Steve and Cathy's Blog

Well, today we are truly out to sea, heading east northeast at 17.5 knots with the continent of South America a couple of hundred miles on our stern.  The seas are about the same – about six feet at the most and a beautiful blue grey color.  We have moved the clocks ahead another hour, so now we are three hours ahead of home.  Steve has a personal trainer session with Sho (even Sho remarks “I remembered the time change this time!”), and Cathy takes a twenty-minute walk on the fitness track that circles the pool area.  Next, of course, is breakfast at … at … well, I don’t remember.  Let’s say it was Waves Grill, so I can make that the photo at the top of this post.  We are making an effort not to devour everything available, and small breakfasts at least give us an opportunity to fool ourselves that we are being conscientious.

Goals for the day: Cathy to attend Bible Study (8:15), Cathy to check in to Needlepoint (9:30), both to attend Angela Schneider’s lecture New Orleans and the Beginning of Jazz (9:30), Cooking Demo (11:00), both to delight in watching Keelhauling of Most Disagreeable Guests (continues all day until morale improves), and other events.

Steve’s major project is to write about Brazil in particular and Recife and northeastern Brazil in particular.  As can be seen by the length of yesterday’s post, that occupies several hours of his day, including the time Cathy is meeting with about a dozen other guests at the Bible Study.  We are to both meet at 9:30 in Insignia Lounge to hear Angela, but Steve can’t seem to spot Cathy when he gets there so they are there separately.

The Enrichment Lecture on jazz is excellent.  Of all the discoveries we are making about this cruise, these lectures are the most unexpected.  Cathy was insistent on attending this one, and Steve went along only because Angela comes so well prepared that she makes every subject come alive.  This is no exception.  I (Steve) am not that into music, and jazz least of all, but Angela has me enthralled from minute one of her talk.  It is as much about the history of New Orleans, and the life of people of color in New Orleans (black and creole alike), as it is about the derivations and evolution of music from that most unique of American cities.  Her lecture is accompanied by slides, videos and many audio examples of music.  Today she covers the history of the music of the City of New Orleans and its people from prior to the Louisiana Purchase up until the Roaring 20s, with three more lectures to follow.  The talk is over way too soon, but leaves us eagerly looking forward to the rest of them.

Next on the schedule is the Cooking Demonstration with Executive Chef Oudir & Executive Sous Chef Gianluca Mazza in Insignia Lounge at 11:00.  Steve has decided to pass this up, and that turns out to be a big mistake.  Here’s Cathy to tell you about it:

I expected something informative and serious . Well, it was informative but anything but serious! The exec is French and the sous Italian, so the accents of each were terrific to start. Gianluca first asked if everyone had a copy of the recipes, he held one up, when everyone said yes, he tore his up and threw it away. The plan was to make gnocchi, risotto with mushrooms, and fish with fennel and tomatoes. They poured two glasses of wine, toasted each other, and began . Gianluca asked if anyone knew how to make gnocchi. I and several other ladies in the audience raised our hands. He said “OK, you, you and you (me!) come up on stage and peel the potatoes!” Fortunately they were cooked so it was fairly easy. I wiped my hands on what I thought was a napkin and chef Farid said “Don’t use that!” I said “How am I supposed to clean my hands?” and he handed me a towel and said “Well I guess we won’t be able to use that tablecloth tonight in the dining room.” We were each rewarded with a glass of wine! And on it went from there. They made the food and kept up a constant banter with each other and the audience. Someone asked if you really have to use extra virgin olive oil and Gianluca said “Once you open the bottle it isn’t virgin any more.” Another question about “light” olive oil was answered with a shrug and “must be some American thing.” It was so much fun! I hope they do that again, maybe after Capetown.

Lunch follows.  We arrive at the Grand Dining Room at the same time as Barbara O’Dell, who is dining solo because Brian is watching something about Van Gogh, a first-run movie on the television.  There are first-run movies many days, I guess on Sea Days, and this one is apparently up for awards for whatever.  We have a very lively lunch full of conversation and then Cathy and Steve head for their stateroom as Barbara heads off to play mahjong.

We both crash for an hour.  Cathy heads off for a massage at the Canyon Ranch Spa.  Steve bangs away on the laptop.  As can be readily seen, Cathy is having a day filled with assorted activities.  Steve is having just as good a time writing about Cathy’s activities.  At some point, he will have to do stuff in order to write about it, wouldn’t you think?

Steve does attend another excellent David Smith photography lecture, Apps, Selfies, Smart Phone and Tablet Photography.  While Dave admits to having thousands of dollars of high end photography equipment, he is just as conversant about the use and capabilities of our smartphones.  Indeed, he tells us that when he attempted to determine how many photography apps there were, he quit after finding ten thousand.  He then goes on to list a few dozen ones he finds highly recommended, has a lot of fun describing the selfie obsession and how best to use it, and shows us great examples of his own work with his Android smartphone.  He has a delightful sense of humor about it all, and Steve learns a great deal about the device he carries around with him and how it could be best put to use.

Cathy, in the meantime, goes to the Upper Hall to hear “The Girls,” her reference to the four lovely Ukrainian women who make up the Smile String Quartet.  Steve joins her for the last fifteen minutes following the photography lecture, and Barbara and Brian, with whom we are having dinner, join us for the last two numbers.

Steve has found an ally in Brian, whose opinion of the Terrace Cafe matches his own.  Steve, as mentioned in previous posts, finds the place chaotic, and obtaining exactly what you want difficult, what with all the people milling about, all concentrating on finding out what is being served and not on where the h&%l they’re going or who they’re stepping in front of.  The staff is patient and kind, the food plentiful and delicious, but it is a jumbled rat-race.  Brian’s explanation for his preference to eat elsewhere is elegantly simple: “Why would you go there to serve yourself when you can be served in the main dining room?”

The time spent at dinner with this delightful couple from Seattle is as much fun as all the time we have met with them.  It’s fun to compare notes about our observations made on this cruise, their interests are varied and their description of the activities they have participated in that we have skipped are enlightening.  Brian and I have a mini-wine tasting trying out each of the cabernet sauvignons we have ordered.  Cathy will explain the meals here: Cathy had french sausage with potato app, feijoada soup and Brazilian vegetables with rice, Steve and Barbara had lamb curry. Brian had poached fish wrapped in a banana leaf.

Another day has ended for Cathy and Steve.  We head back to our stateroom to lie in bed and read.  The ship is gently rocking us to sleep.  Ahhhh, that must be it!  Our inability to stay up past 8:30 is the ship’s fault.