Barbara J. Hamby

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Saturday in St. Thomas

Docked in St. Thomas would be more accurate. We are staying on board the ship. We arose early for the immigration inspection, so we both came back to the cabin a while after breakfast for naps. Before that, I had written some postcards. (In case you wonder why you didn’t get one, they never got mailed) and wandered around the ship a bit, ending at the front office to ask some questions about disembarkation. For a few dollars less than the cost of a taxi, we can buy a transfer for the short ride from the ship to the airport, at the shore excursion desk, which we plan to do.

After several days of wondering what time it was whenever we were in the cabin, having forgotten a clock or watch, it dawned on me that my computer gives me Pacific Standard Time, even though it can’t seem to keep track of the date. So, I just add four hours for the time difference. We also noticed that, in tiny numbers, the correct time is on the phone in our room. That means we don’t miss any meals, blessing or curse that may be. I’m actually getting jaded by all the good food and intend to stick to some excellent chicken noodle soup tonight and skip the entrees. Unfortunately, I haven’t tired of the desserts.

I had a swim in the saltwater pool this afternoon (it was less crowded) but the sun was very hot. The top of my head seems a bit sunburned, even though I wore a hat in the pool. Floyd had a long nap and I had a short one and now the ship is underway again, heading out of the Caribbean and back into the Atlantic toward Half Moon Cay, a private island owned by Holland American Cruise Lines. We will arrive there day after tomorrow.

After dinner, Floyd came back to the room to watch television and rest. I did some window-shopping, then sat in the library and read awhile. At 8:30 I went to the show. A comedian-juggler entertained for about an hour. He has one of the best acts I’ve seen on a cruise ship and kept the audience laughing and cheering.

Back in the cabin, I watched Ben Hur on television with Floyd until we lost the signal. I went up and got us some ice cream for a bedtime snack. Heaven forbid that we go to bed hungry on a cruise ship. I glanced at the chocolate buffet poolside, but walked on by. Shades of the (un) Holy Roman Empire--the huge crowd around the pool were enjoying desserts of every description. Time to go to bed and digest food.