Here we are a'cruisin the Pacific....will be in Valparaiso, Chile tomorrow.
Our birthday dinner for John Barron (CD)last night was just great! Ann Speed had ordered Indian food ahead of time since this is John’s favorite. I forgot to tell Tom that she had ordered Indian food for all and he had special ordered rack of lamb the night before. John got lots of nice birthday gifts (we gave him a sweater) and some really funny ones too. Everyone had a good time. After the show the birthday party continued in STARS with lots of dancing and birthday cake.

On February 25th we’re having “Italian Night”. There were so many of us (around 30-35) that they’re letting us have the one side of LaVeranda that is normally closed at night. My friend Joan is organizing this and is so good at throwing parties! After dinner we’re having “Penguin Races” (like they do with the wooden horses on many cruiselines). The Mariner staff has been soooooooooo accommodating, I just can’t say enough good things about them. The poker games still go on in LaVeranda, sometimes until 1-1:30am. Many of the same staff members will be onboard for MUSH too. I’m so thrilled that Capt. Philippe will be our Captain, he’s absolutely fantastic! If there were a Homecoming Cruise in his honor, Tom and I would sign up in a heartbeat.

We also have something else fun planned for the last segment. We’re going to have a brand new passenger who boards in Lima and doesn’t know any of us try to figure out which spouse belongs to whom within our group of friends. Whoever they think belongs with whom is who we’re going to have dinner with that night. This should be a riot! That’s one thing I’ll say about the friends we have on board here….we have lots of laughs, pranks and fun ideas! Some of these things you can have fun with on long cruises that you couldn’t do on short ones with so few nights.

Today is a sea day and I’m catching up on laundry and finally downloaded some photos. Here is a mixture of photos….some from our big –5 Degree party at Latitudes (told you about this in yesterday’s seamail), photos of the gorgeous Chilean Fjords, and some photos taken at John’s birthday party last night….a little this and that. They’re labelled Marcie’s SA/Mariner photos

www.ofoto.com

cruise@yahoo.com
password cc

Marcie - What wonderful pictures! Looks like everyone is having a marvelous time and the ice party looks like so much fun!

Spectacular pictures, Marcie! I love the -5 degree photos, they look so artic!!

Great pictures - no surprise you all are stll having so much fun

What a knock out looking group of people! Love the clothes worn on "ice night" Scenery beautiful too.

Marcie, what great pictures..thanks for post and sharing.

Nancy

Thanks for sharing. We are all drooling back home!
Cheers, Pam

Marcie,

Thanks again for another wonderful report. I loved the photos. The 5 degree party looks like such fun, and I love the "guessing spouses" game. You must let us know if they guess you and Tom.
You are having so much fun, and I am grateful for the chance to tag along, thru your posts!!

Betty

The party looked like an artic blast. Thanks for posting.

What a nice thing to do, posting those pictures for all of us to enjoy. It would appear to an outside obsever that you are quite a "ringleader for fun"!! Have a marvelous last leg of that phenomenial trip, and thank you again.

GREAT shots Marcie - loved seeing everyone again. Give Hans a hug for me he has such a great disposition always smiling. That night really looked like fun - I liked that small ring on the ice hand!!!

Here we are in Valparaiso, Chile. The shuttle actually took us to a wonderful resort town about 5 miles away called Vina del Mar. It is so reminiscent of Southern California with the Mediterranean temperatures….reminds me so much of LaJolla (just north of San Diego). The weather is perfect….low 80’s with bright blue skies. We walked and walked today covering several miles. Of course after all this walking I needed a massage and a cool drink. I got the massage at a gorgeous Sheraton hotel located right on the beach. If you ever do a land trip in this part of the world, this is the hotel to stay at! It is VERY first class! A one hour massage cost $25 and then I got a mini-facial for $15. I felt like a new woman!

Yesterday was a profitable day (for a change)….came in 3rd in the Texas Hold’em game (won $75) and then won 2 of the 4 Bingo games INCLUDING THE COVERALL! There is a local folkloric show coming on board for all the passengers at 6:15. These are usually nicely done with lots of colorful costumes. Tonight we’re eating dinner with nice friends Joe and Peter. They purchased some red Chilean Reserve wine and are anxious to share it with Tom. We just got back onboard and Tom is up soaking up the sun by the pool. After the chilly temperatures we had rounding Cape Horn, all this warm weather is very welcome and everyone (except for paleface me) is once again working on their glorious tans. Last night was Karen, the fitness trainer’s 25th birthday so 8 of us had a dinner party for her in LaVeranda. She’s so adorable! Ah, to be 25 again!

The good times and beautiful scenery just goes on and on! :app:

These photos were taken today in Vina del Mar…….

Oh that beach looks so inviting right now! What a glorious day!

Marcie,
Thanks for all the wonderful reports, and beautiful pictures, it's almost like being there.
Thanks again,

Marcie, once again, thanks for the wonderful report and pictures.

Nancy

Oh it looks wonderful - you two have had more massages on your trip than I have had in 5 yrs - congrats on all your $$$$ winnings - I remember winning a big bingo pot once and running to book an expensive facial and/or massage with my bingo money - Joanna PS Please say hi to everyone -

Enjoying your reports and photos, Marcie.

As always, wonderful reports and photos - thanks for sharing!