Trying to Relax...

Monday January 13. Rain earlier and very warm.

Great sleeps by both of us last night. We were awake at 5:30, which is our normal wake-up time. We had two cups of coffee then explored the possibly of an early deck-walk but wind and rain squelched that idea so back inside. 

We went for breakfast at 7:30 to a very extensive buffet. We were tempted by some of the more calorie-laden foods but stuck to fruits and healthy muesli. 

Jim and I booked two tours in the coming PNG ports before attending a lecture on PNG and the Pacific War. It was interesting and covering other information about this very remote part of the world.

It is coming back to me, now that the drama of the last couple of days before boarding has subsided, that I am not very good at relaxing! [The Robins' Curse!] The conditions are absolutely perfect for relaxing: no commitments, peace and quiet, a good book, a beckoning bed nearby and a giant TV.

It seems there is some 'guilt' that overcomes me when I lay down in the middle of the day and the next important thing to happen is to eat again! I suppose the only way to get good at relaxing is practice, practice, practice!

** . ** . **

Changing Times...

When I went to Europe in 1960 I sailed over on a Canadian Pacific ship called the Empress of France. Within a day of sailing there was a printed Passenger List in my cabin listing every single passenger. Today I asked at the Front Desk if they could advise me of the nationalities of the passengers. [I was interested if there were any other Canadians on board.] The young lady behind the desk appeared to be stunned that I would ask that. My gosh has the world changed, not for the better.

I did find out from another front desk lady who has been very helpful to us getting on the ship that there are two other Canadians on board and Jim advised that there were five Americans aboard. Total passengers is between 500 and 600, nice!

The Front Desk, always open.

The Orient Room.

Exploring swimming option, there are a few. That one in front is a Lap Pool that has water rushing at you and you swim standing still.

A round swimming pool. More likely a social pool.

It was very very breezy up front after the 11:00 AM lecture.

Papua New Guinea, [PNG] is the right half where we are touring, the left hand portion of the island is a different country, called West Papua, part of Indonesia. 

[At least that is the way I understand it!]

At lunch today, after a healthy salad, I topped it off with one of those tarts. A Banana Cream Tart. My gosh was it good, it tasted like the 1970's when we would have a Banana Cream Pie as a family treat!!! Good thing I had it today before we attended a lecture on 'Nutrition and Positive Ageing'.