Sea Day on the Carnival Sunshine!

Ready for a night on the ship!

       We left Dubrovnik and started our long sail south on the Adriatic Sea.  The plan was to sail all night and the next day and the next night until we arrived at our next port of call.  To us it meant party time!   We planned a lovely early dinner and then take in the show at the Liquid Lounge.  Tonight we were eager to see the "Rock and Roll Experience" performed by singers and dancers sponsored by the Playlist Productions. 
       The show was remarkable, utilizing the special effects screen.  The shows could be instantly transformed by using the video screen and special scrims rolled down captivating the light.  The half-hour show unfolded with full energy without a pause.  It ended with audience participation by dancing in the isles and on the floor below.  The group of six dancers were fantastic in their dancing and singing as they sang through great pop favorites that left everyone in a high mood at the end of the show.

Using the large video screens for special effects

Using small stages among the audience

       We were in such a terrific mood that we continued to party at the cabaret where a band played great disco dance songs. It was only when a large family group from India got on the floor and started dancing with all the little children and having a great old time that we decided to leave.  We ambled to the Comedy Club presented by George Lopez and sat in the front row.  Gerrid our server from the dining room, came up and suggested we sit elsewhere if we didn't want the comic to pick on us.  So we quickly scrambled back a few seats.  We oldered our drinks and waited for the comic.
        The ship flies new comics in to different destinations from ship to ship so there would be a fresh supply of one liners for us to enjoy during our voyage.  This particular comic was recovering from jet lag for a few nights and now he was getting his chance to make us laugh.  We were hoping that he would not use the "F" word in profusion and not tell many sick bathroom jokes.  The comic was introduced and he hoped up to the stage.  He began his patter and from his accent  we could tell that he was from Scotland.  So, he first started off  picking on the people sitting in the front seats asking them about their sex life, then he went into some bathroom humor about flushing the ship's toilets and the noise they make.  Now we waited for the his best one liners but it was a bit difficult to figure out what he was saying due to his Scottish brogue.  So we do the best and give him a few HA -HAs  and drink a few more drinks. He is finally done, and so are we as we get up and head for bed.
        The next day was a sea day and we were eager to check out the workout room which was one floor below us in the Spa.  The room was filled with the top of the line Lifestyle fitness equipment: gliders, treadmills, and stationary bikes.  All of them had TV screens into which you could program  a variety workouts depending on your fitness preference.  We were delighted that they had a program that would give you visuals so that if you chose running, you would actually be running in the Red wood Forest in California or in the trails in New Zealand!  The room was also equipped with free weights and muscle machines.  Since we were pretty familiar with our surrounding, we quickly chose our regime and went to work.
     Unfortunately, all the glider machines and most of the treadmills were taken up by lots of Chinese guests who got up early to start their workout programs.  I found a stationary bike and chose a lovely ride in the Champagne country side of France.  I looked over and found John jogging on one of the treadmills and he was doing a run in the outback of Australia among a group of bouncing kangaroos.
     The spa also had yoga, spinning, and Pilates classes.  We had been given ship board credit for these, so I signed up to do them later in the week.  As it turned out, however, I had little time to do anymore that my own workout. Although I would have loved to do Pilates with Kevin who was a handball player from South Africa and had a great physique.
     After breakfast we went outside and checked out all the activities available to keep people busy.  Most were just pretty happy laying on their lounge chairs reading or sleeping.  We checked out the miniature golf.  It was on the very top level of the ship so we climbed up and found putters and balls.  We had a great time doing the course at least five times and sometimes using two balls each.  It didn't take long to figure out the best putting plan once we knew the undulations of the carpet. 

     We checked that game off the list and went to explore other fun things to do.  The deck below housed the ladder to the slide and another one to the Sports Square sky walk.  There were a bunch of teens packed in the basketball netted area. They were having a great game of half court hoops.  The slides were pretty busy as well, and we thought we would try them out.  John wanted to race on the double race slide and most of the kids liked them too because they were fast dropped you down at the very end. I thought I would try the yellow one because it was longer and and had more turns.  It sent you out on a slowly at first then you would go in and out of dark tunnels which made it mysterious.  I like to make spooky sounds when I am going through these tunnels alerting people sitting down below on lounges.  After lots of turns you finally get flushed down into a trough at the end.
       John tried to get me to race with him and when I didn't,  he got some of the kids to race him.  On the fourth walk up the ladder, I asked one kid if he was beating the "big guy" as I pointed to John up ahead.  He said,  "No, nobody can beat him even if we put our hands across our chest and make like a " pencil," he still beats us! I pondered and said," ... maybe its because he has more mass???"  "I dunno," said the kid as he scampered to take his position at the Green Monster.  I made my way to the Yellow Python for another twisting HOWLER...
 

 At noon we changed out of our bathing suits and went to lunch.  We had built up and appetite and the selections were fantastic.  Before we knew it our dishes were full.  We found a little table in the Ji Ji Asian Table restaurant. It was just our style for a quiet lunch with quiet "elevator" music and an occasional big band sound and Rosemarie Clooney singing lyrics.."Button up your over coat, get to bed by three,  take good care of yourself ..You belong to me!"  Adding to the mood we were surrounded by black and white pictures of old celebrities and older captains with interesting Italian names and pictures of the first vessels of the fleet.   We settled into eating our meal and just as one dish was empty, it would be removed by the waiters buzzing around us like little bees in their yellow outfits.
      Now it was time to relax and to play our afternoon game of gin.  John had bought a an expensive deck of cards in Venice when we found we had forgotten ours.  The cards had pictures of all the great sites in Venice.  We loved the way they shuffled and dealt.  It was one of the best things we bought in Venice.

    So we were ready to deal.  For some odd reason, I happened to win 100 to 32.  It must have been the cards!
       After a restful game we were ready to go back outside and play.  We walked through the snack shop and noticed our group of Chinese ladies had put several tables together and had organized a large group of Ma Jong players.  They were seriously into their game and were not a bit disturbed by the antics that was going on outside.
      The afternoon party had started with the Entertainment kids all dressed in red leading line dancing.  I told John this was the time to join in and make complete fools of ourselves. So we got in line and did the Cupid Shuffle, The Wobble, Electric Slide, and the Macarena.  While we were dancing the guy with the camera was filming us, and we could see ourselves on the jumbo movie screen above.  This was the first party event and the Entertainment crew did a great job of getting a sizable group of lounge lizards off their chairs to join in the dance.  When it was over everyone headed for the Red Frog Bar, the Thirsty Frog, The Red Frog Rum Bar, or the BlueIguana Tequila Bar. We were hot and sweaty so we went up stairs to the Serenity Spa to jump into the pool.

     There was a large group of sunbathers sitting on the perimeter of the pool.  The water looked so inviting with the twelve foot waterfall splashing down one end.  We jumped in like a couple of otters swimming under the waterfall and then letting it hit us on the head and doing handstands on the bottom it was all great fun.  Everyone there was really mellow like they had been there all afternoon.  By the looks of their drink glasses, they had drunk enough to go back to the lawn chair and take a little nap before dinner.   We remembered that we had a special dinner set up at the Ji Ji Chinese Table so we jumped out and headed to our stateroom.
   

At seven we walked into the dining room.  The lovely hostess and owner, Yan Lee, took us to a table next to a window overlooking the sea.  It was still light enough for us to see the water rippling by and watch the sunset on the glassy waves. Our server was Azel Bulakbai a beautiful statuesque girl with lovely pearly skin and slight almond eyes.  She was from Kazakhstan and a college graduate in history.  She had just started working on the ship to improve her English and to learn about people of the world.
        When John heard the word Kazakhstan, he blurted out. "Oh Borat, Shasha Cohan.... the movie!" Azel rolled her eyes, and said, "Yes, that's all people know about Kazakhstan!"
       We talked more about Kazakhstan and I pointed out that it had been on the silk route and was the fist place where apples and other foods fist appeared.  She pointed out that it was also the fist place of domestication of the horse.  These connections were vital in the development of Europe.  She also pointed out that the U.S. had a base in Kazakhstan from which it launched planes into Iraq and Afghanistan. 
     Azel gave us our menus and said she would be back in a few minutes.  We had a chance to look at the menu which was unique in the selection of foods.

These mouth-watering creation were inspired by cuisines from China, Mongolia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.  Some of the appetizers were Nanjing duck dating back 1,400 years ago, also slow -based pork belly and chicken & Cilantro Root.
    In a few minutes Azel came back with a set of dice to see who would get to chose the dishes on the menu.  She asked me to toss them and I got a 2.  Then John tosses them and got a 7.  We each had to toss again and if we got our number we would be the chooser. After several tosses John got the 7.  I was wondering what he would choose since he is strictly a steak and potato kind of guy!
     Azel waited with pen in hand ready for the order. John looked for anything with beef or shrimp and chose Jade Shrim Har Gow as an appetizer, Peppered Beef in a bird's nest for the entree Himalaya Basami fried rice on the side, and Caramelized Crepes with calamansi citrus ice cream.
The food was fantastic with the most unusual tastes. The presentations were so lovely we hated to disturb them by eating such a work of art.
     When we were done we were served tea and a fortune cookie.  I cracked mine opened and it said, "You will have a long happy life!" "Great, I pondered, It seems I have longevity on my side!" Then John opened his and it said, "Trouble awaits you around the bend of life!" John exclaimed "What! I thought fortune cookies were supposed to say good fortunes!?" Azel said, "Let me see... " she read it and looked. "Oh," she said,"This is a test fortune! It will make you stronger.  but if you want I will give you another cookie!?"  "Yea!"said John, "I don't like this one."  So she brought another cookie and he cracked it open and it said, "You will find much success in your life!"  "Well," said John, "That's better!"
     We left the restaurant in good spirits and went outside to the Lido deck to find a lawn chair where we planned to listen the the out door concert performed by the three tenors singing Italian favorites.  It was a beautiful night with the stars shining above as we sat and listen to all the great Italian songs that I had downloaded on my IPad. As we were heading to Naples and listening and singing, "That's Amore..." as the ship sailed on a calm, Adriatic sea