at Sea
As we prepare to enter the African continent, the ship is preparing for possible Visa and vaccination problems. Today they announced that are yellow fever vaccination card needs to be turned in tomorrow. A Visa is required for Tanzania. This Visa can be purchased on arrival for $125.00 each for US residents. All other countries, $75. I like the way we are singled out.
No Visa needed for Seychelles but I am concerned about not taking my passport with me. The ship keeps them on board so local immigration officials can look at all of them at the same time. I am sure there are plenty of muffins to go around at this even. I sent a note to the hotel about the passport. Maybe they will accept a photocopy.
We chatted with Nancy and Stan about things we have experienced at the last few stops. Nancy told us a story that happened back when we were in Brazil. A man went down cold on a HAL excursion that they were on. Fortunately there were a few in the group that had some medical experience. No HAL representative was on this tour. One of the passengers called the emergency number that is on the ship card. Unlike when I called when we were in Shanghai, the HAL office in Seattle was open. The woman quickly explained the story of what had happened on the tour. A man passed out and they needed emergency help. The HAL representative wanted the man’s booking number. Huh? Obviously this number gives folks a false sense of security. There is no emergency that someone in Seattle can help a passenger on a ship. The bottom line of the story is that the fellow passengers carried this man back to the pickup point for the tender to the ship. Something needs to change here. I know where the corporate focus is and I also know where it should be.
Afternoon trivia. What cowboy tune is associated with Kansas? Which pro sports team brought a National Championship to New Jersey? What is the oldest European alphabet still used? What is the name of the bragging singing duo that were discovered to be lip syncing frauds? Who said she doesn’t mind dumb blonde jokes because she is not blonde nor dumb? What was the first water taught to Helen Keller?
We planned a trip to the “Rock” restaurant in Zanzibar with Stan and Nancy. We worked out details just before dinner. The restaurant is on a rock out a ways from the shore. During high tide, a boat will ferry people there, during low tide, it is possible to walk. We will golf and then meet them there for dinner.
The dining room appears to be less than half full. Our waiters are still learning.
Lightning trivia after dinner. The topic was geography. Most of the questions were about obscure places but there were also some easy ones. The city of Angels? Largest continent? The longest river in the world? Largest country in Africa (population).
The evening entertainment was a second set by Rebecca Kelly. She talked less about her wife, and made less of an attempt at humor. Her vocals are unmatched. She did a whole set of tunes written by Carol King. Many of the tunes I did not know Carol wrote as others made them famous. Great, powerful voice. I give the show a 10.…