Ring out the Old !

​New Orleanians Mark and Steve adopted me once again last evening in the Explorer’s Lounge and invited me to dinner at The Chef’s Table, one of the specialty restaurants onboard. Last night’s set menu was Chinese and included very gingery hot and sour soup, a coconut sorbet palate cleanser, stir-fry beef with a very tasty rice concoction that was wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed in a bamboo box. We named the dessert ‘fish-eye pudding’ for lack of its real nomenclature and in honor of its appearance.

Then came the excellent performance by our cruise director, Heather Clancy, a trained and talented singer who put on a terrific show, from Broadway to Puccini.

Because we will arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, at 6 a.m. tomorrow and go ashore for excursions, the Sun is celebrating New Year’s Day today and New Year’s Eve tonight. The day started with a gigantic brunch on the main pool deck.

The other day an ice sculpture demonstration was scheduled on one of the outside decks. It was cancelled when the powers that be decided that playing with chain saws in gusts up to 50 mph might be unwise. Somehow the ice was sculpted, but in today’s 80+ temps, this Viking warrior won’t survive into the New Year.

Showing off my one souvenir so far (not counting nasal decongestant from Panama City). Turquoise and black jade earrings from the Jade Museum in Antigua, Guatemala. #