Day 8--Jail?

In case you wondered where we started today.

Breakfast was nice, and then we had to go to a lecture about the Antarctica and the international treaties.  It was all about the rules and not touching, scaring, or bothering the animals.  Or leaving any trash.  OK, got it.  Then we took our boots down to the “mud room” to clean them.  We have to get any potential biological material off of them, so we don’t introduce any new life that would disturb the life that is already there.  After that, we went back to the room, and ran into the Butler.  Did we mention Theresa has allergies?  Did we mention Theresa had some coughing, and a sore throat?  Did we mention it did not really clear up, so she was trying not to cough in front of people?  Did we mention there is this thing called, uh, what was it…COVID?  Yeah.  Not the same, but they SOUND like it.  So, Theresa—the rule follower—mentions it to the Butler sort of asking him if she needs to self-disclose to the ship’s doctor.  Yeahhhhhh…  So, we were then quarantined to our room, and they sent the nurse to take swabs.  She came in wearing a full Tyvek suit, two masks, and a face shield. 

Room Service Lunch

After she left, we ordered lunch.  As long as we’re caged up, at least let’s eat well?  We started a movie and settled in for a nice afternoon.  Then the doctor called.  After the consultation (and negative result), we found we had to quarantine until the results of a second test be taken tomorrow morning.  And, we were told they would be coming in 30 minutes to move Theresa to her quarantine room (a.k.a. “jail cell”).  Bill had the choice of quarantining in our room (alone) or move to Deck 4 with Theresa.  Hmmm…all our stuff in on Deck 7, with a nice balcony, bottle of Scotch…or move to the basement with Theresa.  We scarfed down the rest of lunch, packed up, and waited.  They showed up to get Theresa.  I paused to grab something and they headed off.  The woman in a hazmat suit walked in front of Theresa, and a security person leading them, making sure no one passed our way.  A guy was behind her fogging the air with some disinfectant.  It looked like he was afraid to catch cooties.  They realized I was behind, and he had to get behind me and spray me down too.

Quarantine Dinner (less posh!)

Into the belly of the ship we marched.  Through a glass "do not enter" barrier we went and to the second door on the hall, they dropped us off.  It is about the same as our room, so we started sort of setting up.  Checked the fridge…empty.  Hmph.  No glasses.  No nothing! (I know, I know…whaaa!!)  OK, we called room service and ordered ice, glasses, a couple of sodas, and a couple of beers.  At length, a ring at the door!  He had a large ice bucket, some plastic cups, and six beers.  No sodas.  OK.  Well, I sat down with my beer and…there was no opener and it wasn’t a twist off.  Sigh.  We called and they brought one soda, and an opener.  OK.  Well, let’s see how dinner goes!

We finished our movie, did a little work, napping, and then ordered dinner.  We were able to order directly from the main dining room menu.  The, uh, presentation was a little less than the dining room, or even our lunch.  But the food was good and all in all it’s probably the best prison food we’ll ever have!  Hopefully by mid/late morning tomorrow, we will be released!

Prison food!  :-)

PS from Theresa -- I am feeling well.  Just the leftovers of spring allergies, I think. Everyone is expecting another negative tomorrow, they just have to follow the procedures.

Filet Mignon...with a plastic knife!