Finally, the Sun

Sunday

We arrived in Prince Rupert BC about 8AM on Sunday. The ship would be 

in port until 7PM so we took our time leaving the stateroom. Instead we 

watched other passengers head out in the rain.  Soaked.

Prior to lunch we donned our raincoats and went out. At the end of the walkway 

to shore we showed Canada Customs our cruise ID card as well as government 

issued photo ID. They would require both cards on our way back to the ship.

Luckily we didn't have to deal with the rain for long because we headed indoors 

at the nearby Museum of Northwest British Columbia. The museum was well 

worth the visit. Built in the heavy style of cedar longhouses, it also featured

long carved glass walls reminiscent of the water that nourishes this community

from every direction. Inside the museum, we saw an impressive collection of

artifacts, photographs, and displays. On our way back to the ship, the sun was 

trying to emerge.

In the evening, after our Grand Dining Room meal. we went to see Swing, a 

musical presentation followed by the comedy of Tom Drake who made the 

audience laugh the whole show.

We slept very well Sunday night, that may have had to do with our staying 

up late or possibly to do with the rocking of the ship as we enter open water 

to the north and west of Vancouver Island.

------------------------------------------

Monday

The sun will shine, finally.

After breakfast, we went to hear the captain do a presentation about modern
piracy. He was the captain on the Nautica, sister ship to the Regatta in
November, 2008 when that ship was chased by pirates off the coast of Yemen.

The amount of piracy in the area between the Gulf of Aden east to India and
south toEast Africa is particularly targeted by pirates. In the last two years they
have garnered $415 million in ransom, making it the most profitable occupation
in the area. The captain said that some of that money is being used to upgrade
their ships and weapons.  The cruise and cargo ships passing through the worst
zones for pirates have a variety of strategies for combatting the pirates including
LRAD, razor wire, onboard Israeli security teams and an internationally protected
corridor within which to travel. Cruise ships are not allowed to carry weapons.

The crew of the Nautica were able to outrun the pirates who actually shot
toward the ship.

Mum and Harry saw a large pod of dolphins pass right outside our verandah.
I was in another past of the ship and missed the spectacle.

Mum had a giant strawberry milkshake and an enormous burger with huge
fries at Waves, the outdoor cafe. She thinks she's gaining weight :)

The sun is shining as we sit in the Horizon Lounge to watch for more
dolphins, whales or seals. We are west of Vancouver Island today.