrimp, a cod fritter, escabeche and very tasty pickled radishes. I need to try those at home |
 |
| There were several fishing boats in one area. The shore could not be seen in any direction. Have I mentioned how absolutely huge the Amazon is? I stopped by one of the bars during the afternoon happy hour to stock up on diet soda. Yes, there are both afternoon and evening 1/2 price happy hours. A man having a shot and beer declared that the Amazon could not possibly be a river because it was too big and must be an ocean. I did not ask his views on the shape of the earth |
 |
| One of the blessings/curses on previous cruises has been WIFI. So expensive and spotty that I frequently didn't buy it. Life with no WIFI was both a pro/con, from my perspective. Since getting my implanted heart monitor, it is best if I have WIFI or a cell signal so I bit the bullet and paid for the WIFI. Thanks to Star Link, it has worked almost flawlessly. With enough strength, that while this was my view, I was doing an English tutoring session on a video chat. From the Amazon. Yesterday, I accidentally sent an EKG to my Dr. while half asleep. Ain't technology grand? |
 |
| Jody gave me a sneak preview of tonight's menu. It is formal night, with a James Bond/Casino Royale theme. |
 |
| My dinner was a 1/2 portion of salmon with a spicy mango sauce, stir-fried veggies and mashed potatoes with horseradish. All delicious, and similar to what I eat at home but I typically have a much higher "veg to starch" ratio. The vegetables are all hidden under the salmon |
 |
| I asked Jody to choose my dessert and he did well. A dulce de leche flan |
No comments:
Post a Comment