Where in the World are Dave and Elizabeth?

 There is still much to blog about — Capetown is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, I think. Namibia was fascinating, with its desert and oasis. But, I am taking a pause from the amazing places to talk about some fun happenings on the ship.  Here is my new look:  Just kidding!!  April 27th was Kings day in Holland, and our Holland America ship celebrated.  Sunday night was the farewell cocktail party hosted by Cruise Specialists, our travel agency. CS specializes in world cruises or otherwise longer trips, and they had three of their people — Keith, Suzy, and Tom — aboard to help us all along the way.  CS truly goes out of the way to make sure that their clients are happy, safe, and presented with opportunities for adventure.  Tomorrow marks twelve days to home!  See you soon! 

 Bon nochi (Good evening or Good night). I hope your day was dushi dushi!  (dushi means really sweet but can also mean good, tasty or delicious, pleasant, sweetheart., beautiful.  If you say it twice, it's extra dushi). Curaçao has the loveliest language, Papiamentu, which is a blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, various African dialects, and the language of the Arawak or Papiamentu tribe.  It's the first language of all three of the Dutch ABC islands -- Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.  I say, why don't we all learn it?  It's fun.  The words are spelled exactly how they sound.  And, since so many cultures have added their piece to it, it’s sort of universal. Do you see the statue of the woman in the picture above.  There are statues like this in many places in Willemstad.  They are larger statues of the island's popular Chichi dolls.  Chichi is the term for the oldest sister in a family, who always plays an important ...

 It came to Neptune's attention that there were many members of the crew on the Zuiderdam who were pollywogs, and he and his wife, the Mermaid Queen came to check it out.  Four groups of about 4 or 5 such scruvy folks were rounded up and brought to trial. Four of the ship’s musicians stood trial first, and they were sentenced to kiss the fish and be slimed.  Then a court voted whether they had to go in the drink or if they got a pass. No pardon. The pink, green, and blue slimed musicians had to jump in.  Kissing the fish. While this group and another were sentenced to a dunking,   two groups were given a pass. Actually, it was so hot, and I am sure that slime wasn’t comfortable.  I would rather have been in the pool.    If you look closely, you can see the mermaid Queen and Neptune in the upper right Can you see the bailiff behind the polar bear?  What is a pollywog? A crewman or crewwoman who is crossing the equator for the first time a...