Reunion, Mauritius, Sir David Frost, Country Music and Waters

February 1, 2012

We sailed past Reunion Island today - about 5 or 6 miles offshore but close enough to see houses, streets and large hills/small mountains. Sadly, we had to keep going and arrived at Mauritius about 19:30. The most fascinating part was that the vessels was turned 180 degrees and unless you were on deck or on a balcony, you did not realize it. Yes, it was that smooth.

About 10 people will embark and about the same number will disembark and we will be on our way to Australia in about an hour - actually, I can feel the ship moving now. The computer room is on deck 2, forward, and movement is more noticeable here.

Cunard sponsors lectures on many different subjects and yesterday and today, Sir David Frost - the one you remember - was the guest lecturer. Today, he was interviewed by the entertainment director and then we in the audience got to ask questions. The hour went by much too quickly but for me, the most memorable answer was to the question of how he, Sir David, would like to be remembered. His answer -"as a good parent - a good father". I hope for the same.

Just before the lecture I discovered that I was sitting next to a former BBC disc jockey of country music, voted the best country music dj in the world!!! He takes a group to Nashville each year and they always have breakfast with Charlie Pride.

This trip has been an unending string of "firsts" including, in December, seeing snow falling on the ocean - rather a waste, if you ask me, but then no one did.

Today, there was a thunder storm on the ocean and the lightning seemed to be much closer but the thunder was dulled somewhat by the engines and the rush of water.

And speaking of water: the North Atlantic in December was a dark, almost brooding slate gray, the waters of the Caribbean were aquamarine blue with frothy white waves, now, in the Indian Ocean, the deepest cobalt blue you can imagine, turning to ice blue-green in the waves created by the ship. And whenever the sun shines in the right direction, the waves created by the ship throw up spume (I have been waiting since the 6th grade to use that word!) and for 1 or 2 seconds there is a rainbow, perhaps only 6 or 7 feet across. Amazing!