4 Days at Sea

Saturday, 1 Apr 2017 – This was the first of four days at sea.  On this first day, our ship sailed almost straight west, along the coast of Yemen, at the western end of the Arabian Sea and on the Gulf of Aden.  Since our cabin is on a lower (5th) deck, we had to keep our window curtains closed all day.  This precaution was taken while the ship sailed in the area where pirates have sometimes roamed.

After breakfast, we lounged in our cabin until lunch, going for a late afternoon swim.  The air temperature and also the pool temperature were both warmer today, resulting in more passengers in the pool.  Although swimming was  a challenge with so many people blocking our paths, we did manage to swim a few laps.  In the hot tub we talked with a couple from Florida; then while drying off, we met a couple from Queens, NY, but originally from Guyana.

A dinner, we sat at a table with Mike & Mary from MN, whom we sat with the previous night, and two singles – a man from SC and a woman from Belgium.  Sally was a little embarrassed when Jesse asked where Belgium is.  We soon learned that Mike and Jesse were born on the same day, 68 years ago!  Mary was born a few months later in May.  Also, like Jesse, both Mike and Mary attended Catholic schools.  We seemed to have so much in common that we exchanged personal information and possibly get together sometime back in the states.  They already work on genealogy; now, if we can only get them interested in ballroom dancing!

            Sunday, 2 Apr 2017 – While at breakfast this morning, we watched as the ship passed several tiny islands (or big rocks) emerging from the ocean, some not too far from the ship.  We could see that the ship could have easily run aground if not being well navigated.  Also during breakfast, the captain announced that we had passed through the Bab el Mandeb Strait from the Gulf of Aden, and were heading north-northwest in the Red Sea.  Back in the cabin, our steward had opened our window curtains – it was great to be able to watch the ocean from our cabin again!

            In the early afternoon, we went for a swim.  Although there were several passengers floating in the pool, with the help of a young woman from FL, we were able to keep a center lane clear for swimming laps.  She would say, “Just follow me!”  She – and we – managed to get some vigorous exercise in a short time.

            Since it was after the 3:00 PM closing time for lunch when we finally made it to the buffet, we had to be satisfied with “afternoon snacks,” in lieu of our usual soup and salad.  While Sally chose cold blueberry soup and fruit, Jesse also enjoyed the tortilla wraps, tacos, and quiche – not exactly a light lunch!  (Until then, for a couple of days he had been trying to limit his food intake.)

            Monday, 3 Apr 2017 – Today the ship was still been sailing northward in the Red Sea, heading toward the Suez Canal.  At first, seas were “moderate” (like yesterday), but by afternoon, they had become “rough.”  Although we can guess by the appearance of the water from our Deck 5 window, a TV channel gives the actual description, along with height of waves.  On the upper deck by the swimming pool, the wind blew briskly and the pool water “sloshed” somewhat back and forth with the movement of the ship.  We had plenty of space in the pool for swimming until a game was started of tossing Frisbees into the water; one man swam under Sally when she was at one end of the pool while he was diving for a Frisbee!

            As a result of talking with a couple at dinner who were planning to visit Petra, Jordan on Wednesday, we looked again at descriptions of those 10-hour or 13-hour excursions.  After reading about a long, rough, non-air conditioned ride for about 2 hours in a local vehicle deep into the desert, then a 5-mile walk or more at the ruins, and finally 2-hour return trip after eating dinner at a local hotel (or Bedouin camp in the longer excursion), Sally decided (again) that we wouldn’t do this.  Yes, it sounds very interesting.  In fact, Petra was used as a backdrop in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  However, the length of either tour, heat (though this is unpredictable) in the desert, and considerable walking seem formidable; Sally decided again (if a change of tours at this point would be possible anyway) to save our strength for long tours in Egypt and Israel.  And Jesse doesn’t really care; he always goes wherever Sally chooses.  He’s happy to be able to say he’s “been there” and even happier if it wasn’t too expensive!  Instead, we will be content with a short, inexpensive tour of the port city of Aqaba, Jordan.

            Tuesday, 4 Apr 2017 – Last night, we set back our clocks again by one hour.  (Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could always do this at home, just set our clocks back an hour every 2 weeks or so?)  Our ship was still in the Red Sea, now between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  Seas were moderate, sky clear, with a temp of 78 degrees.  After breakfast, we strolled on deck; only one person was actually swimming and the wind felt chilly.  After Sally napped, we swam; since the water felt cold, not too many were in the pool.  We have enjoyed relaxing during these days at sea, with daily swimming in the afternoon and dancing in the evening after (and sometimes also before) dinner.