June 12, 2024
Ship Update #3 ?
These are the rudders on the ship. They are on the ship aft (backend), behind the propellers and they are responsible for the ship steering. The rudder stock we are awaiting are 2 custom made solid shaft, weighing 2 Tons each, and they fit inside the rudders and are connected via large bolts, in the 2 holes seen here. This retrofit is what's holding us up from leaving dry dock and sailing. This afternoon, we were told our best case of completing dry dock is 6/20 with a strong likelihood of sailing by 6/25. We were given tons of options, but basically have to amuse ourselves till 6/20 most likely 6/24. So, I am flying tomorrow afternoon from Gran Canary to Lisbon and then on to Hamburg, Germany to meet up and stay with my friend Tom Powl. We were supposed to catch up on the original itinerary and have at least a week together and we were both disappointed when that changed. So now we are seizing the opportunity to do it!
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .