sea days

I'm sitting on the balcony, enjoying the view of the endless ocean. Somewhere over the horizon is Mexico. I'm drinking a soy latte. It is the perfect tempreture - not too warm and just slightly cool. I feel pretty relaxed and haven't been stressing about the dogs at all. I know Grace will always be okay. Carm is somewhere in the ship playing Trivia.

Sea days develop a rhythum special to themselves: sleep in; shower; get breakfast (smoked mackeral for me today, salmon yesterday, some scrambled eggs and maybe a slice of french toast, and of course fresh melon); after that we might walk around before getting a latte... that's my day so far.

Yesterday after shopping and walking and resting, we met up with Andy & Edna for lunch in the dining room. After we finished eating we moved to some comfortable seating by a window for another glass of proseco. A short rest in the room followed. We eat supper early so that we can go to the early show, so by 5pm we were dressed and down the stairs to dinner. We sat with people from Utah and Kentucky. We had to find seats in the theatre right after dinner where we enjoyed a great show with much opera.

We met up with Andy & Edna after the show at the Wheelhouse bar, a wonderful venue with a band and people dancing - there is a huge dance floor and Carm and I once again made a pact to brush up on our ballroom dancing steps. We sat there for the rest of the evening, in fact I didn't head upstairs until 10:30, and Carm & Andy shut the place down. We sat with a young 21 year old entertainment director - it was fun getting a younger perspective on life and goals. The other director joined us for a while. She is an outgoing girl from BC. The evening flew by :-)

Mexico has just come into view. There are high jagged hills on the horizon now, slightly obscured by low cloud and haze. I'd try to get a photo but I know it wouldn't turn out right.

We lucked into the drinks package promotion for this trip which we have been taking advantage of. It is spoiling us for the typical cash & carry of our other cruises! Sitting in the lounge with a glass of wine (a decent one too) is a decadent way to spend an evening.

And yes Jo Ellen, I've toasted you with a pina colada!

We weren't sure if we'd like the Coral Princess as she is much smaller than the ships we've been on before. We miss the piazza on the Royal class ships, but this ship has some wonderful lounges and bars. The Wheelhouse lounge is much bigger on this ship, with plenty of comfortable chairs and sofas, and it has a huge wooden dance floor. The decor is slighly over-the-top but charming in its own way. We've not encountered any lineups, except for going to dinner, and we've always found a seat where we want. We love this ship!

It is afternoon now... we've been to an excellent lecture on the Panama Canal and have had a Pub Lunch with Andy and Edna - fish and chips for both Carm and I. Carm has gone to a science lecture and I've wandered around the ship, stopping to people watch. Now I'm back in the cabin and seriously thinking about a nap.

Tonight is the first formal night - suits and fancy dresses for us! We've made plans to meet up with A & E again tonight. I'd better make it to bed earlier though as tomorrow morning we are in Puerto Valarta where we will meet up with my Uncle Graham - excited about that!