Last Day of Yangzi Cruise

Our last afternoon on the Yangzte Cruise, September 28. It has been quite enjoyable—3 nice excursions (just like field trips only I didn't have to be the one counting noses). The food has been Westernized Chinese—with English labels, so one needn't eat the duck lungs by mistake, along with both Western and Chinese breakfast. We have had lots of free time just to loaf and look out our sliding glass doors or sit out on the little balcony. The weather was cloudy the first two days and some sun this morning—but not too hot. In fact last night there was a beautiful pink sunset in the gorge with the mountains piling up in shades of gray and the breeze and evening were what I would call 'soft' and just about perfect. We disembark at 9 am tomorrow and our last few days in China will be relatively easy—Holiday Inn and Sheraton and air tickets all booked. This is very good, as day after tomorrow is the National Holiday which means everything, everywhere will be completely booked up. When you have to compete with 1.3 billion others plus visitors, you have to plan ahead. Details of where we have been are on Mark's improved blog. Vicki

Our major excursion today was the Snow Jade Cave near Feng Du. (OK, I was wrong about Feng Du's location last night). 200 steps up off the river to tour buses, then a 30 minute ride out into the mountains. The cave was actually quite nice. Not as extensive as some we have seen in the states, but the various features, stalactites, etc., were very much intact and growing, plus a lot of other types of spelio-features we have never seen before. We spent the afternoon lazing around, packing, repairing, marveling at the passing scenery, now bucolic, now mountainous, now urban. Fuling looked humongous; one assumes it is another 5-10 year old city. Two huge bridges spanning the river, both under construction. The city seemed to go on for miles, 8-20 stories high as far as the eye could see.

Later in the afternoon I attended a Sichuan cooking class on board. All the usual ingredients, a chicken/peanut dish and a tofu dish, both zesty and wonderful. The first meal we had on board, ordered from the menu Thursday night, was also wonderful, Chongqing cuisine, which must be closely related to Sichuan. All the cruise meals since, although quite varied, have been extremely bland, dumbed down for the clientele, I suppose. I have tried nearly everything, although I did draw the line at “backed beans” for breakfast this morning. I must share with Viking Cruises the August Moon recipe for Sichuan cucumbers—far superior to the three kinds of cucumber salad they have served so far. Mark

Further note. The Century Star draws about two meters (according to the scale on the bow). It is 7 decks high. The rolling is fairly pronounced, IMHO. A degree of rudder produces 3-4 degrees of roll. I have experience in these matters, as I steered the smaller ferry yesterday a bit. Well, ten minutes, until they saw I was not going to be a big tipper. This puppy, the Century Star, is very top-heavy. I wonder whether we should sleep in our life jackets.

Further, further note. The engine vibration aft is really pronounced. I don't see how those poor people can sleep.

Familiar Gorge scene, printed on the 5 yuan note

Further, further, further note to Viking Cruise photographers: head-shots only. Aging, obese Canadian-Americans are not flattered otherwise. But we did buy the cruise DVD. Vicki was a major star. Mark

As show to Vicki by the cruise director and Australian friend