Friday January 27, 2023
Today was another beautiful calm warm day at sea as we stuck to the main 4 Nautical Mile wide corridor along the coast of Yemen and passing Somalia as we head for Oman tomorrow. This corridor, running both ways, is heavily patrolled by an international navy who work together to protect ships from not only piracy, but from other illicit activity such as drugs, human and other trafficking. All security measures – water cannons, ear piercing machines, all external lights off to permit better viewing for those on watch and to not attract attention, were on full display for the last day.
The morning lecture by the wife of a senior British diplomat who lived and worked in this Arabian area for 30 years, talked about the Maria Theresa Taller. This coin was used for some 200 years and millions were minted, using very pure silver. Many have been melted down but there are still many to be collected. Usually upon the death of a monarch, the currency is stamped with the new monarch’s visage. However, her son’s portrait did not attract the desirability of his mother so he continued using his mother’s profile in the coins.
The evening entertainment was once agin Roy Locke, this time performing opera rather than musicals and was absolutely brilliant. It is seldom that any performer on the ship achieves what he did tonight – A Standing Ovation!
Tomorrow we look forward to a day in Salalah in the Dhofar region of Oman know for it’s Frankincense.
Roger & Anne Travels 