Miscellany

Today is our third sea day in a row. While we enjoy getting off the ship and having new experiences, it’s also nice to have some days that we don’t get off and can just relax and do... whatever. There are always activities onboard but we usually prefer to just do our own thing. 

For me that means working on my laptop playing with my photos or reading (I’m currently reading “The Diamond Eye” - not really something I would have chosen but a book club recommendation). Ronnie is spending many hours on a research subject he’s been working on. A couple of days ago, for a break he decided to pick up his pencils and art pad and draw a portrait. Here is what he drew from a photo I made while we were in Benin. I think he did a really good job! He's not entirely happy with the color because he didn't bring his pastels and is having a harder time with the pencils.

 

 

Yesterday I attended a talk on how to prevent being a victim of pickpocket in Cape Town, an upcoming destination. It was interesting to learn just how many different methods are used by pickpockets to rob their completely clueless victims. The guest lecturer showed us lots of video clips of people's pockets being picked. Some of the people who are skilled in the “art” of picking pockets should spend their energies learning magic tricks!

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the ship brought on extra security since we were entering an area known as High Risk Area (HRA). We see these guys around the ship since they take turns working (2 at night, 2 during the day). They are all ex-military guys and very nice. I took a picture of one of the extra guys with Ronnie at lunch one day. He wears a black patch over one eye as the result of stepping on a land mine in Afghanistan. Ronnie has seen him order 5 eggs at breakfast and also runs into him in the ship’s workout facility.  Here’s the picture I took of him with Ronnie one day and another one I snapped this week of the back of his shirt. I do feel better knowing these guys are on board.

 

we do bad things to bad people

Since I take a lot of photos, I'm going to post some miscellaneous ones of things around the ship that you might enjoy seeing. One of the advantages of having a balcony is getting to see so many sunsets over the ocean - they are always gorgeous! So are the sunrises - if I'm awake in time to see them. The clouds are always so awesome.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Below are just some random photos. Please forgive me if I've posted some of these before. I don't want to go back through my posts to see.

 

back "patio" dining area of the ship

certificates after crossing the equator the first time

this is how our undies are returned to us

door to our cabin - the closest we'll be to wildflowers this Spring (thanks, Lisa!)

one side of the ship library

typical laundry delivery - all nicely pressed!

chocolate each night (pillowcases from Julie)

our butler, Vishant Chandrahasa Poojary

chefs grilling ribs on the deck

  

fishermen dragging their nets in Africa

silhouetted fishing boat - Africa