The Fog, The sitting area on Deck 2 beside the theater.
The Chart Room emblem, The fog
Thursday, 4 August 2010
Travel Update: 6:21 AM Day 3 of the Westward Journey
Sea: Slight Wind: Force 4 Moderate SW at 14 knots
Weather: cloudy with showers---fog Humidity 100%
Position: 49.39.12 N 38.35.89W Barometer: 29.9 Rising
Speed: 22.8 knots Temp. 59 degrees F
Southampton: 1493.4 New York: 1639.
Coffee and muffin delivery, breakfast in the main dining room, and off to bridge class. The day began much as usual. Different bridge partners today…nice calm and not too intense. Grandma apparently decided that we were not intense enough for granddaughter because she avoided us like the plague. I am glad…I don’t think I could take another day of that intensity. Today we played a game of minibridge…apparently an advanced form of Whist. Class was fun, but we did miss the pirate lecture because of the scheduling.
Each night when we return from dinner our bed cover has been removed and put away. The duvet has been turned down (no top sheets in Europe), two pieces of chocolate have been left, and the US newspaper is waiting for us. The other important item is the ship’s news. This is a small magazine that contains navigational information, stories about the ship’s officers, and special events aboard ship, such as the theater performances. It also lists the restaurants, the shops, the spa, etc. We also receive a sheet outlining the next day’s schedule of classes, events, of the day and evening, and directions for dress for the evening. You see these being carried around this ship by all kinds of people.
One of the special events is always the special sales on Deck 3. One day it is perfume;, another day is watches and jewelry—some costumes and quite a lot of real. Apparently, the jewelry is tax free and duty free. There is a handbag sale and a sale of transatlantic clothing and real jewelry offered as well.
Today Neil worked on the blogs and the pictures while I went to a presentation of the use of Arabic Calligraphy in jewelry. The young woman, Nadia Dajani, presented a history of the background of the Arabic language and the use of calligraphy in art and architecture. Much of Arabic art is based on the geometry and calligraphy. She showed the connection between her jewelry designs and the calligraphy. She apparently does the design, but the jewelry is produced by groups of women working in cottage type industries. She is the trunk show artist on board. One of her trademark pieces are small metal disks with Arabic words created in a cutwork fashion on the disks. They really are quite beautiful. After the show, the particiapants are, of course, invited to check out her pieces for sale. I did. One pair of earrings with a ½’ metal disk and a stone bead was $175.00 on cruise special. An 18” necklace with one 1” disk and seed beads was $375.00. She had some copper pieces that were crocheted and woven that began at the $300 level. Very pretty…all of it….but I did not buy any.
The weather again is very f-o-g-g-y. The captain doesn’t say the word in his noon time announcement to the ship. He spells it. Apparently the crossing from New York to Southampton was one continuous fog bank. It apparently cleared for its trip to Norway (There apparently are quite a number of people who boarded in New York, did Norway and are headed back to New York….about 3 weeks aboard ship. However, this trip has been quite foggy. At times you can actually see the fog across the deck. You know it’s foggy when even the water disappears.
We continued our chore of identifying pictures. We have only 7 files, not counting the ones still on the camera to go. It is a bit of a monumental chore. I have apparently had a great deal of fun taking pictures. I am working under the philosophy that Pete and Jess shared…..take as many pictures as you can and one out of ten will be really great.
We attempted to take a walk around the deck again…..nasty….cold, wet, and quite windy. Inside is much more pleasant. We decided to go to high tea this afternoon in the Queen’s Room, which also doubles as the ballroom. Very formal. White coated waiters and waitresses with silver trays of sandwich fingers and trays filled with cakes, bars and scones. Tea is served on the usual Wedgewood china….the official china of the dining rooms along with the Waterford crystal stemware. We shared the tea table with Gloria and Phil from dinner.
After tea it was time to get ready for dinner….seems to be a strong theme here…..food. Tonight is a semiformal evening. Men may wear suits, any appropriate color, and tie, and the ladies may wear cocktail dresses or trouser suits.
Dinner was its usual wonderful meal. Our dinner companions are interesting. They complain a great about gaining weight. Then they order two appetizers, a salad, and three entrees between the two of them. They also complain about the waste of food….they contribute. One of our table mates got a tour of the galley. She had complained about some appetizers that had been delivered to their room without notifying them and they sat there for several hours. She called to complain, and they received fresh ones for the next three days. Then the food service director called and asked to meet with her about her experience. He offered her a private tour of the galley. She found out that they use 5000 eggs per day. That’s a lot of eggs to crack.
Tonight’s theater production was an adaption of The Importance of Being Ernest. It was presented by the RADA players and was absolutely delightful. The theater which hold a thousand people is full every , night.
We did not dance at the Black and White Ball, but we did go to watch and listen to the Vibz, a band which played in the G32 nightclub on the way over. They are a fun band that plays oldies and regae music. A lot of fun,
Travel Update: 11:18 PM Day 3
Temp 56.3 Humidity 95% Barometer 28.8 Steady
Position: 47.58.47 N 4731.99 W Weather: fog / haze
Wind: 9 knots SW Force 3 Sea: slight Speed 20.3 knots
Southampton 1,863.9 New York: 1,269.3
Steps. Thursday 5336
No comments:
Post a Comment