Costa Rica is a lush country with many beautiful sites. These photos are from our previous visit here. No photos of Costa Rica from this cruise. David took all of these photos except the crocodiles which were shot by me.
The cruise continues to be wonderful, especially all the sea days. David is really progressing in the Berlitz Spanish Course and is the teacher's pet! I'm enjoying the Art at Sea. Right now we are continuing to do watercolors and learning how to perfect our technique. I'm also doing a needlepoint project. Urara, our instructor, is extremely patient, but even she is amazed at how I manage to screw up my stitiches!
Today we crossed the Equator and I will have photos of the King Nepturne Ceremony in tomorrow"s post. David and I were Polliwogs (cruisers that had never crossed the Equator before) that were found guilty washing our own sheets to save our stewardess work and sentenced to being smeared with colored frosting, forced to kiss a dead fish (yuck, it was a long time since that fish swam in the water) and thrown in the pool! It was all in good fun and we got lots of cheers since we were one of only two passenger couples who volunteered for the ceremony.
Mark Merchant the ventriloquist left the ship in Caldera, Costa Rica. We became friendly on the cruise after he found out I was a speech pathologist. I gave him some tips to protect his voice and thanked me during his performance with Zelda Rose. Zelda Rose is a female dummy, in her 70's and I'm sure she's been seated at our table on another cruise. Nice guy, Mark, and I'm glad to report that he's coming back on board Symphony in February so we will see him again.
The food is outstanding, which is really too bad! We had the Mozart Tea a few days ago and the Chocolate Tea today. Sunday's Jazz Brunch was excellent, too. Tonight we eat in Silk Road for the third time in a week with Judith and Larry Morrison and Natalie and Rod Roesch. I can't say enough about how wonderful the sushi is! I think that we are eating the price of our cruise in Nobu's sushi! Larry has decided he really likes the Kobe beef and ate two helpings at Silk Road. Way to go, Larry!
Natalie is doing a photo book for her grandson's and our grandson's starring Hobbes, an extremely well-mannered large lion puppet. Hobbes has been seen in attendance at many on board activities and even was seen at the formal night last night clad in a black bowtie and a tuxedo shirt. Natalie and I have been walking every morning in the Neptune pool at 7:30 am (yikes!---Keith not 5:30 am, but still early!). It's easier on our knees than walking the deck. David's been doing the Promenade Deck for several miles a day.
Jack Klugman spoke yesterday for about 15 minutes and then took questions for about `10 minutes. His voice is very hoarse and breathy and he uses a cane for foot drop. His very young, very attactive wife accompanied him on board. He looks very old which is hard to process since I expect him to still look like Oscar Madison from "The Odd Couple." He is such a talented actor and comedian.
The casino is not very busy this cruise, but I imagine it will be hopping during the holiday cruise. Unfortunately, it has not been very kind to us, but the cruise is young!