26/8 Whales

Sunday 26^th

Thought we would beat the rush and get on the net but it was pretty slow anyway – managed to get an address for our hotel in Vancouver. Went for a walk upside in the fine summer weather. The map looks as though the route London- NY runs due East but the reality is a curved line that actually skims the Canadian coast for the final couple of days. We have been on the Grand Banks and yesterday passed 300miles north of the Titanic wreck. They tell us you don’t get icebergs up here at this time of year :{

We met Baxter and Mandy and their 6 friends this morning – Very Special Passengers. Have a guess? Dogs. There is even a cat. They live in kennels behind the funnels and were all out for their walks this morning. Apparently they all have passports with their vaccination stamps.

We then spent 40 minutes above the bridge doing stretchy yoga thingies. Problem – when you press slightly wet skin against a flat metal deck you stick to it and if you move it generates Loud fart noises. No honestly. We also walked past and through the Grills where the Upper Crust eat and relax. It seems the older American couple we quiz with are in a Q7 suite and have a problem getting rid of their massive cabin credit. They advised us against taking the subway in NY with luggage.

We then did 90 minutes in the gym before lunch – some very tender moist turkey and prawns (but Costa’s were better). Oooh and we saw whales all day. There seem to be heaps of them and they are very active – spouting, splashing and breaching.

We did well but not quite enough in the quizzes – even the Murder Mystery – first time we haven’t won that. It was nice to get some shrewd guesses that worked out. We have a bottle of champagne anyway.

Later – things suddenly looked up – we won the 8pm trivia and the music quiz at 10pm with Emma and the English lady and a hot tip from a passing benefactor. We nearly didn’t go to the evening show but it was very good. The dancers put on a big effort. The men are all Ukrainian and they did an immensely energetic Cossack dance complete with HIGH leaping and the famous low kicking. And of course the usual ballet and jazz and swing (doowaaah). Not to mention the lead dancer did an incredible tango.

Dinner was lobster (again) and the chefs parade etc. I had to keep running off to progress the laundry (how the mighty have fallen) L