The next message was too long in coming......it's about wearing bathrobes in public places on the ship. We don't know how you feel about this, but it is unnerving to see people in the elevators, sometimes shoeless as well, as they make their way to the Lido pool area, for instance. Then they pop into the Lido restaurant to get food, and that's where they get busted, we hope.
Other events of the day included another Mongolian Cookout for lunch, which was held in the Lido Pool area. We heard that the line was quite long today, although, it must have been unbearably hot in there with the wok cooking and all. Now that we are sailing in a hot and humid zone, the outdoor areas of the ship have been very uncomfortably warm and sticky. At least, we had a good breeze blowing across the back deck all afternoon.
We have a strange story to tell regarding a most unusual passenger. Perhaps we need to begin with two great experiences we have had with clergy members on previous cruises. Specifically, Catholic priests on a holiday. One such man was on a cruise with his nephew, and they happened to be our tablemates. Dressed like the rest of us, we never knew the elder of the two was a priest, although, being Catholic ourselves, we suspected that to be the case. He was afraid that the conversation at our table of eight may have been stiffled knowing that he was a man of the cloth. Not the case with any of us. We welcomed his knowledge and stories he had to share. Our other experience was with a traveling Canadian priest, whom we have kept in touch ever since that Caribbean trip several years ago. So you know where we are coming from.
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| Rendition of crazy Russian priest |
This case is far from a good experience. Absolutely no one believes this long-hair, bearded man is truly a Russian Orthodox priest, even though he dresses the part in a long black robe every day, wearing open-toe sandals. We doubt that he would pack a large soda bottle full of wine, and drink it all day in public places around the ship. We doubt he would curse passengers having a friendly game of cards in the Hudson room, telling them they were all damned. Nor do we think a priest would approach other passengers and solicit money for his church. He has even been heard doing the same begging onshore while in French Polynesia. It is no wonder that the security team was summoned to the grand opening of a pearl exhibit today, where he made a scene and was escorted out by two officers. Why in the world is this man still on the ship, we ask? It must take a lot more to legally debark him, or HAL could be sued. If we heard correctly, he should be ending his trip in Sydney, the end of the first segment. We have only touched on a few of the nasty things he has done, since some of it has been too disgusting to put in print. Let's just say he has a habit of putting food in his robe pockets and leaving it there forever. Pity his poor room stewards, who reported that his room was so filthy, a team had to go in and strip it of rotting food stuff. No kidding...........
Changing the subject (probably forever), there was a special Pinnacle Polynesian Dinner in the Pinnacle this evening. Six courses were paired with suitable wines....all for the price of $79. per person. At that price, we are not certain how many folks dine there, but a clue to that is the fact that we received the menu and an invite to join them a day ago. Since the Pinnacle is closed for regular diners on these special days, they are probably having trouble filling it.
We have been trying some different items on the menu at dinner in the main restaurant. Last night, we had the spicy chow mein entree, and tonight, we shared a rice ringed Schechwan(sp?) vegetarian entree. We have to have a new cook in the kitchen, because these items were simply delicious. So far, the food choices have been very good, well, except for the Maine lobster which was not a Maine lobster on formal night. Something tells us that they ran out of those, and we were served a substitute.
The entertainer tonight was a mystery one....a lady by the name of Liz Layton, who will tell it like it is. So, what is she? You have to attend to find out.
