Crossing the equator ceremony...

Friday, April 11, Very hot, clear skies, calm seas.

Clocks went back another hour last night. We are now only six hours ahead of West Coast time, three hour ahead of Fort Lauderdale.

Today, at 10.00 am, was chosen as the day to have the ceremony of Crossing The Equator. The ship puts on quite a show for the passengers. They used to use food and foams etc and the odd willing passenger, but now it looks like coloured dream-whip and crew only. We were still some 12 hours from crossing the equator for the last time on this cruise but then an 11.00 pm ceremony would not be much fun.

What happened was, some of the water was taken out of the pool. The candidates for humiliation are chosen from the crew's various departments. A King Neptune and his mermaid-wife preside, along with a prosecutor. A bevy of ship's officers are the judge of the 'crimes' of the candidates. They are then taken and smeared and slathered with the coloured foam-like substance, after kissing a very big ugly fish. They are then judged as to whether they get dunked in the pool or sit in the sun and bake with all that goo on them. Half and half it seems.

That was about it, it was very well done and well attended. We have seen this a few times and this was about the best we have seen. The pool is then shut down for a thorough cleaning!

Other than that it was another beautiful day at sea. As the days draw down for us we are beginning to cherish the time remaining whilst looking very much to being in our own home. This discussion came up at dinner last night and it is a mixed bag, some eager to get home, and some wishing it would go on longer. It takes all kinds and that is what makes the world so interesting, although many times controversial, as some people absolutely cannot understand how other folks can have any point of view but their own. It is sometimes difficult to know when to end a conversation when this is going on.

Pics.

- The jury, the ship's officers.

- King Neptune and his wife.

- Clean up lady, the prosecutor and the fish all are required to kiss.

- Candidates pleading their case.

- Kiss the fish!

- Smearing and slathering first.

- Awaiting their fate, dumping or baking.

- Some of the crowd, Jim in blue shirt.

- Bakers sit on the rocks.

- Next victim.

- More please?

- A view of the clean pool before they started.

- Today's words of wisdom.