5/12

Monday 5 December

Early start again and an unhurried breakfast before turning out for the walking/stretch/aerobic combo. “Out” was the operative word because they had inexplicably decided to return to the pool deck, where there was a 40km wind howling across. It was also very crowded so we chose not to stay for aerobics and headed for the gym. We don’t really need a leader and it is far better in the gym area.

We both managed to get 25 minute sessions on a machine and settled into a steady rhythm while the Med slid by. The ships tend to travel in corridors even way out here and we overtook a couple of freighters while we watched. We also did a lengthy yoga/abs session and headed to lunch with that warm virtuous glow.

We have discovered a very secluded nook for lunch right at the stern of the boat, next to an indoor tree with good views out the back and close access to the food and drink stations, such as they are. It is a bit crowded and hectic down the sides. They don’t schedule any entertainment or activities between noon and 3.30 and we have settled right into the siesta lifestyle. We are certainly on the right (left actually) side of the boat and we are thoroughly enjoying stretching out in the sun, vaguely aware of CNN in the background, while our washing dries on the balcony in a few minutes. Later in the afternoon we moved in closer to the Algerian coast and the headwind firmed to 50km. It was a very good day to have a balcony on the sunny side.

Dinner was French with the usual dishes familiar to Masterchef viewers, including TarteTartin (apple pie). J had turbot, complete with scales, which our Honduran waiter somewhat reluctantly replaced with lamb. The show was pretty much just the production cast who perhaps unwisely took on a show with a lot of Queen numbers. You can’t do Bohemian Rhapsody with two vocalists and Queen should probably be left to specialist tribute bands with a strong Freddy Mercury figure. The pleb game was three couples competing for the Travolta/Newton-John prize for advanced rocknroll gymnastics. It was quite impressive what complete amateurs could do fuelled by greed for a MSC accessory pack including T-shirt, cap, mouse mat, phone cradle, tape measure!? and a small rucksack. Roy the Pom was a popular winner.