A beautiful warm, sunny day around the ship.

I mentioned meals in the World Café, so I thought I’d include photos of some of the crocheted food pictures that decorate the walls.  I don’t care for them, but they are certainly interesting and, presumably a lot of work by someone.

While I’m at it, I include photos of two pictures in the Chef’s Table (where we eat occasionally but play bridge in every sea day).  These pictures are moving (Harry Potter anyone?) which doesn’t show much in photos, but the berries in one constantly fall and the things that look like dandelion seed puffs in the other are always in the process of increasing or decreasing in size.  I can’t imagine who thought these were a good idea for wall decoration, and I find it extremely distracting to sit facing the berry one.

The ship is collecting clothing and other useful items for distribution in Madagascar.  The home office has also decided to donate $50,000 in food, linens, shoes (from the shoes they provide for staff), and other materials to Mozambique through the Red Cross.  The knitters on board have created 75 baby caps to go to a hospital in Madigascar and another 75 for Mozamibique. 

Mauritius is poor (with enclaves of beach resorts—I’m told it’s becoming ‘the’ place to go), but Madagascar, which we visit tomorrow, is poorer.  It should be very rudimentary.  Next stop is Mozambique which is trying to deal with the effects of the cyclone a little while ago that has caused about a million and a half people to be displaced.  That is in the north of the country and we visit the south, but the country as a whole is poor and not equipped to deal with the costs.

I must say visiting three third world countries whose names begin with ‘M’ consecutively gets me very confused sometimes!