Rain last night, hot and humid.
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I suppose some of you may wonder how in the heck can we still be on that darn ship? Or maybe not, but I sometimes wonder myself, but then at our time of life, how many more good years do we have left?
To travel you must have three things: Health, money and the desire to travel, if any one is missing, travel just does not happen, period. Health issues at our age can be a creeping disability or can happen in a heartbeat. At the moment we have enough of all three and the weather in Vancouver the first few months of the year makes it a good place to get away from.
I must say however that at this point on the cruise [day 75 of 113] I have settled down quite substantially, as most others have done as well, from where I was mentally for the first month at least. Life is so unlike our regular lifestyle that it really does take some getting used to, for some people, and I am one of those poor souls. The issue is one of feeling that you have a 'Sense of Purpose' in life. Nobody in their right mind can say that a 113 day round the world cruise is anything more than an extreme case of self overindulgence.
For example, today our 'mission' is to meet with Jim and Gail for breakfast then walk off the ship around 9.00, get the free shuttle from the pier to the town and visit the market. There we will hopefully get some great photos of fruits, vegetable, fish and locals. Then take a cab to the other side of the island and find a nice beach and enjoy the day with sun, sand and water. We hope to locate a place to eat lunch, then get back to the ship, shower and cleanup. Go up on deck where they will serve six varieties of pizza along with, free wine and beer and sail away music. Then go to the evening performance later of a comedian in the Queen's Lounge. See what I mean about 'not being of this real world?
On this matter of guilt about doing nothing… at an early age, my father, God bless him, told me that each day I should try to do something constructive. In my opinion, I am stretching the word constructive by saying that relaxing is constructive. Many would disagree with me I am sure and I am still searching for the middle ground.
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Well, the day is almost over and I am pleased to report that we have achieved our objectives for the day, as decadent as they may be.
We took the shuttle bus to town, walked to the Market, spent some time there and then grabbed a cab to take us over the mountains to the beach called Beau Vallon, where we spent the day. We were on the sand at 9.45 and packed up and reversed the route back to the ship around 2.30. During those hours we frolicked in the surf, read, napped, walked, talked, ate, swam again and generally had a great time away from the ship although we kept bumping into Amsterdamians.
The lunch was delicious, but a bit expensive, right on the beach in a restaurant that could have been on the French Riviera, with black [Creole] servers. All the locals we have met have been very friendly, happy and well groomed.
When back on the ship, we showered and then were up on deck for the sail away where we indulged in several varieties of gourmet pizza and free beverages. We also cancelled the sail away party in our suite as we figured that we would settle for the Captain's Party instead. Today was quite tiring, believe it or not.
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By the way, today we found out that the French lost the Seychelles to the British in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon. To the Victor goes the spoils.
Amazingly, it still has a French flavour to it.
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Nautical terms in every day usage.
Slush Fund: A slurry of fat was obtained by boiling or scraping the empty salted meat storage barrels. This stuff called 'slush' was often sold ashore by the ship's cook for the benefit of the crew or himself. The money so derived became know as a slush fund.
Pics:
- The market.
- Lots of fish.
- The egg department.
- Strolling the streets.
- The temple.
- Inside the temple.
- Beach scenes.
- Lunch time!
- On deck for sail away. Who is that babe in red and a Panama Hat?
- Good bye Seychelles as the pilot boat heads back to shore.
For all you have done for others, a few days of decadence is well deserved!
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