Wharf buzz

We were out of here at 7.40 this morning to get to the docks by 8, which was really much too early for a 7 am arrival. The passengers didn’t disembark until about 9.15, I think, and even so we had to wait until just before 10 for our people to come off. Part of the reason for the delayed disembarkation was that every passenger and crew member had to have a quick medical examination by Dr Bloem before they would be allowed ashore – a Swine Flu precaution. Everyone was healthy though and there was no need for a quarantine. What would happen if someone were infected, we wondered? Would they be allowed to disembark and be whisked straight off to hospital, or would they simply have to remain on board and sail the seas until they were cured? Also in harbour, along with the RMS and the other scattering of smaller boats which I always think of as litter on the clean blue expanse, was the Europa sailing ship – here’s more about it from the tourism newsletter: “...a well known Tall Ship that has covered many miles and is often known as the ‘Ocean Wanderer’. She has a professional crew of 14 people and can take 48 trainees of all ages and nationalities. Europa is a steel-hulled barque from the Netherlands, originally built in 1911, as a light vessel at the H.C. Stülcken und Sohn Shipyard in Hamburg Germany. Europa cruises worldwide and accepts paying voyage crew (trainees) for short or long trip segments, including Ocean crossings, STA races and annual voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Cape Town.” Okay, so that was pure trivia, but I have to throw in facts occasionally. Jocelyn was also waiting at the docks for her mom to arrive – I love being privy to family reunions and the excitement of the ship’s arrival. Our people were on the last boatload to come ashore. They are a South African couple who Nick will be marrying on Saturday at the Sandy Bay chapel. We had not met them before although had had e-mail contact, so didn’t really know who we were looking for, but it’s not quite like at the arrivals terminal of a busy international airport…one simply has to pick out the likely looking ex-pats and then see if anyone else is meeting them! So, here are Jan-Hendrik and Chrizette. We met up with them again late afternoon to go over some wedding arrangements, and had a most friendly and interesting visit with them. Looking forward to the wedding rehearsal on Friday night.