January 31, 2020



Antarctic Experience - Day 2



Today we cruised through the Neumayer Channel and Paradise Harbor.  I woke up about 8 am and the scenery was so amazing I quickly got dressed and went out on deck (I am usually a slow starter in the morning).  After freezing out on deck for a while, I picked up my computer and knitting and headed to the Lido where I thought our knitting group was meeting (turned out they went to the Piano Bar).  It was the first time I had been in the Lido while breakfast was being served, so I picked up a donut and a glass of the most horrendous orange juice I have ever tasted. 



I brought my computer so I could upload my pictures from yesterday.  It ended up taking almost two hours to get them up.  In that time I finished a crocheted cap. 



The commentary said we would pass a penguin rookery around 12:30 so I put all my layers back on and headed out to the promenade deck.  We saw hundreds of gentoo penguins at the Chilean base at Waterboat Point which is part of the Antarctic mainland.  We were told there were 15 staff at the base and they had arrived on November 15 and will leave in mid-March.



We had passed the rookery by 1 pm so I went to lunch in the Lido.  In Arts and Crafts we made a 2020 World Cruise bracelet.



I worked some on my Linus blanket before heading to the Crow’s Nest for trivia.  Somebody did not do a good job of planning because the Crow’s Nest was packed with people watching the scenery.  Eventually it was decided to move us to the Piano Bar.  Many teams had players missing and people recombined which is what we had to do.  The winning team miscounted and we actually tied with them having 15 out of 17 correct.


1.The “alligator pear” is better known as what?

2.What synthetic substance’s name comes from the Greek word for “able to be shaped”?

3.What candy replaced cigarettes in the White House in 1988?

4.Which explorer introduced pigs to North America?

5.What is the oldest European alphabet still in use today?

6.What John Denver song gave Peter, Paul, and Mary their only #1 hit?



Since there was music trivia tonight, I ate in the Lido and then went to the Crow’s Nest.  The theme was Musicals and we had two answers less than the winners with a total of 48.



We were supposed to be cruising near Palmer Station tomorrow and having some of the people working there come and talk with us.  Because of the Corona virus all visits were cancelled.  It’s too bad because they were very interesting when they came to the Prinsendam last year.



Trivia

1.avocado

2.plastic

3.M&Ms

4.Columbus

5.Greek

6.Leaving on a Jet Plane 

Pictures to come.

Sea Spirit expedition ship

 had to visit "my deck"

another expedition ship

the Chilean base

 a Weddell seal on an iceberg floating by

check out the guy in the middle

the dining room decorated with snowflakes and blue lighting

the bracelet we made

Smooth sailing until next time!

January 30, 2020



Antarctic Experience – Day 1



Today we spent cruising through Bransfield Strait, Admiralty Bay and Deception Island.  The narration began at 8 am (no, I was not up but that was the time listed in the “When and Where”.  I was up before 9 but could not find the commentary on the TV. 



Explorations Café was offering hot chocolate or various kinds of coffee in an insulated mug delivered to your cabin (price varied as to what you ordered).  You had to be in your cabin between 10 and 10:30 to accept it.  Mine came just before 10 and I did not want to have to carry the mug with me so I drank it before venturing outside. 



I walked up to deck three and out along the promenade deck for about thirty minutes before trying to find any of my knitting friends.  Eventually I sat by the windows in the Piano Bar and two of them found me.



There was only one trivia today, the morning one.  Only Marilyn, Rodney, Sherita, and I played. We had 9 out of 15 and three teams tied with 12 correct answers.

1.Why was beef salted to take on a ship?

2.Why did pirates wear an eye patch (other than missing an eye)?

3.In which book were Piggy and Ralph stranded on an island?

4.In tennis, what name is given to a serve that the opponent has no chance of returning?

5.Maxwell House Coffee is named after what?

6.What country makes more feature length movies than any other?

7.What mathematical constant was determined by the Babylonians in 2000 BC?

8.What was the first electronic computer called?



Worked on my Linus blanket before lunch in the Lido.  In Arts & Crafts we made chain mail earrings.



The commentary picked up again at 4 pm when we arrived at Deception Island.  This is an active volcanic island with the last eruption in 1970.  It is shaped like a horseshoe and was the first part of Antarctica to be correctly surveyed back in 1829.  It has huge colonies of chinstrap penguins.  The Bailey Head colony was the one we saw and it has about 50,000 pairs of penguins.  I was out on the deck for a little over an hour and my hands were starting to feel numb even with my gloves on – outside temperature was 34F with a force 5 wind.  (It had been warmer this morning at 37F and a slight wind.



The usual four were present for dinner.  I went to the show which was Peter Cutler who is a singer.  The show was pretty good but I wish the artists would perform more and talk less.



I arrived back to my cabin at 10:20 and it was just getting dark.



Trivia

1.to preserve it

2.so they can see in the dark

3. Lord of the Flies

4. ace

5.a hotel

6.India

7.pi

8.ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

I have been trying to get online for three hours and it is now 1:30 am.  Since my pictures usually take about an hour to load, I am going to leave you with one for now and (hopefully) add the others tomorrow.  

As I was trying to load this picture, the connection was lost again.  I will keep trying through the day (now just after 9 am).

An Ecuadorian emergency station

A Zodiac crossing behind the ice

Deception Island

Penguin sighting 

 A waterfall on Deception Island

 I have a point and shoot camera with a 40x optical zoom so my pictures aren't the best but you can tell these are penguins (which you could not do with the naked eye)

The chain mail earrings we made

_{^{Finally finished two hours after I started uploading pictures!}}

Smooth sailing until next time!

January 29, 2020



At Sea



We wound more of Sherita’s yarn this morning before trivia.  We had 9 out of 15 and the winning team had 13.


1.Where do vampire bats live – Transylvania, Mexico, or Africa?

2.What war was triggered by the shooting of a pig?

3.What empire began as an alliance of three city states?

4.What singer was known as the “Empress of the Blues”?

5.What is the main ingredient in a mince pie?

6.Every episode of Seinfeld includes an image or reference to which superhero?

7.What object commonly occurs in Picasso’s paintings?



I had some errands to run so no Linus before lunch.  In Arts & Crafts we made a polar charm necklace.  I wanted to make a hot chocolate afterwards but everyone must have had the same idea because there was not a packet of mix to be found.  Instead I went back to my cabin and worked on my Linus blanket.



Only Marilyn, Rodney, Diana, and I at afternoon trivia.  We had 21 out of 26 but two teams tied with 23 (there were three tie-breakers and they continued to tie so it was left at that).


1.What ingredient makes a dish “Florentine”?

2.What sauce is made with white wine, vinegar, and tarragon added to hollandaise?

3.Where was it raining for Buddy Holly?

4.What was first used in 1806 by billiard players to help control the ball?

5.How many days is Kwanzaa?

6.In the TV series, what actor played Batman?



There were a number of whale sightings after trivia in the Crow’s Nest.  We will likely see quite a few more over the next four days’ “Antarctic Experience”.  We have been in the Drake Passage today and have been very lucky because it can have some of the roughest seas in the world.



Because there was Name That Tune this evening I did not eat in the dining room.  I ate in the Lido before heading to Name That Tune.  There were four teams but they all had six people so I played on my own.  The theme was movies and for most of the questions the name of the song, the movie, and artist was required.  I was pleased to get 26 points on my own.  The winning team had 38.







Morning trivia

1.Mexico

2.The Pig War (yes, that is real – Google it!)

3.Aztec

4.Bessie Smith

5.fruit

6.Superman

7.guitars



Afternoon trivia

1.spinach

2.Bernaise

3.in his heart

4.chalk

5.7

6.Adam West



For the “Antarctic Experience” these are in the Crow’s Nest

The necklace we made today

The card from yesterday (I forgot to take a picture yesterday)

Smooth sailing until next time!

January 28, 2020



Port Stanley, the Falkland Islands (almost)



I was awakened just after 7:30 with the captain announcing that water was sloshing over the tender pier and that people with ambulatory issues might not want to go ashore.  About 20 minutes later he announced that the port had been cancelled.  Celebrity Eclipse had arrived about 90 minutes before us and already had a couple of hundred people on land but had to round them up and bring them back because the harbor master had determined it was not safe.  We had cloudy, rainy skies almost all morning and then some fog.  By 4 pm there were some blue skies and the sun even peeked out some.



The daily schedule was revised and delivered by 10 am - a morning trivia was added as well as Arts & Crafts (which we don’t have on port days).



We had knitting as usual in the Crow’s Nest and had Nancy and Cathy (who do the crafts) join us for a while. 



Margaret did not join us for morning trivia.  We had only 7 out of 15 but the winning team had 11.


1.Who won an Oscar for the theme from “Shaft”?

2.What character appeared in three of Shakespeare’s plays?

3.Pimento is used as a type of what in the Caribbean?

4.Hobart is the capital of which Australian state?

5.Nephophobia is the fear of what?

6.What poison is in apple seeds?



I worked on my Linus blanket (which is almost half finished) and then to lunch in the Lido.



In arts and crafts we made a card.



Since we are in cooler climes I had my first hot chocolate of the cruise.  Although it was tasty, it was not as good as I remembered from last year.  I think I will go back to making my own (hot chocolate packet from the Lido with hot water and cream).



We did better in afternoon trivia with 11 out of 15 but were still off from the winning team’s 13.  Mary and Cathy (whose team often has too many players and someone gets booted off for the day) joined us as Margaret does not do afternoon trivia and Sherita has stopped because it is so close to her dinner time.


1.Which species of whale dives the deepest and stays down the longest?

2.How many spaces are on a Monopoly board?

3.What cocktail was created when oilmen used their tools to stir it?

4.When the bell of San Marco is rung, what does it mean?

5.Which element has the lowest boiling point?

6.Which country consumes the most beer per capita?



After trivia Mary, Diana, and I had an interesting discussion on politics.  Fascinating conversation with an Australian, Canadian and American.



Four of us for dinner as usual.  The show was called The Runaround Kids and featured music of the 50s and 60s – perfect for this crowd since there are likely no more than ten passengers who were not alive during that time.



We now have seven sea days in a row making a total of ten between Montevideo and Ushuaia.  I can hear some of my friends who don’t like sea days gasping from all this distance!



Morning trivia

1.Isaac Hayes

2.Falstaff

3.spice

4.Tasmania

5.clouds

6.cyanide



Afternoon trivia

1.sperm whale

2.40

3.screwdriver

4.the pope has died

5.Helium

6.Czech Republic

This was on the dinner table.  I chose a soda and two of my tablemates did not want either so they gave me their two sodas for my cabin.

Smooth sailing until next time!

January 27, 2020



At Sea



As we are now below 48 degrees south latitude the temperature had taken a big nosedive (as I type this the outside temperature is 46F), therefore I have brought out my long sleeved blouses and long pants and retired the short sleeves and capris for the next 10-14 days.



With all the new yarn purchased, I took my swift and winder up to the Crow’s Nest at 9:30 and began winding some yarn cakes.  Sherita and Judy (Bob) also wound a couple.



Morning trivia gave us only 7 out of 15 points with two teams tied for the win with 10 points.

1.What is the main visual element in impressionist painting?

2.What is the highest peak in Scotland?

3.What was the name of the dog on “The Brady Bunch”?

4.What is 1/10 of a nautical mile called?

5.How many pencils could be produced from the carbon in an average human body – 3000, 9000, or 5000?

6.Which evolved first – trees, humans, cockroaches, or sharks?

7.What was mainly used by the ancient Egyptians to make pillows?



Two years ago when I did the Grand World Voyage there was a Captain’s Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill (the upcharge dining room) once a week for almost the entire cruise.  Some of the passengers on for the entire voyage were invited each week.   I had heard rumors this year that it had been done away with which was confirmed by the Environmental Officer who hosted our table last night.  When I returned to my cabin after trivia the invitation had been delivered for the March 5^th Captain’s Gala Dinner in the MDR which is the replacement.



I had a few things to take care of after trivia so I did not work on my Linus blanket as usual. 







In arts and crafts we finished our fleece neck warmers and ear warmers and also made a pair of leather earrings.



I got some work done on my Linus blanket before going to the Crow’s Nest for afternoon trivia.  We only had four players so we invited Fred (who did not have a team today) to join us.  We did a little better than we have been with 19 out of 24 but the winners had 21.

1.How many players on a cricket team?

2.Roy Fitzgerald is better known by what name?

3.What is the name of the taxi company in the “Taxi” TV series?

4.What cut of beef is between the tenderloin and rump?

5.How many international time zones are there?

6.Name the four “Golden Girls”? (1/2 point each)



Since it was too chilly to swim or even walk around the open deck without a jacket, I had about two hours before dinner.  I worked on the blog and finished my current mystery with the sun streaming in my window.  The captain said at noon that the wind and seas would die down this afternoon and they have.



Four of us for dinner.  I stopped by the show featuring an illusionist, Ruben Vilagrand who I believe I have seen before.



Port Stanley in the Falklands (or Malvinas if you are Argentinian) tomorrow.



Morning trivia

1.color

2.Ben Nevis

3.Tiger

4.cable

5.9000

6.sharks

7.stones



Evening trivia

1.11

2.Rock Hudson

3.Sunshine

4.sirloin

5.24

6.Rose, Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy

Captain's Dinner invitation

neck warmer and ear warmer

 

leather earrings

Smooth sailing until next time!

January 26, 2020



At Sea



Finally, a nice restful sea day.  For me, it started with our second Cruise Critic Meet and Greet.  We had about 35-40 people attend.  We discussed the cabin crawl and slot pull.



I talked with Judy (Bob), Judy (Lee), and Bonnie before leaving for trivia.  We had 10 out of 15 and the winners (two teams tied) had 12.


1.HBO’s Game of Thrones is based on a series of books by which author?

2.What is the only king in a deck of cards without a moustache?

3.An Anemometer is used to measure what?

4.In the Chinese calendar, what is the symbol for this new year?

5.Hydrology is the study of what?



After working on my Linus blanket I had lunch in the Lido.  In arts and crafts we finished our necklace with South American stones and worked on some fleece articles in preparation for the Antarctic.  We finished late so I went directly to the Crow’s Nest for afternoon trivia.  Only four of us present and we had 12 out of 18.  Winners had 16.



1.What is the word for a British village without a church?

2.Who was the second woman Prime Minister of the U.K.?      

3.In what decade were bar code scanners and UPC codes first used?

4.What is the longest South American county and only legalized divorce in 2005?

5.What constellation is on the Australian flag?

6.The “Golden Rectangle” is an upscale fashion district in what city?                                                 

My morning plan had been to swim after trivia but as the day progressed it got cooler and the sea got rougher, so no swimming.



There was no celebration of Australia Day as there has been on all my other January cruises – very disappointing.  There also had been nothing done for Burns’ Day yesterday.



It was a Gala Night and we had a hosted table.  The Environmental Officer, Eddie, dined with us.  He’s from the UK.  He told us a number of stories about his life at sea and we laughed a lot.



I think I saw the show (Dance) previously so I passed on it.



Another sea day tomorrow.



Morning trivia

1.George R.R. Martin

2.hearts

3.wind speed

4.rat

5.water



Afternoon trivia

1.hamlet

2.Teresa May

3.1970s

4.Chile

5.Southern Cross (crux)

6.Milan 

The necklace we made and an explanation of the four stones

We had Antarctic pillow gifts - the cruising guide is really nice (I got one last year) with beautiful pictures

We received the hat, gloves, and scarf like last year (just in a different color) but did not get what I really wanted - the fleecy blanket.

Smooth sailing until next time!