I was determined to make today a rest day. At one point in time, G was, too, but he seemed to quickly forget his vow of sloth-ity. He was up and about early, before I first awoke at 6am, but had left the TV tuned to the ship’s position map. I saw that we were right off the shore of Corsica, and could, in fact, see its lights out our cabin window. Reflexively, I grabbed my iPhone and checked for a signal. Sure enough, I was getting an Orange Telecom signal from Corsica. Even happier, a text popped up that McGuy and McGee had made the sophomore and freshmen basketball teams, respectively. Tryouts had been the last two days, and I’ve thought of them constantly. With the cabin peaceful and quiet, and me willing to stay awake that early on a sea day, I wrote the post on the Norwegian Spirit before I headed up to the Panorama Buffet for breakfast.
That’s where G found me, talking plant-based diets with two fellow cruisers. We were sharing a table and had all ordered soy milk with our oatmeal/cereal, and the topic naturally came up. We chatted for quite awhile, until G and the others went to the Cabaret Lounge to hear the first port lecture from the destination specialist on board, about tomorrow’s port of Naples. We had already watched his presentations on Genoa and Monaco on our cabin TV.
In an effort to stick to my promise to rest, I returned to the cabin. Arriving there, I felt myself crunching on something in my mouth. Strange…I’d had just oatmeal and melon for breakfast. I immediately got a sick feeling in my stomach. I’ve felt that crunch before, getting on a plane to fly to LAX and then on to China, and that time it sent into motion a series of quick events involving finding a dentist near LAX, getting treated and making it back to the International terminal in time to make my flight to Beijing. Sure enough, this morning a crown had come off a back molar. I am a horrible teeth grinder and have been all my life. That’s why finding my nightguards when we first boarded the Pacific Princess was so important. But I had found them, and worn them. I have no idea how this happened.
Luckily, I was able to save the crown. I went immediately to the Medical Center (right around the corner) and was told they wouldn’t cement it back on, as that would make saving it in the long term more difficult. Instead, they called the Guest Services Desk to have them contact the port agent in Naples to get an appointment set up with a dentist there.
Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts!
G returned from the lecture full of excitement about going to Herculaneum tomorrow from Naples. It’s another town covered when Vesuvius blew its top in 79AD, but, unlike Pompeii which was covered in ash, Herculaneum was covered with 60 feet of volcanic mud, perfectly preserving it until its discovery in the 18th century. I hated to burst his bubble, but life happens, and, when you travel four months a year, it has a 33% chance of happening when you aren’t at home.
We went to the British Pub Lunch in the Sterling Steakhouse, and that was the first time I’d been in there since we boarded. It’s been renovated and looks fantastic, with new draperies, sheers and furniture. Leaving there, we walked across the sunny, but chilly, pool deck. The new loungers and sun beds and conversation areas there look amazing, very upscale. They’re quite suitable for this boutique-style ship.
Despite my best efforts, I was repeatedly, for short periods of time, pulled into the hive of activity in which G immersed himself throughout the afternoon. First it was the Escape Room signups at 1pm, and, though I adamantly resisted his efforts to get me to join him in the Cabaret Lounge for the lecture on Messina (these are all shown repeatedly on TV), at 2:45pm we were off to the BIG!!!!!! $500 Treasure Hunt Drawing*!!! (*must be present to win), and, naturally, won NOTHING. We were having our photos taken for formal night at 4:45pm (you might be able to guess why) and I lost the Rock-Paper-Scissors contest and so was the one getting ready first, beginning at 3:30pm. So much for my day of rest, food, and more rest.
We had just enough time after a marathon photo taking session involving three different backdrops to stand out on the Promenade Deck and watch the last of the sunset. The Tyrrhenian Sea, between Sardinia and mainland Italy had been mirror-smooth all day. We haven’t felt so much as a bump in the water. Our forecast for tomorrow in Naples looks decent too.
Tonight’s sunset
The Captain’s Welcome Aboard Party and Champagne Waterfall was held in the atrium at 7pm tonight. We stayed long enough for G to get a couple of glasses of champagne and chat with Yulia, the ship’s Administration Officer before heading off to the Cabaret Lounge for- wait for it- MOTOR CITY, viewing number eleventy-seven. I immediately spotted a few new costumes (same style, just new fabric) and after the show met the two seamstresses who are on board fitting this new cast into costumes and making the new ones. I love Motor City. I love the music, I love the dancing, I love knowing the exact order of songs, I love knowing during which songs G is going to reach for my hand and hold it tight, or tap the rhythm on my knee. I love it all, and I am not ashamed to admit it.
I had a message on our phone tonight that I have a dental appointment at 8:30am in Naples tomorrow, a 5-minute walk from the ship. I have to go to the Guest Services Desk at 8am for directions, and take a credit card to the appointment. I hope this is a simple fix, and doesn’t require a temporary crown or, worst of all, an Italian extraction and then an implant after I return home.
When was the last time I did something for the first time?
Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts!