2023 Spring Atlantic Crossing Part 2

The Oceania Marina (I prefer Marinara) completed the long 5 day journey from Miami to the Azores on schedule. If you are curious about shore excursions, don’t be. We haven’t arranged any Tours by Locals and the ship’s excursions require mortgage qualification. Hence we are just enjoying the time, and life. Regarding the latter, there is a great variety of perspectives. According to James Taylor, and he should know,

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride

Certainly nice to be reminded that we’re on our way down! True as it may be, it’s more comforting to think that we are …. coasting. Some people question whether life is even worth the trouble. In the 1800’s, Ambrose Bierce wrote

“Life’s not worth living, and that’s the truth,”
Carelessly caroled the golden youth.
In manhood still he maintained that view
And held it more strongly the older he grew.
When kicked by a jackass at eighty-three,
“Go fetch me a surgeon at once!” cried he.

What got me thinking about this particular subject is the abundance of canes, walkers, motorized wheelchairs, and unassisted shufflers on this cruise. I did not recall these being in such numbers on our last “big” voyage. So a quick browse of the Old Clarkson Online Photo Collection revealed that the penultimate Oceania blast was in 2013.

Yes, we were ten years younger, and so was everyone else. Many cruisers then were, like us, fairly recent retirees, with the goal of “spending our kids’ inheritance “ as one couple explained. Slow forward to now, when we aren’t at the brink of the golden years, but rather full-fledged elderly. At least that’s how the news describes a 70 year old guy who gets hit by a skateboarder.

Where did the ensuing ten years go? Just enjoying the passage of time, we’ve managed to make a bunch of unexpected new friends, learn about living in, rather than touring through, another country and culture, and dealing with the changes brought on by the process of life peristalsis. You will have to look up this metaphor yourself, because it’s kind of obscure and if you take it too literally, potentially unpleasant.

The big float is done

So the first stop was the Azores, as mentioned. Weather was chilly and dreary, and not really worth a trip off the Marina. It brightened up later in the day

Today, Sunday, we docked at Funchal, Madeira. Big improvement. Glorious weather and an easy place to walk around. I went out in search of cough drops or suppressant. Didn’t even find chewing gum. But there was a huge bike (hog)rally. 5,000 bikes from an island of 105,000

Not a big problem; we are having minor coughs but nothing desperate. Thought they might have some in the ship’s boutique, where they stock hair mousse, sun block, toothpaste, etc. One item they have way too much of is the Durex condom. Nothing but the best on Oceania! Somebody has not checked the demographics very well, or else there is something other than COVID qualifying as spreadable.

See you soon…next stop Motril, for those going to Granada. Not us!