DAY 88 - AT SEA - APRIL 25, 2010

THE LONG DAY AND THE HEAT FROM YESTERDAYS ADVENTURE TOOK EVERY BIT OF ENERGY OUT OF US. TODAY WAS TO BE A DAY OF REST AND RELAXATION. SUNDAYS AT SEA TRANSLATES INTO CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH.

THE SELECTIONS COME FROM THE GALLEY MENU OR, THE HOT AND COLD BUFFET. AS WE ATE GEORGIA AND I DISCUSSED THE TAJ ADVENTURE AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD/COULD BE SENT TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF PRINCESS CRUISES. THE GUYS IN THE EXCURSION OFFICE TAKE TOO MUCH HEAT FOR THE THINGS THAT GO HAYWIRE ON THESE EXCURSIONS. THEY DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.

WE DID MANAGE TO COMPOSE SOMETHING FOR THE MAIN OFFICE BEFORE HEADING TO THE LOUNGE FOR A DISCUSSION ON MUMBAI...LIKES, DISLIKES AND IMPRESSIONS. FRANKIE WAS THE CO-ORDINATOR AND HE CERTAINLY HAS A TALENT FOR GENERATING CONVERSATION. WE ALWAY ENJOY HIS GET-TOGETHERS. THEY ARE LIVELY, FUN AND INFORMATIVE.

ALTHOUGH WE DIDN’T PIG-OUT AT THE BRUNCH WE HAD PLENTY TO EAT AND DINNER WAS NOT A PRIORITY. WE DEBATED ABOUT GOING TO THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT, A JUGGLER, BUT GAVE IN ANYWAY. WE WERE GLAD WE DID, HE WAS GREAT. UNLIKE SEVERAL OF THE OTHERS IN THE CRUISE HE DID ALMOST EVERYTHING WITH ITEMS THAT GLOW IN THE DARK AND THEREFORE THE HOUSE LIGHTS WERE ALWAY DIMMED. QUITE INTERESTING.

INCLUDED ARE A FEW ADDITIONAL PIX FROM THE TAJ TRIP. THE PILES OF PELETS ARE COW DUNG CHIPS, WHICH THEY USE TO COOK. OUR GUIDE INDICATED THERE IS A SPECIAL AROMA ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOOD COOKED WITH DUNG. THANK GOD WE HAVE CHARCOAL AND MESQUITE CHIPS.


DAY 89 - AT SEA - APRIL 26, 2010

SLEEP WAS REQUIRED AGAIN TODAY. WE DIDN’T GET UP IN TIME FOR THE BUFFET BREAKFAST AND OPTED FOR LUNCH IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM. WE HAVE ONLY DONE THIS THREE TIMES ON THE ENTIRE TRIP. IT WAS A NICE CHANGE OF PACE.

WE SKIPPED DINNER AGAIN. NEITHER OF US LIKES EATING TO MUCH OR TO LATE AND THE LUNCH WAS ENOUGH TO CARRY US THROUGH.

MARTYN GREEN HAD A PRESENTATION ON FIFTY PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE. OUR BUCKET LIST JUST GOT LONGER. IF ONLY I CAN KEEP OBAMA FROM SPENDING MY MONEY ON SOMEONE ELSE, WE MIGHT GET TO THE “TO DO” TO “DONE.” IT’S A GOAL. (THAT’S ALL I PLAN ON SAYING ABOUT POLITICS)
WE FINISHED OFF THE NIGHT BY WATCHING “SMART PEOPLE” WHICH WAS FILMED ENTIRELY IN PITTSBURGH. I SEEM TO REMEMBER BILL FULLER WORKING ON THIS MOVIE, HOWEVER WE DIDN’T SEE HIS NAME IN THE CREDITS.

SPEAKING OF POLITICS, DO YOU KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD? IT’S GREEK. POLY, MEANING MANY AND TICS MEANING BLOOD SUCKING CREATURES.


DAY 90 - AT SEA - APRIL 27, 2010

THIS WAS ANOTHER DAY TO RELAX. SKIPPED BREAKFAST AND WENT TO THE PORT TALK ON MUSCAT, OMAN, WHERE WE WILL BE ON FRIDAY.

WE DID LUNCH IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. THAT HAS TO BE SOME RECORD FOR US. NEVERTHELESS, WE SKIPPED DINNER ALSO.

LUNCH WAS OPEN SEATING AND WE WERE JOINED BY TWO OTHER COUPLES AND TWO SINGLE LADIES. ONE OF THE LADIES HAD JUST WON THE BIG BINGO JACKPOT OF $1200. ONE COUPLE WAS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE OTHER FROM SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS ABLE TO HOLD MY OWN WITH HIM SINCE I KNOW MY WAY AROUND THE BAY AREA.

THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT WAS A FLUTIST FROM IRELAND. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. GREAT SELECTIONS FROM CLASSICAL TO IRISH AND A FEW MANCINI SONGS. WE FOUND OUT HENRY MANCINI WAS ALSO A FLUTIST. HOW BOUT THEM APPLES.

THERE ARE ONLY SEVENTEEN DAYS LEFT ON THE CRUISE.