At 7:50AM: temperature 77ºF, relative humidity 82%, wind from the NE at 43 kts 9 Beaufort, speed 16.1 kts, heading 284º, sea depth 17170 ft. We have traveled 7331 nautical miles from Fort Lauderdale.
Tai Chi in the morning, followed by a combined presentation by Barbara, the port lecturer, and some one from the Excursions office talking about the ports and available excursions in New Zealand and Australia.
Then I listened to a lecture by a new speaker, Cluny Mcphearson, a Kiwi with extensive experience in the South Pacific. In 1996 he was a professor on Pitt’s Semester-at-Sea program. He gave a fascinating talk about how the social/political life of Pacific islands have changed since WW II. For example, some islands, like the Cook Islands, were able to export the young people and relieve congestion. But the remittances returned to the islands by these emigrants have transformed social relations. For example, wealth accrued to families that formerly had been poor, so the formerly wealthy and powerful families started to lose their importance. But other changes, like electricity and refrigeration have meant the families no longer had to give away food—from a fishing trip or a pig slaughter because they could not preserve it for themselves—which reinforced relations with extended family and significant religious and political people.
Janice went to another culinary demonstration.
Movie: Salt with Angelia Jolie. It was a pretty good, non-stop action/suspense movie.
Rest of the day just hanging.
Dinner was at the Pinnacle Grill for their French Dinner. It was to have been the three of us and Jinny and Noel, two friends from the ’09 cruise. Unfortunately, Jinny came down sick last night so she couldn’t come. Each course was accompanied by a different wine. The meal was very good. (Unfortunately afterwards Janice came down with the same bug Jinny had.)
Entertainment: Stride Pianist Judy Carmichael. She was excellent, both musically and personality. She also hosts a radio show called Jazz Inspired (jazzinspired.com).
There was supposed to be star gazing, but since our dinner started at 6:45 and lasted until after 9 PM and I went to the 10 o’clock show, I just joined Janice in bed.