The weather was looking up early this morning with some sun showing through the clouds. It has been a while since we have seen sun, or felt the warmth from it. All of us were saying that when the heat returns, we will be complaining about it as much as many have been unhappy with these frigid temperatures. We did get in a good walk around the deck, before working in the room most of the day with photos….lots of them. It was also a good time to catch up on reading the detailed Antarctica book we received. Even though we have visited this continent twice in the last 10 years, there is so much more we are learning this time.
For the first time on this cruise, we ordered a room service lunch. We shared a club sandwich, which was good as ever, and one chicken Caesar salad. And it only took 15 minutes to arrive. After that, we took a walk outside, and were surprised to find that the fog had enveloped the ship, so much so, that the foghorn was going off every 5 minutes or so. That has to be the eeriest sound ever, and stirs the imagination of the possible reasons why we are using it. We are sailing through the Drake Passage now and we do not think there is a whole lot of ship traffic here. Knowing that the seas can possibly reach 33 feet in this area, we are lucky to have fairly smooth sailing.
After yesterday's football game festivities, it looked like most of the passengers were laying low today. Especially those who bought the $55 "drink all you can drink" in the Mainstage's special reserved seating. We don't believe the hangover would be worth it the next day, but what do we know? It has been some time since we took to our chairs on deck five, so we went after our walk to enjoy the band playing. People that know we sit there, tend to stop and say hi. Tonight was no exception. Barb came by, and told us all about the football game last night. Not many in our circle were picking teams to win, but they went mostly for the fun food and flowing drinks.
The only lecture today was about the port essentials in Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, and Puerto Montt. It has been a long time since we were in these ports, so we definitely need some information on what to see and do. Yes, we did take tours, but this time we intend to explore the cities instead.
Dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill, but with the Tamarind menu instead. The restaurant was filled to capacity, and we did have to wait before we could be seated at 8pm. We were not alone, however, because the Captain, his wife, Karen, and her cousin, Karen, were in line in front of us. At least we had a chance to visit with them for 15 minutes before our tables were ready. Apologies were made, but we did not mind, since we were not going anywhere afterwards.
Our meals were excellent, as always with this venue. Our favorite assistant server, Faya from Thailand, admitted that the food in here was not really Thai, but we already knew that. The spring rolls and Thai beef salad were just like we remembered, and the mains of wasabi-crusted filet were cooked perfectly. Tender and juicy, and not quite as hot as usual. They were light on the wasabi, which was fine. Shrimp crackers with three varieties of sauces kept us busy in between courses. We did have sides of rice, mushrooms, and stir fry veggies, but we could not do all of that justice. It was necessary to save a bit of room for the desserts of chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell, and one chocolate-dipped fortune cookie with a scoop of ice cream. Happy campers, we were done by 10pm.
The show of the dancers and singers performing "A La Mode" was in progress, but we only listened to the singing for a while before retiring for the evening. Tomorrow we should be arriving very early at Cape Horn. Hope the fog is gone by then…..
Bill & Mary Ann
Friday, February 14, 2020
Report #89 Day at Sea February 3, 2020 Monday Overcast and foggy & 36 degrees
