Day 243 – All at sea

Day 243                                                       19th March

The sea

After a night of broken sleep what with the band, the aircon, the loud talking Moroccan old boys brigade and the ship’s engine I was up at 6 to watch the sunrise. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that. It was lovely sitting on top deck all alone with nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the search began for brekkie. I found the self service restaurant which didn’t open until 8 but promised scrambled eggs. So I showed an old French guy how to get to the deck with his lovely spaniel who needed a walk! Then checked out the a la carte menu in the restaurant but as last night the door was locked and the menu was just out of reading distance. Aargh! So I went to reception to ask whether I could see a menu? What time the restaurant opened? and whether, despite their card machines not working all over the ship I could get any money? The answer : a flat no!

Still, never mind, the self service would be open soon. You guessed it the self service offered tea, coffee, but no hot food. There were four people working there but it was too much to ask them to cook an egg!!! Surely it’s their job? !! I declined and returned to the barman upstairs, who’d been on all night and his disposition hadn’t altered since the panini experience. (Ermintrude: Presumably that wasn’t good) So chocolate and coffee for brekkie and hope that chef is out of bed in time for lunch! Met a French guy who had been in Morocco for 5 weeks in a 4×4 and talked about the shock of poor quality service after the happy people of Morocco.

I spoke to one helpful guy on reception and Eleanora, who I asked if they had a suggestion box but they didn’t, so I said maybe she could bring up the menu issue at the next staff meeting and be recognised for her intuition. (Initiative?) She said that the staff on board were all crazy 20 days into their 4 month stint. There is really no excuse for their rudeness.

I put it all behind me and chose to enjoy the sun on the top deck in my shorts. The sun was hot and I managed to find Talk Radio Europe for some English speaking radio. No-one bothered me up top and I could strip off and sunbathe. I got roaming on the phone but only long enough to find out that O’s had lost 4-1. 8 games left and 8 points behind. It really would be a miracle if the kids survive now.

I had a good lunch of paella and many bread rolls. The best value item on board 30 cents each and soft and fresh. Later that night I discovered that you get 2 free with whatever meal you order but only when I read the bill in the self-service restaurant that charged a euro for bread and service!!

Back up top for more sunbathing and a relaxed afternoon. I even managed to see the blowhole of whales spouting up out of the water far away in the distance. I was so excited to see that, that I told the Moroccan next to me who couldn’t see them and thought I was crazy. A couple of afternoon beers and some Italian footy and I was ready for a siesta before the restaurant opened at 8. That’s one good thing about Italian footy, it sends you to sleep as it’s so slow; but it wasn’t to be; the singer and the keyboardist needed a sound check at full volume Aaargh!!!