Crossing the line

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Sunday 12th February:

Today was just about everything you expect crossing the equator to be. The sea was very

gentle, the skies were clear blue, the sun stayed high in the sky all the time and it

was very, very hot. We were already at over 84 degrees by mid-morning and it was

glorious as we slipped over the line at about 11.20 am. We did all our normal sea day

things (gym, breakfast and lecture) and were able to get back to our cabin to watch the

ship's navigation channel at the moment we crossed so we have a photo of the TV screen

showing us going over zero degrees.

The afternoon was fun but a whole heap smellier. In fact smelly just doesn't describe

it well enough. Most people who wanted to take part in the Crossing the Line ceremony

chose the easiest option: parade past Neptune and kiss a fish. A real one! But a few

hardy and rather insane number chose to join group 3 for the full blown experience. No

prizes for guessing which group we joined! It was easily the most highly stenching

experience of my life. You had to sit on the edge of the pool and have squashed

tomatoes, softened bread, soft squished red fruits and a whole heap of rotten fish guts

thrown at you and rubbed in your hair and on your face. Fortunately this was all done

just by the side of the pool so we could jump straight in to begin the washing off

process. But as soon as the first half dozen had jumped in, that pool was not the most

attractive place to be! The last group to go in were the new crew members who were

crossing the line for the first time and there was one poor guy who struggled really

hard to stop himself from throwing up. Very funny. As long as it isn't you!

So late afternoon was spent in the shower washing and re-washing plus a trip to the

launderette to try and get rid of the fish smell on our clothes.

Last night's show was excellent - a singer doing Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. Tonight

it's an illusionist so I think we'll go for an early dinner and then the theatre. This

really is an amazingly indulgent way to spend 4 months!

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Comments

[soo cov]

Crossing the line.....
Love hearing about your trip, it makes the cold winter weather a bit more bearable. ...not quite sure I would have been brave enough for the full blown crossing the line ceremony. xx

[soo cov]

Crossing the line.....
Love hearing about your trip, it makes the cold winter weather a bit more bearable. ...not quite sure I would have been brave enough for the full blown crossing the line ceremony. xx