Days 11-12 Jan 16-17

Day 11 (Warm at last) Wednesday 16th January
Didn’t sleep much last night, engine too noisy going slowly & then docking at ‘Port Everglades’ at 5 a.m. I got up at 6.30 and did my washing in the free laundrette, I hope you’re proud of me Carol! Have put 2 items in for dry cleaning, prices are almost as cheap as at Avis, so that’s good & surprising. Have packed away most of my winter stuff (though will need some for the Falklands & Chile) and so had to iron most of my summer wardrobe because it had been in the suitcase so long. Didn’t matter because trip to F. L. didn’t start till 10:15. Weather partly cloudy but 22, so I had to remember sunscreen. Went on a paddle-boat trip round the inland canals, looking at millionaire’s yachts and mansions, and then we were taken to the port to see the 2 queens, which of course we already knew very well, but it was an opportunity to photograph them together. I was annoyed when we got back that there wasn’t time for me to take the shuttle bus to the shopping mall, for which I had already paid, so my shopping list was useless. Mostly I can get the essential stuff on board, but I’m sure more expensive than in U.S.
The QV left on time at about 5P.M. three tugs spraying red white & blue water and we ‘saluted’ her goodbye (till Sydney) by blasting our very aristocratic bass horn 3 times, she responded with hers, which sounds like a very loud fart! I took lots of pictures, unfortunately I can’t upload ANY photos, they are too large for the system on board, not good. I will update this whole thing once I get to Wellington, and probably start another one about the house-build. It’s funny, because we were all glad to be able to go faster, but we miss seeing her every day now.
We were extremely late leaving, about 8 I think, we were eating at the time, having given up waiting on deck. The reason was the loading of supplies, which has to be enough to take us to Valparaiso, a very long way, & we are talking American appetites here. I suspect they are now in the majority, though there are still a lot of Brits on board.
Entertainment tonight was a very funny Irish comedian called Adrian Walsh, who certainly knows the cruise ship audience. Not his words, but he is trying to make people laugh who have probably been more active than they usually are during the day, have just had a good dinner and a couple of glasses of wine, so it’s not surprising some nod off!
Day 12 (T-shirt) Thursday Jan 17
Slept well since ship now going at 26+ knots so much quieter. The first day it’s really been possible, apart from the die-hards, to sit out on deck in a T-shirt. Very warm, but extremely breezy, about 45 knots on deck, which I certainly ‘appreciated’ when went for my pre-lunch short walk. It’s good to get fresh air, but I don’t want to be blown overboard!
Went for the advertised cha-cha lesson, which turned out to be the Foxtrot, which was good as I’m reasonably happy with the former, but missed last week’s Foxtrot lesson because the ship was rocking and rolling so much I thought I’d fall over. Had coffee sitting outside the Lido restaurant, which was very pleasant, sheltered from the wind. Rushed off to the quiz, close but didn’t win once again. Went for line-dancing, couldn’t do it at all, despite going Line dancing some years ago, so I’m afraid I wimped out and uploaded the last blog. Found an AKL hotel apartment which looks very possible for the 3 of us, will wait till the price comes down, which it hopefully will nearer to the time.
Kyle Esplin was the absolutely brilliant pianist/singer this evening, entirely self-taught, played Jerry Lee Lewis style and boogied up classics. Lost $20 on the fruit machines, Trisha won $66!