Yesterday we had a fine day with the penguins, which I wrote about.
After we returned from the delightful long tour we had a formal evening, which to us means tux and dress up, which we for some reason rather enjoy while at sea. We were also invited to the captain's quarters for drinks and then a very nice dinner in the posh Pinnacle Grill.
I said that the captain would not be at the dinner and that he really did not give a damn about us [from a social point of view.] I was completely wrong.
He was there at the dinner and stayed for 2 1/2 hours. It was a very fancy affair, we all [40 of us] had printed place cards, the menu was printed, per table of six, stating the name of the ship's officer who was seated at each table. We had the Staff Captain, [second in command.] at our table, he is 35, has been at sea since he was 16, born in Scotland, lived in Vancouver, while at sea, for six years, married a Burnaby girl and has two kids, 4 months and 4 years and lives in a village in Scotland when home.
We had met him earlier at the cocktail party and enjoyed a lively and interesting conversation with him there, so we were delighted to see that he was sitting next to Fellette. We had three others seated at our table as well. I will leave them out of the story other than to say it was very interesting from their background as well.
Surprisingly delightful evening.
We are at sea today in quite rolling seas, some of the rolliest this trip actually. The weather is beautiful but the wind is intolerable unless you can find some shelter.
Jim confined himself to the cabin today as he seems to have some cold that he is trying to prevent spreading around. Tomorrow we are in Montevideo, Uruguay, a surprisingly delightful country for a 'Walk off-the Ship Day', we will see if he is up to a prowl through the streets as we are not on tour. Likely he will be up to it, knowing Jim.
This is the place to buy leather by the way, so you never know what we may come home with tomorrow! But maybe nothing.
Regarding leather... I seem to remember hearing something about the carcass of the cattle, what we call meat, being a by-product of the leather industry, which was the export product of some South American countries. That is the reason that Argentinians are the largest consumers of beef in the world, because it was so cheap. Same goes for Uruguay I suppose.
The craft attendees and instructor, left seated. A new instructor is getting on in Brazil. Fellette is used to spending time with ladies in a group so she enjoys the activity although there is just meaningless craft-chatter during the hour long session. We do not socialize with any of the ladies other than Fellette at crafts.
Fellette at Crafts, held every sea day. Today is the last day for the Craft Instructor as she was unable to get a Brazilian Visa, so they have to get off before we hit Brazil, in two days time.
Montevideo harbour - famous as the resting place of the Admiral Graf Spee (German pocket battleship) which was scuttled rather than risk being sunk by the British in December 1939. The "Battle of the River Plate" was the first naval battle of WW2. Just a bit of trivia that you probably already knew!!!!!
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