Feeling a little better today, throat not quite so raw. Fingers crossed it will pass quickly.

They snuck a time change on me last night. The next day’s Daily Planner doesn’t get slipped under my door till 10pm, usually way passed my bedtime so I woke up at the new 8am. I planned to sleep in till 7a, not 8a! I’ve got plans!

1st my 1/4 mile trek for coffee. These days I bring back my breakfast too (yogurt with muesli and fruit) so I don’t have to deal with the mid-morning crowds in the buffet. After coffee a mile or two walking the jogging track, 2nd coffee, breakfast, shower, catch up on news, blog, morning lecture, lunch – see? Busy, busy.

Our lecture today was fair, some lite history and a short description of what we might see tomorrow. Most of the ship doesn’t yet have their transit visas; the e-visas are supposed to be issued 48hrs before arrival and we arrive in less than 20 now so times-a-tickin’….

Jeddah is a large port and is also right next to Mecca so there’s double reason for its importance. I believe it’s quite cosmopolitan but they’re strict in obey their religion so we are warned about dressing conservatively tomorrow and how all females should have at least one male in their group. Saudi didn’t become a unified country until the 1930’s and is quite despotic – they have an absolute monarchy with no political parties, and no vote. Typically those who dissent, including royals, get beheaded. We all promised to be on our best behavior.

I ate lunch in the dining room with Karen and a bunch of others. I remembered to have a group picture taken!

Somehow the afternoon just slipped away. I’m sure I read and I know I struggled with the lousy wifi service. Then all of a sudden it was 4:30 and time for afternoon tea. Then it was 5:30 and time to think about getting ready for dinner.

After dinner we all checked our emails and our Saudi visas had arrived! Great cheer all round as we were expecting to have to wait in long lines ashore to get them issued. Now I can go on the ship’s excursion that I have booked: Discover Jeddah’s Corniche. I believe it entails driving around the waterfront then a quick stop at the bazaar, but it’s something!