Bits & Pieces sans Pics

Had dinner last night at the Asian restaurant, Red Ginger.  It was wonderful!  The service was top notch & food fantastic.  I have this crazy problem...the food arrives, it looks so good, I'm hungry, so the photo is forgotten.  I had a seared salmon & scallop ceviche that was the best ever.  The main course was a miso basted sea bass served in a banana leaf.  Yum!!!

Susanne had chicken satay & rack of lamb (not exactly Asian but it really looked good to her & it was, done just as she ordered).

The ship has six restaurants plus a very casual burger place.  Two of the places are open to anyone for any meal at any of their serving times...just show up an eat.  One is the Grand Dining Room (quite formal), the other is the buffet I mentioned.  The casual place is open from 7am to 4pm serving simple breakfasts & burgers for lunch.

That leaves four specialty restaurants available at no extra charge, French/Jacques, Italian/Toscana, Asian/Red Ginger and steaks, ribs, seafood/Polo Grill.  We as low ranking passengers can make one reservation at each one, done prior to sailing.  We discovered this late, so we have late reservations, 8pm and only one table for two; the rest being shared.  The host staff euphemizes the shared tables by offering to seat us so we can meet new friends.

We've already done the first three, all very good, Red Ginger even better.  Only Polo Grill remains, I saved it for our last night at sea, just the two of us.

We also learned that we can make same day reservations at any of these provided there are openings.  The nice Reservations lady from Belarus placed us back at Red Ginger tonight.  Somehow I think I'll find something else on the menu.  But that ceviche will return for a command performance.  And I will try to remember to take photos.

Today it's cloudy & chilly at sea.

The news comes to us a day late & internet access is little help.  The news websites are very graphic intensive...the enemy of slow internet.  We get an evening sheet with four pages of yesterday's news, one page is sports of course.

But we are able to get on Facebook & follow happenings there.

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Actually I posted this to Facebook:

"Seen & overheard by Susanne this morning at the ship’s buffet during breakfast.

A very large elderly lady toddles in wearing the terrycloth bathrobe found in each cabin.

Ship Staff Girl: “We are not permitted to wear this at the buffet.  Only in your cabin and in the pool area.”

Bathrobe Lady: “That’s OK, I’m not wet underneath.  In fact, I’m not wearing anything underneath.”

[A mind picture begins to form but is quickly deleted before it becomes fully clear.]

SSG: “I’m sorry, this attire is not accepted here.  You must leave now.”

BL: “That’s OK, I can’t find my husband.”

[BL exits stage left.]"

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We returned to the Red Ginger the next night.  Had another wonderful meal, took some pics this time, will post later.  Susanne had the sea bass, best thing on the menu.  I tried the rib eye Korean style.  Quite good, cooked exactly as I requested which is an accomplishment anywhere.

During the night we arrive in Fuchal, Madeira, a Portuguese group of islands.  Tomorrow we tour for part of the day, then leave in the evening; next stop Gibraltar.

We've had 23 hour days for each day at sea, hopefully we'll get 24 tomorrow.  We are now on GMT. 

I'm going to try to get this post off.

Back soon, maybe.

P.S.  Did the Madeira tour, bad weather...rain.  But had a great lunch at a local cafe.