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Saturday, 12 January 2013

Friday 11th January – Heading for the Cape Verde Islands


Last night we joined the rest of lecturers and craft tutors in the Marco Polo lounge where we took part in a 70’s pop quiz and then listened to the Elvis tribute delivered by Richard Sykes.  Most of us were on the same cruise last year.  It’s so much nicer when you already know everybody   It was a really good night, especially since between us, we did really well in the 70’s quiz.  Michelle (the scrap book crafts person), and I answered the questions based on whether we could remember the song or not, (both being far too young to remember the early 70’s well).  Our methodology worked, cos we outdid the others on a fair number of questions. 

This morning we took it really easy.  Peter is feeling a little under the weather, and I just needed a good lie in after yesterday.  We didn’t leave our cabin until 11, when it was time for Peter’s Class.  Whilst he was teaching, I just wandered and chatted, enjoying lunch with the Bonners (both lecturers), helping between classes and then the clean up at the end.  Peter is always so busy talking to the art students, he doesn’t realise its being done around him, mostly by crafts teacher, Michelle, trying to get ready for her class which is next.  

The ship is travelling south at the moment, down alongside the coast of Africa heading for the Cape Verde islands. I think Cape Verde to Brazil is the shortest crossing of the Atlantic which is why this route is chosen.  As a result, the weather has been warming up.  It’s been sunny all day, I think the temperature got up to 20oC and it’s been really nice up on the rear deck out of the wind.  Sadly, the wind stopped us spending much time on the front deck looking for marine life.  It was a bit nippy !

We went into listen to one of the lecturers, Brian Ford at 3 o’clock, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.  And the gentle roll of the ship has the effect of making you want to sleep.  Not just me, -  everyone.  Wherever you go, there are passengers sleeping.  In all the lounges and on all the decks, on chairs, sofa’s and loungers, heads fall gently forward or back, as its owner drifts off into the land of nod.

So we had a couple of hours kip in the cabin this afternoon before dinner, which as usual, we ate in Marco’s Bistro.  We have never eaten in the restaurant on this ship, partly because passengers get priority and we would have to wait for a space, but mostly because we have never had any interest in doing so.  We are very happy with the informality of the Bistro.

After dinner we joined everyone upstairs for a TV theme tunes quiz.  Again, our group of very knowledgeable craftspeople n lecturers did very well, but it’s not good for PR if we beat the passengers, so of course we didn’t win.  The evening’s entertainment continues with shows, music and singers, but we’ve had enough today.  

For those who are interested, photographs of the ship can be seen at this link First day on the Marco Polo 2012.   They were taken during our stay this time last year.  It hasn’t changed since, retaining the charm of a country hotel.  Very nice. 

Tomorrow is another sea day, but this time I plan to be full of new energy, and maybe take part in more of the entertainment program. Let’s see eh?

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