Hey there, Bill,
I take it you are safely aboard and undersail by now! I noticed our newest member 'ImpishAtSea'...'Who, oh who, might that be?? 
Was the To Catch a Thief drive wonderful?? I'm looking forward to hearing all about it, when you get a chance.
Love,
Lynne
I finally made it here and am able to post. I discovered that I left my passwords back in Nice... and so I couldn't log in. I registered a new account, but then couldn't use it because didn't have my password for my earthlink account either and so couldn't access the activation email.
So i've created yet another new account using the ship's email address... and am finally here.
I'm having an incredible time. Travelpride, the company who chartered the boat, is doing a brilliant job: everytime I go back to my cabin, there is a little gift: today it was a sailor's cap, yesterday a neck pillow. Food everywhere.
Other than losing my passwords, my only mishap was breaking my sunglasses an hour after I boarded. We docked in St. Tropez today so went into town to replace them. After searching and searching and getting ready to buy a pair I really didn't like, I asked a very kind French woman -- another customer -- what she thought of the pair I had. She pointed immediately to another pair that had all the features I wanted and looked much better on me... so I bought them. Revo's.
The ship is fantastic, and she runs with the sails out most of the time. The furl and unfurl mechanically, and the booms are motorized also, and it all happens way above your head so you don't have to worry about getting hit by one. I've attached a stock photo of her at full sail below.
The guest count is 190... (the ship can hold 305). This is great because you can be walking along a deck and feel like you're the only one of the ship. Then go to one of the several bars, pools, lounges and be among a crowd. Another thing is this: guess how many Windstar crew are on board? That's right! Exactly 190!
That's means each of us has our own attendant/valet-cum-houseboy, well, almost: I don't mean they follow us around all the time. Most of them are from Indo- or Poly-nesia. Mine's name is Rio. I could get used to this....
Apparently, all the crew is excited to do this gay cruise, because they just finished a very full one with lots of children underfoot. Having only 190 of us makes less work for them, and that filters down to us in the form of more complete service.
We're on our way to Porto Vecchio on Corsica. I gotta run, cause there's a tea dance going on where I'll meet the captain of the ship. I'll be back tomorrow with more.
Ciao, Impy
PS: David, LOVED your picture of me and the gang. How did you ever get a hold of it?
PPS: Any private messages to ImpishAtSea won't be read cuz I can't access them.
