Ship Life in the Sunshine

 These photos (in no particular order) were taken yesterday morning as I joyfully explored the upper decks in the early morning. Sun! Sun! For the past five days the skies have been a steely grey, the sea an equally steely grey, sometimes with whitecaps. The ship has rocked and rolled, people following suit. 

I have continued my daily routine: up at 9:30 am London time—the ship’s clocks have gone back one hour ever night but somehow my internal clock doesn’t recognize the time change although afternoon naps have now become a fixture (9:30 is variously 5:30 am, 4:30 am, etc.) hope to grab a treadmill at 7 am, if not, then wait for 9:30 when the fitness folks are off doing something else having fulfilled their morning duties in the exercise room; breakfast in our dining room at 8:15 am, then find somewhere to read. I usually find lots of corners to curl up in and I have finished two more books since Spain. Both mysteries, my fuzzy brain can only handle those. Meet up with R at noon and eat lunch either in the dining room or the buffet. Listen to a classical music concert, take a nap, wake up for more reading, then dinner at 6:30 and, on several nights, I go to the musical revue in the Royal Court Theatre.

Last night’s musical was Top Hat—loads of glittery costumes, soft shoe dancing (guess they can’t use taps on the stage,) singing of Cole Porter tunes. I loved it. I wore my one glittery top and glittery shawl so didn’t feel too underdressed among the patrons dressed in their “Roaring 20s” themed clothes. My I love a man in white tie or black tie. (But I love R too; I gave up on him formal dressing years ago.) 

This morning is the last round of COVID testing for us although not for the poor souls who will be continuing on this cruise for another month. There’s a slight rumbling of rebellion beginning among the elderly—if everyone who tests negative is immediately isolated, why are we still wearing masks? I would imagine if, as fervently hoped, no one tests positive this morning (there were only 7 out of 1400 last week,) we will see more and more people defiantly marching around maskless. In yesterday’s son the outside decks were crowded with people soaking the light up, pale faces lifted to the heavens.

I was one of those soaking up the sun as well although inside, in public, both of us still wear our masks unless we are eating. We want to go home as healthy as we were starting off. We will even probably be the only souls on our flights home with masks on. If we make it through this month having not become ill, who are we to argue with the prescription of social distancing and masking. (Although both of us have developed mild rashes around our noses and under our eyes where the mask rests.) 

Well, time to get out in the light! Yes, it is currently sunny out and the winds have calmed down.