17 November 2017 –– A word from the wife:

I hope you all have been enjoying the blog.  It is an endeavor that John has taken up in his “free” time as he is a Mah Jongg widower.  I just thought I’d share a bit with y’all this morning.

We are past the half-way point of our cruise.  I know this because I had my manicure/pedicure the other evening.  I had planned one for on-board at the beginning of the cruise.  John seems to be getting a bit testy.  A lot of responses seem to be in a much higher decibel —could be four days of rain—three of which we were drenched in.  (Really looking forward to sun and nice temps today!!)  Anyway, I took a full day recharge last Sunday and am thinking he could use an “unplugged” day, too.  Maybe I’ll just remove his batteries for a day—couldn’t hurt.

We got word and photos that Callie is doing well in her boarding experience.  She’s making human and canine friends, just as we’d hoped for.  Hope she’s not mad at us for too long for forcing her paw on this one!  

There are many interesting stories we are hearing from our wonderful guides.  You all know about scurvy being a real problem for sailors of bygone eras.  In Malaga, on Spain’s southern coast are many orange trees.  They are gorgeous when the fruit is ripe. The taste of the fruit though, is bitter.  Being resourceful, the Spaniards add lots of sugar to the chopped fruit and used in desserts, etc.  But some seafarers’ wives sent pots of the sweet, along with other provisions, with their men going to sea, and these guys stayed well on their voyages.  Marmalade was born!  Mar—sea and malady—sickness!  Cool, huh?

The first fast foods were present in Pompeii before Vesuvius erupted.  Slabs with holes large enough to hold pots of food were found in homes right at the street level, for the many workers to get a quick meal.

We are having the time of our lives.  I don’t know if I’d recommend a seven weeker to anyone (I’ve met folks doing this very cruise for the fifth time and they’ll be on another long one in mid-January!!!!) for a first  cruise, nor do I ever expect to take one again, but we’ll see a bit more of the Mediterranean and head back soon. After being on land a while,, we will probably get the urge to sail again.  I think we would like to see Greece again in the dry season!!! I can’t believe it’s coming to an end!