And, it's just possible that I saw the Southern Cross last night. I have to get a star chart and will let you know.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday in Durban
According to the ship tracker, we are at sea. Actually, we are docked in Durban, having arrived at 6 am today, Sunday, 29 January. We should have been here yesterday but were delayed in Cape Town so perhaps the tracker is showing where we would be under normal circumstances.
And, it's just possible that I saw the Southern Cross last night. I have to get a star chart and will let you know.
And, it's just possible that I saw the Southern Cross last night. I have to get a star chart and will let you know.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Queenspark, first diappointment and the wonders of nature
Queenspark is a clothing store for women, in the Victoria Wharf mall in Cape Town. I assumed that it would have larger sizes but the first 3 items I picked up were size 8. Oh, oh - wrong store, I thought. But then, Sharon to the rescue.
Sharon and her co-worker, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, are what shop assistants should be but rarely are. Helpful, knowledgeable and COMPETENT. I told them that I was fob - fresh off the boat - and needed evening attire. I was bombarded with dresses, blouses and jackets which they selected for me to try on. I spent an enjoyable time (and for me to enjoy shopping alone is nothing short of a miracle) got exactly what I needed and was about to leave without an evening jacket. The woman who is not Sharon asked if I had more shopping to do because they had received a shipment which they had not opened. I went to the grocery store (mild detergent, rubber gloves, baking soda, a plastic container for my makeup), then to the shoe store for inserts and back to QUEENSPARK.
I had bought a lavender-grey top and, in the meantime, Sharon had found a gorgeous purple, gauzy jacket which was exactly what I needed. It was only the 2nd time in years (Macy's with Karen and an equally competent saleswomen in December) that I had had the benefit of such expertise. Thanks to you both!
Start saving now, both of you, so that you can do this trip long before you get to my age.
Disappointment:
We will not do a long stop at Mauritius - the 13 hours weather delay in Cape Town means that we have to alter the plans in order to get to Australia on time. Disappointing to many, especially several crew member from Mauritius.
But, the wonders of nature. When I was very young, I asked my grandfather where all the stars came from. He told me that when good people died, they became stars. And, there had been many, many good people. He pointed to one bright star and said that it was his mother.
Last night, I thought about him and that story. Dancing in the ballroom ends at midnight and then I go to the disco for an hour or so, then to the buffet for some sliced fruit and juice and then to my stateroom so it's usually about 2 am when I get there.
Last night was clear and for the first time in about 30 years, I saw the MILKY WAY, so clearly that I could discern the division. It's possible that I saw part of the Southern Cross but the ship's position precluded facing south. Tonight I will go up to the observation deck - 13 - and hope to see Crux. But, no matter what, last night was very special.
Sharon and her co-worker, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, are what shop assistants should be but rarely are. Helpful, knowledgeable and COMPETENT. I told them that I was fob - fresh off the boat - and needed evening attire. I was bombarded with dresses, blouses and jackets which they selected for me to try on. I spent an enjoyable time (and for me to enjoy shopping alone is nothing short of a miracle) got exactly what I needed and was about to leave without an evening jacket. The woman who is not Sharon asked if I had more shopping to do because they had received a shipment which they had not opened. I went to the grocery store (mild detergent, rubber gloves, baking soda, a plastic container for my makeup), then to the shoe store for inserts and back to QUEENSPARK.
I had bought a lavender-grey top and, in the meantime, Sharon had found a gorgeous purple, gauzy jacket which was exactly what I needed. It was only the 2nd time in years (Macy's with Karen and an equally competent saleswomen in December) that I had had the benefit of such expertise. Thanks to you both!
Start saving now, both of you, so that you can do this trip long before you get to my age.
Disappointment:
We will not do a long stop at Mauritius - the 13 hours weather delay in Cape Town means that we have to alter the plans in order to get to Australia on time. Disappointing to many, especially several crew member from Mauritius.
But, the wonders of nature. When I was very young, I asked my grandfather where all the stars came from. He told me that when good people died, they became stars. And, there had been many, many good people. He pointed to one bright star and said that it was his mother.
Last night, I thought about him and that story. Dancing in the ballroom ends at midnight and then I go to the disco for an hour or so, then to the buffet for some sliced fruit and juice and then to my stateroom so it's usually about 2 am when I get there.
Last night was clear and for the first time in about 30 years, I saw the MILKY WAY, so clearly that I could discern the division. It's possible that I saw part of the Southern Cross but the ship's position precluded facing south. Tonight I will go up to the observation deck - 13 - and hope to see Crux. But, no matter what, last night was very special.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Quick thoughts
Found out that there is a porn site with a similar title so some computers bar viewing this blog!?!?!? Sorry - guess I should have checked first.
However, billboards seen recently:
in Namibia: Please keep our desert clean!
and in Cape Town: Carpe the hell out of diem!
I am doing my best - time for ballroom dancing, tonight featuring VIBZ, the band from St. Lucia. The ballroom will rock. Good thing because high winds are forcing us to stay in Cape Town harbour until further notice.
And, if you are in Capetown and need women's clothing, go to QUEENSPARK. More about that tomorrow.
However, billboards seen recently:
in Namibia: Please keep our desert clean!
and in Cape Town: Carpe the hell out of diem!
I am doing my best - time for ballroom dancing, tonight featuring VIBZ, the band from St. Lucia. The ballroom will rock. Good thing because high winds are forcing us to stay in Cape Town harbour until further notice.
And, if you are in Capetown and need women's clothing, go to QUEENSPARK. More about that tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Namibia, Cape Town and Dinner Companions
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
First, I would like to thank my (almost gone) dinner companions for this internet time. We have to buy time packages and as they are leaving tomorrow, they have graciously given me the rest of their time online. Thanks, E and G!
There are tours (usually a good choice of them) for every stop. Although I have been on this vessel since December 12th, I had never taken a tour before Namibia. But, I knew it would be hot, I don't like heat, I wanted to see Swakopmund, a German colonial city, so I booked a tour - very bad idea as it turned out.
This was the QM2's maiden visit to Namibia and the tours were booked out so an additional one (mine) was added.
We were taken to Dune 7, so called because it is 7 km from the harbour and it is enormous. Unfortunately, we did not have time to climb it (some people from another tour did and it looked like fun), only time to take a couple of photos and then, "back in the bus".
From there we were driven to a small, private museum which I dubbed the "Dead Animal and Tree Root Museum". It is old, small and dusty. When the most interesting exhibit is a 1,000-year-old tree root, we are in trouble.
I left quickly, went across the road and waded in the Atlantic Ocean - it was cold but fun.
From there, we were driven to a residential area where there were 2 small shops and a petrol station - huh? We could buy leather goods or woven goods or gasoline - all over-priced and none of which I needed.
What was most distressing - we left about 11 minutes before the agreed meeting time, stranding 2 passengers. When I, and others protested, we were ignored. We were then driven, again through the colonial town, at 60 mph (about 100 km), to a small, boutique-filled part of the town.
The most impressive building, the former railway station and now luxury hotel was unknown to the bus driver - he lives far away - so we never even had a drive-by.
I went to a large grocery store - it could have been in any city - and discovered that shampoo is much more expensive than cucumbers, they eat a lot of maize and it's apparently very difficult to make a decent doughnut.
Fortunately, the stranded brothers - one of whom lives in Hamburg - asked at the leather shop and were told that we were probably headed for the German brewery (close enough) and they found us. They were very gracious about it but I wrote a letter complaining about the entire trip, cancelling the trips I had booked in Australia (except for the opera in Sydney)and demanding my money back. Let's see what happens.
This morning I awoke to the sight of Table Mountain and much of Cape Town. Marvelous, both of them. On much of this trip, the cabins on the port side have had the better views in port, but today we lucked out.
Both Namibia and South Africa have unnecessary customs systems - this morning there were about 50 agents, greeting and stamping and stamping and stamping. Most of them had nothing to do but wait until we were all processed and then go and eat at the buffet. At least we did not have to get up at dawn this time.
QM2 runs shuttle busses from the ship to whatever downtown we are visiting and it's a big help for solo travelers like me. We were dropped off at the West Quay shopping center which has almost nothing but expensive boutiques: Louis Vuiton, Hermes, Gucci. My shopping list was quickly modified and I will go back into town tomorrow, with advice from 2 South Africans aboard, and find some sparkly tops for the formal nights, some running shoes for the gym - did I remember to tell you that there is a spa and world-class health club? - where I will start training when we leave CT.
Many of the balls have themes - Burns Night is coming up and I will look for something - a scarf, perhaps - with a Lewis tartan, some black leather-soled dancing shoes and a mask, as strange as possible, for the masked ball in February. For Burns Night, we have practiced some Scottish country dancing - Strip the Willow and Dashing Black Sergeant - which we will do in formal clothes - geez!
A final thought: it seems that most cities are beginning to look alike - same chain shops and fast-food restaurants. Too bad.
First, I would like to thank my (almost gone) dinner companions for this internet time. We have to buy time packages and as they are leaving tomorrow, they have graciously given me the rest of their time online. Thanks, E and G!
There are tours (usually a good choice of them) for every stop. Although I have been on this vessel since December 12th, I had never taken a tour before Namibia. But, I knew it would be hot, I don't like heat, I wanted to see Swakopmund, a German colonial city, so I booked a tour - very bad idea as it turned out.
This was the QM2's maiden visit to Namibia and the tours were booked out so an additional one (mine) was added.
 |
| Sailing into Walvis Bay |
 |
| Hundreds of birds flowing just above the water |
 |
| Because of the size of QM2, we often docked in container ports |
 |
| German colonial buildings |
 |
| A typical thatched-roof house, typical for Northern Germany |
 |
| As close as we got to the flamingos/flamingoes |
 |
| Dune 7 |
 |
| How you mark a road in the desert |
 |
| Flowers blooming in the desert, next to the outdoor toilet |
 |
 |
| Lots and lots of nothing |
 |
| An oasis with springbok |
 |
| Private museum |
 |
| The ONLY interesting exhibition in the museum |
 |
| Beautiful yarn but only for show - only sold as finished products |
 |
| I found mail boxes at every stop |
 |
| Hibiscus blooming all around the town |
 |
| Large grocery store with a horrible bakery - all chemicals |
 |
| What we did not get to see!!! |
 |
| One of the many wrecks along the coast, seen from the bus |
 |
| Atlantic Ocean sunset leaving Namibia |
We were taken to Dune 7, so called because it is 7 km from the harbour and it is enormous. Unfortunately, we did not have time to climb it (some people from another tour did and it looked like fun), only time to take a couple of photos and then, "back in the bus".
From there we were driven to a small, private museum which I dubbed the "Dead Animal and Tree Root Museum". It is old, small and dusty. When the most interesting exhibit is a 1,000-year-old tree root, we are in trouble.
I left quickly, went across the road and waded in the Atlantic Ocean - it was cold but fun.
From there, we were driven to a residential area where there were 2 small shops and a petrol station - huh? We could buy leather goods or woven goods or gasoline - all over-priced and none of which I needed.
What was most distressing - we left about 11 minutes before the agreed meeting time, stranding 2 passengers. When I, and others protested, we were ignored. We were then driven, again through the colonial town, at 60 mph (about 100 km), to a small, boutique-filled part of the town.
The most impressive building, the former railway station and now luxury hotel was unknown to the bus driver - he lives far away - so we never even had a drive-by.
I went to a large grocery store - it could have been in any city - and discovered that shampoo is much more expensive than cucumbers, they eat a lot of maize and it's apparently very difficult to make a decent doughnut.
Fortunately, the stranded brothers - one of whom lives in Hamburg - asked at the leather shop and were told that we were probably headed for the German brewery (close enough) and they found us. They were very gracious about it but I wrote a letter complaining about the entire trip, cancelling the trips I had booked in Australia (except for the opera in Sydney)and demanding my money back. Let's see what happens.
This morning I awoke to the sight of Table Mountain and much of Cape Town. Marvelous, both of them. On much of this trip, the cabins on the port side have had the better views in port, but today we lucked out.
Both Namibia and South Africa have unnecessary customs systems - this morning there were about 50 agents, greeting and stamping and stamping and stamping. Most of them had nothing to do but wait until we were all processed and then go and eat at the buffet. At least we did not have to get up at dawn this time.
QM2 runs shuttle busses from the ship to whatever downtown we are visiting and it's a big help for solo travelers like me. We were dropped off at the West Quay shopping center which has almost nothing but expensive boutiques: Louis Vuiton, Hermes, Gucci. My shopping list was quickly modified and I will go back into town tomorrow, with advice from 2 South Africans aboard, and find some sparkly tops for the formal nights, some running shoes for the gym - did I remember to tell you that there is a spa and world-class health club? - where I will start training when we leave CT.
Many of the balls have themes - Burns Night is coming up and I will look for something - a scarf, perhaps - with a Lewis tartan, some black leather-soled dancing shoes and a mask, as strange as possible, for the masked ball in February. For Burns Night, we have practiced some Scottish country dancing - Strip the Willow and Dashing Black Sergeant - which we will do in formal clothes - geez!
A final thought: it seems that most cities are beginning to look alike - same chain shops and fast-food restaurants. Too bad.
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