Doldrums

We have now passed the midpoint of our voyage, and the emotional doldrums we were warned about may be setting in. Passengers are homesick, exhausted after excursions into port, irritated with others' quirks, impatient with the inconveniences of travel, tired of being tourists in foreign lands, and weary of being in the contained environment of a ship. Think of it as Hump Day to the nth order of magnitude.

Apparently this is nothing new in history, as evidenced by the art I've been seeing in my travels.

detail, exterior of Orvieto cathedral

pigeon holes, Orvieto

random reaction in Rome

Rome metro

Yet this is a good community of people, mostly finding the positive in experiences and proactively seeking solutions. We are wary of the upcoming long Atlantic crossing, and planning diversions from academics and sea sickness. I’m looking forward to Neptune Day, Sea Olympics, an ice cream party for our library student assistants, perhaps some open mics and singing.

on the wall of a great hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Rome

 

Ostia Antica teatro

riding the dolphin, Ostia Antica