Sunday Evening, November 7 – Heading southwest 225.18 °

Sunday Evening, November 7 – Heading southwest 225.18 ° Today has been absolutely calm as we head southwest toward Madeira. At noon I went to play trivia and joined a team of three sisters from Connecticut and a friend of theirs. We had a nice time. We’re in the middle of the pack in terms of scores but we have plenty of sea days yet to come.They are my kind of players because they are playing to have fun and are not so serious as some people I’ve encountered in the past. Today would have been Al’s birthday so it has been bittersweet. I hadn’t eaten much all day so I went up to the Observation Bar for teatime. There is a very good pianist there but he played a lot of songs which were ones we used to dance to and I got a little sad. Well, that’s the way it is. Tomorrow morning we all have to report to the Grand Salon before 9:30 to get a rapid antigen test in order to be allowed ashore. Such is the world after Covid. Speaking of which, the staff wears masks all the time. We passengers wear them as we move about the ship, but when we get into a bar, lounge, or dining venue we may take them off. I don’t like it much, but it’s not as onerous as I thought it might be and it’s worth it to be back at sea. That’s my afternoon report. No excitement here, but that’s a good thing. Assuming I am able to get off in Funchal tomorrow, I should have more to write. Ciao for now.

Living room of my suite