March 19 – At Sea-Indian Ocean-Gulf of Aden. Not much activity today. Went to a couple of presentations and worked on my photos.
We got some details on the attack in Tunisia today. Sad that these wackos have to mess everything up for the sane people in their country. I guess if the sane people wanted to do something about it they could but the nut jobs have backing with a lot of money and are supported by people outside the country. I guess there's civil war in Yemen too. Not really a big surprise. I'll be the Omanis are beefing up their border with Yemen. The Saudis are doing the same I'm sure.
Our entertainer for the evening was Woytek, a clarinetist from Poland. He was very good indeed. He played a number of classic clarinet tunes by Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. One was a score from a duet that Goodman played with Gene Krupa on the drums. I have to say the HALCat drummer held his own during the song. He certainly got a workout. A very good evening.
March 20 – At Sea-Gulf of Aden-Red Sea. When we turned north to head through the strait into the Red Sea we could see the coast of Yemen about 20 miles or so off the starboard side of the ship.
Local Travel Note: I feel sorry for the good, honest people that have to live through all this mess. Anyone who doesn't think all these events in all these countries are a coincidence has to be living in a dream world. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran, these are not isolated incidents and it's certainly not ordinary citizens trying to remove a dictator or corrupt regime. Two months ago our guide in Egypt kept telling us to spread the word that Egypt is safe and people should visit again. Then a couple of weeks later, another wave of violence.
We were supposed to stop in Egypt on the way back to Rotterdam but that port has been cancelled. All the people who could have made some money working as a result of the visit are just going to have to do without. The tourist industry in important to Egypt and a lot of people, hotel and restaurant workers, bus drivers, guides, souvenir salesmen, taxis and ancillary industries are drying up almost completely. Lebanon used to be the Paris of the Middle East and now it's a mess. It's just sad.
Well, on to the travel stuff. There's not much of that today. Pretty normal day at sea. We were invited to dinner by a ship's officer, Debbie Plewis. She brought a guest the ships Safety, Environmental and Health (SEH) Officer, Kees Kant. He's the watchdog to make sure that the ship's operations are all within the law and company policy. He knows his job could be controversial so he makes sure to establish relationships his fellow crew members so he can approach any potential problem as a mentor rather than a police officer. Still, the potential exists for his job to make him unpopular with some of the staff but someone's got to be watching. He's a very witty man with a great sense of humor and warm manner. I can see why he is a perfect fit for the job. We have known Debbie for 8 years and sailed with her at least 4 times and on several cruises which proved to be most unusual. She's an outgoing lady and hilarious in every sense of the word. (Look it up. I think you'll be surprised at some of the definitions.) Debbie is one of those people that I can't really get a good read on. Sometimes that bothers me but not in this case. Some people you just like immediately and Debbie, and now Kees, is exactly that. We were having such a good time at the table that for the first time ever I heard the mealtime is over gong. One of the doormen (I don't think they call them that anymore.) walks through the ship's public rooms playing a four note xylophone to announce that dinner is served. What I didn't know is that he walks through the dining room playing the same device when dinner is over and they have to prepare for second seating.
Of course, his second number does not affect the 'come whenever the heck you want' dining area. Sorry, I know that's not the official name for it, but I personally can't stand it and if there ever comes a time when that's all they offer, my cruising days are over. Just like a poker tournament, I want a chip and a chair I can count on. Half of the fun of dinner is getting to know your waiter and his assistant. They get to know your preferences and you don't have to continually train a new guy. They can anticipate your needs and that makes dining a much more pleasant affair. For example, one of our tablemates has some specific and very hazardous food allergies. The first night she came to the table she mentioned this. After our orders were taken the waiter came back with a pad and paper and asked her to list all the allergies. Since then if some dish has an ingredient she shouldn't eat he warns her and they make arrangements to change the dish or select something else. Obviously, if the dangerous ingredient is cooked into the dish an alternate selection has to be made. But sometimes the offending item is added as a garnish or sprinkled over the dish. In that case they just arrange to have that prep step skipped. Imagine doing that with a different waiter every night. Yuck! Granted that's an extreme example but the dining room staff is so good and getting to know them and them getting to know you makes them that much better. If that doesn't mean anything to you or if you just can't be anywhere on time, then 'As You Like It' dining is for you. See I do actually know HAL's name for it. Just something to yammer on about on a sea day.
March 21 – At Sea-Red Sea. Third day at sea. Saudi Arabia to our right and Sudan to our left. Not much to pick between them. We are currently retracing the route we took on our trip out. Everyone is hoping for a daylight crossing of the Suez Canal this time. We've done it in daylight and there's not much to see most of the time. But it would be nice to do it again.
This evening's entertainment was the Rotterdam Cast, oops Entertainers, in 'Wait 'til the Midnight Hour'. It was my favorite show the first time around and I decided to see it again. This time around I liked it a lot more. There are two songs in it that I don't care for but that is balanced out by the inclusion of "Stuck in the Middle with You" and a very well done, emotional rendition of "Me and Mrs. Jones", not one of my favorite songs but it was done so well. I always flash back to my separation from active duty with the US Air Force. That song was big at the time and I hadn't heard much current pop music while stationed on Crete. I remember David Clayton Thomas' "Spinning Wheel" was big at the time also. I had never heard of him overseas. That and enzymes in laundry detergent. What?? I had a big culture shock coming back to the states after almost 2.5 years.
March 22 – At Sea-Red Sea. Third day at sea. Saudi Arabia to our right and Sudan on the left.
Our entertainers for the evening were Count Dimas and Woytek in what HAL calls a Variety Show. Each was excellent just as they were before.
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