INTERCEPTED!

January 24, 2016

Denver goes to Santa Clara!  Boston goes home!  Steelers were already home.  Oh the sadness!  As my correspondent from Grovetown remarked, “I hate rooting for a Manning.”  But it sure was sweet today!

This morning at breakfast we sat at a table that seats up to 6 and another couple joined us.  They were asking what there is to do in Curacao, and we gave them a few suggestions.  In the process of the conversation, I told them I was the guest speaker for this trip, and a retired pastor.  “I’m a professional talker,” I said.  Another couple at the table behind us joined in.  He said he had done some talks several years ago but quit because he was tired of having inside staterooms.  His wife said the last one they had was so small her husband had to go out into the hall so she could go to the bathroom.  I resisted!  But they are the kind of people who give cruising a bad name.  I thought about one-upping her and saying, “That’s nothing!  We had one once that was so small, Bonnie had to go out in the hall so I could change my mind!” (Sound of drumsticks hitting the rim).

Sunday in Curacao found many businesses closed.  Jewelry stores were open, and most of the “Made in China” souvenir stores.  But Bonnie managed to add to her collection of banks with a selection from Willemstad.

Willemstad has three bridges named for Dutch Queens – the Juliana, the Wilhamena and the Emma.  The Emma is a floating/pontoon bridge, first built in 1888, that opens to let ships into the inner harbor and closes to let pedestrian cross.  Originally it was a toll bridge, but the poor were not required to pay the toll.  Whether or not you paid was determined by your footwear.  Barefooted – free (and poor).  Shoes – you pay (and rich).  Many poor did not want to be identified as such and so they borrowed shoes from the rich and paid the toll.  The rich walked across barefooted, and for free.  We kept our shoes on and did not pay the toll.  While we were across on “The Punda” (the point) the bridge opened to let three tugs pass through.

Just so your knowledge of Dutch and the downtown of Curacao’s capital will be complete.  We walked to the Punda (see above) and our ship docked on the Otrabanda – the Other Side.

Tonight’s on board entertainment, other than football, was Nicole Sasser, a vocalist and trumpeter.  Pretty lady.  Great talent.  Sadly there were fewer than 50 people in the main auditorium for her first show.  Hopefully the second will be better attended.  I regularly have more people in my talks than she did.

Well, tomorrow is Bonaire and laundry day.  We live exciting lives, your favorite cruisers.

TTFN!