Day 20 Sunday 25th January 2015 Huatulco Bay Mexico (and of course Burns Night)

Wow, it appears there were storm force winds overnight and I slept right through them, according to the captain’s message this morning as we came into port.  Khachik said the ship was rocking and rolling so much he woke up and was compelled to watch a bit of telly instead of sleeping. By the time I woke up it was as calm as can be and the outside temperature was a very comfortable 26C, peaking at 29 at lunch time.  After breakfast we left the ship and walked to the nearest beach, and sat down to update the networks and Skype.

Huatulco was beautiful, and looked like a great resort if anyone would like to spend any length of time in Mexico on a beach holiday. Rocky sea views with turquoise water and the clearest blue skies. I got to practice my Spanish when ordering in the café, paying and saying thank you. Ha!  Just 4 and a half hours in port today and then we were off.  Heading for Cabo San Lucas, our second Mexico stop  arriving Tuesday 27^th. It’s on the Californian (Mexican) peninsular and looks idyllic.  This is where we have booked Whale watching.

Back on the ship we had a 2 hour art class painting a camel, and learning to mix more colours.  The longer class meant we missed the chocoholics buffet L, but it was all in a good cause.

Didn’t miss yoga though, my lifeline to inner calm and outer flexiness. I was so chilled I forgot my shoes and was nearly at the cabin when I had to go back for them.

Tonight I also finished the second portrait of our waiters, and I gave Vivek a painting as promised.  Lots of smiles, not sure if it was a good likeness but not to worry, if it’s the thought that counts.

As it was Burns night we had the bagpipes playing as the haggis was paraded around and served up as a starter with tatties and neeps.  The other Scottish food I tried was Clootie Dumpling with ice cream. It had to be done. After dinner I had a conversation with a young (younger than us!) couple we have got to know more and more every day, Peter and Nigel. We covered so much ground I couldn’t grasp how we did it in such a short time – including average age on board this cruise (68, we have had confirmed), what happens if someone dies on board (mortuary arrangements!), living for the moment, what our jobs were/are, how long we had been with our partner and even “What did you have (to eat)?” a bit like Barbara Royle. e now feel like we’ve known each other for ages, and i am sure we will stay in touch.

As a result there wasn’t a lot of time for deck walking between dinner and the Palladium, 1.5 before the cabaret and 1 after made 4.5 today, so we’re doing ok, and getting up walking speed.

Who knows Peter Howarth, the lead singer of the Hollies for the last 10+ years? And West End performer as Roy Orbison?  I didn’t.  I still think in terms of Alan Clarke and Graham Nash – I know, I know!  Anyway what I want to say is we both loved him. He did all the Hollies classics Bus Stop, the Air that I breathe, He Ain’t Heavy, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.   Two of the Hollies songs he did without the resident band, just him and his acoustic guitar, Here I Go Again, which he described as his own interpretation, a tortured love story, and Jennifer Eccles.  He also did 3 of Roy Orbison’s, “Running scared”,   “You got it” from his Travelling Wilberries era, and his first big hit in the 1960s “Pretty Woman”.  I wasn’t expecting tonight’s performance to be so good.  I even felt like going back for the later show.  He has lifted the bar a bit I would say, and stirred up a few old emotions too.

Here's a year old recording of He Aint Heavy

So, a day of highs and lows in more ways than one. Bye for now.