I turned on my T.V. this morning at sometime after 07.20hrs. The bow camera, permanently situated to provide a constant forward view, which can be accessed on Channel 43 at all times, showed an astonishing sunrise, hinting of a splendid day ahead. I had become somewhat weary of day after day of being thrown about on the Atlantic Ocean. Lacklustre temperatures skimmed off the joy of being in Bermuda and Port Canaveral, but at least it was always bright and dry. The sea today is still rough, but the wind is behind us, and the movement on board, a blissful minimum. The prospects for a good sunset are promising. January 22nd in the Caribbean is magnificent!
I have booked two shore excursions for our brief time in Puerto Rico. A morning tour explores both the old and modern aspects of the capital, San Juan; the afternoon, a performance of flamenco and other folkloric music will be an enjoyable way of passing a hot afternoon. I have been here before, I think in 1998 err twenty-two years ago!
Rita (QE2 2004, 2008) is on board. Back in the day, her shrill voice “Daveeeed” would summon me to the whist school, near the Crystal Bar and Mauretania Restaurant. I have rejoined said whist school, these days in the windowless Connexions 3, where the air conditioning is turned to freezing!
Strangely, I won the mens’ game, but the ladies’ winner left me standing! It looks as if my early afternoons at sea are taken care of all the way back to Southampton.
It took a while, but I am back in “losing weight mode” once again. I have been Type 2 diabetic since November 2010, and have just about managed to control it without the need for medication. (Not bad for almost 10 years.) Around this time last year, I was given six months to reverse the effects of relaxing the diet and exercise regime. I succeeded, probably thanks to a lady at my table on a return QM2 voyage from Dubai, who gave me a diet plan and made sure I stuck to it.
Tonight’s sunset didn’t disappoint, after which a magnificent salmon sky with stark grey clouds soon became the colour of dark blue ink. It has been a lovely day; I now feel the cruise has got under way.
Many thanks for reading,
David.
David's Cruise 