One of the Patter's offerings was the start of a book club. Today the chosen book was going to be distributed. I know that eight years of higher education have ruined me for forced reading, but there are few things I am less interested in than book clubs, on land or at sea. They come far too close to the 50+ page case studies we had to read daily and analyze and be prepared to discuss in my business strategy classes. No, thank you, I want to read what I want to read, and not be forced to publicly discuss my thoughts and reactions. I do enough of that right here. ;-)
But G was in dire need of a significant haircut so we took care of that first, before he showered and went to a veterans get together at 10:15am. While he was gone, I did hand laundry and hung it up to dry and generally straightened and organized the cabin (these are just two of my favorite things!). Before I had time to really settle in with Mr. Bryson, I needed to meet G in the Cabaret Lounge for this cruise's BIG!!!!!! $500 Treasure Hunt Drawing*!!! (*must be present to win). Of course, we won NOTHING at all, but we have one more opportunity to win big next cruise. I'd love a repeat of my luck two years ago when I won a massage on a Pacific Princess Christmas cruise. Merry Christmas to me!
I had already checked the lunch menu posted outside the Club Restaurant and it contained a few favorites, so we went there shortly after noon and I had chicken tortilla soup and a Greek salad (and no dessert because I will not allow myself to have dessert at lunch on most sea days, unless it's Dessert Extravaganza Day in the Panorama Buffet or MTP luncheon day or any day I really, really want to have dessert with lunch).
Only then did I turn my attention to reading. I had almost two hours before I had to start getting ready for formal night, especially early today as pianist Chris Hamilton was offering a special matinee performance, one show only at 4:15pm. G had gone to the banana rot lecture and was already in the Cabaret Lounge and I joined him and we both stayed for Chris Hamilton's performance. What a talent! What a showman! We loved it, and apparently so did everyone else who gave him a standing O at the end.
We did a very quick change to formalwear and went to the Club Restaurant for a truly wonderful dinner. I only have beef one time each cruise and tonight was the night. Food and Beverage Director Andrea has told us that the beef we're currently eating is from Italy and it is delicious. I had onion soup (broth only; I skipped the cheese) and salad and one beef tenderloin but asked Marco to add a couple of garlic shrimp (another entree option). Paired with merlot, and finished with pink grapefruit sorbet, it was a perfect formal night dinner. Even more gladness: tonight's production show of Motor City followed by a few songs with Jere Ring in the Casino Lounge. What a great evening at sea!
We don't arrive in Barcelona until noon tomorrow, giving us one more opportunity to attempt to sleep in. Our departure tomorrow night is not until 11pm but I doubt we'll stay out that late. We've been to Barcelona several times in the past and will likely just spend the afternoon rambling on Las Ramblas. Rick Steves mentions a candy store just east of Las Ramblas in the Barri Gòtic. Arrive at noon, walk awhile and eat candy. It took us eight weeks but I think we've finally got the hang of this cruising thing. ;-)