Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12, 2019 - Days at Sea

Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12, 2019 - Days at Sea

Friday was a most enjoyable day, especially the weather - blue skies, fairly calm seas - lovely if one sat in the sun for a while.   

Enjoyed my first game of Team Trivia.   Joined a team with Aussies, Americans, and two Brits.   When discussing our team name, the Brits came up with "Brexit Refugees".   Even though they were the only two Brits on a team of ten, we all thought the name had a certain cache!

At the end of the hour, our team was tied for first place.   We really did quite well!   Loved some of the questions:

1. In what year did the Suez Canal open? (missed this one by 14 years)
2. What kind of beans are used in Heinz baked beans? (got this one right)
3. What is the fourth sign of the Zodiac? (missed this one)
4. In what year did Mother Teresa win the Nobel Peace Prize? (nailed this one!)

Came away with a wonderful large Seabourn mug as my prize.  Am using this one in my suite for morning coffee as it beats the little tiny cups that accompany my Nespresso machine!  Next day was given a second one, so now have two for when my guest joins me in Miami.

Today I also bought some future cruise credits which enable a discount when booking upcoming cruises.   Always try to stay a bit ahead so I have a cushion.  The Cruise Sales person, Tiaan,(spelling is correct) informed me that I have over 500 days aboard Seabourn and on Monday evening will be receiving an award of something from Tiffany's.   Don't get too excited!  Had a choice between a crystal box, crystal bowl, and the smallest item (easiest to pack) a crystal votive.   Chose the votive and Tiaan said he would give me two!!

Was invited to Hotel Director Luca DiMatteo's table last evening, but had to decline, as I'd also been included at a table with two women that I'd met on the second evening.  Ruth and Ann are very old friends that have kept in touch over the years, and while one lives in Chicago and the other in Maine, they manage to travel together every so often.  We were also joined by two gentlemen, Pat and Fred, who reside in Seattle.   Pat and Fred had met the two ladies while they were all in Tahiti years ago and had such fun, that they decided to get together again for a cruise.  

The dinner was French-themed and in the Colonnade because none of us felt like dressing up for the formal night in the main dining room.  The evening was filled with laughter while Ann recounted, or at least tried to recount, the story told by their guide when in Victoria - while the original telling by the guide was most serious, Ann's telling was hilarious.  There were twists and turns of a famous architect, love, marriage, awards, infidelity, murder, suicide, jail and military time - good grief!  Fred refers to Ann as the queen of non-sequiturs.   Poor Ann, between her own laughter and the constant kibitzing from Fred, and of course, with the help of one of my favorite wines, had us all laughing until our stomachs hurt!

My discovery of this wine took place during my first Culinary/Cultural Cruise when our travel agent, Eric Goldring, arranged a visit and tasting there.   Loved this wine so much bought six bottles and brought them aboard to save for special meals.  At that time Seabourn didn't have it on their special wines menu.  Would like to think that my asking the Sommelier to taste it might have been a small reason to bring it on board.   So thankful!  My problem will be not to order it too often!

Have been trying to arrange something special for my family as they will be coming aboard tomorrow after the Columbus Day festivities in North Beach.   Had an email exchange with my travel agent, Eric, who knows the Hotel Director on this ship quite well.   Have put them in touch with each other, and hope that Eric and Luca can come up with something nice.   More on that tomorrow.

On Saturday morning I woke to the ship's foghorns singing into the fog every 30 seconds.  Opening the drapes revealed no view!!!

After a nice cup of coffee in my new very large Seabourn mug, and an update on this post, guess I should get dressed and begin my day - at least get out of my room so it can be serviced.

More trivia later today and probably another presentation by Tim Runyan.

Dinner this night at Tiaan's table - all I can say is that it was another evening filled with laughter, and with only seven at the table, conversation was easy and included all.  Wish I'd taken a photo of my first course, but I seem to be forgetting that aspect of my blogs.

I ordered a citrus cured salmon with condiments.   The dish consisted of four thumb nail sized pieces of salmon, barely one-quarter inch thickness, mostly covered by a thin slice of radish.   Throughout the plate were tiny dots of green sauce and white sauce, and the dish was finished with a sprig of something green.  I immediately thought of tic, tac, toe and got the giggles and said to my table mate,   "Is this something to eat, or a game?!?!"  He burst out laughing, picked up my plate and passed it around the table with my words being repeated.   Unlike the game of telephone my remark stayed true!   The evening was so much fun.

Have discovered a very nice wine named Nine Hats.  This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Columbia Valley in Washington State.   It is one of Seabourn's table wines - a rich Cabernet that is soft on the palate - really liked it and would recommend.  Found it on-line between $32 and $43.  Has a rating of 88 - 89 points.

A bit of time at the casino (not bad) and so to bed . . .