September 12, 2024  

 

At Sea (Chioggia to Zadar)

 


 

Usual morning again .  Breakfast at the Restaurant, promenaded, chatted, looked at the process of tug boats and pilot boats as we left Chioggia.  Walked some more, chilled in the Explorer’s Lounge, perused the various libraries.  Ah – a sea day! 

 

Some mechanics of a large ship leaving – The port provides a pilot to navigate out of port.  Sometimes tug boats are used to help, sometimes not. The ship is tied to the dock with a dozen huge ropes fore and aft that take a team on the pier working with the team on the ship to unhook and reel in. It takes a while.

 






 

On our way out we passed by a part the Lagoon Protection infrastructure (MOSE) – massive blocks that rise up out of the sea to block the high tide.  The high tide is very destructive to the city of Venice.

 


 

As we passed the protection of the lagoon and entered the open (Adriatic) sea, the weather picked up and wind and rain buffeted the ship.  Fortunately, modern cruise ships have a stabilizer system that works pretty well. Still we witnessed the noobs gain their “sea legs” sometimes unsuccessfully.  Naturally, Shirley and Paul were old salts and had no difficulty.

 

After lunch we went to listen to the resident Historian (Geoff Palmer).  He told the most amazing story about the adventures of Fedor Konyukhov.  His Wikipedia entry is worth a read.  I had no idea there were people like that driven to extremes.  He is an Orthodox Priest and said he did them to honor God not for riches or fame. His adventures are sponsored and every penny was accounted for.  Glad he did them, now we don’t have to.

 

Sea days seem to include a line dance session and so after the lecture we were boot scootin’ and grape-vining for the better part of an hour.

 

(unrelated item)

 

The public restrooms play birds chirping or whale song when the door is opened.  Apparently, that has something to do with bathrooming.  I wonder about the research that led to implementing that!

 

The Viking Sea docked at Zadar, Croatia @7 PM amid a massive lightning show and rain and wind. It soon passed and only the crew got wet.  Shirley and Paul went to the Explorer’s club reception (For Viking veterans only) where a couple with the most days aboard a Viking ship received honors, a bottle of champagne and a large bouquet of flowers.  (I would have preferred a discount on my next cruise.)

 

After the reception there was another lecture – this time explaining the convoluted story of how Doctor Zhivago was published.  It was quite a story involving the KGB, MI6 and the CIA as well as an Italian Communist. It was a crazy world in the 50’s.

 

Dinner at the Main Restaurant and then back to the cabin to relax, read and sleep.


Lake Noc!  (good night in Croatian)

 

Oh - 9106 steps Anna





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