Unfotunately we are having a little trouble uploading our photographs on to the blog at the moment.... We've decided therefore just to upload the written updates for now. Rest assured, photos will return as soon as we figure out a way to do so!!!
Cheers, Nesta & Ian
Monday 31st December – Kralendijk, Bonaire.
What a memorable New Year’s
Eve!!
Enjoyed our meal with the
Captain, whom Nesta was sitting next to – lucky man! Whilst the other side of
the table talked about the global financial markets and the fiscal cliff, Barbara
(a single lady invited to the meal) and Nesta educated the captain about
cannabis and he told us his best (i.e. most stupid) “customer complaints”
Incidentally, for our kind critics
who have made some comments about this blog… you know who you are, Rob &
Margaret J… The captain told us that when he is ashore and is
asked what he does for a living always replies.. “I drive a ship and my job is
to park and unpark it”
The party on the Lido deck
was great. They played music 20+ years more recent than their usual set and nearly
everyone danced!
At midnight the city had a
massive fireworks display and they were fantastic.
Happy 2013…
New Year’s Day – Day at sea.
Well – after not finishing
partying until 01-30 it was a later start today. We are crossing the middle of
the Caribbean from south to north. Winds of 30mph and moderate seas means we
are rolling and jumping again which together with dull and showery weather
means the complaining lot have started again…
Went to a real eye-opening
lecture about the “middle passage” i.e. the taking of the slaves from West
Africa to people the New World. Didn’t know that the song “Amazing Grace” was
written Rev. Newton who had previously been a slave ship captain and is based
on Negro spiritual music.
No pictures today, I’m afraid
and we had an early night.
Wednesday 2nd January – Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic.
Ship parked right in front of
the old colonial town. Great piece of reversing by the captain and Nesta told
him so when she saw him!
Walked round the old town and
saw Columbus’ burial site together with lots of colonial architecture. Really
interesting but nor really our thing. Probably wouldn’t come back.
Thursday 3rd January – Day at sea.
Relatively calm today and the
weather was sunny and hot. Went to two lectures about Haiti and the slave trade
and Jamaica and the buccaneers. Both very interesting. These together with the
bridge seminars were the highlights of the day – oh plus the free drinks at the
bridge party and Discovery Club… hic! No pictures today either, I’m afraid.
Friday 4th January – Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Arrived at 7am this morning
so here we are at the end of our second cruise already. Been on board now for a
month exactly – won’t be long before the kids fly out to join us J
“I drive a ship and my job is to park and unpark it”
ReplyDeletePlease ask your captain to visit the following website?
http://www.seatalk.info/
No mention of parking ships here!, definitely berth a ship. :-)
I want to make sure that he's up to the task of properly looking after my favorite sister and her husband!
Don't worry - he actually reversed over a kilometre down a narrow channel into Santo Domingo and berthed behind a large ferry with not much space to spare. Think he's probably good at his job.
DeletePS - you don't spell "favourite" like that... are you American?