For example, passengers had to choose whether they would attend the destination lecture by Richard on Easter Island, the most popular destination on this segment of the cruise and, for some, the reason they came on the world cruise, or listen to a seminar on "Writing a Better Blog" by the potentially up-and-coming future ship lecturer and fellow passenger Sara. Tough choice, yes? Most passengers did not think so. Sara received calls from the front desk from people she knew who said they wanted to attend but could not miss the presentation on Easter Island.
Ken, who promised to come to take pictures but who really wanted to hear about Easter Island, thought he may have only two possible photographs. One of Sara with her two favorite students and the next of him with his wallet open paying the bribe he made to the same two people to attend the lecture. But who says miracles don't happen. More than 30 people showed up in the Casino Lounge to learn about blogging. Unfortunately, at least one person thought it was about how to set up a blog on the Internet. Ken had made Sara promise that she would not say that he was her technical expert who had established our blog but when the audience members demand information that one knows, one had to give it to them. Now Ken, Sara, the traveling teach Sylvia and Lance who knows how to connect to Shutterfly are committed to doing a session on establishing a blog. Overall, the session was declared a success, and many participants asked very good questions.
Joe, our table mate at dinner, hosted a birthday celebration for his wife, Ginger. Rita and Jack, Terry and Frankie, and we were permitted to enter the dining room 15 minutes early after being subjected to a body scan with what we later learned was a pepper mill. Balloons, hors de ouvres and champagne greeted us. Ginger told Sara to try the salmon with cream cheese and caviar on wheat bread because she would love it, and if she didn't, "tough cookies!" (So Ginger.) The day before in Lima, Ginger had bought herself a birthday present at H. Stern--long, gold dangling earrings with four pale, semiprecious stones. Our dinner ended with the wait staff carrying a beautifully decorated chocolate table to our table while singing "Happy Birthday, Dear Ginger!"
As the longest married-to-each-other couple at our table, we are happy to provide marriage advice and counseling to our table mates, who are all older than we are. We should tell you that they are widows, widowers and a divorcee who are in the early stages of their second or third marriage. While they are all lovely people, we want to make a toast to Joe as husband of the first segment of the cruise for making Ginger's birthday so memorable.
On Sunday, we also received our invitation to the Chef's Table ($75 a person) for Monday night, which was very short notice. How did the staff know that we would not be dining at a restaurant off the ship? (Okay, we know that we are in the middle of four sea days as we sail to Easter Island.) Even if we had another engagement, we should have canceled it for this culinary experience.
Our evening started with us donning white coats in the Club Lounge before touring the galley on Decks 5 and 4. Then we were treated to appetizers and lots of champagne at a party hosted by the Executive Chef Antonio. The goose liver alone cost $110 a pound. Then we proceeded to Deck 10 in the Steak House for the meal of a lifetime. With every course, they served wine. Whenever someone put down their wine glass, a waiter filled it. The main course was lobster, steak and lamb. Even the desert was a work of fine art, accompanied by a fine port. Yes, we woke up the next morning feeling queasy and sporting a headache. But the meal was worth every bite and swallow.
February 2 is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil is going to be a special, super secret guest on the Wake Show on the ship. Check back with us on February 3 for information about his television appearance.
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