Day 80 30th March 2011

It has been a very hot day as we steam south towards the Panama Canal. I walked around the deck as usual and was conscious of both the heat and humidity which was energy sapping. We have spent a lot of time on the balcony and in talks by the guest speakers. Chris went to listen to ‘Up the Nile with a Stethoscope’ by a doctor who had worked on Nile cruises. She enjoyed the talk a great deal. We both went to listen to Johnny Ball talk about gravity from Galileo to Einstein with many practical demonstrations.

Looking out from the balcony we saw more turtles swimming past and other people saw dolphins and Manta Rays. We didn’t see them but people are very studious of the ocean and therefore see more than our occasional glance. Probably due to having 3000 people locked up in a confined space (luxurious that it is) means that illnesses have a habit of going a round the whole ship. In this way there is a ship’s cough that everyone seems to have had and I am now infected. It obviously has reached many people since the ship’s shop is full of cold and cough remedies.

The semi-final of the cricket world cup featured India versus Pakistan and the large Indian community amongst the crew were passionate for their team to win. I only had to ask at breakfast to be given the latest score (i.e. 90 balls left and 140 runs to score). They were studying the Internet for the news continuously. India won and is now in the final against Sri Lanka.

We were chatting with someone from the next table in the restaurant and she created many of the questions on who wants to be a millionaire, blockbusters and several other shows. This ship is full of surprising people.

We reach the Panama Canal on 1^st April and I have saved a blank video disk so I can film as much as I can.