Here we are in Cochin, and I have decided to take a vacation!
For those of you who know me, I am usually involved from early morning to late at night with any number of classes, plus playing bridge, and trying to fit in time for laundry, socializing, eating, etc. Every sea day morning I have to be up early enough to get to Yoga at 8 a.m. and our table never leaves the dining room before 23:00 h, and then, sometimes I will still attend some late night gathering (tonight will be a jazz session, preceded by some Indian folkloric show), and at 16:45 I will be leaving for a motorboat ride/sightseeing tour that lasts a few hours. The vacation I mentioned in the first sentence, was because I intended to do some ironing, and then go up to the pool, today. However, it is already 10:45 and I refuse to do anything else, until I have finally finished this blog.
The really big news today, is that Philippe and Gayle plan to join Marlyse and me for the last 12 day segment from Rome to London, and then return with us to Zürich for a few days, so we can all be together for Marlyse’s birthday!
I am hoping to have a new bridge partner starting when we leave Mumbai in a few days. All this segment has been a jumbled mess, as far as my bridge is concerned, and I have usually ended up at the bottom of the ratings. Most of the intermediate players have bolted from the duplicate scene to the social bridge room, which means that the competition is fierce in duplicate, so it is not surprising that I don’t do well. However, when I played the one time with the partner I hope to have during the next segment, we actually came in second. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Two of the ladies at our dining table will be leaving the ship in Mumbai, and so we plan to have a farewell cocktail hour in my stateroom before going to dinner in formal attire, and I have ordered a chocolate cake to be served for our dessert. We are somewhat apprehensive about who will be the replacements, as we have really enjoyed our small group until now.
It was quite interesting during the time we were cruising the Indian Ocean, where there is always a threat from pirates. Some of the precautions, were that a powerful hose was stretched the length of the promenade deck, just in case it would be needed to discourage anyone from boarding in an unorthodox way. There were lots of security people on patrol, also. Fortunately, there was no incident, although it meant that the ship altered its course, and we missed out on visiting the Maldives, and the Sechelles. That, in turn, meant that we had 7 straight day at sea, which accounts for my being glad to be on vacation, today. Otherwise, I am “scheduled” all day long!
Coming back for the third World Cruise, this year, has many advantages, not the least of which is knowing so many passengers from previous years. It is so much more friendly when one is up on deck to be able to join various people for a conversation, and actually meet new people in the same way. I think I have already reported that I have again signed up for another cruise for next year!
I have discouraged people from contacting me on Facebook, mainly because it takes too much time to download, etc.(I only have limited access time for the computer) and it is much easier just to use my email address. That is the same reason that I request not sending me long (mb) cartoons, etc. It is different at home, where I have unlimited use on the internet.
I can’t think of anything else, special, to report, and I do want to go up to the pool, so I may wait to try to send some pictures, because that always seems to cause me problems (and time!)
Hope all is well with all my readers, and do remember that you can contact me on my regular email address. Cheerio!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
pictures from Tanzania
I don't seem to be doding too well! Either I GET THE SAME PICTURE TWICE, OR NOT AT ALL. tHE PARTY WAS ON THE SHIP, AND THE MOÖNKEY WAS IN hALLER pARK.
My bridge game gets worse and worse, but our dining table is still fun, and i STILL MANAGE TO GET TO yOGA CLASS AT 8A.M. EVERY SEA DAY!
My bridge game gets worse and worse, but our dining table is still fun, and i STILL MANAGE TO GET TO yOGA CLASS AT 8A.M. EVERY SEA DAY!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Mombassa
Picture of me with the giraffes at Haller Park and the Police boat that was hovering close by; there is always the fear of pirates in these waters.
Friday, February 19, 2010
new blog
Blog, Feb 19
It’s difficult to backtrack to all that has happened, but let me start with the present: Today, we have landed at Mombasa, in Kenya, and I am signed up to take a trip this afternoon, to Bombalulu, a craft village featuring crafts produced and sold by the handicapped, followed by a stop at Haller Park, with the chance of interaction with the wildlife so famous in Kenya.
Today is the very first day since the cruise started, that I didn’t HAVE to get up early and start a morning full of activity; that’s because there are usually no classes on “land days” but we have been delayed in a few ports, such that morning classes took place anyway. However, we landed at 8 this morning, and my tour is only at 12:30, so I have really been free until now. As usual, the land tours are too difficult for me to negociate, especially in this heat! At the craft village, it was noon (lunch time) so no one was there to demonstrate, although we witnessed the various set-ups for clothing, jewelry, leather goods, wheelchair production, etc. In addition, there was a dance demonstration when we arrived. Then we went to an animal farm, where I saw the giraffes feeding, plus some loose monkeys, and a couple of animals I didn’t recognize. However, like yesterday, I went back onto the airconditioned bus instead of walking for 1 ½ hours to see a hippo, some snakes, alligators, etc. and visited with the other 4 or 5 people who chose to forego the walk in the heat. On the return to the ship, I was interviewed by an international TV video team, asking question about my impressions of Mombasa (much more westernized and modern than Zanzibar).
On account of “Security” (fear of pirates, etc.) our itinerary has been modified, and we will have to go much further south than originally planned, such that we will not be able to land at either the Sechelles or the Maldives; instead, we will continue directly to Cochin, India. That means we will have another 7 straight days at sea, which I prefer, anyway.
Last night was a special party for the World Cruisers, called Kamp Kwa Zulu, featuring original entertainment by the huge cast of talented singers, dancers, and jokers who are on board, and it was quite amusing. I do have a picture of some of the cast.
During the day, I went ashore in Zanzibar, Tanzania, which I would have enjoyed more, if we weren’t so close to the equator….. it was hot, hot, hot! The ship was a few hours late in landing, due to countercurrents along the way (this ship still has the sluggish propeller pod, which was never fully repaired last year; it has to wait until dry dock scheduled for 2012) and we are unable to go as fast as would have been necessary. That meant that instead of leaving at 07:45 as scheduled, we only left at 12:30 noon, in the heat of the day, and there was quite a bit of walking necessary. The trip was labeled “Exotic Spices and Rare Monkeys”.
My first impression was a woman, fully clothed in black from head to toe, and with a full face covering, also. Most of the woman wore very colorful long shawls draped in various fashions, and I missed what was said exactly, but it appears that a man can have 4 wives at a time, as long as he treats them equally, and so his women apparently dress in the same colorful prints in order to be identified (at least, that is what I thought the guide said. I couldn’t hear him because there was no loudspeaker, and he spoke from the middle to the back of the bus and I was up front!)
It was an hour’s drive to the forest, where most of the monkey population live, and I was fascinated by the scenery along the way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any pictures, because we were going too fast, and it was impossible to focus. However, although some of the roads were paved, lots are in the process of being prepared to be paved (eventually) and so are dusty and dirty, but people still hung their laundry out, dust and all. The favorite mode of delivery still seems to be a wooden cart, either animal (donkey) or man drawn. I don’t remember seeing any horses, and the cows are often Brahmin from India(with a big hump between their shoulders). There are still many thatched huts, and lots of cement foundations that have been started, but abandoned due to lack of money. There is compulsory schooling, and even a university of sorts on the island. My main impressions remain the colorful dress of the women, the individual tiny (hole in the wall) shops, and the small carts used for all purposes. It seems to be a very poor country, but the people are quite friendly.
Now, it’s already time to get dressed for dinner! Hopefully, I can post this to the blog.
In the forest, we first went to see the monkeys, all of whom nicely remained up in the trees, because they can be really pesky if they descend to the sightseer. Then, the others went on to see the Mangrove Forest (Banyon trees) and other vegetation, but I decided it was much better for me to go back onto the airconditioned bus, and await their return. At the spice farm, I followed the group, and saw and smelled, and sometimes tasted all the various spices that are indigenous to Zanzibar (clove, lemongrass, cinnamon, pepper, etc.)
The night before was entertainment by a string duo, and a baritone singer, but the fantastic part was a juggler! I have NEVER seen such an interesting and fascinating bit of juggling talent.
It’s difficult to backtrack to all that has happened, but let me start with the present: Today, we have landed at Mombasa, in Kenya, and I am signed up to take a trip this afternoon, to Bombalulu, a craft village featuring crafts produced and sold by the handicapped, followed by a stop at Haller Park, with the chance of interaction with the wildlife so famous in Kenya.
Today is the very first day since the cruise started, that I didn’t HAVE to get up early and start a morning full of activity; that’s because there are usually no classes on “land days” but we have been delayed in a few ports, such that morning classes took place anyway. However, we landed at 8 this morning, and my tour is only at 12:30, so I have really been free until now. As usual, the land tours are too difficult for me to negociate, especially in this heat! At the craft village, it was noon (lunch time) so no one was there to demonstrate, although we witnessed the various set-ups for clothing, jewelry, leather goods, wheelchair production, etc. In addition, there was a dance demonstration when we arrived. Then we went to an animal farm, where I saw the giraffes feeding, plus some loose monkeys, and a couple of animals I didn’t recognize. However, like yesterday, I went back onto the airconditioned bus instead of walking for 1 ½ hours to see a hippo, some snakes, alligators, etc. and visited with the other 4 or 5 people who chose to forego the walk in the heat. On the return to the ship, I was interviewed by an international TV video team, asking question about my impressions of Mombasa (much more westernized and modern than Zanzibar).
On account of “Security” (fear of pirates, etc.) our itinerary has been modified, and we will have to go much further south than originally planned, such that we will not be able to land at either the Sechelles or the Maldives; instead, we will continue directly to Cochin, India. That means we will have another 7 straight days at sea, which I prefer, anyway.
Last night was a special party for the World Cruisers, called Kamp Kwa Zulu, featuring original entertainment by the huge cast of talented singers, dancers, and jokers who are on board, and it was quite amusing. I do have a picture of some of the cast.
During the day, I went ashore in Zanzibar, Tanzania, which I would have enjoyed more, if we weren’t so close to the equator….. it was hot, hot, hot! The ship was a few hours late in landing, due to countercurrents along the way (this ship still has the sluggish propeller pod, which was never fully repaired last year; it has to wait until dry dock scheduled for 2012) and we are unable to go as fast as would have been necessary. That meant that instead of leaving at 07:45 as scheduled, we only left at 12:30 noon, in the heat of the day, and there was quite a bit of walking necessary. The trip was labeled “Exotic Spices and Rare Monkeys”.
My first impression was a woman, fully clothed in black from head to toe, and with a full face covering, also. Most of the woman wore very colorful long shawls draped in various fashions, and I missed what was said exactly, but it appears that a man can have 4 wives at a time, as long as he treats them equally, and so his women apparently dress in the same colorful prints in order to be identified (at least, that is what I thought the guide said. I couldn’t hear him because there was no loudspeaker, and he spoke from the middle to the back of the bus and I was up front!)
It was an hour’s drive to the forest, where most of the monkey population live, and I was fascinated by the scenery along the way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any pictures, because we were going too fast, and it was impossible to focus. However, although some of the roads were paved, lots are in the process of being prepared to be paved (eventually) and so are dusty and dirty, but people still hung their laundry out, dust and all. The favorite mode of delivery still seems to be a wooden cart, either animal (donkey) or man drawn. I don’t remember seeing any horses, and the cows are often Brahmin from India(with a big hump between their shoulders). There are still many thatched huts, and lots of cement foundations that have been started, but abandoned due to lack of money. There is compulsory schooling, and even a university of sorts on the island. My main impressions remain the colorful dress of the women, the individual tiny (hole in the wall) shops, and the small carts used for all purposes. It seems to be a very poor country, but the people are quite friendly.
Now, it’s already time to get dressed for dinner! Hopefully, I can post this to the blog.
In the forest, we first went to see the monkeys, all of whom nicely remained up in the trees, because they can be really pesky if they descend to the sightseer. Then, the others went on to see the Mangrove Forest (Banyon trees) and other vegetation, but I decided it was much better for me to go back onto the airconditioned bus, and await their return. At the spice farm, I followed the group, and saw and smelled, and sometimes tasted all the various spices that are indigenous to Zanzibar (clove, lemongrass, cinnamon, pepper, etc.)
The night before was entertainment by a string duo, and a baritone singer, but the fantastic part was a juggler! I have NEVER seen such an interesting and fascinating bit of juggling talent.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
That's the Captain!
Last night was a Mardi Gras Jazz party, and the joint was jumping! Then we had to turn the clock ahead one hour, and be up on time for an 8 a.m. yoga class! The weather has been lovely, and before going to bridge in the afternoon, I try to take a nap on my verandah.
Cocktail Party
Until now, I had not been able to publish any pictures. Te previous one is from an Alice in wonderland birthday party, and the more recent two are from a predinner cocktail party in my stateroom The final one is......
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Pictures
I have been attempting to post some pictures, but although the message says they are uploaded, i DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GO, BUT THEY ARE NOT ON MY BLOG! tOMORROW IS vALENTINE'S dAY, i ANd I will be visiting a Zulu Village outside of Durban. ONCE MORE, i will try to upload some pictures!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Mystery!
My new postings and some pictures have ended up on last year's blog. The address was anngut.blogspot.com and the new one is suppoed to be annfgut.blogspot.com
I really don't know how to remedy the situation, so just check both addresses!
I really don't know how to remedy the situation, so just check both addresses!
Cocktail Party
This was the second time we had a cocktail party in the room, prior to going to dinner
Friday, February 12, 2010
Lincoln's Birthday
In my early years, today was known as Lincoln’s Birthday, but one doesn’t hear about it anymore. Times change.
I had a lovely three days with friends from Helderberg Village, where I wintered for four years, from 2004 through 2007, prior to taking my first World Cruise on the Crystal Serenity in 2008. Mostly, we just visited and went out to eat. I was happy to again meet up with Fienie’s daughter, Maryna, and look forward to seeing her in Zürich at some point. I also bought myself two cotton jackets in Somerset West, and one afternoon I played tournament bridge at Helderberg. It was rather interesting to see many of the people I had previously known, and to note that some had aged noticeably, and others, not at all. Practically everyone seemed to remember me., but when asked if I would consider going back there, I realized how much more interesting it is to be on board the Serenity! In fact, I have again signed up for next year, and it now appears that both Philippe and Gayle as well as Marlyse, will be joining me, this year, for the final segment from Rome to London.
Fienie, Loyce, and Zelda brought me back to the ship on Wednesday, and first we went on a sightseeing tour of the ship, followed by lunch at the Lido, and finally, a coffee at the Bistro. They were properly impressed by all the services on the ship, and in the afternoon we played tournament bridge here, before they had to hasten home (probably hitting commuter traffic at its worst).
Our dining table is still a favorite time of day, and tonight we are going to meet at the Silk Road for a Japanese dinner. Yesterday was the first of the new segment, and I played bridge in the tournament with my friend Harry, but we came in at the VERY bottom! I sure hope that will change the next time we play together (tomorrow).
I had been suffering the signs of a head cold, and bronchial cough, and so determined to take life easier for a couple of days, and am much better, already. That means that instead of going ashore in Port Elizabeth, today, I just took my time and went up to the pool to take a sunbath. It is terribly windy, but quite pleasant, and in the end, I ate up on deck with two others, who had also chosen not to go ashore. I also managed to get a laundry done, and answer a few emails, and then determined to write this blog, chose not to play bridge this afternoon. Still want to take my computer to the computer room and find out how to reduce the number of pixels in my pictures so I won’t have so much trouble uploading them.
Yesterday was the Captains invitation to meet the various officers on the ship, and I wore the headpiece I had bought two years ago, in Egypt, and it made quite a sensation! In addition, Joe, the Ambassador Host who is sitting with us in the dining room, insisted that I dance with him, followed by Norman, who was at our table last segment. Norman insisted he wanted to dance with the lady in the spectacular headdress! It now becomes more and more difficult for me to refuse to dance (as I have always done for the past two years!) but I still get in a panic every time I am on the dance floor.
Tomorrow is another day at sea prior to landing in Durban where I am registered to visit a Zulu village, and after that, two of our half day stops have been cancelled due to pirate danger in the vicinity, so we will skip the Seychelles and the Maldives, and go directly to India from Kenya.
Well, friends, hopefully I will be able to post this on my Blog, and I will try to find out about posting pictures, also.
Til next time, Cheerio!
I had a lovely three days with friends from Helderberg Village, where I wintered for four years, from 2004 through 2007, prior to taking my first World Cruise on the Crystal Serenity in 2008. Mostly, we just visited and went out to eat. I was happy to again meet up with Fienie’s daughter, Maryna, and look forward to seeing her in Zürich at some point. I also bought myself two cotton jackets in Somerset West, and one afternoon I played tournament bridge at Helderberg. It was rather interesting to see many of the people I had previously known, and to note that some had aged noticeably, and others, not at all. Practically everyone seemed to remember me., but when asked if I would consider going back there, I realized how much more interesting it is to be on board the Serenity! In fact, I have again signed up for next year, and it now appears that both Philippe and Gayle as well as Marlyse, will be joining me, this year, for the final segment from Rome to London.
Fienie, Loyce, and Zelda brought me back to the ship on Wednesday, and first we went on a sightseeing tour of the ship, followed by lunch at the Lido, and finally, a coffee at the Bistro. They were properly impressed by all the services on the ship, and in the afternoon we played tournament bridge here, before they had to hasten home (probably hitting commuter traffic at its worst).
Our dining table is still a favorite time of day, and tonight we are going to meet at the Silk Road for a Japanese dinner. Yesterday was the first of the new segment, and I played bridge in the tournament with my friend Harry, but we came in at the VERY bottom! I sure hope that will change the next time we play together (tomorrow).
I had been suffering the signs of a head cold, and bronchial cough, and so determined to take life easier for a couple of days, and am much better, already. That means that instead of going ashore in Port Elizabeth, today, I just took my time and went up to the pool to take a sunbath. It is terribly windy, but quite pleasant, and in the end, I ate up on deck with two others, who had also chosen not to go ashore. I also managed to get a laundry done, and answer a few emails, and then determined to write this blog, chose not to play bridge this afternoon. Still want to take my computer to the computer room and find out how to reduce the number of pixels in my pictures so I won’t have so much trouble uploading them.
Yesterday was the Captains invitation to meet the various officers on the ship, and I wore the headpiece I had bought two years ago, in Egypt, and it made quite a sensation! In addition, Joe, the Ambassador Host who is sitting with us in the dining room, insisted that I dance with him, followed by Norman, who was at our table last segment. Norman insisted he wanted to dance with the lady in the spectacular headdress! It now becomes more and more difficult for me to refuse to dance (as I have always done for the past two years!) but I still get in a panic every time I am on the dance floor.
Tomorrow is another day at sea prior to landing in Durban where I am registered to visit a Zulu village, and after that, two of our half day stops have been cancelled due to pirate danger in the vicinity, so we will skip the Seychelles and the Maldives, and go directly to India from Kenya.
Well, friends, hopefully I will be able to post this on my Blog, and I will try to find out about posting pictures, also.
Til next time, Cheerio!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Finally!!! Catching up en route to Cape Town
It has been ages since I last wrote, and it is impossible to fill in all the events and happenings, since I am of an age where my short term memory is not the best, anymore.
While Marlyse was here, she learned how to play paddle ball, did some painting, made some jewelry, and became the favorite in Yoga Class, besides learning some bridge, and meeting practically everyone on the ship. For me, it meant that I became known as the mother of that lovely girl, and people still talk to me now, who never spoke to me in the two previous years, although they saw me then, also.
She could even stand on her head! I am also in the same yoga class, but while everyone else starts out seated on the floor, this old lady has the privilege of sitting in a chair!
We had stops in Fortaleza and Rio in Brazil, where I went to a Samba demonstration, and in Montevideo I visited the old Jewish section. There are still a number of synagogues in the city. Marlyse went with her golf group, and enjoyed a wonderful day of golf. She left for Zürich on the morning we landed in Buenos Aires, and on the flight from Sao Paulo to Zürich, an Englishman went bezirk, trying to attack the pilot, and the plane made an emergency landing somewhere in the Cape Verde Islands (I think that’s where it was) before continuing on to Zürich where there was loads of snow on the runway. Now, everyone is waiting for her to come back to the ship in Rome for the last segment.
In Buenos Aires, I took an overall tour of the city in the morning, and went to a Tango Nightclub in the evening. I still have difficulties choosing the land tours, due to the walking. However, when we were in Miami, there was a couple from last year who came to the hotel, just to say hello to people they knew, and he insisted on taking me, personally, to a drug store to have me buy a cane, which I now use most all of the time. (Sometimes, I forget it, either in the stateroom, before starting out, or else wherever I happen to be! Fortunately, I have attached my name and stateroom number to the handle, so I can retrieve it at lost and found). It helps me keep my balance, and means people are usually quite helpful, especially in the dining room, where I would otherwise have to carry my food tray.
Since Jan 31st (Buenos Aires), we have been at sea on our way to Cape Town, and every night we have had to turn our clocks ahead one hour, which means that everyone is now walking around half asleep! Since Skype can only be used between 23:00h and 07:00h, I have not been able to use that, either. I only go to dinner at 20:30 and we are always the very last table to leave the dining room (all of us are very happy with our table), such that I am usually too tired to go to a show or turn on the computer in my room, and just go to bed, instead.
My usual program will change after Cape Town, because everyone else in the Spanish class wants to meet in the morning, and that will interfere with my bridge lessons, so for the next segment I will drop the Spanish class and perforce, the extra Spanish reading that I had started (the class level is too easy for me, anyway, and the reading group is too advanced for me, so in the end I figured not to interfere, and make trouble for the others, but just to drop Spanish, and pick up the afternoon bridge tournaments. I asked a fellow from last year if he would be my partner starting in the next segment, and he agreed, so I’m all set).
The original bridge teacher had to leave quite suddenly, when she got the results of a biopsy (by email) and had to return to Canada for surgery. She has been replaced by a crackerjack British lady, and everyone is quite satisfied. The Yoga teacher is also very special, and although I am not good at it, I do feel that I am making progress. As usual, everyone in the class is younger than me.
I am really excited about stopping in Cape Town, because I have an arrangement with three friends from the days when I stayed at Helderberg Village, and they plan to pick me up on Monday, and take me back there for two overnights, plus some bridge, etc. Then, on Wednesday the four of us will return to the ship for lunch and bridge here!
I don’t know if I ever explained what caused me to get so far behind with my blog, but just after starting the cruise, my Outlook program no longer worked properly, and I lost oodles of time trying to get the computer to work (not to mention the amount of money lost in paying for computer time that was useless!) Finally, I got the idea that the Microsoft XB program comes with a built in Outlook Express, and I was able to switch over, so that I can now use the computer without wasting so much time.
Now, my only problem will be whether I succeed in getting this long report posted to my blog, and I would also like to include some pictures.
While Marlyse was here, she learned how to play paddle ball, did some painting, made some jewelry, and became the favorite in Yoga Class, besides learning some bridge, and meeting practically everyone on the ship. For me, it meant that I became known as the mother of that lovely girl, and people still talk to me now, who never spoke to me in the two previous years, although they saw me then, also.
She could even stand on her head! I am also in the same yoga class, but while everyone else starts out seated on the floor, this old lady has the privilege of sitting in a chair!
We had stops in Fortaleza and Rio in Brazil, where I went to a Samba demonstration, and in Montevideo I visited the old Jewish section. There are still a number of synagogues in the city. Marlyse went with her golf group, and enjoyed a wonderful day of golf. She left for Zürich on the morning we landed in Buenos Aires, and on the flight from Sao Paulo to Zürich, an Englishman went bezirk, trying to attack the pilot, and the plane made an emergency landing somewhere in the Cape Verde Islands (I think that’s where it was) before continuing on to Zürich where there was loads of snow on the runway. Now, everyone is waiting for her to come back to the ship in Rome for the last segment.
In Buenos Aires, I took an overall tour of the city in the morning, and went to a Tango Nightclub in the evening. I still have difficulties choosing the land tours, due to the walking. However, when we were in Miami, there was a couple from last year who came to the hotel, just to say hello to people they knew, and he insisted on taking me, personally, to a drug store to have me buy a cane, which I now use most all of the time. (Sometimes, I forget it, either in the stateroom, before starting out, or else wherever I happen to be! Fortunately, I have attached my name and stateroom number to the handle, so I can retrieve it at lost and found). It helps me keep my balance, and means people are usually quite helpful, especially in the dining room, where I would otherwise have to carry my food tray.
Since Jan 31st (Buenos Aires), we have been at sea on our way to Cape Town, and every night we have had to turn our clocks ahead one hour, which means that everyone is now walking around half asleep! Since Skype can only be used between 23:00h and 07:00h, I have not been able to use that, either. I only go to dinner at 20:30 and we are always the very last table to leave the dining room (all of us are very happy with our table), such that I am usually too tired to go to a show or turn on the computer in my room, and just go to bed, instead.
My usual program will change after Cape Town, because everyone else in the Spanish class wants to meet in the morning, and that will interfere with my bridge lessons, so for the next segment I will drop the Spanish class and perforce, the extra Spanish reading that I had started (the class level is too easy for me, anyway, and the reading group is too advanced for me, so in the end I figured not to interfere, and make trouble for the others, but just to drop Spanish, and pick up the afternoon bridge tournaments. I asked a fellow from last year if he would be my partner starting in the next segment, and he agreed, so I’m all set).
The original bridge teacher had to leave quite suddenly, when she got the results of a biopsy (by email) and had to return to Canada for surgery. She has been replaced by a crackerjack British lady, and everyone is quite satisfied. The Yoga teacher is also very special, and although I am not good at it, I do feel that I am making progress. As usual, everyone in the class is younger than me.
I am really excited about stopping in Cape Town, because I have an arrangement with three friends from the days when I stayed at Helderberg Village, and they plan to pick me up on Monday, and take me back there for two overnights, plus some bridge, etc. Then, on Wednesday the four of us will return to the ship for lunch and bridge here!
I don’t know if I ever explained what caused me to get so far behind with my blog, but just after starting the cruise, my Outlook program no longer worked properly, and I lost oodles of time trying to get the computer to work (not to mention the amount of money lost in paying for computer time that was useless!) Finally, I got the idea that the Microsoft XB program comes with a built in Outlook Express, and I was able to switch over, so that I can now use the computer without wasting so much time.
Now, my only problem will be whether I succeed in getting this long report posted to my blog, and I would also like to include some pictures.
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