Four more sea days

After leaving Kona, we set off for French Polynesia. Our first stop is to be Nuku Hiva.  A small island known for three things: A chapter in Herman Melville’s book Typee, being the filming location for Survivor: Marquesas in 2002, and for the supposed cannibalistic death of a German tourist in 2011.  It should be an interesting trip.  Anyway, I’ll tell you all about it when we return to the ship.

For now I’m going to chat a bit about the sea days and what we got up to. The short answer is NOTHING!  Sea days are wonderful. We do absolutely nothing but relax.  

We played cards twice during this time, solved a few puzzles, wrote a few articles for CFF (Cubism For Fun) and watched quite a few movies.  I cannot say that we had an exciting time because we didn’t.  We are really quite dull people.  

One day I hit the gym and went for a 5k run on the treadmill.  Needless to say, it’s been quite a while since I did this so my time was rubbish, but I don’t care.  I enjoyed the exercise.  I spent my time listening to The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.  A highly appropriate book for the times we are in. 

On Sunday night we attended the Capitan’s cocktails and welcome drinks.  I was told this time it was divided into 3 nights to help with the social distancing.  We sat with a couple we had met earlier and when they left, we joined yet another.  It’s interesting talking to people and seeing what they plan to do with the new itinerary change.  I have a feeling that most will be staying on for the long haul.

There is much conversation about what will happen with the Ukraine and the recent dip in the stock market.  The world goes on around us and we ride along in comfort. It reminds me of Neville Shute’s On the Beach.  Will we be the only survivors should something untoward happen?  

I was asked over cards how my tummy was putting up with the motion of the ocean.  I’ve resolved myself to having to take the seasickness tablets everyday so I’m not sure if I’m getting better or if it is just them.  But I do use A LOT of ginger.  It really helps.  When we get back to Miami, I’ll be taking a drive home and getting more ginger tea. I contemplated bringing it on the ship, but I was told there would be plenty here for me.  Not so.  I was given one box which I promptly finished.  A trip to Winn-Dixie allowed me to purchase two more boxes, and I’ve stocked up on other ginger stuff along the way.  

I don’t know what I would do without my travel teapot. It allows me to make the tea whenever I am feeling wonky.  I know, I know.  Not allowed. But I have used this for many cruises now, and never leave it plugged in.  Once the water boils, I fill my thermos and unplug the pot.  

George loves sushi and on Monday the 24th they had sushi in the café so we decided to forgo dinner in the dining room and head to the café instead.  

We grabbed a few plates of food and brought it back down to our room for a nice quiet evening in.  While eating dinner we enjoyed watching Harriet.  A highly recommended movie about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railway. (And if anyone says anything about Critical Race Theory, please don’t bother. I will delete any and all comments about this.)

When we woke on the morning of the 25th the sea gods were angry.  I looked out and saw lots of swells and water drops on the door and windows.  This of course delayed our tender by 1/2 an hour, but no matter we had nothing special planned anyway.  

Until next time, happy puzzling and smooth sailing to you all.