Monday, July 8, 2013

KETCHIKAN.....RAIN RAIN RAIN


We have decided to stay on the ship today.  This is not something we ever do but we have been to Ketchikan many times, taken a zillion pics, and as per usual it is raining.  There are only five rain free days per year here.  On average they get 160 inches of rain every year.
When you travel on ships, the conversation very frequently turns to one cruise line versus another.  And today the convo was princess verses holland america.  Holland America wins hands down with us.  This is going to sound really spoiled, and I admit it is but....the orange juice is watered down on Princess, on Holland its fresh squeezed, no smoked salmon for breakfast on Princess, platters and platters of it on Holland (my fave food on the planet), cloth towels in the public washrooms on Holland, paper on Princess, and very utilitarian bathrooms here on Princess as opposed to brass and marble on Holland, Holland gets way better docks than Princess, the staterooms are barely appointed with amenities on Princess, on Holland you not only get the usual stuff but they supply you with robes, slippers, binoculars, dvd players, wine glasses and a full mini fridge.  Not princess.  So anyone reading this who are planning future trips to Alaska, even if you pay a little more, you seriously get what you pay for.  Plus certain groups that tend to be difficult to travel with prefer the cheapest form of travel and this boat is loaded with them.  Makes for interesting people watching!
This morning at breakfast a lovely looking Asian lady had chosen a banana for part of her breakfast.  Upon finishing her meal, she proceeded to take the banana skin, and using the inside of it, she spent about fifteen minutes rubbing the skin all over the back of her hands.  And she had lovely hands!!  
Its so funny.  We are sitting down in the coffee shop area of the ship.  This is kind of the hub of the place and also where people are leaving and coming back to the ship.  I am comparing the crowd here today compared to yesterday, an “at sea” day.  Yesterday the place was full of young people, kids and Asians.  Today it is full of old, white haired overweight white people!  Guess we don’t get out and walk around so much!
Hahaha  a big huge lady with big hair (sorta relating to this person) just went by with an officer, or at least someone dressed in white with thingies on his shoulder.  What made me notice is she had life jacket stuck to her head!  It looked ridiculous!!!  From what I overheard, she was trying it on and taking it off and the straps or velcro or something got completely stuck in her hair and she couldn’t get it off!!  The officer was guiding her along as she couldn’t see! Hahahaha, she looked so funny!  I think he was heading her to the hairdressers spot to get their help to get it off.  She was NOT thinking this was funny at all.
Well they just brought out the little sandwiches.  There are two large covered trays that are kept full all day long.  Continental goodies in the a.m., little sandwiches and sliders til three, and delicious little delectables after that.  Seeing as how it is now 12, I think I shall go get me a sammich.  TTYL
Well here we sit, now an hour past our sailing away time from Ketchikan.  There are four Asian women they can’t find.  They probably don’t speak english and as such don’t understand times and places.  I do believe the captain is going to leave them behind.  Should be fun.  It must drive the staff crazy when half the ship doesn’t speak the language or understand time constraints.  But I also noticed on our trips to Beijing and Shanghai that even in their own country, where they do understand the language and protocols, they would still indulge themselves and do what they pleased, when they pleased.  Sigh! Hot water anyone whilst we wait?

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