Seeing the digital scales set up in the elevator lobby of each passenger deck, we are reminded that this trip is drawing to an end soon. How it went by so fast is beyond our comprehension. Cards were distributed asking us how many pieces of luggage we would be shipping via Luggage Forward, and how many would we be taking off with us in Ft. Lauderdale. We are hoping that all of our shipped luggage will be taken off and loaded directly into the waiting vans at the cruise terminal. Otherwise, we will have to gather it all up, get it on dollies, and haul it through the customs checkpoint. Last year, we did not have to do this, as we did not see our luggage until it arrived at our house. With the final stop on this cruise being Puerto Rico, we will go through customs and immigrations there and not have to repeat the process upon landing in Florida. But we will not know that for sure until we get closer to the final days.
Today was still hot and steamy with high overcast and clouds. The seas were quite smooth and there was a breeze, although it was a warm wind. We are still finding that at 10am when a World Stage talk is going on, it is a good time to do some laps on the promenade deck. Most folks are at the talk, and the deck is not crowded. Currently there are three speakers keeping the folks informed on African colonization, carbon-neutral trucking around Africa, and the end of the slave trade. Lots to take in on one sea day.
While picking up some custom burgers at the Dive-In, we noticed that all of the tables and chairs had been moved aside. Then we remembered that there was an Ice Cream Social at 3pm today held in the Lido Pool area. Of course there is a section in the Lido Market just for ice cream, desserts, and sweets, but today they are beefing it up with cones, cups, and bowls with heaps of toppings. We can say that neither of us has eaten an ice cream cone this whole entire trip. We never seem to be in the right place at the right time and figured we don't need the extra calories.
Yesterday while departing Takoradi, we happened to pass by that really unusual ship that did not look like a ship we have seen before. Except it did look familiar and then we realized we had seen this ship while visiting Ghana last year. On our way out of the harbor, we spotted the KPS Osman Khan – a power ship. It is considered a special service floating power plant. Its purpose is to deliver electricity to the power grid of Ghana supplying 470 MW generation to the grid. It was re-built in South Korea by Samsung Shipbuilding in 2000 and was brought to Ghana by the Turkish government in 2016. It is 100,330 gross tons and is 981 feet in length. It can be powered with several types of fuel or natural gas. Fascinating.
Captain Friso came on for his noon talk. He seems to like to project a week ahead of where we are currently located. He feels comfortable with the weather and sea conditions after we leave the last port of Africa in Cape Verde. It looks like a smooth sailing, although the North Atlantic can be unpredictable. Time will tell. Even though the skies darkened, we did not get any rain late this afternoon. One of our buddies said he spotted some dolphins early in the day, but we never did see any of them. There were no flying fish either. It sure give one a lonely feeling out here far off of the coast of West Africa.
Both of us opted for the Club Orange special of Peruvian chicken for dinner. It is about half of a chicken that is spiced well and roasted in the oven. We also started with Caesar salads and a chicken appetizer and one tomato soup….really good. We shared a small slice of carrot cake, which has not appeared very often on the menu. Also very good.
Two more sea days to relax before we arrive in The Gambia, another unique part of the world.
Entertainment in the World Stage was a song and dance show by the Grand Voyage singers and dancers. It was titled Simply Broadway.
Bill & Mary Ann
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