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AT
SEA
May
21, 2004 to May 27, 2004
 After leaving
the Caribbean we headed out across the
Atlantic on a northeasterly course. The
seas were much calmer than I expected.
 During the 6 days of ocean travel we kept ourselves
busy
with our routine. In the morning we
continued to exercise, have breakfast, play cards or work a jigsaw
puzzle. Pauline and I began Italian
lessons, which
were taught by a very cheerful, patient young woman named Luciana. She was a very good sport and taught us a
lot in the short time she had. I
brought some jigsaw puzzles and they were quite popular with many of
the
passengers. Don met some fellows who
shared his interest in his gps, photography
and computers and gadgets, so he enjoyed
talking to them.
In
the afternoons we would practice our Italian, play “Spite
and Malice”, go to the movie show, swim, take a nap.
We had an hour time change each night, so we were a little
sleepier each day.
   Our meal options are many. For
breakfast and lunch we may choose from a sit-down meal
in our dinner
restaurant, Ippocampo, or in the other restaurant, Bussola, or from the
buffet. Don likes the buffet because it
is quick. Dinner is always in the
Ippocampo and always at the same table with our tablemates, Gene and
Barbara,
from San Carlos. Pauline and Jerry sit
at the next table over with a very nice couple from Florida. The menus are good, with several choices of
fish, beef, lamb and chicken. At
11:45pm every night there is an elaborate buffet with many salads,
meats,
cheeses, fruits and fancy desserts. Sometimes
there is a theme and additional dishes are
prepared. We had Italian night with pasta,
Neptune’s
Delight with seafood, and Indian with curry. Usually
Don was asleep by then and I was too full from
dinner, but I
liked to go up to look at the fancy displays.
   In the evenings we always have some kind of show. Sometimes the show is dancing, with chorus
girls, flamenco dancers, etc. Sometimes
the show is variety acts, such as magic, quick-change artist,
contortionist,
etc. They usually last about an hour
and keep us entertained in the evenings.
    Surprisingly
the long voyage across the Atlantic passed more
quickly than I expected.
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