North to Alaska Part 6

 

North to Alaska Part 6

Today is a sea day. I like sea days... it’s quiet, it’s peaceful and gives a lot of time to admire the vast sea drifting by. On a sea day you don’t have to do a thing. Of course, if you want to keep busy and socialize with your fellow cruisers you can partake in all the wacky, activities that cruises plan to keep their guests happy. Stuff like the daily crossword, scavenger hunts, indoor crazy golf, indoor bocce ball, indoor bean toss, team trivia, bingo, rock and roll dance lessons, mah-jongg social play (whatever that is) and of course bridge.  

On sea days you can always count they will have a “Ladies Pamper” party in an attempt to sell you wrinkle vanishing creams and serums to make you look 10 years younger. Like that is gonna work. There also is bound to be massage treatments at a discounted price. So instead of paying 250 dollars for a 50-minute massage you get rubbed down for a mere 199 bucks. 

A really big sea time activity is pawing thru the stuff on tables set out in the lobby. These are piled high with tons of jewelry, tee shirts, purses from the on-board boutique gifts stores they haven’t been able to sell. But the most favorite thing for cruisers to do on a sea day is eat and then find a big comfy chair in a quiet spot and close their eyes. You see them everywhere, mouths open and their book flopped on the floor.

For Jay and I our favorites things to do on a sea day is take a nap, read and go to the casino.  Ok, maybe not in that order. I visited the casino early today because a skinny little old lady, (I’m sorry, a petite, mature woman) with bleached hair hogged my favorite slot machine for hours last night.  I showed her! I got the machine first this morning. She was probably at the Vitality beauty center getting her hair bleached when I, to my surprise, won.  The early bird gets the worm.

Tonight is another specialty dinner at the Polo club. It is the fancy steakhouse with steaks and chops, prime rib king cut 32 oz. Really, 32 ounces? I think I am leaning toward the surf and turf with lobster and filet mignon and going with the Polo Quintet desert, a sampling of five desserts that includes chocolate fudge brownie, key lime pie, caramelized New York cheesecake, Crème Bulee and a granny smith apple crumb pie. After all I expended a lot of calories today sitting at my slot machine.

Tomorrow is our last full day of the cruise and we will be in Victoria Canada. We love Victoria!

 

Victoria, Canada

If you think Victoria is just about quaint streets and coastal views think again. Nestled in the cultural heart is the Royal BC Museum, a treasure trove of history and it feels like you stepped into a living storybook. We have been here at least four times throughout the years and always loved it. This time we both thought it was as good but not as good as we remembered… exhibits come and go and things are bound to change since our last visit 5 years ago. Our absolute favorite museum continues to be the Hong Kong History Museum.

A few years ago, we spent two weeks in Victoria staying in an apartment in Chinatown, so we know the city well. This time we skipped the Butchart Gardens and just stayed close to the port.

The other attraction we never miss when we are in Victoria is the

Fairmont Empress Hotel. We don’t go for High Tea but the charcoal popcorn at the elegant Q bar. Yes, you read that right, charcoal popcorn.   It is smoky, savory and addictive. Ok, it turns your teeth a bit gray. Who cares? Everybody munching on the stuff has grey teeth. It is a favorite that is made with olive oil, charcoal powder, sea salt and a little sugar. It is so good.

Along with our popcorn we had a “flight” of gin specialties. The first was bright purple and called Indigo, the second was Elderflower Rose a pretty red and the last was a Cucumber Lemon that was clear. Fun to taste, but made it a bit harder to walk back to the ship.

When we got back to the ship, we packed, had a light dinner and toasted with a glass of champagne to our next trip. That is in November, taking a train from Reno to Colorado Springs.

Can’t wait. 

That’s all folks. The trip is over. We leave for home tomorrow to pet our cat.