Being in close proximity with other travellers on a two-week sailing cruise, a wonderful chance to cement new friendships undeniably presents itself. Effortlessly. And if the cruise is as varied as an Autumn Mediterranean trip offering such diverse and interesting stop-overs to disembark as Gibraltar, Cagliari (Sardinia), Livorno and Florence, Cannes in France, Barcelona in Spain, Malaga, also in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal and Vigo in Spain, one gets to know one’s fellow passengers quite well, especially sharing a dinner table.
So it was that eight of us had plenty to discuss at dinner every night, after an interesting and enjoyable day. Diverse in every way, there was not a chance of being bored! Opposite us a pair, husband and wife (in their late sixties?) introduced themselves as ‘Scotties’ from Inverness, Scotland. With a delightful accent and sense of humour to match, we immediately liked them. Newly retired from farming, “leaving the slogging ‘ter’ me youngest son, before Winter sets in”, he laughed heartily. Still sunburnt after a Summer’s farming with his broad shoulders bulging under the neat checked shirt and (unaccustomed) tie, he looked slightly out of place in the glamorous setting. His wife, plump with short grey hair in a simple floral dress, looked genuinely friendly – the caring neighbour that I would love to share a cuppa with after a busy week…
Between them and us were seated a very distinguished looking man and exotic woman – late fiftyish – not married, but ‘a couple’, adjusting to each other… They had both been married before, but did not yet had the relaxed acceptance of a pair seamlessly sharing their time… We silently called these estate agent and beauty parlour owners ‘the On-Appros’.
Opposite them sat two ladies. Both very beautiful and elegant and obviously a mother and daughter. Slim, beautifully groomed and exquisitely dressed with fabulous jewellery, we called them ‘Maman et Mademoiselle’ (mother and daughter). From them we heard that Maman’s husband had passed away fairly recently, after a very long and debilitating illness. Now, Mademoiselle (mid-to-late thirties, and single) felt, was the right time for an invigorating cruise, instead of a visit to a retreat, that could be rather lonely and perhaps even depressing. Besides all the amenities, like pampering beauty sessions, massages and relaxing saunas and Jacuzzi, loafing would be better than any medication! How right she was! One could see how they blossomed more and more each day! Aided by their shopping sprees!
And then, of course, there were us. I think they called us ‘the odd couple’ or just ‘Oddities’. A rarity, out of South Africa. Wisely we all decided not to discuss politics!
Sometimes we would even sit next to each other during the evening shows or other entertainment - that is the Scotties, Maman et Mademoiselle, and the Oddities - but never did the ‘On-Appros’ join us. Sitting close to each other, heads almost touching, they always selected seats on the aisles.
We later learnt that Mademoiselle was a ballet teacher (no wonder she always appeared so poised!) from Montreal, in Canada. “Too busy to get married,” she smiled, when we could not believe that such a beautiful young woman was not attached to anyone. Apparently she had her own illustrious career, dancing in many prominent productions.
One evening the usually amicable conversation just wouldn’t flow, despite trying as hard as we could. A stony silence from ‘the On-Appros’ was eventually broken when, suddenly, a Ma?tre d’h?tel brought a huge bunch of red roses and placed it in front of the exotic lady with a note from her partner begging forgiveness after a stormy fight because she had (against their mutual agreement) started to smoke again!
For the rest of the cruise peace reigned. We started to look forward to Mr ‘On-Appro’ sharing his latest recipe: he collected bread-and-butter pudding recipes wherever he went! I had heard of strange hobbies, but this one…
As we exchanged e-mail addresses at the end of our cruise, with the prospect of friendships blossoming, I knew that often a new pudding recipe would be included! I so love it when life surprises me…
BY ADRIANA COETZEE
