GIBRALTAR HERE WE COME

April 12, 2018

Finally, we are coming back to the Rock!

Had to say it.  Had to.

Mom went to the port lecture on Gibraltar and has found some new things for us to do, so we will strike out on our own.  I had wanted to go to the caverns, but she read about them in one of the ship’s papers and they are caverns for more mobile persons, so that won’t be one of the stops.  Check back tomorrow for a report on our doings.

My last talk was today and I was moved from the Theater to the Explorers Lounge, a smaller, but more intimate venue.  There was a culinary arts show in the Theater.  We’ve seen them before on other ships – always a good time, and large audiences.  The only bad thing about being in the Explorers today was the last art auction of the cruise was scheduled for there at 1 p.m.  They started setting up at 6 a.m. and took the entire back of the theater to set up their stuff.  Some people walked away because the theater was full and they couldn’t get a seat.  We went back to the Explorers to play cards and sat in the back while the last hour of the auction was in progress.  There weren’t 20 people in there and they sold fewer than 6 paintings.  Oh well.  It makes money for the ship, and so they get the space.  But as one person said to me, “The passengers bring in more money than the art people.”  Go figure.

We’ve had rough seas since yesterday as we sailed away from Madeira, some real rocking and rolling.  Down here on Deck 5 the waves slap against the ship and makes some very loud noise.  It has made it hard for my beloved to sleep, but fortunately, I’ve been able to nod off and stay with it.  Last night she took a sleeping pill, but still didn’t sleep soundly.  The seas are smoothing out as we get closer to Gibraltar, so hopefully a good night’s sleep will be enjoyed by all.

Tonight’s headline entertainer was a fantastic singer, Christina Bianco.  In addition to having a beautiful and powerful voice she does impressions of lady singers, pop stars, old fashioned divas, and more.  The cruise director said Christina has a YouTube channel with over 24 million hits, so check it out.  Some good stuff.

Well, it’s time for blogging by Bonnie so I will see you tomorrow.

TTFN

Well, no walking today. I was thrown from side to side in the halls because the ship was rocking so bad, so it wasn’t safe for me to walk. Only about 5000 steps today.

The day started about 7. We were up and dressed and at breakfast by 8. I tried an omelet today with my hot chocolate. After breakfast I went to the Explorers lounge to wait for his talk at 10:30. They were doing trivia at 9 and then, the video lady for the ship came in to show here latest, the tour of the bridge, the laundry room and the engine room. It was okay and she at least finished in time for David to be set up and ready to go at 10:30.  The room was small and soon there were no seats. Oh well.  The officer of the day came on at 11 to announce the clock change and give the noon report. The temp tomorrow is to be high 57 degrees, cloudy and possible showers. That figures it is British.  After his talk they had only recorded the audio part so we had to put the PowerPoint part on a flash drive and take it to the production guy so they could show his talk on TV.  Then it was almost 1 as your Dad had stopped to talk after his lecture. Lots of nice people. This couple wanted to know when were sailing again and said they weren’t doing anything in December and might try to get that cruise. Cool.

At lunch, a cup of soup, steamed vegetables and sugar free mousse. A young lady crew worker in the Lido deck said she remembered us from the Pacific Princess last year. Wow. Had a nice chat. After lunch we went back to the Explorers lounge and played some cards, yeah I won a game. Then, off to the cabin and nap. I was snoring, I woke myself so I put on my mask and went off to a good sleep. He woke me at 5 to get ready and go to supper.

Hey, tonight was Italian night so I had minestrone soup and spaghetti with meat balls and tomato sauce. Then a sugar free dessert of some kind.  Then, it was off to the show. Really good female singer. She impersonated all kinds of female divas as she sang. She had a beautiful voice all her own. She is real short, Dad said he had passed her on the steps earlier and she is shorter than me. Enjoyed her singing.

Well, we are back in the cabin and the noise is just as bad as last night. I have never before heard such loud banging and crashing of waves and ship before. And we have been on lower decks before and on rough seas. But this is really LOUD!!  It really sounds like your are crashing into something.

Hey, Tate, love the big boy underwear. You looked really cute. Miss you all.

Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie