Alaska 2013 - Monday

[Continuing the recap of our Alaska voyage.]

I'm not sure that there is anything more relaxing than a day at sea.  Specifically on a large cruise ship with lots of cozy nooks with comfy chairs that allow one to curl up with a good book (or a fully-loaded Kindle) while attentive waitstaff offer to bring you... well, pretty much whatever you'd like (as long as you have that handy-dandy cruise card).  It was just the vacation we needed!

But the clock does not stop completely, even on these sea days, and there is always a schedule of events should one choose to partake.  We like puzzles and games (okay I love them and Gerry is a good sport, most of the time to tag along...provided he can bring his Kindle).  He usually jets down to the library each morning to pick up a copy of the day's puzzles - a word/trivia game and a daily Sudoku.

On sea days they also have a "speed Sudoku challenge" which I've gone to a couple of times...without success.  I'm pretty quick at home (now that I've got the hang of it - I really didn't understand it for years thinking that it somehow required mathematical computation.  Once I learned that wasn't the case, I love 'em!)  Gerry has religiously avoided these "competitions."  He is so good at math I couldn't understand his reluctance but apparently he doesn't like to work under that kind of pressure.

Today, however, he reluctantly said he would come along (picture Eeyore agreeing to it).  For a while it seemed like it would just be the two of us so I'm thinking he was enjoying his chances.  That is...until... an Asian couple walked in and his confidence evaporated.  Turns out though, and this is why we don't stereotype, this new guy had just discovered Sudoku a couple of weeks prior and Gerry had nothing to worry about.  Gerry quickly finished the puzzle and turned it in to the guy at the library to receive his prize (a deck of Princess playing cards).  (Me?  Yeah - I made a critical, non-recoverable error early on and elected not to embarrass myself further by asking for another copy.)




Days at sea usually offer a chance to participate in a wine tasting as well.  We've done many of these and so far all I've learned is a) to successfully swirl a glass without spilling; b) all wines, regardless of color, taste like fruits, chocolate, oak, earth (really?  Where are they getting their wine?)  But it's always a fun time and the waiters, if I can understand their English, have a great time doing the presentations.

Princess has put even more emphasis on their "piazza" area of the ship and often you can enjoy some of the ship's best performances just hanging around the new International Cafe while grabbing a bite to eat (don't want to go too long between meals!)  This juggler (or "physical comedian" as he was called) was really a funny guy!




~later, tw