Day 33 4/2/2017

4/2/2017 Day 33

Cruising on the Amazon today, and learning so much about it through our printed and tv media.

Life continues with sea day type activities.  

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Art

A seascape day 1 of 2 - A4 instead of A5 and quite dramatic waves.  Mainly preparatory washes. Copying something like this.

Singing - 4 part harmonies were introduced to I can't help falling in love with you. This is a bit controversial.  Its a good study of human nature being in the choir.  A vocal individual in the vocalists had asked for something more challenging.  The majority didn't speak up and of course didn't know about the request.  We are now overwhelmed by 4 part harmonies and there are more "rumblings" and palpable friction between the three in charge, with the MD overriding the Headliners in a rather embarrassing public way.  Perhaps that should be communicated away from us and our dedicated practice time.

Tomorrow is Kingley's choice Simon and Garfunkel - America! Oh my goodness I hope there's not mutiny! It's a beautiful song and I know and adore it, but if I didn't know it I don't know how long it would be before I was able to commit to it.

We are today well into the Amazon, and crossed the equator just before midday and saw the equator monument from the deck.  The Amazon is a very new dark muddy colour and without  swell, a log soup.  The Amazon Newsletter including lots of instructions regarding control of the insects, including a lights off 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and cabin curtains closed, repellants etc etc

As part of official business today we were anchored for 4 hours for immigration, to take on  an Amazon pilot and then to get going towards Manaus

Tonight we are having dinner with our neighbour Pam Rhodes and her partner of 14 years, Richard.  Apart from the talks Pam has given which have given us so many insights into what  lovely lovely person she is, we were able to learn a bit more about family life out of the media, which has been really wonderful, and thanks to Lisa Ashton for hooking us up.  Our meals are just the best ever. For example tonight I had asparagus and egg mayonaise, chick pea bons bons with peppers and other salad, a toffee meringue swan with sorbet, petit fours with tea and could have also had cheese and biscuits. Legendary cruise dining.