Cuban Excursion parte- quatro (at sea)

Cuba Excursion- parte- quatro (at sea)

Mon. Dec. 3^rd, 2018- (at sea)

            We were up early at 5:30 A.M. The seas, rounding the southwest tip of Cuba, had been rougher than normal, bouncing us around some. We hit the gym for an hour of weights and exercycles and then repaired to the fan tail area of the deck nine Terrace lounge. The omelets here are pretty decent. We chatted with Bill & Carol Furtwengler, enjoying the morning sun on the open deck.

          Afterwards, we walked several laps on the deck ten oval track. Walking the decks in rough seas can be comical to watch, as you attempt to shift your balance with the side to side rolling motions. Still, the magnificent visage of a very blue Caribbean, and the dark hills of Cuba in the distance, made it worth the effort. We found a nine-hole putt-putt course on deck eleven. Now, we know what it must be like to putt while inebriated. The golf ball rolled back and forth with the ship. It made the challenge interesting and the results comical.

        A leisurely day at sea is very pleasant. We took our books to the deck ten library and read for two hours. The soft leather chairs, faux fire place and shelves of books gave you the impression of a library at an English country estate, albeit one that rolled back and forth with the ship’s motions. Fish & fruit in the Terrace lounge made for a pleasant lunch. 

        Two O’clock found us in the deck five, Sirena Lounge. Sandy Cares, a dynamic speaker, gave an hour-long lecture on Cien Fuegos which we were now approaching. She must have had an eidetic memory, for she reeled off a wealth of facts and figures without a note in hand. She had a dry sense of humor and poked fun at some of the sillier sights and customs that we might come across when we next made port. We were fortunate to attend four more of this little fireball’s energic lectures over the next several days. She was a wealth of information on just about everything.

       After the lecture, Cappuccino and cookies were followed by a welcome “Ozzie Nelson” session. (nap.) We had time to watch some of the George Bush funeral ceremonies, as his body lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C. Though saturated with pomp and ceremony, these official, state ceremonies remind you of the full grandeur of the American Republic and the many traditions and ideals for which we stand.

        The six o’clock cocktail, hour in the deck ten Horizon’s lounge, found us sampling a decent Pinot Noir. We chatted with our group about the events of the day and what we expected to see tomorrow in Cien Fuegos. Tonight, we hooked up with Rodger and Sue Burton, from Kansas City, Mo. for dinner. Amidst a very pleasant conversation, we dined on crab cakes, Salmon filet and key lime pie, washed down by a glass of cabernet. I could get used to this. Afterwards, we returned to our cabin to read and prep for tomorrow’s excursion in Cien Fuegos, Cuba. It had been a relaxing and enjoyable day at sea.

                                                    -30-

                                             (536 words)

                                     Joseph Xavier Martin