Random thoughts on the trip

The trip was very casual. Rarely did anybody change for dinner. One “elderly” man put on a tie for the last night, and was teased about it.

With maybe one exception, the food was wonderful. There was a loaf of fresh-baked bread on every table at dinner. The left-overs (if any) or extra loaves were sliced and toasted for breakfast the next morning.

Lunch was a mixed salad, soup, sandwiches, and home-made cookies. The soups were fantastic; the very best of the best was a mushroom soup.

There was a meat choice and a fish choice every night for dinner. We frequently got the fish, but both were usually good. The only exception was tuna one night. Don’t know what happened, but it was dry and overcooked - definitely an aberration.

Our first meal on the boat in New Orleans was prepared by folks from the New Orleans School of Cooking - gumbo, crawfish etouffe, and pralines. Definitely good!

I heard someone say the average age was about 82, so we didn‘t change it much. This was definitely not a loud night-life kind of crowd. The evening’s entertainment was usually over between 9:30 and 10.

If we take another trip on this boat (and it’s a definite possibility) we’ll get one of the larger cabins. I know we don’t spend time in our cabins except to sleep, but 8.5 x 10.5’ is pretty small if both of us are trying to get dressed. It’s definitely doable, though.

The crew was very nice, cheerful, helpful, and fun.

I was almost finished knitting a pair of socks, when one of the women asked if I would sell them to her. I’ve never done that before, but was happy to do so. She wore them later and was very pleased.

I also sold two paintings. Jean’s friend/neighbor/landlady wanted to see some of them, so I took a bunch when we went to Nashville. Two of them looked like I had done them for specific places in her house - it was amazing. What fun!