I seem to need the two sea days to recover from the 3 land days!  But tomorrow we begin a series of 4 land days…  I realize when I posted a few days ago about what to do on sea days I completely omitted anything to do with the body or exercising.  In addition to my informal walking, there are organized walks and exercise classes (mostly at 5 am…) as well as an excellent fitness center and a slew of activities in the spa including various Nordic sauna & cold pool types.  I also omitted the very popular (but not yet attended by us) trivia contest each noon.  There are movies both in the theater and on the tv.  I’ve just discovered we can actually watch news on tv but I’d rather not… There is a book club and ship choir, and the author & writers’ workshop has been replaced by a photographer & photography lectures and workshop.  There is also, of course, the nightly entertainment, some of it quite elaborate shows, beginning at 9:15—which is the time I’d rather be in my room reading.  I find I need time quietly by myself and bridge is pretty much sufficient activity.

This afternoon there was an Andrew Lloyd Webber concert—appropriately ended with ‘Don’t cry for me, Argentina’ since we’re on our way to Buenos Aires.   I enjoyed hearing the ship’s wonderful singers (and pianist) whom I miss by not attending night performances.  They are excellent!  The ship choir of passengers also sang very well. 

Next our absolutely outstanding bridge teacher and his wife (herself an excellent bridge player who hosts knitting sessions (there’s another activity) in the morning and helps with duplicate in the afternoon), Michael & Beverly Walker hosted a reception for all participating in the bridge program.  Despite Viking’s lack of advance publicity (we didn’t even know there would be bridge instructors and duplicate), it’s been very popular–up to 9 tables at duplicate plus 2-3 playing social bridge and most of us attending classes. Michael says he’s taught bridge on many cruises and never had such a large participation.  He figures 20% of the passengers have participated to some degree.  The occasion was saying goodby to those leaving the ship in Buenos Aires, where a new contingent (hopefully including bridge players) will board.  It was, of course, also nice to get together informally.