On the Arabian Sea

HAPPY ST. PADDY’S DAY!

The ship is decorated for this fun day and most passengers are in the flow wearing green. Patooey on those who are not.

Halfway through

Today marks exactly half way through this trip. I don’t want to think about it. This is like a summer camp for adults and the personnel are our counselors.

Dubai

This was the presentation that told us about this fascinating city. This will be our 3 trip here and it has changed considerably we are led to expect. Since we have more time, they have added a trip to Abu dhabi to the shore excursions but it is 1 ½ hrs each way and there are only 2 major sites they’ll see. So we’ll probably do the hop on hop off bus. I’m holding our first tour as a secret until we’ve done it.

Recent advances in technology

Interesting and he covered aerospace, medicine, autos, and such. We knew much of it but learned some new touches. Very interesting.

Fun lunch

We got into a discussion at lunch about some of the exotic fruits we’ve encountered on this trip. So I asked the server if he had durian, jackfruit, and mangosteen he could bring out so we could all try them. We knew they had been on board at some point. So he brought us a plate with a sampling and most did try them. The durian is the most controversial of course. It is a seasonal, large spikey fruit, found in SE Asia. It stinks much like the plant that smells like dead bodies. But people love it. Our waiter said it can increase your blood pressure (something interesting to check out).

Well some tried it by holding their noses but no one would go out of their way for it. It has a satisfying umami: custard like consistency. But the smell is ever present and very noxious.

Waking Ned Devine

One of my favorite Irish movies began on the TV at 11 am when we were at Trivia. I forgot about it afterwards and so missed it again. It is so funny. Finnian’s Rainbow is being shown in the Cabaret Lounge this pm. Not sure if I’ve ever seen it but here I am typing this instead of watching it. Ha.

We all talked about this crazy movie at dinner. Two people just saw it for the first time today so it was fresh in their minds.

Trivia

The winning team was the Irish team. The Trivia was all things Irish today. Well we weren’t awful.

Dinner

I was so looking forward to corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. No such luck. There was a boiled beef brisket and Irish lamb stew combo but I got Fettucini Alfredo instead. But I haven’t forgotten and I’ll have to find it somewhere.

Champagne waterfall

They had this in the atrium and were passing out mimosas and champagne. Oscar was in his leprechaun costume and so we had our picts taken with it. Then we visited with some of the other passengers while authentic Irish music played in the background. One lady who had taken Irish dancing classes (and probably had more champagne than she should) was doing her version of Irish dancing. It was fun anyway.

St. Patrick’s Day Party

This was upstairs in the Pacific Lounge. They do a good job of getting people involved with games that arenon-threatening. It was decorated for St. Patrick’s of course. One of the male dancers asked me to dance. I told him he’d have to teach me. He said it would be simple (it was). He is so darling. About a head taller than me, blond, muscular (I posted pics of the lifts these guys do!), 26, from the Ukraine with a sister 16. He’s danced on one of the Holland America ships too. They are all so adorable.

I may have mentioned that we have a couple with their 18 yr old son who has Down’s syndrome. He is always dressed to fit the event and his parents involve him in everything. They are soooo good with him. Well the staff have also adopted him so they make sure he’s in every contest and event. They all dance with him. He rarely sits out a dance. Very touching and speaks well for everyone involved. A really special part of this trip.