March 10, 2010, added afterwards

March 10, 2010

Crossing the Equator

And finally we crossed the Equator. At 15.00 hours, King Neptune, his wife and helpers boarded the ship, and the Captain asked permission for a safe passage.

King Neptune was told there were many virgin sailors on the ship, and he wanted them to be baptized.

After a struggle, the virgins were led to deck, and for the time being, were locked up. One after one, they were presented to the King and his beautiful wife, and had to kiss the fish. Then they were baptized by the King's helpers and after drinking a glass of rum, they were led to the swimming pool, were they had to take a dive, thus becoming Pollywogs.

It was very warm on the deck, we all had a lot of fun, and I will try to enclose some photo's.

After the King, Queen and their helpers were satisfied with the procedure, they left the ship and the crew had to clean the top deck and swimming pool. The sea water was kind of murky, after all the virgins washed off the flour and whatever products were used on their heads.

At 18.00 we were at the aft, singing Salve Regina. The singing is getting better and better.

At 19.00 hours we were expected on the top deck, where the Captain and his crew were welcoming everybody to celebrate the Crossing of the Equator.

That night the Three Sprice Girls were having dinner with the Captain. That name was given to us by Kemik, the Maitre d'. The Captain was surrounded by Roki, Ross and myself. We had a very pleasant dinner, a lot of laughs. Worth repeating.

After dinner the Moonshine Cinema presented the "Fresh Water" film. One of a BBC planet Earth series.

In the daily programme this poem was included:

All in a hot and copper sky, the bloody sun, at noon,

right up above the mast did stand, no bigger than the moon.

Day after day, day after day, we stock, nor breath, nor motion;

as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.

Water, water everywhere, and all the boards did shrink;

water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink".

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - 1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge).