At sea, bearing south by
southeast en route to Bora Bora.
Woken "a little before 9" a.m. by Diane. Got up
little after nine, put on trunks, went to find her at pool, but it was gloomy,
windy, and drizzly and she was not there or at Solarium, and I found her at the
Windjammer.
Breakfast there of poached egg on English muffin w.
Hollandaise sauce, ham, and coffee.
Crossing the Equator Ceremony at 11:15! Our captain
played the part of King Neptune and our Cruise Program Administrator JulieAnne
Slade played his Queen. Everyone who decided to participate was divided into
either Group 1 -- all women or un-resilient looking men -- or Group 2, of which
I was part and who were told to come when called sans shirts, sunglasses, etc.,
and be prepared to "have some fun." Group 1 came forward, bowed
before King Neptune, and were forced to kiss a giant fish (probably a tuna).
Group 2 then came forward, knelt, and first had eggs crushed on their heads and
then were pelted with spaghetti, tomato sauce, and parmesan cheese by crew
dressed as pirates and ruffians.
Lunch in windjammer of beef schnitzel w. gorgonzola
sauce, mashed potatoes and au jus, sauteed zucchini, iced tea, etc.
Went to HRC to see if I needed to respond to passenger
letter about going to present passport to French Polynesian Immigration
Authorities.
Ordered tumbler of Pyrat rum on the rocks and then drank
while attending John Robson's lecture on "The Polynesian Diaspora" at
13:15 and chatted w. him and passenger Jim from L.A. a little afterward. Learned
some interesting things during main body of presentation and Q&A (e.g.,
jumping off point for Polynesian expansion probably Taiwan, how Polynesians
probably sent systematic scouting expeditions in search of new habitable
islands before following w. colonists).
Got coffee at crew mess and then went back to room to
update log and read Rovings in the
Pacific until Diane comes back from pool.
Spent about 15 minutes each in dry sauna and steam room
w. cold showers after each. Picked up cup of green tea in Solarium to drunk in
room while reading a bit more from Rovings
and preparing for my presentation tomorrow. Did not get enough sun or exercise
today and will have to do better tomorrow!
Dress code for dinner was casual/Country Western!
Idiotic. We opted for tropical instead and hope not to see anyone in cowboy
hats, dusters, etc.
Dinner at Chops specialty restaurant; excellent mushroom
soup, 18-ounce in-bone porthouse steak cooked rare, crimini mushrooms w. leeks,
mashed potatoes. Finished good "Phoenix" cabernet sauvignon and
ordered "Aussieres" French cabernet sauvignon from Domaines Baron
Rothschild that was very dry but had almost no body (but which did improve a
bit upon breathing).
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