Dawn to the West

[Port Power]

The next stop was further up the mountains to La Coca Falls and the Yokahu Tower.  The tower never fulfilled its original purpose as a military lookout, but certainly has a good view from the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The falls were pretty tame today, but can wash across the road after heavy rain.  It was a delightful area to visit.

 

 

 

 

[Camillus112]

Thank you so much Port Power for sharing your lovely photos of our El Yunque with us!!

[Port Power]

The night finished sitting at the bar in Silver Note listening to Esther and Johan.  

There was also a chocolate extravaganza in Dolce Vita at 9:45pm. I turned up at 10:40pm and it was all packed away!  Really sorry there are therefore no pictures of what was available. 

 

[mchell810]

Esther and Johan are a fabulous team and wonderful people.  Maybe I'll get lucky and they will still be aboard when I sail the Dawn in March. 🤞

[canderson]

6 hours ago, Port Power said:

There was also a chocolate extravaganza in Dolce Vita at 9:45pm. I turned up at 10:40pm and it was all packed away!  Really sorry there are therefore no pictures of what was available.

I can help with that.  No traditional display, but lots of chocolate martinis and chocolate nibbles being handed out.

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Saturday, 9 December, 2023.  At sea.

 

S.A.L.T. did another presentation in the Venetian Lounge this morning, the time about the culture of sandwiches.  Specialities from Chile, Peru and Bolivia featured.  The SALT Bar matched with a light but tasty red with e from the Canary Islands.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

The SALT chef then made dough for bao buns, but of course had two cooked ones ready to fill.  My New Zealand neighbour agreed the bao bun everyone was given was nothing like the Vietnamese ones we get at home.  This recipe was more bread-like.  
 

The filling was julienned sweet potato and cabbage, pulled pork, a pesto sauce and topped with a sliver of pickled onion.

 

This is the Bolivian sandwich.

 

 

[Port Power]

At 12:00pm there was a cocktail demonstration in Dolce Vita.  I saw the mats describing three run based cocktails.  However, a group of us was meeting in the Observation Library for our sea day game of LCR.  Always fun and lots of laughter.

 

It was still pretty warm outside, but some passengers were swimming. It was lunchtime by now and there was the seafood extravaganza in La Terrazza and at The Grill (with chef Grant cooking), which probably explained the empty sun lounges.  🦀 🦞 🍤 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Port Power

[Port Power]

Sunday, 10 December, 2023. At Sea.

 

Our final day on Silver Dawn.  It has been a wonderful cruise, the staff in particular making it so.

 

This morning was my final SALT Lab class,”jerk rub and jerk steak sandwich”.  Chef Drake was asked if he could suggest a ready made sauce, but he couldn’t. His mother is from Trinidad-Tobago and has always made jerk marinade herself, and therefore he does too.

 

 

A stalk of rosemary was used as the skewer for the vegetables. Leave the top leaves and strip off the rest.  The vegetable kebab was painted lightly with some of the jerk marinade.

 

The coleslaw was tossed with its zesty marinade.

 

 

The thin flank steak was then heavily coated on both sides with the jerk marinade.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

@Port Power. Thanks again for all your posts.  I can see why SALT is so popular.

23 hours ago, Port Power said:

However, a group of us was meeting in the Observation Library for our sea day game of LCR.

What is LCR?

[Port Power]

The kebab was cooked for a couple of minutes on four sides and set aside.  The steak was cooked for a few minutes each side and then set aside to rest.  Once rested, the steak was sliced for serving.

 

 

As a coeliac, I plated my steak with the coleslaw on top and the kebab to the side and ate with a knife and fork.  It was tender and soooo delicious.

 

 

For demonstration purposes, here is the completed sandwich that Chef Drake made.

 

 

[jollyjones]

Just now, highplanesdrifters said:

@Port Power. Thanks again for all your posts.  I can see why SALT is so popular.

What is LCR?

A very noisy game. 

Dunno how it’s played, but anyone nearby knows it’s happening. 

[Port Power]

[Port Power]

2 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

@Port Power. Thanks again for all your posts.  I can see why SALT is so popular.

What is LCR?

“Left, Center, Right” is a dice game. Players each start with three $1 notes.  If the dice shows L, pass $1 to the person on your left; R means pass $1 to your right, C stands for “centre”, which is the pot.  The game continues until only one person still has money, and that person wins the pot.  We do laugh and have a fun time playing!  A dollar bill can go round and round the table.  In the late stages some players get very excited by tossing a “dot”, which means you keep your money.  A player is not out when they have no money, as they could have $1 passed to them during the next round.  
 

For $3 each, we all have a fun and social twenty minutes.

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Port Power said:

“Left, Center, Right” is a dice game. Players each start with three $1 notes.  If the dice shows L, pass $1 to the person on your left; R means pass $1 to your right, C stands for “centre”, which is the pot.  The game continues until only one person still has money, and that person wins the pot.  We do laugh and have a fun time playing!  A dollar bill can go round and round the table.  In the late stages some players get very excited by tossing a “dot”, which means you keep your money.  A player is not out when they have no money, as they could have $1 passed to them during the next round.  
 

For $3 each, we all have a fun and social twenty minutes.

Got it!  We usually play this game with the kids during Holidays.  Good fun!

And yes, noisy.😄

[Port Power]

Ending the night in SALT Bar with a “City in the Clouds” cocktail. 🍸  Goodbyes and hugs were exchanged after the final solos’ dinner with hosts Mark and Mo.  We had three tables in La Terrazza for 20 people in all.

 

 

 

Thank you all for following my travel report.  Carol

[mysty]

6 hours ago, Port Power said:

Ending the night in SALT Bar with a “City in the Clouds” cocktail. 🍸  Goodbyes and hugs were exchanged after the final solos’ dinner with hosts Mark and Mo.  We had three tables in La Terrazza for 20 people in all.

 

 

 

Thank you all for following my travel report.  Carol

 

Thank you for the wonderful photos and the interesting colour commentary!  Safe travels home!

[Port Power]

Silver Dawn has docked.  Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale.

 

Next stop, South Georgia and Antarctica on Silver Wind.  I am staying in Fort Lauderdale for six days before flying to Santiago de Chile.  
 

Don’t worry, I won’t be doing a trip report!  I might post the occasional photo on The Water Cooler, especially any up to date information about landing, or not, on South Georgia and bird flu.

Edited December 11, 2023 by Port Power

[highplanesdrifters]

What's in City in The Clouds cocktail? Looks delish.

[highplanesdrifters]

3 hours ago, Port Power said:

Next stop, South Georgia and Antarctica on Silver Wind.  I am staying in Fort Lauderdale for six days before flying to Santiago de Chile.  

 

Darn, sorry to miss you.  We'll be on the Cloud, then doing Cape to Cape.  Heard some good news from South Georgia.  They have been landing at Fortuna Bay. Nice King colony. Hope they don't close it before we get there.

 

[Port Power]

6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

What's in City in The Clouds cocktail? Looks delish.

It certainly was very delicious!  A few drops of bitters on top of the froth is poked with a skewer to create the cloud look.
 

[Port Power]

6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

Darn, sorry to miss you.  We'll be on the Cloud, then doing Cape to Cape.  Heard some good news from South Georgia.  They have been landing at Fortuna Bay. Nice King colony. Hope they don't close it before we get there.

 

I know how much you like the small ships!  I also like the Pole-to-Pole itinerary, but I will wait for my first visit before booking a second.

[drron29]

We have just had morning coffee with Malcolm AKA RooFlyer who will be joing you on the Wind. A very good friend of ours.

He is flying to Santiago today and we are flying to Singapore then on to Japan to have Christmas with the family.

Hope you have a great cruise. I am sure you will enjoy South Georgia and Antarctica.

 

Finally thank you for your cruise report. Maybe we will do a TA sometime.

[sammyboots]

On 12/8/2023 at 8:21 PM, Port Power said:

The next stop was further up the mountains to La Coca Falls and the Yokahu Tower.  The tower never fulfilled its original purpose as a military lookout, but certainly has a good view from the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The falls were pretty tame today, but can wash across the road after heavy rain.  It was a delightful area to visit.

 

 

 

 

Hi, can I ask how strenuous is the walk, as in how many hours and is it over steep gradients? I am normally very fit and healthy but I had a leg injury about three months ago and although I'd say I'm almost back to full recovery, I'm just wondering if this excursion will be for me. 

[Port Power]

4 hours ago, sammyboots said:

Hi, can I ask how strenuous is the walk, as in how many hours and is it over steep gradients? I am normally very fit and healthy but I had a leg injury about three months ago and although I'd say I'm almost back to full recovery, I'm just wondering if this excursion will be for me. 

It was a very easy walk on a flat path.  The bus did all the work taking us up there.  However, I did not go up the tower.  The fit few who did enjoyed the view, but said it was narrow on the stairs up.

 

The previous gardens had a much longer series of paths, with a steepish gradient in two or three sections.  Unfortunately we were rushed along in parts, and many of us slower people missed some of the guide’s commentary.  I was also recovering from a foot injury and had not taken my hiking stick that day, so I just took it slowly and managed quite well.  Pausing to look at the view always helped to regain stamina! 😆.  You should be fine.