26th Jan 2011
Boarded ´Tanzania´ at 23.45 on 25th after 'sharpener' in Queen Elizabeth Hotel in rainy Felixstowe. Climbed 100 ft up gangway like north face of the Eiger plus heavy bag. Cabin up another 4 decks, but quite comfortable with twin bedroom, bathroom and largish sitting-room. DVD, CD player, radio etc. No internet. Several windows with delightful views over grey sea, cranes and hundreds of picturesque containers. Early to bed.
Woken next morning at 07.00 by telephone call; reveille and fruhstuck in 30 mins. Met fellow passenger over ´ei und brot´. He is called Dennis from Massachusetts en route to Le Havre. He had very shaky hands. Ship´s officers are a mixture of German and Russian and the crew are mainly Phillipinos. The Kapitan is called Hans Willbrusch, or Wishbull or something similar ( not Steiger, as I was hoping ). After breakfast first major disaster struck. I discovered that THERE IS NO BAR ON BOARD ( also just discovered that there is no exclamation mark on this poxy Belgian computer ). I don´t believe it. Someone was joking that this might be the case a few days ago. Left wondering whether to put out a mayday call, jump ship or plan a mutiny. Incredible: this should have been flagged up on the agent´s info in big red letters ´NO BAR ON BOARD´. It is simply unthinkable to travel for 12 days, stranded mid-Atlantic, without a bloody drink. No wonder Dennis´s hands were shaking. OK, it might be possible to get ashore at Antwerp to aquire suitable victuals but I will need a ´ container´ of my own to house them. Morale has taken a big dive and it´s only day 2.
Intend to sleep this afternoon to forget. At least the sea is still calm ( but then they only ´cast off´10 mins ago ).
Supper at 17.30. Dry. Due in Antwerp sometime tomorrow.
27th Jan. Woke up in Antwerp port. Dennis has disappeared. I am told we have until tomorrow 06.00 in port. Apparently the French dock-hands in Le Havre may be on strike ( now there´s a surprise ) so this might be the last stop-over/missive until Noo Yark. OK, left ship and taxi ( 35 Euros - bandit Belgian taxi driver ) to Antwerp city. The old city in Antwerp is rather nice. Writing this and then off to buy emergency fuel from the first supermarket that I can find. Hope I manage to carry it all up The Eiger Gangway to get back on board. Troi Oi, as they so tactfully say in Vietnam. More to follow spater......................
I am captivated already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do my exclamation marks make up for the lack of yours? Claire XXX
ReplyDeleteYou can find exclamation marks on your hard drive, just have to hunt for them under Preferences, tho its been a while since I worked on an Mac, will swap my Acer Ferrari with yours when you get back-if you like. Do you know its freezing in the US just now? Sending VERY warm love from swealtering Sydney, Love Miss Olmes
ReplyDeletePS. Also very impressed with all your typing. Keep it up. The typing I mean.