On The Ship and In Bermuda

The shipboard internet access is driving me nuts.  I was warned it was slow & it is, glacially slow.  But it is also intermittent...it will quit at anytime and not return for minutes to hours.  That's frustrating, especially when uploading photos.

Complaint mode <off>

Some bits and pieces.

Along the California shore, the ocean is that "sea mist green".  But here way out at sea, the Atlantic is a gorgeous shade of pure dark blue.  In the upper left corner is the deep blue; the lighter shade is the sea stirred up by the ship's screws.

I wanted a shot of the ship's grand staircase.  A 1,250 passenger ship does not remotely compare with the grandeur of a 6,000 passenger vessel, but ours is nice nevertheless.  It turns out we came upon a happening.  The young man in the center, a member of the cabin cleaning staff, is being honored for saving a passenger's life two weeks ago by applying the Heimlich Maneuver.  On the left is the ship's General Manager, meaning he heads the hotel side of the ship and the lady on the right runs the housekeeping operation.

As cruisers, Susanne & I are sheer amateurs.  While others here have done 50, 60, one lady this is her 82nd cruise...Susanne & I have racked up 8 days on Royal Caribbean in 1988 and four days on the Yangtze in 2003. I even tried to count the 90 minute Saguaro Lake cruise we did with daughter Carole and family last week, but dammit! they all laughed.  We chatted with one couple who do 5-6 cruises a year & are already booked into 2018.  They've been on so many Oceania cruises, this one is free. 

(At this point, the internet connection just quit & wouldn't come back.  It's now 4am & I think I have it all to myself.  So here goes...)

Yesterday we landed at Bermuda & are staying overnight. Here are some shots of the cities of Hamilton & St. George.  They threw in scenes of many lovely beaches at no extra charge.

The population of Bermuda is 67,000; the island is 22 miles long & 2.5 miles at the widest point.  It's a lovely place perched on the top of a huge, gratefully extinct volcano smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic about 750 miles east of the Carolinas.

The houses here are painted any color the owner desires and it seems the more outrageous the tint, the better.  Have a look:

 Our intrepid driver took this beach shot:

One of the many lovely beaches we saw.

This is where the Bermuda short got its name, of course.  As we were passing through Hamilton, walking toward us was this amazing Englishman in a red shorts/socks combo.  By the time Susanne brought her trusty Nikon to bear, the best shot was gone.  But even this far less than optimum pic is too good to miss.

Our driver pointed out this sign, Horse Crossing but person symbol.

Another beach...the island is surrounded by them.

Our tour guide Jimmy Tweed, a lovely, lovely man.  So proud of his country that extolling its virtues would permit no silence during the entire four hours excursion.

We've got another tour today, Susanne on a glass bottom boat, me a land tour.  I'm going to quit here & send this off while I can.

Later!!!