Friday, November 2, 2012

TRANSATLANTIC SAILING AHEAD!

Sunday, October 21-Monday, October 22   Arrive Barcelona, Set sail for the Azores.

I spent most of Sunday before Sail Away getting our stateroom changed to a better configuration. Finally we were moved to #14016: the toilet module and the shower module are on either side of the entry door, then the closet is opposite a sofa, then the queen size bed is opposite the counter with 2 ft. clearance, and then the sliding door to the balcony. Believe it or not, this configuration is much better with no more ballet by TK.

Sunday night we went to “Cirque Dreams and Dinner.” While dinner was served (filet mignon and shrimp) acrobats performed amazing and colorful aerial acts just in front of us. There were also balancing acts—2 men balanced on a tube with a board on top of it. They added a stool to the board, balanced on that, and then another stool on top of that, all the while jumping and dancing and turning so both sides of the audience could see their act. Another act was a lady and man roller skating and performing on a surface about 72 inches in diameter. In between acts performers changed clothes in probably 2 seconds, a male or female performer lifted a tube over himself/herself and let it down, and presto! They had on different clothes, a tux, a gown, a complete change. How that was done, I do not know!

Today, Monday, we finally got to sleep in. At 11 a.m. we went to the Cruise Critic Meet and Greet. At least 100 people were there, mostly from the States or Great Britain. Ship’s Officers were there to introduce themselves, a friendly crew.

At 7:00 p.m. we went through the Straits of Gibraltar. Tim was on Gibraltar several times for shore leave with the Navy in 1968-1972. We did not see the apes that populate the island, but I could see a village and several towers. The eastern cliff of the island is sheer rock. I enjoyed seeing this “gateway” to the Atlantic for the first time. From our balcony we could see villages in Algeria and Morocco. Tonight we gain an hour—fantastic!!

Aside to B1 and B2: I don’t think that I mentioned that this ship has three huge waterslides. NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) is trying to have the best waterslides in the industry, on land and sea.

TK and Janie Takes: For whatever reason, people on this ship do not seem to lock toilet doors in the public restrooms. This oversight is rampant! Sadly, we have surprised many people.

 

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