November 13: 🚢 Cruising the Red Sea
Life at sea
A great day that started with the luxury of a sleep in followed by a spur of the moment plan to catch up at La Veranda for a champagne and caviar breakfast. We took up pole position ironically right at the rail with sweeping views of the ocean under the warmth of sun.
Clinked glasses, sampled the caviar (loved every morsel), loaded up on egg benedict, crispy bacon and cronuts and then hit the Coffee Connection where @Mac somehow found himself slurping his way through multiple coffees. He was really helping the group out as he consumed the drinks we rejected because they were too alcoholic (for me) or too coffee like (for @Richard) - what a helpful team player he is.
Our morning eating and drinking schedule was interrupted by the crew's call for participation in the "pirate drill." We were outside right at the rail on La Veranda and heard Cruise Director @Dru's light, bright, not a a care in the world introduction to the drill. And about 3 minutes later, @Richard wandered into the buffet area and heard @Captain Luca's very serious and professional voice advising everyone to stand up and leave their seats and make their way indoors to a common area or to the hallway if they were in their stateroom. @Rcihard came back out (without any food selections in hand) and gathered us up and told us we needed to get inside because the drill had changed to the 'real thing.' We had a little look around and noted that everyone, including the crew, was just going about their normal eating and drinking routine! As heroic and gallant as this was, @Richard had provided us with a little "missed heartbeat" moment - there were no pirates - just @Captain Luca doing his best to "rehearse" every contingency. So, it was back to the eating - and we needed another round of champagne to settle our nerves.
And then, it was a day of solo pursuits. I headed straight for the Infinity Pool and spent 3 hours combining lolling in the sunshine with paddling in the pool and stitching up a storm on my oversized project. Even tried the "Experience Shower" and then didn't want to leave it - as the Infinity Pool got more crowded, I did head back to the room and the balcony for a "kip" rather than a date with lunch.
@Loraine and @Mac had to revisit the jigsaw (it was a big session - but very productive), while @Richard managed a movie and TWO gym sessions. Think @LoRi went for light snack for lunch but @Mac skipped and put in some "game time" before rousing me from my hour's sleep in time for me to join the Embroidery group.
I know it sounds very pedestrian but in such an intimate gathering you get an opportunity to meet some new people. I had a great conversation with a fellow traveller who was actually a retired archaeologist - so that was compelling company and our one hour of sewing turned into two!
Meanwhile, @Loraine was at the Art Class drawing up a storm and again, in this new setting, had the opportunity to connect with even more travellers. I am laughing, because in the kindest, most support way @Loraine told me I would have been "OK" in the class - everyone had to draw, without looking at their paper, using their non-dominant hand - so the results were very "ordinary." I would have really fitted in when talent is not on show! My last adventure with @Loraine was a watercolour class about three years - and her beautiful boat and ocean scene was in stark contrast to my over mixed and running yellow and brown pool of nothing on a page. And who will ever forget the "mouth" on my Frida Khalo piece created at the "Sip and Paint" (while laughing hysterically) class with the #Fab5. But as hopeless as I am, if @Loraine is brave enough to take me along, I will give it a go tomorrow. Hope they are still drawing with the non-dominant hand!
Gave @Mac a call and he joined me for cocktails on the Pool Deck which we enjoyed with the backdrop of a setting sun.
As an aside, on most days there is a special presented in the "Speakers Series." A special guest lecturer sets up in the Constellation Theatre and provide details and insights into the port we are about to visit or on some specific aspect that supports an understanding of the culture or geography or history of the region. @Jean-Pierre Isbouts is running the series on this trip and he is exceptional. Yesterday's "The Mystery of the Exodus" presented some of his research in retracing the actual route of the biblical Exodus through the Sinai and he manages to present highly academic content in a manner that is accessible for the lay person. And best of all, if you miss it live, you can catch the recording on the TV in your suite at any time during the day. Highly recommend.
We converged on Sette Marie for dinner (after diligently following the anti-pirate instructions of turning out our lights and drawing the curtains) - and didn't do the dessert-first thing - but did make new choices from another menu that still offers so many uncharted choices. Puzzles (they had us hopping tonight, but got there in the end), recaps and "good intentions" for our plans for tomorrow - but I have the feeling it is going to be more of the same with each one of us pursuing our very own version of life at sea.
I am not sure how that is going to work out - the temperature will continue to climb as we make our progress through the Red Sea and we have a distinct divide in the group - I love the HEAT and the outdoors and @Loraine, @Richard and @Mac prefer the comfort of the aircon indoors. I might be able to lure them outside for a little dose of vitamin D with the promise of a new cocktail! We'll see.
PS A little shocked tonight to read of the news of the bombing in Istanbul and terribly dismayed for the families of the victims and hoping for a speedy recovery for the injured. This tragedy unfolded in the precinct of the Intercontinental. Does heighten our awareness of the dangers we could face as tourists in this part of the world and makes us very cognisant of the importance of the "drills and procedures" put in place by Regent to do their utmost to provide a safe and secure environment for the guests in their care.
Weather: 28 - and warming up.
Steps: very sad effort 5 933
#RegentSevenSeasExplorer #RegentSevenSeas #RegentCruise
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