February 28, 2019

At Sea

I spent a very relaxing day at sea starting with Knitters and Stitchers.  We had a large group today with 14 present.

Lunch in the Lido with Patty and Sherita before 1 pm trivia.  We had 15 out of 19 but two teams tied with 16.

1) What Dreamworks character gets his name from the German word for “terror”?

2) What company offered the first disposable 35 mm camera in 1987?

3) What John Gray book was on the top 10 non-fiction list from 1993-1997?

4) What pop duo took their name from “the art of interpreting music through body movement”?

5) What European country is home to the official Olympics museum?

Pat and I knitted instead of doing arts and crafts (they were making an eggshell picture mat).  After she went to watercolor class I read my book (I haven’t read in about a week).

In evening trivia we had 13 out of 22.  At least two teams tied with 15 (I think – I forgot to write it down).  The bonus question was worth 7 points but I am not sure if anyone got it – you had to write down the 7 continents in alphabetical order in 30 seconds.

1) What European language is the official language of Senegal?

2) What body part do male crickets use to chirp?

3) What Don McLean song deals with the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and “The Big Bopper”?

4) True or False – Coca-Cola was invented by a pharmacist?

5) What is Alaska’s most famous dog sled race?

All six present for dinner.  I had fruit, a salad, land and sea (filet mignon and shrimp), and Rum Baba. 

I did not go to the show.

The Lido was having an Indonesian themed dinner tonight.

Afternoon trivia

1) Shrek

2) Fuji

3) Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

4) The Eurythmics

5) Switzerland

Evening trivia

1) French

2) Wings

3) American Pie

4) True

5) Iditarod

Smooth sailing until next time!

February 27, 2019

Ilheus, Brazil

Once again there were no excursions (there were only two) that I wanted to do.  Pat, Patty, Sherita, and I decided to ride the shuttle to Cathedral Square.  On the bus we met up with Ann and Pat so the six of this set off for the artisans’ market. 

I had used some internet time to find the way to the market because, although marked on the HAL map, none of the streets were named around the market so it would be hard to find without lots of wandering and it was way too hot (around 90F) for searching.  I later heard a number of people looked but could not find it.

After a quick stop at the Cathedral we walked to the artisans’ market with a few stops on the way and the way back.  When we returned to the square by the cathedral, we stopped for a cold beer at a restaurant.

We arrived back at the ship around 2 pm and went to the Lido for lunch.  Pat, Sherita, and I knitted until time for afternoon trivia.  We had 17 out of 18 but four teams tied with 18.

1) What is the biggest living structure in the world?

2) The cuttlefish skin is covered with chromatophores which allow it to do what?

3) What novel, first published in 1937, begins, “In a hole in the ground there lives…”?

4) On which continent is the Cape of Good Hope?

5) Which color is traditionally not on a Rubik’s cube – white, orange, or purple?

Only Pat, Chris, and I played evening trivia because Ann and Pat had gone to Canaletto and Patty and Sherita went to the Pinnacle.  We only had 10 out of 19 and the winners had 19.  There were some ridiculous questions like the date the Sydney Opera House was designated a World Heritage Site and the date the first women became President of Brazil.

1) Who appeared topless on the self-penned book, “Pirate”?

2) In which country is the Earth’s Magnetic North Pole?

3) In what state was Muhammed Ali born?

4) In what year was Chicago destroyed by fire?

5) By what name is the Chinese gooseberry known in New Zealand?

All six of us present for dinner.  I had fruit, Caesar salad, pasta, and crème caramel.  I skipped the show again.

From my deck

Ilheus

Sao Sebastiao Cathedral

giant sombrero (not sure if it has a different name in Brazil)

Jorge Amado - one of Brazil's most famous writers who spent part of his life in Ilheus

found a yarn store but everything was cotton or acrylic - I did get a pair of knitting needles I needed

the market

wool hats and gloves for sale (!!!)

Parangua Palace - the city hall

our beers were kept nice and cold

Afternoon trivia

1) Great Barrier Reef

2) Change color

3) The Hobbit

4) Africa

5) Purple

Evening trivia

1) Fabio

2) Canada

3) Kentucky

4) 1879

5) Kiwi fruit

Smooth sailing until next time!

February 26, 2019

At Sea

I overslept and woke up at 9:33.  I hurried to get ready for Knitters and Stitchers because Lorna was coming to give me a refresher course on the stitch she learned in Punta Arenas.  I could not stay long because I was invited to today’s Mariner’s Society Reception and Brunch at 10:30.  Patty was also invited (this is at least the third reception) and neither of us wanted to go to the Brunch.  We watched our friend Roy get his 300 day medal and then we went back up to knit some more.

Just before noon, Patty, Sherita, and I went to lunch in the Lido and then to trivia at 1 pm.  We won with 16 out of 21.

1) Which Baroque composer died after a doctor treated his eye problem by draining his eye of half a teacup of blood?

2) What piece of clothing did Einstein rarely wear?

3) Which two planets rotate clockwise?

4) For what kitchen appliance did Einstein receive patents to make it better and safer?

5) Which musical star was the subject of a documentary called “Tantrums and Tiaras”?

After trivia, Pat and I went to arts and crafts where we made a scissors holder.

Pat, Patty, Sherita, and I ate in the Pinnacle tonight.  I ordered different items from last time having Lobster Bisque, King Crab Legs, and a souffle for dessert.  Everything was delicious and we plan to go again.

Evening trivia was very easy except for two questions that we missed.  We ended up with 15 out of 17 with about six teams tied with 17 correct.

1) What is the dimple in the bottom of a wine bottle called?

2) Most of the world’s active volcanoes are at the convergence of what?

3) What gas makes sodas bubbly?

4) What canned energy drink originally came from Thailand?

5) How many degrees in a circle?

I did not go to the show but instead went out on my deck to look at the millions of stars.  It was very windy but warm.

Pat teaching her first knitting pupil, Patty

flowers at the Medallion Ceremony

one of the penguins showing off his medals

Pinnacle Menu

amuse bouche - espresso and mushroom (I did not eat it since I don't like either ingredient)

decorating our Lobster Bisque

I had a heart

Pat had a butterfly

making Sherita's Caesar salad

my crab legs (we all loved the blue plate)

souffle

Afternoon trivia

1) Sebastian Bach

2) Socks

3) Venus and Uranus

4) Refrigerator

5) Elton John

Evening trivia

1) Punt

2) Tectonic plates

3) Carbon dioxide

4) Red Bull

5) 360

Smooth sailing until next time!

February 25, 2019

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

After the long tiring day yesterday, I was glad I had not booked an excursion today.  I started my much quieter day by knitting with Pat and Ann in the Crow’s Nest for about two hours. 

Pat and I went to look at the stalls outside the terminal and the few inside it.  I bought a couple of souvenirs and we were back on board in less than an hour but were already very hot and sweaty.

Sherita, Pat, and I had lunch in the Lido.  Pat and I sat and knit afterwards and Sherita went back to buy a few things.

Trivia was at 3:30. We had 13.5 out of 20 but the winners had 16.

1) Which 92 year old artist hit #1 on the UK charts in 2009?

2) Bovine means cowlike.  What does murine mean?

3) Actress Edda Van Heemstra was better known by what name?

4) What musical instrument has pairs of metal disks called “zils”?

5) What does “AM” stand for in radio terms?

We had a sail-away party to celebrate Prinsendam’s 300^th voyage.  Free drinks and snacks were provided and the Ocean Bar band played.  Ann and Pat, Pat and Tom, and Sherita and I sat and drank together.  I had a rum punch (that was sour) and two margaritas (that were on the sweet side).  They were very strong (at least for me since I am a cheap drunk) and I was a bit loopy until after dinner.

I went out on my deck to watch the sail-away before getting ready for dinner.

Before trivia a thunderstorm began and there was lots of thunder and lightning (it was still going on at 10 pm).  We had 15 out of 19 for evening trivia.  The winners had 17.

1) Who was the first person to be Time Magazine’s Man of the Year?

2) In what year was Queen Elizabeth II born?

3) What is an otter’s home called?

4) Which guitarist is known as “Slow Hands”?

5) Which of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World is still standing?

All six present for dinner.  I had watermelon, sweet and sour chicken and a sundae.

I did not go to the show.

From my deck

By the terminal

Sail-Away Party

Getting drinks ready

Afternoon trivia

1) Dame Vera Lynn

2) Mouselike

3) Audrey Hepburn

4) Tambourine

5) Amplitude modulation

Evening trivia

1) Charles Lindbergh

2) 1926

3) Holt

4) Eric Clapton

5) Great Pyramids of Giza

Smooth sailing until next time!