DAY at SEA!
Trip Start
Jun 18, 2006
1
5
18
Trip End
Jul 02, 2006
At sea, Italy
Thursday, June 22, 2006
We awoke fairly early after a fitful night of sleep. Michael was up and out of the cabin early for his yoga class, me off for a jog around the deck (ok, I only made it a mile, 3 laps) and then up to the gym for 20 minutes on the treadmill, I am determined NOT to become a big fat blimp on this cruise. Michael finished Yoga at the same time I finished my treadmill and we went to join Bob for Breakfast in the Lido Restaurant (Carol is a quiet morning person and prefers to breakfast at her leasure in the cabin, ah the life!). Afterwards I went to up on deck and quickly fell asleep while pretending to read a book. The sun was so wonderful, the sea so beautiful, there was no other choice! It was not my intention, honestly, but its what happened and I am on vacation so what the hell, I went with it! Michael did Michael things, and I even missed lunch with the family, sleeping right through it
Volcano eruption, really!
. The only reason I did wake was because the cruise director came over the PA announcing what was to happen for the afternoon, and reminded me that team trivia was to begin in 5 minutes. So I made my way to the Crows Nest Lounge and joined the family for team trivia, plus a delightful couple named Carol and Dave from the Miami area. We did well, tying for first place (who would have thought Frost recited his poetry at Kennedy's inageration and not FDR's?) Unfortunately, Michael did not do so well on the tie breaker and we ended up getting second place. I'm not complaining about a free round of drinks, but the t-shirt and hat woulda been better!
After that I showered and changed before meeting Michael and Carol for High Dutch Tea, which to be honest, was a bit of a disappointment. Herd 'em in, herd 'em out was the mentality, and no choice of tea. Disapointing. Oh well, what can I REALLY complain about. We sat with two wonderful couples, one from Jersey (he has three black belts in martial arts... and she has three as well... Prada, Gucci and Calvin Klein) and another from Sydney, Australia... Delightful both.
After tea, it was time to get ready for dinner
On Deck!
. We ate in the premium restaurant tonight, The Pinnacle Grill. It was stuffy, but the food was phenomenal. The Bernaise sauce with my filet was amazing and the crème brulee was equally amazing served in a tri separated dish with chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut brulee. Amazing! Bobs salmon also looked fantastic, as did Michaels duck appetizer. Very much worth the extra.... and Bob picked up the tab. Thank you Bob. VERY NICE!After dinner we went to the show. They really have it down here, It was a Las Vegas style revue with costumes by Bob Mackie, and amazing choreography and songs... and OK, I'll admit it, one of the dancers is very handsome too!
After dinner, Bob had left us to sleep, still a bit under the weather. So after the show, Carol, Michael and I stopped into the Piano Lounge at my urging. Now, it is a sing a long piano bar so we quickly got into the spirit of things (every time someone new would come in, the pianist would ask, "so, where are you from" to which the entire bar would yell "Who the hell cares!" at the expense of the incoming guests. They all took it well, and everyone had a great laugh at their expense. So, here we are singing along to a bad collection of songs when the pianist picks out Michael because he's such a ham and sings at the tp of his lungs, and asks him to choose a song, then says HE has to sing it, alone! What Kahonee's he has because he did it! IT was great fun. Wait until you see the pics.
We stopped by the casino briefly and made our deposit. Carol had left us to do our damage, and then Michael left after his money was spent, so I was left alone to see my own contribution dwindle away
High Dutch Tea
. Damn machines! As I wandered back to the cabin, I came across a lounge totally void of passengers, yet a quartet was playing to no one! Now, I believe everyone needs an audience, even Jason, so I sat down and listened. They were wonderful. Three violins and a cello. They played several pieces for me, even one I often play on the turntable near bedtime at home. It was amazing. A private concert! I am so friggin' lucky! I will visit them again tomorrow, and drag Bob along... he needs to see them. He'd enjoy it!
the day ends with me typing this missive. Time for me to send this and head to bed. Debrovnik is tomorrow, and I am excited for our tour. Till then, I wish you were all here to enjoy this with me.
