We are on the ship, and I've had one wonderful dinner with great friends, with Ngaire and Ken joining us at the end for 9 of us around a 6 top and closing down CR! It is 1 a.m. here in Cape Town, and I can't get to sleep, left Galileo's (like Horizons on the other ships) hours ago saying I was tired! Must be the adrenalin of getting on a ship again!

Anyone who comes all the way to South Africa without a visit to Birkenhead House is "missing the boat"! As I was a part of the original planning group for ROAR ONE, a loooong time ago, I will tell you we hadn't a clue about all that is available in this wonderful country, and chose the Rovos Rail between our time in Cape Town and the camps, never looking beyond, except for an extension to Victoria Falls. Thank goodness for all of us that Ngaire was willing to take us on, and learned so much more since with her many visits here. This is truly a country where you can do it all in a very diverse country geographically without having to have weeks to cover a lot of "ground". Wine country, cape country, whale watching, shark viewing, oh-so-relaxing in Hermanus in addition to wonderful game safaris!

Saw the Bittles briefly as I was headed to the ship (and they were headed to a full-cruisers event.) Beth and Crystal recognized frazzled me pulling two rollaboards toward the ship and said hello, they were all decked out looking glam! for the same event. So nice to keep adding new friends on every cruise! We had a really big "circle" in Galileo tonight, and I barely got to say more than "goodnight" to Beth! Marcie had her attention, and they were getting acquainted.

So nice to see Jerry again, after being with Peggy for a couple of days. Okay, ready for bed now.