Glad my nose was fixed

 

Monday November 18th 2024

Kagoshima, Japan

After my teeth quit aching and my ears stopped ringing. I went up to deck 13, the deck of exiles (and the more fun people) and bummed a cigarette from Richard. He was happy sharing his pack on nicotine bounty with me. ‘Come back anytime’. Well I know myself and had to tell him that if I started I’d be like a stray cat and keep coming back forever.

We talked one cigarette time and I excused myself to go to dinner. I gave my ID card to the gate keeper and she said ‘Are you sure you want to eat here, you have reservations now at the French restaurant’. Drat !! I had completely forgotten.

A speed run up a flight of stairs and a speed walk to El Bistro and I made it, only 3 minutes late. On the previous trip I had ordered the Moroccan spiced lamb, and a glass of red hearty red wine. The lamb was meat in a meat sauce, but was absolutely missing the Moroccan spices. The wine was without any taste. I mean, water had more taste than this wine, and I let the sommelier know he was pedaling an inferior product, and the server that the meal was bland.

The next night I went to the main dining room and ordered a glass of red wine after complaining about the charlatan in Le Bistro. The wine came and I put my nose in the glass and smelled absolutely nothing. Not a hint, zero, zilch, nada!. Hmmm.. well I did have a 4 day cough from Hell, maybe it wasn’t the wine and the lamb that were to blame. Maybe my nose was broken, I mean it can’t be COVID, I have that every inoculation that the government allows. I couldn’t have caught ‘The vid’ on a cruise.

So, lets try this restaurant again, this time with a working smeller. Jeannie was guarding the entrance. She remembered me from the other cruise, and came at me with an invitation to hug or not. I am not a hugger, it wasn’t bred into me. I like hugs, but usually by the time the opportunity for a hug, I realize too late and the moment is missed. This time it missed.

I was escorted to my table and decided to try a rerun with nose.

The wine was great ! The Moroccan lamb was delicious ! No lamb taste, just fresh meat and a hint of coriander and turmeric in the background. I wish this was the dish they had served me last time, I would have loved it. The service was adequate, and the dessert was a miss, and I can’t put either of those things off to COVID.

After dinner I was in my room by 830 and still a bit jet lagged so turned out the lights and watched Japan cruise by until close to nine, when I rolled over and bid the day good bye.

0530 and the sky was just getting a touch of light, not enough light to tell the difference between a black and a white thread, so before morning prayers, but a promise of a day ahead.

Soon the dock was in sight and at the end of the breakwater was half a dozen men and women standing and waving flags and doing that two raised handed wave than I have only seen here. I put on my robe and went on my balcony and waved at back. But soon Starbucks beckoned and it won out over a happy welcome.

Breakfast of forgettable, and then on to solid ground and a shuttle bus to town. $20 ?!?!?!?!? I’ll walk for twenty bucks! ‘It’s a long way to town.’ - fine I’ll do it, grrrrrr - It was a damn long ways!

Annette of Richard fame, had suggested the hop on hop off bus around town up to a 17th century Shogun’s home and surrounding park. That sounds like a good tourist sight.

The shuttle bus dropped us at a tent staffed with half a dozen happy locals. I showed them where I wanted to go on the map, she said ‘Walk to the blue sign turn left and walk to #4 bus stop”.

At the #4 were two other NCL passengers. The next #4 bus was due at 1044, not 43 or45, 1044. They had passed on riding the 1014 because it was crowded. Dudes this is Japan of course it was crowded. The 1044 was late, it was more like the 1054. The doors spread wind welcoming us to a wall of people. I am not exaggerating. Really there was no way to board that bus without being nearly intimate with three perfect strangers , and the bus moved on. Next one will be better. A woman from Osaka was sitting next to me on the low wall. That was our entire conversation in any mutual language. The 1114 same and I swear I was looking at the same butts as I saw on the 1044. I guess I could either wait until the 1144 and get a repeat so let’s forge on. Pushing and shoving, both Osaka-San and I get on the bus along with a very aggressive Dutchman. More people wanted on than the doorway would allow, so shy me yells, “Everyone in the back move back’, and like Moses suddenly there was room for Ms. Osaka, me and a handful of others. I did feel kind of smug with that, though I still wanted to smack that windmill guy, back to his Tulip patch.

We eventually got to my destination the house and grounds. It was beautiful in that minimalist Japanese way. Trees and rocks and streams it was a nice respite from yelling at bus riders and butt bumping. I would liked to stay longer but the thing about cruise ships is they don’t wait, and when they do, if you are the last person on the ship the other passengers mock you. I did tarry for a Sweet potato ice cream cone though. Who’d a thought? Sweet potato ice cream ? It was outstanding! I didn’t take my lactose pill before, so tomorrow may be a different story.

The bus back was soooo easy. I even got a seat. A short walk from the drop off point back to the shuttle bus 100 yards away. Why the welcome lady sent me and others six blocks to the #4 when the pick up was a 3 minute walk away is lost on me.

Shuttle bus back to the ship and a Mescal margarita please. That will be an up charge of $5. But the Smokey Peach Margarita made with Mescal is included in my package? Okay whatever. The bartender reached for the bottle of Margaritas pre-mix and I was like “Whoa cowboy! Let’s do this with lime juice, triple sec and the Mescal, not this mix shit” It’s priced at $20 ($15 included in the package) it’s better be made right. Then he went to shake it, and I told him just pour it in the glass with ice. He really didn’t comprehend that. At NCL bar schools, you always shook it. The customer may not always be right, but the customer is always the customer.

With drink in hand, up to deck 13 and I find Richard and Annette so we pass an hour of conversation, solving some of the world’s problems and some left for others to solve. My pea sized bladder caused me to depart.

A pit stop in the room and now at the piano bar, and time for sustenance.