JAN 9, 2013 AT SEA on the way to ARUBA

JANUARY 9, 2013 at sea ON THE WAY TO ARUBA

Well, last night as we sailed from Les Saintes we had a following sea and it must have been pretty good since we all got a good night's sleep, only occasionally did I wake up with the odd bang or bump somewhere in the vicinity!

We were first for breakfast on the La Veranda back deck at 730am when they open for breakfast (we usually are!) and enjoyed a variety from pastries (Terry says they have an excellent pastry chef on board) to fruit to smoked salmon (Wally's favourite) to waffles!  I had a conversation with Kuda the grill chef from Indonesia (mother was born in Kalimantan) and he told me that he was leaving the ship in Curacao.  He had resigned due to the long 14 hour days with heavy work including hauling garbage around after he had spent all day on his feet doing the cooking.  I have really enjoyed Kuda and his willing and smiling face every day, and will be sorry to see him go.

Before 9am we were settled into what we consider to be the best spot for hanging out and enjoying the sun.  This is on deck  6 and is the sun deck, along with sun cots and hot tub, and 4 lovely easy chairs.  But at the very front of deck 6 there are 4 what we might call "Bali beds" with thick cushions and an overhead canvas.  The view is ahead (over the roof of deck 5) and it is stable and quiet!  We spent all day until 3pm here with a break for lunch downstairs.  Vishal brought us up iced water (and later on a BBC) and we read, talked, enjoyed the sunshine and generally had a very peaceful day.

After lunch (tacos, ribs and salads) it was so hot that we took a dip in the pool on deck 5 - quite the experience with a major wave from side to side from the ship's motion, this was followed by a major disturbance at 430pm when a massive downpour appeared from nowhere and everyone had to run for cover - getting soaked in the process!  That was the signal for showers to wash off the heat from the day and dry clothes!

Enough time for a G&T or margarita and then it was time for dinner.  Filet tonight was excellent.  Banana creme brulee for dessert.  A few tunes in the lounge with a Grand Marnier and then stayed awake long enough to watch the Captain and 3 crew play Liars Club (where they are given a word and each one explains what it means -   but only one is correct.  Some explanations were quite funny and most of us had no idea who was telling the truth).  After the full day of sun, we were quite ready for bed when we retired at 11pm, our latest night so far.