We are now a day ahead of everyone at home and we have stopped calculating the hour difference. Today is all about Mardi Gras. The crew were supposed to have worked through the night, but since the Lido is one floor above the 7th Floor Verandah guests, they didn't..so the pressure is on for them to finish all the construction and preparation for the start of Mardi Gras with the parade at 5:15 pm.
Stein Kruse gave an hour and a half presentation which was fully attended - a packed house. Then everyone ran to their cabins with only 45 minutes to get dressed in theme clothes and head to the Lido for the PARTY!!!
What a party - we all had a fantastic evening. First of all they transformed the surround into food stalls like Bourbon Street, and the pool became a huge paddle boat, complete with smoke stacks and a huge paddle wheel and a verandah with tables and chairs. The turnout was a crush! Imagine the whole passenger population in an area of 100 feet by 160 feet... with the pool taking up the centre portion. Everyone was dressed in the traditional green, purple an yellow colours and there was a combined crew and passenger parade with money and beads being thrown about. HAL spared no expense - the food was outstanding, and all the booze was on the house. Barry and I ate so many prawns and lobster that there wasn't any room for much more - except crepes with fruit and chocolate. They entertainment was brought in directly from New Orleans - the band played for 5 hours solid and were they ever terrific. We get to hear them again tomorrow. The joint was really rocking. There was a person doing charicatures, and a Tarot Card/ Palm Reader. We got our fortunes told - some very very interesting futures ahead for all of us. At one point the ship's horn blasted twice and all the crew stopped motion -- like a Flash Mob- until it blasted again a few minutes later and the party resumed with a greater energy and a lot of laughter. There was so much noise that conversation was really impossible and we all just sat there soaking in the sights and sounds.
Last but not least, Jo Jo The Magician was persuaded by me to come to our table to make us some balloon hats which were outrageously huge, elaborate and individualistic. Lynn, Erika, Karen, Guadaloupe and I were in tears of laughter and we had so many people taking our pictures we began to feel like celebraties. Everyone was dancing - crew and passengers mixed in together having a great time. What a party.
They started tearing down just after 9 pm. in order to have an Officer's Appreciation party in this area starting at 10. Well deserved. We tottered off to our cabin, me with my headdress and found we would lose yet another hour -- this is one of the real perks of sailing west - extra sleep almost every night. We have to be up early in the morning for Australian immigration.
Widi and me -- he is a server in the Lido who is very fun.
The paddle wheel below
We see Barry having a tarot reading. Any insightful predictions?
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