We were up very late again last night, watching that exciting Orange Bowl and that lucious OHIO STATE DEFEAT (and, oh yea, that Clemson victory. But, really, that OHIO STATE DEFEAT). In case you're wondering, I went to Michigan but was raised in Toledo, Ohio, the epicenter of college football's greatest rivalry. But, anyway, back to that OHIO STATE DEFEAT...the exciting 4th quarters of these BCS games don't make for a calming pre-sleep routine. The games are finishing up here after 1am, and sleep follows much later.
Regardless of bedtime, we had another scheduled early arrival at 7am in Dominica. The shaking of the rear thrusters once again proved to be an inescapable alarm clock (6:21am today), but after they finally quieted once we were docked, we did manage to fall back sleep again. We awoke at 8:40am, and G raced down to the DaVinci Dining Room for breakfast, to get the juices, orange segments and mixed berries he needs to start the day. (Actually, we've eaten all the raspberries and blueberries and are now down to strawberries instead of mixed berries until turnaround day).
Much later, just before 10am, I made it to breakfast in the Horizon Court Buffet for what I believe is only the third time this winter. No, it's not our favorite place, but I was only having cereal and fruit anyway. What I really missed was the brewed decaf from the International Cafe but didn't think it was worth the walk down there just for that. G joined me and we watched as wave after wave of pelting, blowing rain moved over Roseau, Dominica, where the cruise ship docks. Our only real plan for today had been to possibly do Jack's Walk again (no chance of that) and to pay $3 to use unmetered wifi at Ruins Rock Cafe, but we quickly talked ourselves out of even leaving the ship.
We returned to the cabin (I'm in the yucky, coughing part of my cold and am happiest away from people) and G snoozed and I read until he found a replay of the 4th quarter of the Orange Bowl on ESPN2, and we had to watch that exciting OHIO STATE DEFEAT just one more time. ;-) Everytime we changed to Channel 40 (the "front of the ship" channel), there was rain running down the webcam lens, which absolutely zapped any energy we had today.
Eventually, we got hungry, and went up to get pizza. It was funny; sitting where we were at a covered table by the MUTS pool which is open to the sky, one minute we'd see the sun shining, then we'd see it pouring and then we'd see both at the same time, and spotted a full rainbow (which Dominica features in abundance) right over the pier.
Intermittent rain and sun at sailaway spells hot tub for us (and for about ten of our new BFFs) and so we watched sailaway from Deck 17 on the back of the ship and were treated to a full-and-a-half rainbow right off the back of the ship (too close to get it all in frame for a photo).
We were at Dinner with Darko at 5:30pm, and ate lightly. First, we hadn't done much today, but following dinner, at 7:30, was this cruise's Most Traveled Passengers (MTP) cocktail party in Adagio, and they serve wicked good hors doerves and dessert items. (Cutoff for this cruise's MTP: 434 days on Princess. Wow. It hasn't dropped below 390 or so all winter). We sat with cruise friends Phyllis and Jim, with whom we've cruised for two holidays in a row, and once again closed down the party, and only then because I was anxious to get to the Saints v. Eagles wildcard playoff game on MUTS, which is where I'm finishing up this post.
Also on MUTS today: the Compass Bowl (Vanderbilt v. Houston) at 2pm and the Chiefs v. Colts game at 5:30pm.
Captain Nick told us, in his Dominica sailaway announcement, that we would be bumpy again en route to St. Thomas tomorrow morning, and that winds would be 45 knots gusting higher during squalls. He said tonight that we face a rocky seas for the next several days, into the next cruise. This time, the weather in the northeast is holding this system over the Caribbean. The Christmas winds are definitely overstaying their visit this year!
Well, it could be worse. The Queen Mary 2 has been delayed on its transatlantic voyage due to the weather in the northeast, and has an accumulation of snow on its Promenade Deck. At least we don't have to shovel wind and rain. ;-)
