Because of the time change last night, we are now 3 hours ahead of home (Central time – Oklahoma), and we have 3 more to go before we get to our first stop. My alarm didn’t go off again this morning but Jeff’s did. His alarm was set for 7:30 and I think we finally walked out the cabin door at 8. He headed to the gym and to get his NON-Dr Pepper caffeine fix. I went up to deck 10 to walk outside. It was overcast with rain on the horizon. I only made about 2 laps and it started drizzling fairly heavy, just not enough to call it rain. I had a hat on and tunes in my ears to I just kept walking. It was just me and the crew who were hiding out underneath any overhang they could find. When I got back to the room the sweat broke out because it was so humid. I hopped into the shower before we headed to breakfast.
Our Passports and Yellow Fever cards were collected this morning.
About 11am we went to an excursion presentation on the ports of Zanzibar, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Durban and Capetown, South Africa. I have no idea why they are doing those specific port presentations so early in the trip because they are at the end of the cruise for a lot of people. Holland sold this cruise 3 different ways. There is the Grand Africa cruise which is round trip Ft. Lauderdale and 73 days. Then they also divided it into 2 parts. Part one is Ft. Lauderdale to Capetown, South Africa. Part 2 is Capetown to Ft. Lauderdale. So those ports are at the end for some people and a little more than halfway through for the Grand portion. (Update: apparently I missed the earlier port excursion presentations)
At noon the captain said we have traveled 1251 miles with 2245 remaining to our first port. Our speed is 21 knots with 6 to 8 foot seas and 82 degrees. A friend on another ship that is heading toward us told me that their captain told them they were deviating from their course to avoid 24 foot waves! Yikes …. I certainly hope that isn’t in our future.
Jeff was back to Andy Fletcher’s presentation this afternoon but the sun came out so I was on the back deck for an hour and a half. Here’s Jeff with what he learned today: Blackholes don’t suck. If matter reaches the event horizon it ‘falls’ into the gravity well. Think of a roulette wheel. Once the ball loses enough momentum it falls to the lowest point of the wheel. If viewed from an outside point, it seems to slow and then stop. If viewed from the matter entering the event horizon, motion continues as usual and it takes an infinite amount to time to fall toward the ‘bottom’ of the gravity well. It will never reach bottom. Susan’s back … Andy lost me when he said warp drive wasn’t possible ☹
Just had a knock at the door and our room steward delivered gifts! We each received a tote bag, a safari hat, a power bank, a wallet, and a knapsack.
Tonight is our first dressy night and Captain’s welcome on the Main Stage. More free flowing sparkling wine and the introduction of officers. We went to music trivia first and were told that they were having a simulcast in the Rolling Stone lounge. They said they would also have champagne there. Well, OUR bar stools are there (!) so it seemed the logical place to go and not fight the crowds. Initially, there were only 4 or 5 of us and no champagne. Our favorite bartender, Grace from the Philippine’s, was totally caught off guard when she showed up to open her bar (an hour and a half prior to the start of the night’s entertainment) and had not been told this was happening. She was amazing! She started opening bottles of champagne and never once lost the smile on her face.
Tonight, we met 3 ladies that are traveling together having met on a previous cruise – Cat, Dixie and Leslie, from Dallas, Canada and I don’t remember. We talked about the horrible traffic in Texas and our dogs 😊
When we got back to our room, we had an apology note from guest service and chocolates …. The best way to say I’m sorry!
