Monday, Day 100 - Apr 16 - Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

We are now a 100 days into this wonderful experience and celebrate by waking to pitching and rolling seas laced with rain; not a pretty day today. We head to breakfast and enjoy another almond croissant each. Sure wish we had thought to ask for these tasty sweets earlier!

Another normal sea day...the mind puzzles from the Library, jigsaw puzzle on Deck 7, exercise groups in the gym, bridge groups in the card rooms, various deck games on the sports deck (weather permitting), board games in the dining room, ballroom dance lessons in Galileo Lounge and Bingo in Galileo Lounge to keep you busy if you are not into the lectures or card making like us.

Terry is doing a talk on “Earnest Shackleton - A Man of Destiny and Courage”. Dick works on his computer instead of going since he has heard numerous talks on the man during our two trips to Antarctica.

There is a cooking demonstration at 11AM by the Executive Chef, Michael Meyepa on “All About Delicious Soups.”  We like soup for a simple lunch or light dinner so Dick goes to the lecture. The Chef prepares three soups that have been served on the ship. He says there is one chef that makes all the soups fresh each day. He makes 12 different soups, 40 to 80 liters each.  Chef Michael shows the group how to make Cream of Chicken, Minestrone and a fish soup, Seafood and Coconut Lakas.

Carolyn works on the blog. It is so easy to fall behind with all the other things to do. Then she goes to Sarah’s card group where she learns a few more techniques to fancy up a quilling card.

At noon the Captain tells us the storm he expected for this afternoon passed over us earlier ths morning. The skies have cleared  some, but we still have 15 foot seas and gale force winds. It is a bit less rocky now but he expects it to get worse later this afternoon and he may have to shut down some elevators later. Hummm, sounds like fun! We are 28 degrees S, 13 degrees W and have 9,000 feet of ocean below us.

They are serving the Cream of Chicken soup in the Compass Rose for lunch so we both go to lunch. The soup is really tasty...creamy and rich with lots of chicken!

We have a quiet afternoon. Dick plays computer games and goes to a showing of “Waterloo,” made in 1970 and starring Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. One of our neighbors on Deck six brought the Video. He and Terry arranged for the showingin two parts. Carolyn goes to Julie’s card class and makes a layered card, then takes a nap.

If our afternoon is too sedate for your taste there are also Games with Jamie in the Stars Lounge, more bridge in the card room, Slots, Black Jack and Texas Hold 'em tournaments in the casino, deck games weather permitting, card games, mah jogg and chess in the card room and needle point in the Galileo Lounge along with Tea Time!

We have 6:30 PM Prime 7 reservations at a shared table, our extra one for this segment. As much as the ship is moving Prime 7 is not bad at all even though we are on deck 10. The couple we share with are new this segment. They are from North Carolina and are celebrating their 52nd anniversary today. We enjoy the conversation and the food. Think we have finally figured out how to enjoy the beef in Prime 7. We split a piece of prime rib which is always delicious and find it is the perfect amount of food.

Since we join in the other couple's celebration, we are late with dinner. By the time we leave Prime 7 the ship is rolling and pitching badly and the walk home is rather precarious!
Back in the room we climb into bed after helping the boys with their bed belts. The ship is doing the figure eight (8) motion by now and moaning and groaning. Can’t imagine what it is like south of us at Tristan du Cunha! Really good call Captain!!!