Monday April 25th. 2011

Hello and good afternoon,

As I sit here composing the blog, a crossing from the southern hemisphere to the northern ceremony is taking place, I'm giving it a miss. It's been a quiet day for me not to mention hot and humid with not much wind across the decks. An air conditioned cabin is the place to  be for me, I do stick my head out of the balcony door and in a second I feel and look like a wilted lettuce.

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I must mention that David Knight the hypnotist did another show last night. We encouraged our table mate Jo to volunteer, as she stood to go on stage, she grabbed Dorothy (she who would never allow herself to be hypnotized) and soon all eight seats were filled… Jo fought it all the way and would not let it happen, Dorothy on the other hand was putty in his hands. :) After it was all over she was worried in case she'd done anything to be embarrassed about!!!!! I let the people who've been stopping by to talk to her today, fill her in, he he…She was so happy that Yvette & Jolene were not there to see her :)

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I went down for a nap this aft. and  was just waking up when the phone rang. It was Randy from our Cruise Critic group telling me he had recorded Dorothy doing  "her thing" last night, and if I would like, he'd come to the cabin and load it on to the computer :):):) "Come on down" says I. Sooooo girls,

I have video of your Mum being a goldfish, and also  a chicken laying a square egg :):):) You'll both love me for this, Mum on the other hand is not in any position to make one single demand of me:)

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There was a two hour delay leaving Manta last night as a group had flown to Quito for the day, Heavy thunder storms prevented them from leaving on time and being a tour booked through Princess, we were able to wait for them. One must carefully choose the tours to do privately, this would not be one of them. The ships do not wait for private tours who return late,  over the years we've witnessed more than a few people "miss the boat". Time was made up during the night so we still plan on reaching the Gulf of Panama on time tomorrow at around 6.30am and ready to begin the transit at 7.30 ish. If all goes according to plan.

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We've transited the canal  in the past, but before cruise ships began adding balconies.... I recall standing out in the heat and humidity for hours trying to take it all in and each transit noticing things that we'd missed before. It will be great to be able to step back into the cool of the cabin when things start getting too hot.

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Time for a shower before dinner.

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Dinner's all done, I had sole and though it was recommended, it was dry and tasteless, but I don't think I'll die of starvation overnight. I just heard after dinner that our friend Cathi had to call 911 in the wee hours as Bruce was in pain. It turned out to be a kidney stone that he was able to pass and he's fine today. We've not seen them at all since yesterday,  it may well be a small ship but large enough that they were invisible today.

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I am really tired tonight, Dorothy's gone to the show to see the pianist who is we're told, very good. I'm getting this away and then to bed, 6.00am will be here soon enough.

Hasta manana

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tony