Some trips are fabulous and other not so much. This was of the latter variety for a number of reasons. For starters, the flight down was just about standing room only. Because dad and I were in the last zone to be boarded there was no room left in the overhead compartments and we had to put our carry-ons under the seat in front of us. Essentially, that meant that we were frozen in place for the next three and a half hours.
Practically, it meant that my back got good and angry and it was nearly time to disembark before it decided to play nice again. So I didn’t get onto the islands and I didn’t do a lot of walking.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; the ship is lovely and there would be plenty to do, I thought. I wasn’t too worried about amusing myself. Unfortunately, the ship has changed how it does things since the last time I sailed. Previously, there were classes, lectures, trivia games and all kinds of things in which one could engage if one didn’t wish to (or couldn’t) go ashore. That’s not the case any more. Now, when the ship is in port, it seems to be assumed that all passengers will make a mad rush to the jewelry, electronics and duty free liquor stores so almost all on-board activities are cancelled. Even the library hours are seriously cut back.
So what I did was read, watch movies, knit and count stars out on my veranda.
And actually, this wasn’t bad at all.
Nearly finished fingerless mitt
I finished the knitting in Barbados and finished the “finishing” in St. Lucia.
Completed in St. Lucia
That’s the railing on my verandah and a bit of St. Lucia in the background. The mitts came out very well. I was very pleased with how the thumb gusset worked out and will carry that forward for any other mitts I may wish to knit. I gave them to dad just before dinner that night and he immediately put them on and pronounced them great :) I don’t really know if he will find them useful and I told him it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he didn’t. But I hope he gives them a try because they really are nice to have. I find my own indispensable in the cold weather and will never be without a pair again. Well, so long as I can knit :)
Clan Cashmere
I began this in Antigua and it will probably become known as the Island Shawl. It’s very, very simple being worked in the half-linen stitch on size 10 needles. The yarns are KnitPicks Ambrosia (that’s the main color, that lovely, dusty rose), Cashmerino (the palest pink) and Classic Elite Posh (the brighter, shinier rose bracketed by the pale pink). I can’t begin to describe how silky and soft this is and how beautiful the colors are. I also have a ball of Cashmerino in a kind of mulberry shade that will go around the edge when this is completed. I have already tested it by attaching it and crocheting up the side about 20 stitches to see how it would look - it looks wonderful!
Geek Alert
Color aside, these yarns have another common element - cashmere. In fact, while I was knitting one evening, I kept wondering about this:
50% of the yarn is 20% cashmere.
25% of the yarn is 30% cashmere
25% of the yarn is 15% cashmere.
What percentage cashmere is the finished item?
I’m pleased to report that I did finally figure it out :)
The ship does a Grand Buffet on the last day at sea - and it really is something to see. In fact they open things up for half an hour before lunch time just for picture-taking.
Chocolate Viking
This fellow stood about 2.5 feet tall and was solid chocolate.
Butter and cheese
The sculpture in the background of fish and seaweed is made from butter. The cheeses are all the types the ship serves and oh boy - are they something special. I nearly overdosed on Brie, Camembert, Port Salut and good old-fashioned cheddar (plain and smoked varieties) - incredibly luscious accompanied by a croissant and a good cup of coffee :)
Seriously late for his botox treatment…
I believe this homely fellow is a representation of the original Carib Indians, an incredibly ferocious group who’s name is remembered in the collective term for the islands. The medium this time is ice.
We got home a great deal later than we expected to because the disembarkation was delayed for hours (new security regulations, I gather) which threw everybody’s schedule right out the window. And, of course, the longer this went on, the more I wanted to get out of there and back to my home and my Myria whom I always miss as though I had lost an arm. Normally, we keep in touch via e-mail but it wasn’t possible this time. Arrrrgggggh!
And it’s snowing here, as I type this. Normally, I’m not much of a fan of the white stuff, but right this minute I can’t decide which is prettier: a Caribbean sunset or a good old, New England snowstorm :)
I hope all you good folks have been well, happy and healthy! I missed you too. I am so glad to be home :)
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Hi Robbyn, how nice to have you back. Sorry about your back—shoveling snow will probably not be a good idea. We got hit last night too, about 6-8 inches, and I am going to have to get out there. I also started a pair of fingerless mitts, but the cuff came out huge. I still can’t figure out why—I cast on 40-something stitches with doubled sock yarn. Hmm. Never occurred to me that I would need a pattern. What gauge yarn did you use on your father’s mitts?
Welcome home , traveller! I wish your trip had more highlights. And I hope your back has improved. It stinks when things go wrong but especially when it’s a vacation.
Glad you are back!
Woohoo! You’re back! We missed you lots! Sorry to hear the trip wasn’t all you’d hoped, but you did get some lovely knitting in. :) What a gorgeous sunset, too!
Perhaps having a not-so-wonderful voyage makes home all the sweeter. :)
whee, glad you are back- sorry you had to be indisposed, but i’m sure the views and the ambience of the ship were healing factors-
that sunset picture is positively ‘calendar-worthy’!
the ‘island shawl’ is going to be wonderful- the rows of the pale pink are giving it a fair-isle appearance- very, very interesting- i’ll enjoy watching the progress on this one-
did you finish both of your cruise socks in time to wear them?
stay happy-
Rob - Thanks for the welcome home :) Yep we’re getting buried and I’m sitting here in the living room admirng it - with no plans to go out and shovel :)
I used worsted weight yarn for dad’s mitts.
Aarlene - No worries; things are okay. I’ve learned that absolutely anything can happen on vacation but as long as whatever-it-is doesn’t require cancelling said vacation plans, I can deal. It was still wonderful just to be at sea again :)
Bron - Well, it wasn’t the cruise from hell exactly, but I think you’re right. It was so good to get home that I teared up when the plane landed in Boston. Of course I was tired - that’s it; I was tired :)
Barb - Yes the ship and the ambience contributed substantially to feeling better :) The excellent cheeses and croissants didn’t hurt either :)
I’m pleased with that photograph too, but you know the old saying: Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while!
It’s great to have you back! Those fingerless mitts are super. I made some too and published the pattern on my blog. I know what you mean, I will never go without mine either.
Kimberly - Thanks :) You know, I’ve been thinking for a couple of days now that I should make several pairs in different colors/styles - just to swap around with different outfits and so forth. Could be fun!
welcome home - we missed you! good to see that your time was not wasted! nat
Nat - I don’t know about that :) Aside of the knitting, all I accomplished was to watch somemovies and read (the ship’s library received a shipment of new books just before I boarded) a couple of very good books!
I am sorry to hear the cruise was not outstanding. It is good to have you back…I missed your blog while you were gone. The mitts are wonderful.I would be in heaven with that cheese table, I have never met a cheese I did not like. We got a total of 16 and a half inches of snow from that storm the other day.
Hey you! Welcome back! Sorry to hear the trip wasn’t perfect but you got some good knitting in and it looks like the weather was great.
Maureen - Oh boy, I was such a cheese pig, I’m surprised I didn’t oink! It’s just as you said - I never met a cheese I didn’t like and the cheeses the ship serves are only the creme de la creme. Oooh baby :) Lobster? What’s that?
Toni - The weather was perfect - just a tiny bit of rain when we were leaving Barbados. Most of the time the sea was as smooth as glass. While that makes walking around on board easier, I kinda like a little bit of motion - else why bother going to sea? Heheh…
