En Route To Cape Town - Day 23

NOTE: We’ve included three pictures from last nights Formal night; one with John and Linda at Silk Road, another with John Mentis playing the piano and another one of us at the Crystal Cove. We also included several pictures from today’s buffet.

We thought we would first highlight last evening.

We had a wonderful time last evening.

We met friends John and Linda for pre dinner drinks at the Crystal Cove. Crystal provided complimentary drinks before dinner. While in the Cove, we chatted with some fellow guests along with entertainer John Mentis who plays the Piano each day and each evening in the Cove. During the course of the World Cruise, John also will take videos from major events, during our time at port and of the various entertainers, and those who are part of the enrichment team. Many of these highlights will form a video of the World Cruise.

The four of us dined at the Silk Road Japanese Specialty Restaurant. Since last evening was a formal night on the ship this restaurant was not very busy as the majority of passenger’s were dining in the Main Dining Room. The food was wonderful as it always is. Each couple ordered those items that they prefer. We began the meal with a variety of sushi and sashimi items. We followed this with a small bowl of soup, and a lobster entrée. We ended our meal with a nice fruit plate. We had a great talk with Linda and John who we first met during the 2007 World Cruise. By the time we finished it was just a few minutes before the Crystal Society Reception began.

We had a fun time at this event which is a thank you party along with a recognition event for those passenger’s who have sailed with Crystal one or more times. The names of those guests who have sailed 30 or more times was mentioned along with the number of cruises they have taken. In addition, four guests/couples were recognized last evening with flowers along with a short narrative. We knew each of the people who were recognized and those recognized were current completing anywhere from around 75 to 135 cruises. On a World Cruise you will find a much higher percentage of seasoned Crystal Cruisers. During the course of the World Cruise we will celebrate achieve two milestone levels but the number of cruises we have taken pale to the number that several of those on this voyage have taken. Regardless of the number of cruises completed, what amazes us is the number of repeat cruisers that come back to Crystal year over year. In the end this says the most about Crystal, which is their ability to have a loyal passenger base. During the reception several of the Lido Deck Stewards came around with trays of various canapés and other items. They all looked wonderful but we passed on them. J We were content with our sushi and sashimi along with all of the other delectable items we enjoyed over dinner. After the event was over, we spoke briefly friends Bob and Glo who we are having dinner with in just a few days.

After this event there was a production show but since we had recently seen the show we decided to pass on the show.

When we arrived back to the room there was a World Cruise Photo Album on our bed, which had pictures of each of the World Cruisers along with their names. We were very pleased to receive this book so early in the course of the voyage as it his a big help for looking up the names of passengers who we are meeting for the very first time on this voyage.

Many passengers and those from the crew asked Keith about his ankle throughout yesterday and yesterday evening. James who is manager of the Shore Excursion Desk and Antonio who is the Maitre d’ of the Specialty Restaurants wished Keith a speedy recovery as they have been partners of Keith for several games and said they wanted their partner back on the court very soon. J

We also wanted to note how pleased we were that the Crystal Computer University offered an Apple class for the very first time. Everyone who attend the class, including Keith, was very pleased with the training we received on iPhoto and hopefully based on the positive feedback additional classes will be offerered.

Keith applied some ice to his ankle before we went to sleep.

We slept well last evening. The slight movement of the ship actually helps us to sleep better.

Keith woke up extra early and although his ankle is still bothering him was once again able to make it through his workout on the Elliptical Machine. He was able to workout for about 90 minutes. Afterwards, he lifted weights but no weights involving the knees/ankles. Ouch. -J After his workout he stopped by the Lido Café to bring some coffee back to the room. He spoke with fellow passenger Linda and also to Lido Deck Stewards Rey and Earl who helped Keith with his coffee. When he got back to the room, Anne Marie was getting ready to go upstairs to the Fitness Center and she enjoyed a one-hour workout on the Treadmill. Hop along (Keith) was even able to do two laundries of wash. Thank goodness we are located very close to the Laundry Room.

On the next voyage that begins in Cape Town they will hold the World Games which involves lots of games for passengers and even some for the crew so Keith is hoping he will be better by then. He joked with another passenger that if he is not better by then he will have to enter the needlepoint competition. J

We enjoyed a nice breakfast in the room as we watched the Crystal Daily Program. This program includes some video from the past couple of days of passengers and activities and is hosted by our cruise director and world cruise hostess. They also ask trivia questions, talk about the days activities and many times interview others from the Crystal Staff or other personnel. This time they did something different where they called a room to ask the Trivia Question. All of a sudden our phone rings, Anne Marie answers the phone and Rick Spath the Cruise Director asks for Keith and the question for Keith was who was the backup catcher to Jerry Grote on the 1969 New York Mets. Keith answered the question correctly. J

After the show Keith went down to the computer university to ask a question related to yesterdays training. The good news is that with what he learned Keith can now post pictures to the Blog in seconds rather than in minutes per picture. J He was in his slippers and after he finished and while walking to the stairwell in the reflection he noticed that the side of his foot had a long black and blue line. When he got back with encouragement from Anne Marie he went to see the doctor.

Let’s start with vital signs. No pulse. Well, not true but as the nurse said Keith has a runners pulse. Not surprising. Temperature was low,but again not surprising as Keith’s temperature is normally low. Blood Pressure was average and is actually normally low but Keith had sort of raced around to get over to the medical center so not surprising.

The doctor looked him over and as a precautionary note had the nurse take x rays of the foot/ankle. After the first series of two x-rays was taken the nurse came back and said that the doctor wanted another x-ray because one of the pictures looked like a possible fracture. L They took those and the nurse came back again and said they looked good but the doctor wanted two more. The good news is the bone is not fractured. J The bad news is that Keith has a rupture of the fibulotalar ligament and while that is better than a fracture the doctor said no elliptical. L And when Keith asked about the treadmill the answer was no treadmill L So tomorrow Keith will figure out a new routine. Inn the meantime he was given anti-inflammatory medication and an ankle brace. Anne Marie stopped by the medical center when Keith was finishing up with the doctor so she said she would make sure that Keith follows the doctor’s orders. L

The Captain’s thought of the day was “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.”

There were many activities this morning.

As mentioned, Anne Marie attended Rap with the Rabbi at 9:05 AM. She thought the discussion was great as it always is. We truly enjoy attending these sessions, which are held about every other sea day.

Afterwards, we both attended a lecture given by Special Interest Lecturer Jay Wolff who presented “Peron, Chavez and Cocaine. When Europe discovered the new world, North America had loin-clad natives hunting in the forests. South America had cities, great civilizations and culture. A good deal of the presentation dealt with the issues as to why has South America stayed so poor while North America rose to wealth and power. We missed the first five minutes of the session as we were getting back from the doctor. The presentation was wonderful. Jay Wolff is able to convey so much good information in a manner that is so easy to listen to. He is a fantastic presenter.

Following this presentation Anne Marie attended a presentation given by Ambassador Tony Leon. The topic of his presentation was America and Africa. She thoroughly enjoyed this presentation. This is the first time that Tony Leon has been part of Crystal Cruises enrichment program and based on the positive feedback we have heard from many of our fellow passengers along with our own positive thoughts we suspect that Tony will be back lecturing on future voyages. Keith skipped the presentation so that he could follow the doctor’s orders and elevate his foot from time to time.

Today the featured lunch on the Lido Deck was the Nuevo Latino Buffet. This buffet features many delicacies from Latino countries including Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. This buffet many wonderful items. The buffet includes Lemon-Cayenne, Garlic, Inca, Sweet Onion and Anise Breads, Corn Salsa, Muffins and more. The Salsa selection includes Roasted Corn and Pepper, Cucumber Dill, Dried Mango and Toasted Coconut and Tomato and Red Onion. The appetizers include Mexican Spicy Corn and Tortilla Soup. The raw salad bar includes Mixed Greens, Kennel Corn, Jicama Sticks, Tomato Wedges and Cubed Cucumbers. The buffet also includes Tamales wrapped in Corn Husks and Steamed and then topped with Mole, Poblano or Sweet Chipotte sauces. The entrée selection includes too many items to mention from chicken to beef to seafood to a variety of other yummy items.

We made ourselves each a salad entrée and spoke with several Lido Deck Stewards during lunch.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie took a nice long walk on the Promenade Deck for one hour, sat out at the pool and also made a bracelet at the art class which focused on making jewelry.

Keith spent time with our friend Bob and had a wonderful discussion.

This evening we dined with Destination Lecturer Ken Rees and his lovely wife Lynn in the Main Dining Room. It’s so nice to have the table for the two of us but one that is large enough for four people so that we can invited others to join us for dinner from time to time without having to move to another table with different waiters.

TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY…….

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Keith and Anne Marie