THAR BE DOLPHINS HERE

December 9, 2018

I saw them first.  We were at breakfast in the Panorama Buffet, sitting near a window and I saw something move 9 decks down in the Mediterranean Sea.  I watched and they appeared again – dolphins leaping out of the water in graceful arcs and then plunging back into the sea.  Bonnie and I were eating breakfast with Roberta, one of our evening table mates, and we enjoyed them as they swam closer to the ship and then swam away.  Later Bonnie was doing a mile up on Deck 10 and the Officer of the Watch came on and said there was a pod swimming off the starboard side.  She saw four come up at once in perfect synchronization and disappear back under the waves.  Other than flying fish, they were the first sea life I’ve seen on any of our cruises – she has seen whale’s tales (and not just the kind on Carnival ships).

Today was one of my favorite meals on board – the English Pub Lunch with offerings of fish and chips, bangers and mash, chicken curry, and steak and kidney pie.  We both had the fish and chips – which were also served with mashy peas (she gave me hers).

I had seafood stew tonight – Japanese sea bass, clams and mussels.  There must have been two dozen mussels.  A very good dinner, finished off with cheese cake (I had creme brulee last night).

Two of our table mate couples, Jack and Pam, and Richard and Roberta, are reserving a table for the eight of us (Ted and Gita being the others) to go to one of the speciality restaurants, the steak house.  Mom and I had talked about it, but hadn’t made any definite plans, so we will join the gang from Table 57.  Rib eye medium rare, please.  Someone said they have a 20 ounce porter house steak.  PHS is scrumptious, but 20 ounces is enough for two and maybe three people.

We are back in Gibraltar tomorrow and several of you know what the title of tomorrow night’s blog will be.  Before that happens, however, we are taking the “Best of Gibraltar” excursion to the Ape’s Den, St. Michael’s Cave & Europa Point.  We’ve been to number one and number three, but the real reason we are taking this tour is it is the only one going to the cavern, a spot I’ve wanted to visit since our first stop in Gibraltar.  Looking forward to it!

Tomorrow we are supposed to hear whether or not we get the May cruise from Dublin to Vancouver BC.  Pray saints!

Okay.  Bonnie’s turn.

TTFN

Well, he stole my big news!!  I got to see the dolphins the second time because I had found the jogging track and was on my way to my first mile walk.  The dolphins were fantastic!! The just glided through the water. Made my morning. Well, it takes 13 times around the track to get one nautical mile, 6070 feet, which is 790 feet longer than a mile. The air was marvelous. I enjoyed every time around. After I finished I walked down to deck 5 and the Zumba class was just getting started. So I Zumbaed. It is great fun. I can’t do everything Tobi does but I do my best. Tobi goes right up to the last second before David has to get set up for his talk. Good crowd and the talk was enjoyed by all.  He had to finish on time today because Bingo was on at 11:30 and they always need time to set up.

We headed to deck 10 where the English Pub was operating out of the steak house. Great table looking out the window of the back of the ship. It was crowded and another young man joined us at our table. When we left there was a line of people waiting to come in and eat. Glad we went up right after his talk.

After lunch it was back to the walking track for me for another mile and he went to the Cabaret lounge to wait for Ken’s talk on Cadiz. After walking I joined him. Ken’s talk wasn’t till 2 pm so we sat in on the future cruise guys talk the Top 10 Cruises Bucket List.
Wow, they sure do have some fantastic cruises. He was promoting cruises  all the way up through 2020.

Ken’s lectures on destinations are interesting but his voice is very soft and sing songy. It will put you to sleep in nothing flat. After hearing about Cadiz and Seville, both places we have been to before, we headed back to the cabin for a short nap. Then, up and dressed for supper.  Supper tonight was watermelon cup, baked potato soup with corn, Austrian steak (was just chewed up steak in gravy)with cabbage and potatoes, followed by cherries jubilee.

The show was the crooner singer tonight and quite good.

We are now back in our room and soon off to bed as we have to be in the Cabaret lounge at 7:30 for our tour tomorrow. So up early, quick breakfast and off we go. The ship is in port till 8:30 pm so we will probably go back out and walk around after our tour which is only 2 hours.  We don’t have any pounds but they will take your euros and credit cards.

Love you all, Mom, Granny and Bonnie