Jacuzzi, Diner and the Sunset- By Host Mach

Stephanie — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:55:00 GMT

Back in my cabin I retrieved my meds and gingerly made my way into the Jacuzzi this time facing the proper direction. This weary body really appreciated the warm, rushing water that coursed and pounded about me. Somewhere in the vicinity of forty five minutes later I was once again comfortable. Wrapping up in a Carnival robe I watched a slide show of pictures that I had taken to that point on the new ViewSonic flat screen TV. Excellent picture quality, and the photos weren’t bad, either! Many folks have asked recently about the ability to use a PlayStation or X Box on board with the new TVs. I’m happy to report that you can! On the back of the TV, left side, you’ll find a tab protruding. A gentle push will pop that panel loose. Inside you’ll find inputs for S Video, component video for high def, and analog video – the yellow jack that pretty much everyone is familiar with. Audio inputs are on the bottom, the customary red and white RCA jack.

The remote has an input selector allowing you to toggle back and forth among the input choices. I connected the wiring for my camera the first day and left it in place for the entire cruise. No one seemed to mind.

For the first time this cruise I was going to be able to dine in main dining and meet my table mates. I dressed quickly and headed for the Mardi Gras dining room destined to miss sail away as my seating was 6:15 and we sailed at 7 PM which, I believe, is about 2:26 PM Cozumel time.

As it turned out my table mates were a delightful group from various parts of the country with widely divergent occupations and interests. We were half first time cruisers, equipped with that familiar litany of superlatives, and half ‘old sea dogs’ with many cruises made.

The ‘Cruisin’ with the Crazies’ mascots had accompanied me to dinner and immediately captured everyone’s hearts. These little guys are rife with personality and are totally irresistible. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the ‘scots and so I obliged.

Dinner was excellent. I selected the NY Strip from the alternate menu with a side of haricot verte and velvety garlic mashed potatoes. The typically wonderful Caesar salad preceded the main course. My steak came smothered in Three Peppercorn sauce, my favorite, and was properly rare and tender.

Dessert arrived for the others at the table. Universally, the little ramekins that mark Warm Chocolate Melting Cake rested in front of everyone. In the midst of ‘ooooh’s, ‘ahhhh’s and remarks about the relative sinfulness of the dish grins and looks of near orgasmic delight betrayed how well loved this little delight really is. Several of the ladies mentioned that they had purchased the cook books and were hoping to be able to make WCMC as soon as they returned home. I hope it turned out well for them.

Dinner over I excused myself from the table and, once more, made my way about the ship, mascots in hand. We visited lounges, we visited the Internet Café, we visited the Disco, the Brasserie and then relaxed at the aft end of the ship where I was able to enjoy a warm cognac and catch the final glimpses of a phenomenal Caribbean sunset. There is little in life that compares to sunsets at sea. The sun slowly descends toward the water trading its burning yellow make up for a mantle of varying shades of orange. Growing larger as she approaches the sea, the few clouds near the horizon match her color out of respect. Finally, an identical streak of color extends outward toward you, directing you to the impending spectacle. Many times in the past I’ve been privileged to witness the fabled Green Flash. Not so today but it made little difference. Sunset was magnificent.

I lounged for a time in the Chopin, enjoying a fine cigar and another cognac. I chatted for a while with a number of fellow cruisers including one gentleman who was from Spain and spoke no English. As I speak no Spanish the conversation was brief. The décor in the Chopin is proper for a cigar bar. Brighter than most cigar bars as it fronts the Candlelight Lounge, it distinguished itself with many outsized signed photographs of Muhammad Ali in many of his memorable fights. The young lady behind the bar had an intriguing story. This was her last contract with Carnival. She was returning home to Slovakia to marry her childhood sweetheart. They hoped to open a bar together and decorate it with Carnival memorabilia. How cool would it be to wander down the streets of a small Slovak town and be greeted by images of Funship Freddie, the Farcus Funnel and all things Carnival? I wish them all the best in the world.

I bypassed the evening’s entertainment in favor of my balcony. This time I and my bare feet sat quietly, listened and watched as the sea and the sky danced and merged.

It had been a wonderful day of adventure, laughter and exploration. In other words, a typical day on a cruise. My bed had sent a text message to my back inviting it to relax for eight hours and so we did.

Splendid Things in Life : Chocolate Melting Cake

Jacuzzi, Diner and the Sunset- By Host Mach