Yarn Fix in Cape Town - November 23

For those of you who have been worrying that it has been two months since I last purchased any yarn, fret no more as today I got my fix.  More in a moment.

We docked early and Jeremy announced just before 8am that we were free to leave the ship.  Since I knew today was my shopping/window shopping day, I was in no hurry because The Watershed does not open until 10.  When I was here in 2018, there was a shuttle to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.  This year there was none "due to the favorable distance from the dock" (same distance as 2018).  It was about a 15-20 minute walk and stairs were involved so I expect there will be a few complaints.  It was, however, well signed and easy to get to.

Since the incident the other day, I was pleased that there were loads of people around and numerous security guards throughout the area.

My first stop was an ATM for more money (I had a few Rand left from 2018).  That done, I headed to the Watershed to see if there were any yarn stalls left (there were two in 2018).  Here is a description from their website.

The Watershed is a beautiful and vibrant space where over 150 tenants offer more than 365 brands to visitors. These include ceramics, textiles, furniture, fashion and jewellery. Many of the traders sell unique products and arts and crafts.

I was pleased to find that one of the yarn places was still there and it was the one where I bought quite a lot last time.  I ended up with yarn for only one shawl but I have my eye on some yarn for a sweater when I am back in March.  I looked at all the stalls but did not purchase anything because I did not want to lug it around until returning.

The Mall is huge and I walked every corridor and saw all the shops - from African products to the high-end stores like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.  After scouting out the eating places, I decided on fish and chips.  They were delicious and I paid less than $7.50 for the meal and a Coke Zero.  Can't beat that.

By that time, I had walked over five miles, it was quite windy and chilly, and I was ready to walk back to the ship.  I passed the hotel where we will be staying in March the night after the safari before the ship enters port the next morning.  It is almost directly across from the entrance to the cruise terminal.

It was then time to do what I always do when I have yarn for a new project - go on Ravelry and find a pattern.  I found one I liked and wanted to start but I really need to finish the shawl I am working on (and have been for months - I really like the pattern but hate the knitting).

Ate in the Lido and then queued up for the show which was at 7pm.  Jeremy explained that the group was only allowed to be on the ship for a certain amount of time (by the local authorities not HAL), so there could be only one show.  I sat with Sandy and Rich and we were able to get seats on the first row of the balcony.

The performers were the South African Youth Choir, and they were extremely talented.  They ranged in age from 13 to 25 and some of the ones who performed solos should have recording contracts.  One young man sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Mis and was as good as any professional I have heard sing the song.

We are overnighting here and I plan to do the Hop-on, Hop-off bus tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time!

there are a couple of these in the Victoria Wharf area - unfortunately, Table Mountain had her "tablecloth" on today

the clock tower

sculptures outside of a store

the entrance to The Watershed and below are two views of the interior

there were a number of these around the harbor

woven hangings in the mall

a number of the shops had "Black Friday" sales 

my yarn fix

Below are pictures of the Youth Choir

A Marvelously Mundane Day II - The Sequel - November 22 

Another quiet day with my usual activities.  The one thing I did different was to hear the pipe organ play.  The pipe organ is in the center of the Atrium from deck 3 up to deck 5.  It does not play every day and every time it has so far I had been playing trivia. I made sure I was on deck 4 (so I could look up and down) before 1 o'clock.  It played three songs and until today, I did not know that some of the figures move. That was my one out-of-the-ordinary activity for the day.

At dinner we talked about what we were doing over the next few ports.  We agreed that we would not be at the table tomorrow because a local group is going to present a show at 7pm (only the one show) and we wanted to attend.

The singers and dancers performed "It Takes Two" and after the show I had a walk around the deck and called it a night.

This evening we passed Cape Agulhas - the southernmost point in Africa and the farthest south we will go on this cruise.  Cape Town tomorrow.

4pm trivia - 3 other "orphans" (their teammates were on safari, also) and I played together.  We had 12 out of 18 and the winning team had 17.

1.  What country consumes the most coffee per year?

2.  Black-eyed peas are not actually peas.  What are they?

3.  How many furlongs in a mile?

4.  What is a group of moths called?

5.  When was the first Nobel Prize awarded?

1.  U.S.

2.  legumes or beans

3.  8

4.  eclipse

5.  1901

Smooth sailing until next time!

the pipe organ

A Marvelously Mundane Day - November 21

After yesterday's excitement, an ordinary, humdrum day was just what I needed.  I went to Sit and Stitch, lunch, worked on my socks while I waited for Crafts (no 1 pm trivia today), made earrings, went to 4pm trivia, walked four laps around the deck, went to 7 pm trivia, had dinner, went to the show, and did one more lap around the deck.

We were very late leaving Durban (all aboard was 10:30 and we didn't leave until almost 2am) because the bunkering process was very slow.  During his noon update, the Captain also explained the helicopter I saw above the ship yesterday.  Instead of jumping on to the ship from a boat as is normal, in Durban the pilot is lowered from a helicopter (and picked up the same way).

The scuttlebutt onboard is that at least two other people had incidences in Durban and one was threatened with a knife.  As gossip goes, I am not sure what is true and what might have been embellished, misunderstood, or just plain made up.  I did go to Guest Services to report what happened to me for future reference (the 2023 GWV docks here in March).

Tonight was a dressy night with a special menu.  It appears those who do not want to do dressy, don't eat in the dining room.  People at the show were wearing a variety of different styles.

The entertainer tonight was an electric violinist, Caitlin Deville, who played African songs and was good.  This was her first time performing on a cruise ship.

4pm trivia - Lightning Trivia - I had 20 out of 30 and the winning team had 24.

1.  What does VHS stand for?

2.  What is a group of rattlesnakes called?

3.  Which artist said, "We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents"?

4.  Which came first - chess or checkers?

5.  The Dead Sea is between which two countries?

1.  Video Host System

2.  rumba

3.  Bob Ross

4.  checkers

5.  Jordan and Israel

7pm trivia - I had 8 out of 18 and the winning team had 12

1.  What is the most popular cat name in the U.S., Canada, and Australia?

2.  Who is considered the Queen of Pop?

3.  What was Blackbeard's real name (first and last)?

4.  How many tusks does a warthog have?

5.  Which Caribbean island has the rarest species of rattlesnake?

1.  Kitty (not real original)

2.  Madonna

3.  Edward Teach

4.  4

5.  Aruba

Smooth sailing until next time!

Today's earrings (they just happened to match the outfit I wore tonight)

Disturbing Event in Durban - November 20

Because of the wind last night, we were late arriving but only by about 15 minutes (not the hour that we were warned it might be).  Once cleared by the authorities, everyone (crew, too) had to get off the ship and have a face-to-face inspection with the immigration officers.  We were told that the HAL ship tours would be the first (Groups A&B) and then those with independent plans (Group C which I was in).  Since there was no telling when that might be, I had lunch at the taco bar.

Around 12:45, we were called.  Although there was a line, I was through it in about 10 minutes and then to the shuttle which was only taking us a couple of blocks to the uShaka Marine World.  My plans were to walk to the center of town to The Workshop, a former railroad workshop that now housed shops.  It sounded good in the write-up.  It was just under a two mile walk.  Luckily, it was a much cooler day than yesterday with highs only in the low 70s.

Only a few blocks from the ship, I found a store with odds and ends for sale and one of them was yarn.  I had to have a look and found some acrylic yarn to make another Linus blanket for $7.35 (125 Rand).  I then continued on, stopping at a gas station convenience center for a Coke Zero on the way.

I finally got to The Workshop and was very disappointed.  I was thinking it would be something like The Watershed in Cape Town but it was a plain old mall with every other shop selling phones, phone plans, or phone equipment.

Leaving the mall, I walked through the park beside it and when I was heading back, the disturbing event occurred - I was robbed.  In all my travels, I have never had anything stolen before.  Four young men came up behind me, one grabbed my arm, and two took my earrings off.  Then they walked away.  Looking back at it, I consider myself very lucky.  First of all, I wasn't hurt - I only have a couple of bruises on my arm (and I bruise easily anyway).  Secondly, they unhooked the earrings rather than ripping them out (which I have heard about).  They are going to be very surprised when they try to do something with the earrings because they were cheap ones from Wal-Mart.  Finally, they made no attempt to take my purse and everything important was in it - a small amount of money, my iPhone, camera, credit card, debit card, driver's license, and passport.

As I walked, I became more paranoid about my cards and passport, so when I came to a spot where nobody could see me, I stuck them under my clothes.  I would have taken a taxi back but I could not find one.  I shied away when anyone was on the same side of the street and walked in the street rather than on the sidewalk part of the way.  I made it back to the ship with no other problems.

Judy and Bob had told me last night that they were not coming to dinner so I knew I was eating in the Lido.  Since I was really tired, I was glad I was eating there. 

There were not many people playing trivia - over 200 left yesterday or today on safari and all aboard was not until 10:30, so some were still out.

I walked one lap around the deck and then called it a night and watched "Rocketman" on the TV. 

7pm trivia - I had 12 out of 19 and the winning team had 16

1.  What toy consists of boric acid and silicone?

2.  In ancient Chinese mythology, what fruit represents longevity and immortality?

3.  Which continent produces the most cocoa?

4.  What is the smallest mammal by weight?

5.  What are the four Cs of diamonds?

1.  Silly Putty

2. peach

3.  Africa

4.  pygmy shrew

5.  color, cut, carat, and clarity

Smooth sailing until next time!

this helicopter hovered over us for a couple of minutes

sail into Durban

new terminal built by MSC

unusual seat configuration on the shuttle

yarn and the store

interesting name

a couple of street scenes

looked good from the outside

not so much inside - they had started decorating for Christmas

I didn't even know they still made Tupperware

AIDS Memorial

 Hot! Hot! Hot! - November 19

We had been told a few days ago that the predicted high for today in Maputo was going to be in the triple digits but this morning, Jeremy announced it was only going to be in the high 90s.  Either way, I was glad I was not getting off the ship.

I was here in 2018 and did a comprehensive tour of the city, seeing probably everything of any importance from the iron house (way too hot to live in) to the elephant fetuses in the museum (supposedly the only collection of its kind in the world).  At the time I thought that I would not feel comfortable walking around on my own.  Add to that, the visa cost $75 making it a no-brainer to stay on the ship.  If I should hear anything really exciting that someone did, I can always do it when I return at the beginning of March.

Judy (Lee), her husband, Rich, and I wound yarn this morning and then I ate in the Lido.  I went out on the back deck to take pictures and could not stay more than a few minutes it was so hot.  I then tried the Promenade deck and nobody was sitting out or walking like normal.  Sat and read in the library for a while because it was cooler than my other favorite spots.  

Eventually, I went back to the Crow's Nest and found Judy and Rich up there as we prepared to sail away.  I worked on my socks and then played Lightning Trivia (alone) at 4pm.

I tried to walk the Promenade deck as I normally do around 5 pm but it was still too hot.

After 7pm trivia, it was off to dinner (Sherry and Pete left for a safari today) and then to the show - the second by Michael Abrahamson, the mentalist, who once again astounded me with what he could do.  There was no after show walk on the Promenade deck because it was blocked off.  The Captain had announced earlier that we would have strong winds (right now they are 51 mph) and high swells tonight and not to go out on the open decks.  This might cause us to get into Durban late tomorrow.

4pm Lightning Trivia - I had 16.5 out of 30 and the winning team had 25

1.  In how many films did Sean Connery play James Bond?

2.  According to Greek mythology, who was the first woman on Earth?

3.  What is the longest Shakespeare play?

4.  What is the collective noun for panthers?

5.  Which continent do geologists predict will be the next to split in two?

1.  7

2.  Pandora

3.  Hamlet

4.  claw

5.  Africa

7pm trivia - I had 7 out of 18 and the winning team had 14

1.  What does "Mai Tai" mean in Tahitian?

2.  What was Elvis Presley's first movie?

3.  Horology is the study and measurement of what?

4.  What is the most popular tourist destination in Mexico?

5.  Zymurgy is the branch of chemistry that studies what process?

1.  very best

2.  Love Me Tender

3.  time

4.  Cancun

5.  brewing fermentation

Smooth sailing until next time! 

Welcoming committee

views of the city from the deck

The Maputo-Katembe Bridge - built and financed by the Chinese

Nobody walking or sitting

A Gold Medal Day - November 18

Yesterday I received an invitation that said, "Please come and join your fellow Amsterdam Grand World Voyage 2020 guests for the Mariners Recognition Ceremony where you will be awarded the Gold medallion...Followed by a Special Mariners Lunch."  For those unfamiliar with Holland America, their loyalty program is called the Mariners Society.  There are two different classifications - the stars (1* up to 5*) which is based on the number of days at sea plus one extra day for each $300 spent onboard plus suite bonuses, and the Medallions which are based on actual days onboard.  The stars give you different perks (if you are really interested, here is the link Mariner Society | Holland America )

Turns out there were about 200 of us onboard from the 2020 GWV (many using up those future cruise credits we received when it was canceled).  Many of them were receiving medallions.  They are bronze for 100 days, silver for 300 days, gold for 500 days, and platinum for 700 days.  In my case, I think they jumped the gun a bit.  This afternoon I figured that I wouldn't have 500 days until sometime during the 2023 GWV but it doesn't really matter getting it now or then since there are no extra perks for having the medallions.

After the ceremony, which took over an hour since each person's name is called and then presented with the medallion and a picture taken with the captain and the hotel manager, we went to the dining room for lunch.  We had already had drinks (mimosas, champagne, or bloody Marys during the ceremony) and there was more wine or champagne with lunch.  I sat with Judy (Lee) and her husband, Rich, Janet (who I met on the 2019 Grand South America), and two men (one of whom Judy knew).  It was a nice lunch and we talked so long I missed 1pm trivia.

Continuing my laziness from yesterday, I spent about an hour and a half in one of the deck chairs although I did get a little knitting done today.  I finally got up to go to Music Trivia at 4.  I played alone and made a dismal 9 out of 24 (one team had them all).  Next stop was the library where I needed to print out some information for our next two stops (I am not doing an excursion in either).

In penance for spending so much time sitting and eating too much, I did five laps around the deck before returning to my cabin to work on this and get ready for dinner.

On my way to dinner, I picked up my passport, which some will need tomorrow since a couple hundred people are leaving the ship for safaris, and the rest of us will need the next day when we arrive in South Africa.  

After dinner I went to the show which was "Shades of Africa" for their second performance, which was also very good.

One lap around the deck and when I got back to my cabin I found they were showing "Bohemian Rhapsody" which I had never seen.  After just going to the Freddie Mercury Museum, I had to watch it.

I forgot to mention yesterday that we have had an itinerary change.  In September, Dakar, Senegal was dropped.  It has now been put back in the itinerary and Banjul, Gambia has been dropped.  The Captain said that due to the tides we could not get into Banjul but Senegal has eased their Covid restrictions so we can go there.  I have been to both, so it did not make much difference to me.

Maputo tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time!

All the medallions

The Captain and the Hotel Manager

I had the veal and the cheesecake - I forgot to take a picture of the soup which was delicious

Shades of Africa