Not much to report. Food great. Liquor flowing.
Wednesday
Sailing through fog, calm seas. Had to clear UK Immigration face-to-face with immigration officers on-board – nice TDY for them! It was “warm” enough for cocktails on our balcony albeit warmly wrapped up in polar fleece. Dinner at Red Ginger, Elaine’s favorite specialty restaurant – duck and watermelon salad was as good as remembered. I had delicious soft shell crab tempura as an appetizer.
Thursday:
Still overcast although relatively clear. Seas still calm. We both did workouts (mainly treadmill) in the gym. In the morning I watched a lecture on the great ships of state: The SS France; the USS United States; the QE, QM, QE2, and QM2 of Britain’s Cunard, etc. It was Indian food night at the Terrace Cafe which Elaine was looking forward to with great anticipation. The choices were endless and enjoyable.
Friday:
No fog this morning. Back to the gym again. Mandatory lifeboat drill at 10:00 AM. At 11:00 Elaine attended her first (of three) culinary classes, this one called “Tasty Little Treats”. The ship has a full culinary education center where about 20-25 people can take culinary classes. I finished the books I had on my Kindle so I was off to the library to find something to read. Dinner tonight was in the last of the specialty restaurants, “Jacques”, named for Jacques Pepin, Oceania’s culinary advisor. We shared terrine of foie gras, then we both had soups (Vichyssoise for Elaine, classic French onion for me), followed by a massive (and sumptuous) veal chop for me and Coquilles St-Jacques (scallops) for Elaine. For dessert neither of us could resiste lavender infused crème brulée.
Saturday:
At 6:30 AM we sailed past Malin Head, the northernmost point on the island known as Ireland. Strangely, if you know your Irish geography, the northernmost part of the island is in the Republic, not in Northern Ireland. Elaine had her second culinary class at 10:00 – “French Classics”. In a weak moment I had signed myself up for this one also. But I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it, so our new friend Len took my spot. It is 1:00 PM now and we are making fast to the dock in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The camera has been idle at sea. Pictures will resume in the next post. After Belfast, it’s on to Dublin, Holyhead, the Isle of Guernsey, and disembarkation in Southampton.
Welcome back to Land!!! We start our journey across the pond in less than 14 hours. Hopefully it’ll be an uneventful flight as all week it’s left on time and arrived minutes early. Will be looking to wave to you some time on Tuesday night. London weather will be delightful in your time there according to Weather Channel. Cheers!!!! Once again, Kris and I gained weight reading about your food choices!!
All that great food, good thing you are putting in the gym time. Lucky no rough seas. All those cooking classes Elaine, I expect something terrific in Durango. Russ is doing better each day. Take care you two.