EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, IS FOR THE BIRDS

December 16, 2015

We did go to bed rather early last night, around 10 p.m., but we slept in until after 8 a.m.  I am getting to enjoy this!  Of course the next time I am up against a deadline to get a new cruise talk written, I’ll be back to my 4 a.m. rising and shining.

After my Barbary Pirate talk yesterday, one old cruiser, in a pink dress – that looked like she cut it off of a couch – came up to me after the talk and in a hostile voice said, “I thought this was to be about Pirates of the Caribbean!”  I gently assured her that she had missed two of those, but there will be one more.  She was assuaged.

Tonight after the show, an incredible magic and illusion act, we were wandering through one of the shops when we were attacked by Pink Lady’s sister.  At least she was an old battle ax pushing a three-wheeled walker, demanding that we get out of her way.  Now you know sometimes I exaggerate things in these bloggings (yes, alas, it is true) but this old gal was demanding that we move.  I pulled Bonnie close (the demolition driver was behind her) and motioned her to go around.  I am pretty sure she said something ugly as she passed.

We wandered ashore on St. Kitts today and visited some spots we had seen when we were here a couple years ago (when we were here last month, we took a train ride – this time we rode Shank’s Mare).  There is a beautiful park where the citizenry used to play “Pall Mall.”  Pall Mall is from the Latin for “ball and mallet” and was played like croquet (to which it is the forerunner) but with only one ball and one wicket.  Sometimes the playing field was 500 yards long – one in London was 800 yards long.  We walked out there and enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere under some rather large trees, and took a photograph of one of the Christmas trees which are set up in the park.  Since 1983 Pall Mall Square has been known as Independence Square.

And we took a selfie (you can call a photograph of two people taken by themselves of themselves an “usie” if you wish, we call it a selfie – so there!) in front of the Berkeley Memorial Clock Tower and Drinking Fountain erected in the last century and dedicated to the memory of the Honorable Thomas Berkeley, a legislator known for having a clock and drinking fountain named for him.

It was a rather hot morning, so we did not stop in the St. Kitts Historical Museum.  We’ve seen it before, and it is a splendid example of some folks who are proud of their heritage and have made a collection of things and events from their past.  It is worth the $3 admission fee (or $8 ECD – East Caribbean Dollar).

Bonnie bought a few souvenirs.  I trolled for emails at a free WiFi spot.  And then we came back on board and ate hamburgers at The Grill, and had soft ice cream cones for dessert.
While I napped Bonnie went to watch “Ant Man.”  She pronounced it an enjoyable super hero movie where the good guy wins and the bad guy loses.  As it should be.

For supper tonight I had a sea food dish that is the best meal I’ve eaten on this cruise – scallops, shrimp and a pastry that was baked mashed potatoes.  I chose tirimisu for dessert.  Bonnie had spaghetti with tomato sauce (that tasted once again like Ragu – Princess must shop at the same store as Royal Caribbean).  Her dessert was a trio of ice cream.  A good dinner at a table shared with two couples who have come to my talks – I have groupies!

After supper we sat in the Piazza for an hour or so and listened to one of the live musicians who play in that arena (no dead musicians play there, at least none that we are aware of).  A Beatles tribute group played the main show last night and were set up in the Piazza to play at 10:30 tonight, but your humble scribe declared it was time to go to bed (it will be 10 until I get this posted).

Tomorrow we will go ashore in St. Thomas, walk the 99 steps (which are really 103 steps) and gaze once again out of Blackbeard’s Castle.  But that’s a story for another time.

And to those of you who will go tomorrow night to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – NO SPOILERS!

Until then ...

TTFN