Six days at sea

We left Horta headed to the West with high hopes that we would leave the rainy weather behind us and move into sunny and calm seas...not to be unfortanately...we were hounded by rain, seas and swell...many passengers found it too difficult to stay upright without drugs...

This was not a problem for us old sailors, so we took full advantage of the ship.  We participatated in many games of Trivia...winning sometimes with team mates that we met on board...a couple from Switzerland and a couple from USA...together we made an awesome team for travel trivia which included much about geography...

The ship was the MS Prinsendam...a 25 year old ship with much charm.  We discovered half way across the Atlantic that the ship was headed for dry dock at the end of our voyage.  The crew started to appear and to prepare the vessel...this included taking down awnings over seating areas (not great for rainy conditions); starting electrical work...putting outside chairs away...not altogether convenient for us passengers, especially those with no balcony (this included us) as we struggled to find places to sit and relax inside...
Nevertheless..we found time and places to kick back and get lost in books and puzzles...the time seemed to slip away.

Eating on the ship became somewhat of an olympic event as going to the dining room became a major event every day...three times (at least) each day...by the end of six days we were all groaning under the gained weight...

We had an excellent lecturer (from Canada) who gave us an opportunity to get better acquainted with the stars...which were excellent when we had a break in the cloud cover...one night in particular when the heavens opened above us and we could see nothing but stars on a moonless night.  The lecturer pointed out constellations which we had learned about earlier in the cruise and the moment was magical indeed.

We saw several shows on board which also filled much time...

I would be lying though if I didn't admit that I was looking forward to seeing land again...and when we did it was lovely indeed...in the far distance Grand Bahamas!!! together with a great sunset...at the end of the first rainless day we had had!

This morning (November 15) we arrived in Fort Lauderdale and said goodbye to Mom and Dad and then went ashore to stay the day on the beach.  We met up with Sascha and Danielle (Trivia team mates) in the disembarkation line and they spent a few hours on the beach with us...using our room to house their belongings until they could make their way to the airport in Miami...It was great for us to have the company of such a young and energetic couple on our last vacation day!!!

Tomorrow it will be back to Ottawa from the beautiful and sunny shores of Fort Lauderdale where we have enjoyed the heat.  We discovered during our trivia pursuits that there is a name for the skin which is lost after a sunburn...bylpe...so now we know what to call it once we experience it...and we are sure to as we have been exposed to enough sun in one day to be thoroughly roasted!!!