End Game... and some leftovers

‘An essential part of travel is the inevitable sense that wherever you’ve gotten to isn’t quite what you hoped it would be—just as you yourself are never, not completely, the traveler you thought you would be.’

from Lev Grossman's review of Geoff Dyer’s

White Sands: Experiences From the Outside World

I am slowly weaning myself from blogging, but I still have a few posts in me. Not sure I remember the dates, just the occasions and locations you see below...

One of 6 Cooking School classes I attended. I am going to sign up early for classes on the next cruise — it’s a great way to meet fellow passengers who like to cook and eat and drink wine. The tallest fellow is Oleksi, our Ukrainian waiter. We asked him to sing us something in Russian. ‘No. I must be drunk,’ he replied. I tried to ply him with wine, but, he said, ‘No, madam. I am on duty.’ At a later class — on his last day before his contract ran out and he left the ship — he agreed to sit and eat with us for one course.

Chef Wayan, from Indonesia, led most of the Cooking School classes.

Whisking up something or other...

Towards the very end, right before the Captain’s Farewell in the theatre, there was a Seven Wonders of the Modern Culinary World food extravaganza in every dining space on Deck 7. Love this huge wheel of parmesan carved to resemble the Coliseum, and hollowed out so the fresh pasta that was being made on the spot could be tossed into the cavity with cream sauce and whirled around to soak up the parmesan goodness! There was a cheese Leaning Tower of Pisa, too.

Indian Dress-Up Night, with entertainers Matthew (dance) and Elmer (song) and friend Kim. The dot or teardrop on each forehead is called a ‘bindi.’

Arabian Dress-up Night, with my new friend Barbara, from San Francisco. She is wearing a necklace by Nadia, see below...

Florence of Arabia... it was very hot in the Valley of the Kings! And, No, I never introduced Florence Foster Jenkins on the Sun. Maybe next time.

Proof I was at Giza!

Me and Pablo near his Málaga birthplace... have I told you I (heart) España?

Onboard modeling of Arabic-design jewelry for Nadia Dajani, the guest jeweler from Jordan...

Adorable Mihajlo, from Macedonia, my massage therapist / yoga teacher / tai chi teacher

The final Atrium Concert, featuring the Vik-ettes dance troupe and the Viking Sun Inaugural World Cruise Choir

After 4-1/2 months onboard, I finally led a singalong

Planning Ahead for the Next Cruise

‘So, Susan... How do you RE-pack after 5 months?’ One of my first blog posts, last November, was in answer to the question, ‘How do you pack for 5 months?’