I started to notice a new event in the Where and When called “Seven Billion Meditators with Photographer Gee” which is being held in The Mainstage at 7:30 AM. I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this so I headed down to the Mainstage this morning to check it out.
There were about a dozen people scattered in the seats on Deck 4 while Gee sat on the stage leading the group in focused meditation. A very peaceful way to start the day!
On the way back to my cabin I ran into someone with some interesting Mickey Mouse chocolate pancakes! I rarely go to the Lido for breakfast, so I don’t know if these are something that is offered every day.
I was also surprised to hear the servers break into the Indonesian Birthday Song “Panjang umurnya” for a passenger. I guess someone mentioned it to one of the servers.
Today’s Coffee Chat featured production manager Bruce Allen Scudder. I have never heard of Bruce, nor did I see him in any venues on our previous cruises. So with a title like “Production Manager” I assumed he was one of the ‘Men In Black’ doing Sound and Lights.
When I arrived in the Explorers lounge around 9 AM the place was already packed. Usually when I get there half an hour early there are plenty of choices of where to sit. There are about a dozen regulars who must get here by 8:30 AM as they are always in the same seats every day. Many people come here and then stay for the Linus Project which is held immediately following Coffee Chat.
As it turns out, Bruce has been with HAL for over 25 years and was a Cruise Director on previous World Cruises for 13 years. With plenty of regular cruisers onboard, I understand now why there was such a huge turnout.
LINUS PROJECT
Judy went to the display of completed Linus Project blankets. About 240 blankets have been completed so far. Most of them are crochet. Some are simple Granny Squares or stripes while others had images of butterflies or Super Heroes worked into the designs.
NOTE: The Linus project is a charity project where guests knit or crochet blankets that will be donated to Children’s Hospitals in the Seattle area. Holland America supplies the yarn and a pair of volunteer hosts provide guidance and coordination. They will be having a Show & Tell today after Coffee Chat.
POLYNESIAN DANCER
The 2 PM lecture in the Mainstage was titled, “Polynesian Dancer”. It was a ‘Talk Story” and Q & A with all of the Polynesian Cultural Ambassadors on the stage. They all have interesting and varied stories about how they came to be Ambassadors. During the time of year that cruise ships are visiting the Pacific and Polynesian Islands, there can be up to seven Cultural Ambassador groups on the various ships. The lecture was well attended and lasted just over one hour.
THE MAINSTAGE
This evening’s entertainment was a split bill with Scott Harris and Yuri & Nato. Scott had some very funny new material and as we have noticed on previous cruises, the second show is often funnier than the first show. Yuri & Nato also had all new acts. This time Yuri did the costume changes, with some humor thrown in. At the end of the performance they announced that it was Nato’s Birthday. Happy Birthday Nato!!!