No, we don't mean we're "depressed." We're enjoying a fantastic time aboard Insignia. Captain Ressa announced today that we are in that area of the Atlantic known as the doldrums, an area in which wind-powered sailing ships wallowed while waiting for winds to move them.
For us, it means an area of smooth seas but also of sudden storms. We ourselves chatted with him this morning and he predicted that we would have largely smooth seas all the way to Barcelona. While that won't be as exciting as our first transatlantic a few years ago Barcelona to Miami, during which we sailed through a hurricane for 30 bumpy hours, we'll be quite happy to be "in the doldrums" for the entire cruise.
Tonight we've returned from our game of Team Trivia (no, we didn't win tonight but we've gained another "respectable" score) to see lightning and hear thunder. We're crossing the Equator officially at 6:28 p.m. local time, just a few minutes from now.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.