Scones At Sea: Adventures In High-stakes Tea

Malaga to California — No Planes Part V

Sway you… sway me… Yes. I spell pinch it, letting nan water stone maine for illustration it’s successful charge. No rush, nary schedule – conscionable a lazy, deliciously swaying transatlantic life.

Then nan skipper booms complete nan PA: we’re adjacent nan Titanic’s resting place. Twelve 1000 5 100 feet down, history waits quietly, astir apt judging our platform chairs. Suddenly, my cautiously planned time feels… fragile.

I glimpse astatine nan bar. Afternoon drink? Mandatory. The water doesn’t inquire support – it conscionable sways. And I spell along, cocktail successful hand.

The Library

First stop… nan library! Deck 8 forward: a two-story temple of stories, mezzanine above, cozy corners below.

Next door, nan bookshop gleamed for illustration a wealth chest, daring you to drawback a tome and vanish into a nook while nan water danced outside. Books – fearless, untamed, untethered – transverse oceans, spar pinch waves, conquer nan seas. A novel? A captain. A biography? A hero. Even a mini guide? Boldly sailing done tempests successful your imagination.

Step inside, and soundlessness hits for illustration a crown. I astir choked connected my portion trying not to disturb this fleet. Every creak, each page flutter, a awesome flare of daring deeds. In my head, nan Little Mermaid based on pinch Free Willy complete who ruled nan ocean.

The largest, astir beautiful room astatine sea, pinch a vigilant librarian commanding this kingdom of tie-less adventurers. Stories do not beryllium – they sail, spar, prevail.

So location I was, clutching How to Survive a Transatlantic Shipwreck (Even If You Can’t Swim) – For Dummies. Five minutes later, retired cold. Ten minutes after… jolted awake. 3 pm! Afternoon Tea Time! Forget endurance skills – subordinate nan civilized world.

Queen’s Room connected Deck 3, guided by a drawstring quartet – my GPS. Straight to beverage bliss. Sliding successful conscionable successful time, snagged a array adjacent to nan creation floor. Waiters successful flawless white, perfectly aligned, beverage ninjas? Check. Every activity choreographed for illustration zero-gravity ballet.

Trays of beverage connected elegant kettles, delicate china connected dazzling achromatic tablecloths, silverware sparkling for illustration beacons. Pour tea? Nibble a biscuit? Snap photos? Sell them arsenic “art”?

I only regretted nan bath clip aft drinking liters of tea… seriously, gallons! I could person been crushing it astatine Texas Hold’em aliases starring successful darts… but hold – not if boozed. Somehow I ended up astatine needlework and knitting. Yes. ME. Knitting. Tiny yarn.

Just remembering this makes my cruise craving deed again. AGAIN! Once you cruise… there’s nary going back. Waves, tea, rogue knitting needles – they hijack your soul. Who knew Afternoon Tea could beryllium this chaotic and fun?

Then… I looked retired nan model and sighed. Two days left. Two days! The cruelest destiny for a cruiser – sun, waves, sparkling silverware ticking distant for illustration a villain.

Gazing astatine nan endless ocean, I reminded myself what a blessing this infinitesimal was. Who said transatlantic cruising was boring? Forget nan buffet.

Next… nan shows, nan midnight buffet, and nan expansive arrival.

Stay tuned…