Saturday: 10/4
As we were having breakfast we were treated with another pod of dolphins, some spinners, entertaining us with their jumps and flips. There was a huge number of them, and the show continued for quite a while. We were warned that we were travelling through a tropical depression, and it was a little rough.
Our on-board time included Team Trivia and Chairobics. We have found a nice group of people for our Trivia Team; I suspect we will stay in contact after the cruise. We have fun and do fairly well.
“One lecture” was a performance by Mike Reiss entitled “How I Write Comedy.” I didn’t go and didn’t know who he was—he was a writer and producer for The Simpsons, co-creator of The Critic, and author of several Screenplays. We sat next to him at lunch yesterday and had no clue who he was. I later watched this show on the TV in our room. He is hilarious.
Showtime tonight featured Jeri Sager who sang a medley of Broadway classics. She was very good. I am sorry we missed her first performance but will watch it in our cabin.
Sunday: 10/5
Today we sail above the Middle America Trench, a submarine depression in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Central America. Extending for more than 1,700 miles from central Mexico to Costa Rica, the trench reaches a maximum depth of 21,880 feet and covers a total area of 37,000 square miles. The shallow northern section tends to curve along the coast of México, paralleling the break in the continental shelf, while the deeper southern section follows a more linear course.
Last night we passed Acapulco which played a pivotal role in the history of Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Beginning in the 16th century, Spanish galleons made the long voyage across the Pacific Ocean, linking Mexico’s west coast with the Philippines and, ultimately, with Spain. This route—known as the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade—is often considered the world’s first example of globalization.
For more than 250 years, these great ships carried silver from the Americas to Asia and brought back treasures such as silk, porcelain, and spices. Acapulco, serving as the American gateway for this trade, flourished as a center of commerce, culture, and exchange.
By the early 1800s however shifting trade routes, foreign competition, and Mexico’s fight for independence brought the galleon era to an end. The last ship sailed in 1815, closing a chapter that had connected three continents for more than two centuries.
Today will be another busy morning. Chairobics at 9:15, church service at 10:00, and trivia at 10:30.
The Traditional Maritime Church Service was a basic BCP Morning Prayer Service conducted by the captain, Stephen Howarth. It lasted about 20 minutes. The most striking element was the table used as an altar was draped with a British Flag with a cross on top. The colorful Flag far surpassed the cross.
Today was Gala Evening number two and was a Masquerade Gala. Bob and I attended dinner appropriately masked. Then we went to the Gala celebration where the Ukrainian Dancers gave a special performance of a Rhumba. They were very artistic. It was a beautiful dance.
Monday: 10/6
Today we began our day abeam Punta Remedios, El Salvador, 128 miles off its coast. Overnight, we passed the Gulf of Tehuantepec, a stretch of coast well known among sailors for the powerful Tehuano winds. These winds originate deep inland in southern Mexico, where cool, dense air from the Gulf of Mexico is drawn southward toward the Pacific. The air funnels through a narrow mountain corridor called the Chivela Pass, on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec—the narrowest part of the country. As it rushes through this gap, the wind accelerates dramatically and spills out over the Pacific Ocean, often reaching gale or even hurricane force. It can carry dust and haze far out to sea and create rough conditions that extend hundreds of miles offshore. The Tehuano winds are most common between November and March, when high pressure over the north meets warmer tropical air to the south. For centuries, sailors have watched this area closely, timing their crossings to avoid its strongest burst. Even today, with modern forecasting, mariners treat the region with utmost respect.
We have travelled along the coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua before ending abeam of Punta Guiones, Costa Rica. As an at sea day our schedule was the same: Chairobics and morning and afternoon Trivia. Between Chairobics and Trivia I heard the beginning of Mike Reiss’ talk “What Am I Doing Here?” This was his second performance, and he is so funny. This was about 144 countries he and his wife have visited. Another presentation was by Sylvia Acevedo about her career at NASA, IBM, Apple, and Dell, as well as serving in the White House under President Obama. Showtime was “Sounds of London” featuring iconic hits from British music.