After breakfast in the dining room, we gathered up iPhone (G) and laptop in my backback (me) and walked off the ship and past the secured area of the cruise ship pier in St. John's, Antigua. As always, we were offered a coupon for a free spin of a prize wheel in the nearby casino, and, as always, we both won a free rum punch. Both of these are as certain as death and taxes. We sat down at a nearby table in the casino to drink them and use the free wifi the casino offers. Since it was after 10am by that time, there were several crew members also there making phone calls home over the internet, and it was slow, slow, slow. Finally G finished what he needed to do, and, handing his phone to me to use, returned to the ship. I interneted a bit more, pushing myself to the point of frustration and wishing (just momentarily, mind you) that I had just one hour of "at home super high speed wifi". I have update notices popping up left and right on my laptop, and error messages that I know aren't valid; they're just a result of the slow internet. Finally, I gave up and gathered up my laptop and G's phone and left the casino.
It was raining outside, and in the short walk back to the ship (well, I did walk extra slow along side a lady walking alone with a cane who appeared to be having trouble) I was drenched and went straight to the cabin. Just as soon as I'd arrived, there was a knock on the door and a delivery: a large birthday bouquet of flowers from the "Emerald Princess Team". This time I was even more shocked. For ME?? I asked the florist who to thank (as the card was fairly inclusive) and he said his boss, the Executive Housekeeper, David. We have gotten to know David a bit, and absolutely love his ever present smile.
By this time, I was feeling very blessed, but wasted no time in finding a home for this bouquet. Our cabin has a small round table that, first thing when we board, we stick in the far corner of the open closet to get out of the way (floor space is limited and the table doesn't make the cut). Since we have a fourth suitcase that won't fit under a bed, I had stored it on top the table, also in the far corner of the open closet, praying the glass table top wouldn't crack. Then, our dress shoes get stacked on top of the suitcase. And finally, dirty clothes get stacked on top of the shoes until they're sent to the laundry. We have quite a little Leaning Tower of Pisa thing going on in the closet. I had to dismantle all that to get to the table, move it back to its original location in the cabin, and placed the new bouquet on it. It looks wonderful and the roses and star gazer lilies make this cabin smell heavenly.
Right after G returned to the cabin (which was, coincidentally, right after the furniture rearranging was completed) there was another knock on the door: room service, singing Happy Birthday carrying a bottle of wine from Captains Circle hostess Catherine. That was when I cried. Hard knocks and the tough world I can smile through; an abundance of caring and consideration just does me in. All this attention truly floored me. And just to clarify...I've celebrated my birthday on a Princess cruise for seven years straight. This one was an exception, and I know better than to expect even any one part of it in the future.
But, damn, it was nice to be queen for a day!
We decided to skip lunch in favor of a walk. The sun was out by then, so we set out with the intention of walking up to St. John's Anglican Cathedral and then over to the hospital (built by China). It was just a walk, not a climb, but, boy, are those streets pure caution. Broken sidewalks, open storm sewers, racing taxi drivers driving on the left side of the road...there is no doubt that simply walking around these ports is the most adventurous thing we do.
Our walk took about two hours, and we arrived back at the ship around 4pm. Tonight was Breeza Marina night in Skywalkers (yes, I know that you know it's my favorite), and, since we had skipped lunch, I even enjoyed some herbed goat cheese and the wonderful made-from-scratch wheat crackers that I wish I could fill a suitcase with and take home. Along with Janet and Bob, we watched the sunset (always beautiful sailing from Antigua) and then headed to dinner. Afterwards, we had another full evening of entertainment, first sitting in the Piazza to catch the Emerald Princess singers do a few numbers from the now-retired Motor City production show (we miss it), then to the Explorers Lounge (again, there were TWO show options tonight!) to hear piano bar entertainer Kory Simon. His show was wonderful, and we finished up at the Country Western party in Club Fusion just so I could do some line dancing. Hoo-whee!
Photo 1: aren't they beautiful? They smell divine.
Photo 2: flowers and wine. The Emerald Princess would make a wonderful husband!
Photos 3 and 4: sidewalk cautions
Photo 5: an old mail box