On Monday morning, I went to breakfast at Triton's and was treated like royalty by an unfamiliar server. I should have noted his name. Later I lounged on Deck 4, and happened to witness and photograph much of the lifeboat drill for the crew. This takes place in Nassau where the crew lowers the lifeboats, drives them around in the water, then raises them back to their places. It is to simulate "the real thing."
I went to lunch at Triton's and was thoroughly entertained by Laszlo Besze from Hungary and by another server and the salad chef. Laszlo talked with me at length - even telling me of his plan to spend $1,200 on a watch he'd been wanting. He and the others teased me about being in love with Chip (of Chip & Dale), about my comments about Pluto's "costume" (The only one where there is a visible zipper or velcro on the back - but of course Pluto is "real"!), and about me dating a Disneyland musician in my younger days because it meant always getting in free to Disneyland. Another server photographed Laszlo and I together, but I told him I would not post it on the Web because I had him sit at the table with me and I was leaning on his shoulder and holding his arm. I would not want to cause a rift with DCL management!
I was quite impressed with Laszlo's personality. His manner and attentiveness is enough to make a pleasant dining experience.
After lunch I watched "Holes" in the Walt Disney Theatre. It was not bad, being different from any film I had seen.
Later I got to know my room host, Antonio. He showed me how to make a crocodile towel animal. I photographed him and his towel animals and told him they would be on the Web.
My dinner was in Animator's Palate . . . Mario's favorite. Supposedly my tablemates were dining at Palo. I was totally alone until being joined by ship's officer Jose (Forward Engineer), who used to work on a tanker but had been on the Wonder for two weeks and is proud to work for Disney. We shared good conversation and I watched him drink about ten Cokes, for which he apologized, saying he had been on duty for so long and was quite thirsty. That did not seem unusual to me, as I am always thirsty myself. We spoke of Disney, cruising, travel, African safaris, people, hunting and more. He is an interesting person and was excellent company.
That evening I gave Mario a card ("Reach for the Stars" by Hallmark) and a tip in advance. I don't know why, but I asked him when his birthday is, and he said "In five days." I guess the card and tip were appropriate under the circumstances.
After dinner I stopped by Shutters to photograph Riche from England. He said, "Make me famous!"
I stopped by Mickey's Mates to buy a notebook with Mickey on it. Then I headed back to my stateroom verandah to do some writing.
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