AT SEA OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL - DAY 14

 AS A REMINDER ON HOW TO VIEW THIS BLOG, YOU WILL SEE A "BLOG ARCHIVE" ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF NEAR THE TOP UNDER OUR PHOTO.  TO SEE THE FEBRUARY POSTS JUST CLICK ON THE MONTH.  THEN YOU CAN CLICK ON THE DAY OR DAYS YOU HAVE NOT SEEN.

        This is our position at noon today, Monday.  Circled triangle depicts our position.  The weather today is much better than the past week.  High clouds and sun today.  83 degrees with 60% humidity and light winds.  There are some light swells but overall a very good ride last night and today. Ocean depth is less than 400 feet.  Ship's speed is 12 knots.

LAST EVENING

         Dinner in Compass Rose.  This is one of our top ten appetizers:  mussel and vegetable cassoulet.  It is  mussels in a saffron cream and puff pastry.  Ok, I had two of them!

                We both had the prime rib with a twice baked potato and a side of creamed spinach.

                                       The chocolate truffle dome was ok but not that good. 

        Not very good photos of Josh Jenkins.  Come to find out he is the trombone player and leader of the ship's orchestra.  Very good singer but hard to understand when he talks during the show.  Talks way to fast.

TODAY

        In a chat yesterday with a senior officer, she said the Middle East conflict is disrupting the ship's crew going home on vacation and those returning from vacation.  Many of their flights have connections at airports there.

        After room service breakfast Rebecca headed to the treadmill.  I watched the news about what happened in the Middle East overnight.  After cleaning up for the day we headed up to Prime 7 for lunch after the Captain's noon PA.

        This gives you an idea as to what is available.  Lunch is not available there every day.  The top photo with daily specials is only thing to change. Other two menus are "always" available.

                                                                   My T-shirt today.

        Every sea day there is an "officer's challenge" game where the officers play us guests.  Today the game was top toss.

        Just before noon the cruise director, Natalie, came on the PA from the bridge with a refresher of our emergency procedures.  Due to the length of this cruise it is required.

Lunch in Prime 7

        This is mamaliga, a Romanian polenta dish.  A few days ago while talking with Georgiana, our Food & Beverage Director who is from Romania, I asked if she could make us some mamaliga.  She was shocked that we knew about this Romanian dish.  We had a waiter from Romania a long time ago who turned us on to it.

        So today she came by our table in Prime 7 and said it was on the La Veranda buffet line.  I told her I wish we had known.  She had the Prime 7 maitre d call up and had someone bring us some of it.  Rebecca had it for lunch instead of her Atkins bar.  It was VERY good.  There was some cheese added to the polenta,

                                                I had already ordered this beef empanada.

                                                             And this lasagna bolognese.

        This afternoon we did some hall walking and watched the news on tv about the Middle East.  There are lots of activities scheduled but we prefer to just veg out.  

        Everybody and their dog is on the ship's internet this afternoon as it is extremely slow and frustrating.  I was finally able to put tonight's Compass Rose menu on this post.

        Same routine this evening with cocktails in Meridian Lounge followed by dinner in CR.  Last night we made a special order for our appetizer today:  Black Mussels in a wine sauce.

        Tonight's show is featuring the production cast singers in "Broadway in Concert".  We have seen this show several times and it's very good so will be on the front row.

        We will be at the pilot station to pick up our harbor pilot for tomorrow's port at Fortaleza by 4am.  Very early arrival tomorrow.