Well, it was all going so smoothly. And I mean, smoothly. On Tuesday we woke to a calm sea, and after
a leisurely breakfast, had a chat with the cruise director and housekeeping about setting up tables and such in the craft
area. We knew we’d have to shuffle
things about a bit, but all the CMV staff were being dead helpful and we didn’t
think we’d have any more problems than usual.
We knew Peter would probably have to run a second class, so the first one
was scheduled to allow us to fit another one in the afternoon.
So we turned up at one o’clock. The housekeeping lads shoved and pushed
tables and chairs about for us until we were happy, the craft area was cordoned
off and we started to put out the equipment.
We were ready by 1.30, and there was already a large queue waiting to
coming in. Better to let them sit down I
thought, rather than keep them all waiting.
BIG mistake. There
must easily have been another 60 people come in, and I had to keep explaining
that there would be another class later in the afternoon. Some hung around, many were cross, all
accused us of starting early. I had to
explain that the class had not started, it was simply that the people sitting
down had arrived earlier. One guy was
incredibly angry, would not listen, and kept shouting at us that it shouldn’t
be allowed. It was absolute chaos.
Once the class started, it all started to calm a
little. Eventually it was time for the
second class. A crowd had gathered and
it was as much as we could do to keep them out until the tables were set
up. Once again, it was chaos, but it
settled down, with 32 people painting, and another 15 or so watching. Peter was slightly hoarse by the end of it, having had to shout
across the room for the 2 hours solid.
It turns out that it wasn’t just us that had too many passengers
try to get into a class. Jan, who ran
the crafts class in the morning had had a terrible time of it, and Peter who
ran the Ukulele class had 100+ passengers turn up when he only has 40 places on
his course.
So that was Tuesday.
Tuesday night, the ship began to move about a bit, so I went to bed
early, feeling a little nauseous.
Wednesday morning I stayed there.
According to the Assistant Cruise Director, Wednesday was the roughest
crossing of the bay that they had in a long time. And I felt it.
So I spent Wednesday morning in bed, dozing. But to be honest, if I spend too much time in
bed, I get a headache. I did try to get
up a couple of times, but felt too nauseous.
I eventually got up about 1pm, thinking I should get up to the top
deck. From there, it was easy to see how
much the ship was pitching, and how terrible the weather was. Gale force 9 apparently, with 8 metre high
waves. It was the first time I’ve felt seasick
on the Magellan, but it turns out there was good reason.
So I was up, but I now had a headache. Peter and I sat in the Tavern Pub, which was
probably one of the most level places on the ship until my nausea passed, and
we ended up trying our hand at the dart board.
I am absolutely rubbish.
Because the sea has been so rough, the Bistro at the back of
the ship has been closed and everyone has had to eat in the restaurant. Most of the other crafters preferred the
Bistro, so effectively we all got together last night and ate in the restaurant. My head still hurt, but it ended up a quite a
good night, with Peter the Ukulele teacher and my Peter singing on the Karaoke,
and a couple of games of table football.
All good fun.
Partly because we left Amsterdam late, and partly because the rough seas have slowed down the ship, we will not be able to get Lisbon by Thursday. Vigo has been chosen as an alternative port, so Spain here we come!
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