Good evening, friends and family,
Another wonderful day at sea – warm temps as we approach the equator. We saw several of our friends who foolishly lay out in the sun earlier today – they had very red faces and other parts of their bodies were burned equally.
I told you I would comment on pictures today. It seems the ship must make a million dollars from pictures alone. There is never a spare moment when someone in the photo department can’t come up with yet another way to take your picture and attempt to talk you into purchasing the same.
They’ve been on the gangplank as we came on or left the ship at every port, in costumes or not, once at Pirates, another as sailors. They catch us on the deck, at every dance, every formal night and every opportunity they can find. At $20 a shot, the price tag adds up quickly.
There is a special display area where all of these photos are hung in row upon row, stowed by dining times, port where we were, or formal night pictures. That area is always crowded and difficult to make your way through. We avoid it like the plague!
We do take our own share of pictures, mostly of our traveling doll, and now, our new companion, (and hers), a cowardly lion doll we bought for ten cents at a garage sale. At first, Curly, our Curves doll, was not too happy with the lion, but then, he took her out for a sail on his yacht. Since then, they have become “close”.
Occasionally, we do include one or the other of us in a picture, usually Carol, as her poor eyesight makes it practically impossible for her to use a digital camera. That’s why you won’t see many pictures of your favorite author in our albums.
There is even a portable device for printing out copies of the photos you purchase, ($.15 a copy if you print 30 or more). I’ve seen many people using it, and wonder why? Are they planning on sending the copies from our next destination or what? Wouldn’t it be better to wait, use the cheaper Wal Mart or Walgreen’s machine after you return home? Why the hurry? You can’t figure people out, so why try?
So, enough about pictures. On to watching people eat. Now, there’s a real study in humanity.
We have the proper English version, fork in left hand, knife in right – pile the mashed potatoes carefully on the back of the fork with the knife, then eat very daintily.
Then, there are the ugly Americans and others who use the fork with the right hand, stabbing away at anything in sight. Most times the edge of the fork is also used as a knife – who has time to learn what that useless object is for?
We’ve watched both styles and others, as they hack away and stuff the food down as if they might starve before their next meal.
Even the proper English are not immune to doing that. This morning, we watched two very British citizens carefully place their steaming eggs on top of their toast, then cut approximately one quarter of the toast and egg and cram it into wide open mouths. So much for etiquette.
The younger group has definitely no idea why a knife comes with the napkin and fork. They cast that utensil aside and have at it with their fork. Sometimes they don’t bother to cut a slab of meat, but stab it in the middle with the fork and then eat around the edges, turning it slowly until nothing but the middle is left, which they then devour.
I’m a man who likes his food hot, so I tend to stuff it down in a hurry myself, but I do attempt to cut my meat, one piece at a time, (smaller pieces), and take a little longer than the current speed record for the ship, which I believe is two and a half minutes for a large bowl of soup, another of salad, a full plate of spaghetti with eight large meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, two decent slices of roast pork, pasta, various veggies, two rolls with butter and three glasses of tea.
(And, that was just that person’s appetizer).
But, it is fun to people watch on a cruise. When you are at sea for five days, it’s a fun thing to do.
Now, I’m going to tell you the greatest secret to cruising!
At one time or another during the cruise, (perhaps more than once, considering we are taking two cruises, back-to-back), you have to wash those undies and other clothes.
If you attempt to get to the one Laundromat on board early in the morning, you will probably find all four washing machines and the four matching dryers in use, with a line four deep waiting to do their wash. It remains this way all morning and afternoon, and sometimes, late into the night; but, I know the secret and will pass it on to you, if you promise not to tell anyone else:
You don’t mess with the traffic. Instead, you go to dinner, enjoy your meal and desert. Then, you go to the Laundromat with your bag of clothes, where you will find no one using any of the machines. You see, it’s between feeding frenzy times – first seating and second seating. Those who are in the first will be heading down to the lounge to catch their show. Second seating diners will be heading down to the dining room to tie on the feed bag; thus, the place is yours alone, (or perhaps one or two others who know the BIG secret).
We are here in the room, waiting for the washing machine to shut off and then we’ll use the dryer and catch the late show at 10:15 with the second seating people.
I guess that’s about it for tonight. The show last night was once again magnificent with the dancers and singers doing their utmost best to amaze us with knowing all those complicated steps and dance routines. The speed with which they change costumes is another miracle. You have to see it to believe it. So, come cruising.
Until tomorrow,
Via con Dias,
Karl & Carol
