Musings While Waiting to Weigh Anchor

General San Martin, Peru aka The Most Desolate Place On Earth
ms Amsterdam
January 16, 2013

We left the port of Callao, Peru about 5 pm yesterday for a leisurely run down the coast to General San Martin. Jim said when he opened the drapes this morning he was convinced he was looking at the surface of Mars. All you can see is reddish-brown dirt. This port is known for the winds that spring up every afternoon and cover everything and one with a coating of said dirt. One could venture to a small island off shore that is home to all kinds of birds, to an ancient fortress or take the shuttle to a "charming fishing village" which is code for nothing to look at, tour or buy. Or one could go find someone in one lounge or another and just shoot the breeze before one went to the early movie and a late lunch.

And that's how I met Ginger, originally from Chico, CA. Ginger is a character. She has red hair and sports a pin that reads, "Ginger, World Traveler." She knows she's bigger than life and owns it. AND she knows ALL the shipboard gossip which is why Penny, the lady I met days ago who lives across the bay from my childhood home in Newport Beach, was sitting with her. What Ginger didn't know, Penny did. I didn't recognize any of the names in their stories but made a silent resolution to BEhave so I wouldn't make the Ginger Gazette. Then Ginger began the round up of who had to leave the ship in Columbia (stroke), and who had to have a leg set in Ecuador, etc, etc. There is a doctor on board as well as a dentist, but if the ship is in port and a passenger is really sick they arrange for medical attention ashore. So I mused that I guessed with the age bracket and length of the trip it stood to reason that someone would get sick enough to get off. And that's when Ginger told me that they use the big flower frig down below for a morgue when the need arises. "Yup, they put 'em on ice down with the roses and orchids." And people kept asking me before we left, "Won't you be bored?"