Aussies ahead

Moonlight

Around 3:30 Looked around the cabin to see if it was pre-dawn the light was luminous like that. When I peeked out of the curtain, I saw it was the full moon over the ocean. It was glorious. I got a picture with Ed’s help as I couldn’t turn off the flash without my glasses. What a wonderful experience.

Room service

Such a convenience as we are doing several things back to back this morning and Ed can always use the extra time.

Bridge tour

I had asked to do this tour and had to write a letter to the Captain with the request. There were probably 12 of us. Willie had a personal invitation from the Captain. I don’t know about the others.

Security was MUCH higher than on previous bridge tours we done. There were almost as many staff shepherding us around as we were in our group. The ship was built in 1998 and has only 2 thrusters on the front; the power of those two equals the power of one thruster on a larger ship. We saw the equipment including the gyro. Our tour included the wing on the port side where all the controls mimic the main bridge. It has a glass floor and a grid where you can see straight down.

There is a coconut in a pot on one of the wings. I found this very funny.

The Captain greeted us all as we came in; we were not allowed to talk to the people who were on duty.

Our previous visits to bridges were more relaxed and fun. This was business. No complaint; just very different experience this time.

Culinary demonstration

We made most of this with the matre de dressed in PJs, bunny slippers and with a great sense of humor. The chef is also very funny. You get the impression they enjoy doing this. We had a lot of laughs and we saw them prepare scallops and a ratatouille. The chef made a gorgeous plate of course. The matre de, in line with his role as clown, not so much.

I ran off to a drawing in the photo department while Ed remained with the camera and then did the galley tour. It was pretty rushed he said because of the number of people who showed up.

Then we popped up to trivia. My Lord this one was so tough! The questions were painful. As an example, What REM song repeats the phrase “call me when she wakes up” 32 times? What British territory’s name means mountain of Turk? (Gibraltar). We did pathetically but we had lots of company. I think the prize today was deck of cards so no harm no foul.

Errands

I now have a morning routine while I wait for Ed to get ready. I go up 3 flights to the library and get the daily Soduko and puzzle. Then down to deck 4 across the ship (6 decks down) for the 3 English language newspapers. And then one deck up to 5 to see what’s for sale, and finally 2 decks up to our cabin to drop everything off.

This afternoon’s task

To sort out desired photos so I can put them on a flash drive. Urush has a Mac and he has been very good about putting photos on his Mac and then air dropping to our Apple devices. Currently I have no way to do this directly as I left the connector I need at home and the one I got in Auckland is, despite my instructions, a charging cord. I should have been more careful.

Ed helped me with transferring to the flash drive as I can’t read my notes and do that. Then I had an appointment with Urush to air drop them from the flash drive to our apple devices. He has been so willing to help us with this; it is not a part of his job and takes his time. But we enjoy the conversations about technology present and future.

So now we will be able to upload some photos from the cameras to iCloud and photostream tomorrow in Sydney.

Hop on Hop off

We tried to get tickets in advance but finally gave up as we had to do it in the internet café and print them off. We’ll do it there tomorrow.

C.R.U.I.S.E.

Means Can’t Really Understand Italians Speaking English.

My favorite joke of today.

Tonight’s singer

He was absolutely terrific. What a voice and sense of humor. He is Kiwi: ½ Maori and ½ Aussie. What a treat.

Good news about berth tomorrow

We have heard different stories about where the ship will berth. In the past it has always been between the Opera House and the Coat Hanger (Harbor Bridge). As we are looking at the materials they gave us for tomorrow, it appears that is where we will be again. We are so excited that this might be the case.

The sail in is at pre-dawn 5:45 am so we will be up early to see it. This is always so special, that is, sailing into the great harbors at sunrise. I’ll try to post a 360 on FB.