Today is Halloween.   Exactly a year ago,  we boarded the Diamond Princess in the Port of Yokohama.  I remember it so well because I had an opportunity to wear my Halloween pants I had recently purchased at Savers for $3.  I was planning to bring it on this cruise to wear tonight.  However, I couldn't find it. Exactly two years ago, or on 31October2022, my posting was titled  HALLOWEEN 2022 .  To quote from that article: As you must know by now, today is Halloween, a tradition supposedly originated with the ancient Celtic   festival of Samhain   2000 years or so years ago, when bonfires were lit and people wore costumes.   This celebration first came to the U.S.in the 1840's when Irish immigrants escaped their potato famine.  Coincidentally, there is an Irish practice where going door-to-door to collect soul cakes and offerings for dead relatives was traditional.  Failure to supply a treat could result in some practic...

  Yesterday, Day 13 of this cruise, we sailed from Guatemala towards Costa Rica.  Dinner was at Savor, two courses of soup+salad. An Australian Shiraz. French Onion Soup and Caesar Salad. Parsnip Soup and Bean Salad.  First time I've ever had either. After dinner, on to other activities.  First, something called Lip Sync War in the Atrium, where competitors act out a song.  Then, on to the Theater for the Diva Extravaganza, Patty Dess. Patty's problem is that she tries to sing better than the divas.  The audience can't care less how well she sings.  They would rather nostalgicize with what is in their mind about the past so they can regain memories. Back to the Atrium for the Adda Band, where I had nachos and scotch. Didn't do much today, for I took only 2673 steps. We arrived for Day 14 in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. Has a resemblance to Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai, where the Norwegian Pride of America visits. Noticed that the beaches here have gray sand...