Unplumbed depths
13 December 2008
Pacific Ocean (somewhere)
The scenery at the moment could be called monotonous. As I stand in the cage and stare out the window the view is definitely not changing a great deal. This is not to say that I couldn’t sit in the Explorations Café if I was a passenger, with a drink and a good book, and watch the ocean for hours at a time and be extremely happy about it. I’m sure if I was able to sit there I would be burning my way through a large number of the books they have on offer, especially the nonfiction ones, studying up on the ports that are yet to come. I’d probably be just as happy to sit there with a drink and watch for the whales that the Japanese have deigned to let live. It simply means that there is only so much for me to write about and describe at the moment. I don’t think I’m a good enough writer to spend the next four hours of my shift creating uplifting prose or poetry about the colour of the water or the way that the sun shines on it. Nevertheless.
If you have ever gazed at the ocean with nothing but water between you and the horizon and been awed, and then turned and realised that there is nothing but water between you and the horizon in any direction, then you will know what it feels like. I can look up from the keyboard and see the gaming machines, the bar, the tables and the people. There is a shop selling duty free across the way and there are all the decorations and accoutrements of any upscale hotel but the true beauty of being on a ship at sea is the sea itself. It is a blue that speaks of depth and substance and exposes the merely ethereal blue of the sky as a pale reflection. Start to contemplate the depths and you will really learn the meaning of insignificant. If you think you can see a lot of water as you lean on the railing then try to imagine how much is below the surface. We survive out here not by being stronger or smarter than Mother Nature but by her good grace or, maybe, even by our mere insignificance, by being nothing more than a speck on that ocean. Look down from the heights of Olympus and try to spot that little ship in that vastness and then try to care about it.
I’ve never considered myself much of a sailor. I may have lived my entire life next to the ocean but apart from brief forays I always considered it to be something that was just there, a view rather than a means. Now I’m beginning to realise the allure. Human beings may have always justified their decision by the economics or the ease of transportation but water views will always top any real estate advertisement. We just like to stare at water and the ocean is the ultimate expression of that. One day I would like to experience it with a cabin window that would let me have the ocean as the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning. Better yet I wonder what it would be like to experience the ocean from a yacht where you really feel and taste the ocean and have to work to make your way across it, not by harnessing nature but by flowing with it. Any way that you do it, if you have not experienced it then get yourself down to the sea young man, you will not be disappointed.
But enough of that. If I keep on you may think I have literary pretensions. I might have to spend the next few sea days on more mundane subjects like how and why I find myself on a ship in the middle of the Pacific and what I plan to do when I get off. With only so much to describe outside I may have to turn my gaze inwards.
Just want you to know I continue to enjoy your writing. Keep up the great work!
I’m really enjoying your blog….always look forward to latest installment. Here I sit in Anchorage, Alaska….the thermometer has “flat lined” at 0 degree F. A bit too cold to engage in outdoor activities, I sit at my computer reading the latest while occasionaly glancing out the window at the snow-capped mountains. Having done the ’95 World on the Rotterdam V, you bring back many pleasant memories. Keep up the excellent writing.
Greg – I will be a first-timer on the Amsterdam in May to Alaska (Dennis, hopefully it is warmer than zero). How about some info on the ship itself? That might not be the inward gaze of which you write, but it could be of some use to me. Keep up the good work – I really enjoy checking in with you every few days.
Is the casino open all day every day at sea? I’d go broke pretty fast… How are the seas?
The casino is open all day while we are at sea. The machines are open 24 hours and the tables are open from 10am until about 1 or 2pm.
I’ll try and do a walking tour of the ship, or at least the parts that I can access, the next time I have port manning and have nothing to do but stay on the ship. I’ll just have to ask if it’s okay first.
Greg
Greg,
I’ve enjoyed reading your take on the islands, and by the way no matter where you sit and eat you are a tourist!
As an “American†I have to take offence to some of your statements made during this Blog.
What makes you think you “know†what an American is? Do you think all Americans think everyone down under is a Crocodile Dundee???
I will agree with you a lot of the people that cruise are not my cup of tea either and I find myself while cruising spending a lot of time on our balcony as to not feel I’m a head of cattle. I find many cruisers are crude.
I cruise to get away from life, see a few places and it’s cheaper then other means of travel. I’m also in hospitality and I rent vacation on homes in the mountains of Georgia. And like you with tourist’s we have a tourist area (town), called Helen. For the life of me I don’t understand the draw. It is a town that was made to look like a German Alps town…and the most puzzling thing is we get a lot of Germans that come to the US just to go there. Kind of like me going to Europe to see a Mc Donald’s!!
We have had prehistory Indians, Cherokee Indians, (we are where the trail of tears started), civil war, a gold rush mountain trails, waterfalls, to name a few. Yet they come to Helen! Not complaining it pays my mortgage, but I think some Indian medicine man put a cruse on the area and all white men must buy junk!
With that said, not all Americans or most of them would enjoy Helen! There is such a diverse people in our country that I find your comments racist! The one about the southerner…who spoke his mind to you about the war…guess what: most Americans think Bush is an idiot and we have no business being over there in the first place and will speak very openly about it. Do I respect our soldiers that go over and endanger their lives of course! Should they be there I think not! Also I feel they are there for the wrong reasons… genocide was happening for years and no one went in there to stop it!!
Anyway I could go on this point farther but it’s not what I’m writing about.
I’m an American; I also try to go to the local areas when I travel, I love to meet people from the region and not a raid like most to venture out of the comfort zone . I ALWAYS walk back to the ship from St. Thomas, and also it is one of my favorite areas. I love Costa Maya and have made many friends there. Was heartbroken when it was destroyed by the hurricane. It is one of the few places still like old Mexico, they have a wonderful Mayan ruin and many still believe in the old Mayan ways. Of course now that there is a cruise port there things are changing. .unfortunately, some good and some very bad. But I love the people there and even worked with them to get help with the government for a problem with the taxis drivers,(they were kind of like a Mexican mafia). Many still live in huts in villages but they are the kindest warm-hearted people I know. I’m grateful I got to know them.
We are not all cheap, anal about time, and complain constantly!!
I suggest you look around and avoid the main pool area, there are a lot of great people to know if you give them a chance. Find some on the islands, they are there living also and they will be a far cry from the people on the ships.
In my business I meet people from all over the US and Europe. Some people are idiots for sure, I see them everyday, but others are, in just a few meetings friend and stay with me forever, my pleasure to have met.
Open your mind, cruisers are not the “norm†for an American, and the ones that stand out may not be the best examples. Just wait till you go to Disney, I grew up in Florida and used to go all the time..(infact I can give you some good info and how to survive your trip). I hate the crowds and people, but guess what they aren’t even all American! You’ll see what I mean when you get there.
Again if you want some good info I’d be every happy to tell you all I’d learned, my cousin is a manager there and he’s given me loads of good info.
Just tone the racist remarks down and try to get to know a few of us before you generalize…that’s all I ask! If you can stop wrestling croc’s long enough to understand!!!
Nancy
nanascottage@alltel.net
Hi Nancy, thanks for taking the time to leave such a long and thoughtful comment. I hope you’ve had the time to read all of the blog.
I’ve enjoyed reading your take on the islands, and by the way no matter where you sit and eat you are a tourist!
And don’t you love the word and being able to say that you are a tourist? In fact I revel in being a tourist, especially given that the alternative is to be sitting at home.
As an “American†I have to take offence to some of your statements made during this Blog.
As is surely your right.
What makes you think you “know†what an American is? Do you think all Americans think everyone down under is a Crocodile Dundee???
I don’t know what an American is. I am as guilty of being caught up in the stereotype as portrayed on TV and in the movies as anyone and it is probably unfortunate that the major exposure that I’m getting is from the cruise crowd and they surely don’t represent the “average†any more than any other single group would.
We have had prehistory Indians, Cherokee Indians, (we are where the trail of tears started), civil war, a gold rush mountain trails, waterfalls, to name a few. Yet they come to Helen! Not complaining it pays my mortgage, but I think some Indian medicine man put a cruse on the area and all white men must buy junk!
This sounds like the sort of place that I would like to visit. In fact one of the two projects I have in mind for when this contract is over (the other is to kayak down the Nile. If anyone else is interested just drop me an email) is to spend a couple of months either riding a motorbike or driving a car around the US. I want to visit the smaller places, speak to the “real Americansâ€, get a true feel for the place and write about it.
There is such a diverse people in our country that I find your comments racist!
They certainly weren’t meant to come across like that. Like I said, I am as influenced by the stereotypes as anyone. The generalisations are based on what has influenced me and the way that Americans are perceived by the world in general. A number of my comments though are based on specific observations and peculiar to the people or person being observed.
The one about the southerner…who spoke his mind to you about the war…guess what: most Americans think Bush is an idiot and we have no business being over there in the first place and will speak very openly about it.
Like I said in the blog: he was the first American I’d had the opportunity to sit and talk to and his candour and comments seemed to me to be in direct contrast to what we were being shown on TV at home in regard to the US governments attitude to the war. All we had heard for years is that America was going in on a white horse and wearing a white hat to save the world from some combination of Hitler and Stalin with weapons of mass destruction at his disposal. It’s easy to accept the comments and attitude of the government spin doctors when that is all you are exposed to. I enjoyed talking to the “southernerâ€, I was just surprised to have someone echoing my own thoughts on the subject when I’d been led to believe that the vast majority of people supported the war. Having spent many months now with CNN as my major news source I probably have a different view of American opinion, albeit with a CNN slant.
I’m an American; I also try to go to the local areas when I travel, I love to meet people from the region and not a raid like most to venture out of the comfort zone .
You sound like someone I could happily spend the day exploring with.
I ALWAYS walk back to the ship from St. Thomas, and also it is one of my favorite areas.
I am always amazed by the cemetery there and the fact that there are always masses of fresh flowers everywhere. So unlike the ones I’m used to seeing at home. I also love walking past the cricket ground and would have really liked to have seen someone playing so I could have stopped and watched.
We are not all cheap, anal about time, and complain constantly!!
Unfortunately I’m anal about time and cheap but at least I try not to complain. 😉
Open your mind, cruisers are not the “norm†for an American, and the ones that stand out may not be the best examples.
But the key here is: what is the norm for an American? I have been to the states a few times and loved it each and every time. I have met wonderful Americans; I’m even related to a number. I have met idiot Americans as well but I’m not naïve enough to believe that any nationality is made up entirely of sinners or saints. Like I said before, I want to travel the real America and meet Americans on their own turf rather than in the somewhat artificial reality of travel outside the US. I want to show that they are as real as anyone else and that George Bush and Hollywood movie stars are not representative of everyone.
Just wait till you go to Disney, I grew up in Florida and used to go all the time..(infact I can give you some good info and how to survive your trip).
I hope you kept reading because I made it there at the end of my last contract and loved it. Mind you, I’m a huge Disney fan (check out another web site of mine at http://www.dudisneyana.info) and it would have taken a lot for me not to love it.
I hate the crowds and people, but guess what they aren’t even all American! You’ll see what I mean when you get there.
I hate crowds as well but there is something different about crowds who want to be somewhere as opposed to having to be somewhere. I have worked in a bank and a theme park amongst other places and you can probably guess which crowds I would prefer.
Again if you want some good info I’d be every happy to tell you all I’d learned, my cousin is a manager there and he’s given me loads of good info.
If only I’d known earlier, I would have killed for a behind the scenes tour.
Just tone the racist remarks down and try to get to know a few of us before you generalize…that’s all I ask!
Have you seen a change since the start of the new contract from the old one? This time I get to see the world! And I’ve even volunteered to escort a few tours with bus loads of American tourists!
If you can stop wrestling croc’s long enough to understand!!!
But that’s the only way I can get to the grocery store. 😉
Greg
Greg,
Thank you for posting the dudisneyann web site, I had been wondering about your trip to Disney and your impressions. I lived in Southern California back when Disneyland first opened and thought of it as my own playground since I spent so much time there. I haven’t gotten to Florida yet but, hope to take the grandchildren.
Lynn
Uh-Oh…. looks like there some dissension in the Yanks…. oop… ranks… 🙂
Keep talking toots, its an enjoyable read.
Lil 🙂
Greg,
Did get through the whole thing, but didn’t you say you wanted to return to Disney? Still can help out if you return.
Didn’t mean to come down on you but tired of Americans getting pegged. I know why in a large part, but still drives me nuts!
I used to live in Quebec Canada when I was in my teens, in a very small town. My mom died and I went to live with an aunt. Was the only English speaking person there and I used to get asked odd questions about Florida. Like about Alligators and monkeys in Florida!! Told them you had to take alligator wrestling in school!!( and they believed it!) Then on the other side; people in Florida used to ask if they had cars in Quebec!! Said no you had to park your car at the border and rent a horse!!!
I have noticed a change in your out look on as USAer’s. I have to admit I am a minority in personality like mine that cruises. Not into the games etc while on a cruise. But have to admit I do spend my share of time in the casino in the evenings as we do not have any casinos near us and it is the only time we get to play.
Even though cruising is not my 1st choice to travel it works well with the time my husband and I have. Like the fact that others are taking care of us instead of the other way around…we appreciate everything that done for us.
Having spent my summers in the Bahamas as a child, it feels like home to me in the Caribbean, any beach is my 2nd home. Oh and I remember in the Islands on New years eve;, everyone would parade from Free Port to West End be drinking the whole way in costumes. In the morning everyone would be laying all over sleeping it off!! Don’t even know if they still do it! They were very poor but happy locals!!
Florida (at least south Florida where my family has lived since the turn of the century) has changed so much that nothing is the same from when I was young anymore . The mentality and areas is so different even from the 80’s, that I came up here to raise my children in an atmosphere that was more like what I grew up in. For instance the intercostals waters used to be crystal clear and you could see the fish when you crossed the bridges!! But I guess all things change; some for the good and some for the bad. You might notice a difference now that your country has become a new hot spot!!
I had heard from a few friends that Roatan was like the islands before cruise ports. Know a lot of the port areas are poorer areas than the rest of the island…just take a walk around the port in Miami!!
I do find your posts interesting and will keep reading them. Give us a little about your back round too to get to know you also!
e-mail me anytime : nanascottage@alltel.net
Nancy
Oh my gosh – talk about perpetuating the stereotype of Americans.
I too, am American – though am currently living overseas.
I CRINGE at the way that most (and I do mean MOST) Americans act – especially when not on their “home soil”.
To someone experiencing us on THEIR soil – we DO look like (and act like) spoiled, sheltered, uncultured, and impatient creatures.
I’ve gotten quite the kick out of Greg’s reference to Americans, and think (all too sadly) that he is exactly right in his generalizations.
Sure – not EVERY ONE of us is that way – but that is why the term is called “generalization”.
Defending us (as a country) is one thing – but to call him racist is quite another. It’s certainly uncalled for – and I am ashamed to share my nationality with someone who isn’t able to let people have their own opinions and observations.