Day 88 – Sail the Indian Ocean

We are again sailing the Indian Ocean for the next two days before reaching the African mainland. By some odd chance, both Tim and I dressed in something green today, not even realizing that it was St. Patrick’s Day. Passengers were decked out in all manner of clothes to celebrate the patron saint of the Irish.

Tim and I started our morning with a lecture by Steve Burrows entitled “Kenya’s Architectural Melting Pot.” Of course, the title immediately caught my eye, and I was looking forward to learning about Kenya’s architecture. The description in the Viking Daily said we would “learn about the history of architectural design in Kenya, what has worked and what has not, plus a look to the future.”

Kenya

Although this description applied to only the last five minutes of the talk, the remainder gave us an excellent introduction to both Africa and Kenya. The focus of his last segment was on traditional Swahili architecture, or the architecture of the people inhabiting the East African coast, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Mr. Burrows used the early plan of Shanga, a planned settlement and the oldest archeological site on the Kenyan coast, as his example. Many of the Swahili houses here were made from earth-and-thatch or wattle-and-daub.

The Early Settlement Plan at Shanga

Traditional Swahili Architecture

He compared these climate-friendly houses with the shacks in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya, built of mud and makeshift materials and covered with metal roofs that trap the oppressive heat. It was not a pretty picture, especially since the population is expected to more than double by the end of the century. How will these people be housed?

The Extreme Contrast Between Traditional and Contemporary Settlements

After one sobering lecture, we stayed for another equally sad one. Dr. Babcock spoke on “The Impact of the Triangle Trade on Africa: Unraveling Historical Threads.” Although most of us were quite familiar with the triangle trade, the three-legged route that involved the trade of enslaved people, manufactured goods, and plantation crops between Britain, Africa, and the Americas, Dr. Babcock refreshed my memory and offered a few details that were new to me.

The Impact of Triangle Trade on Africa

Thankfully, lunch was a festive occasion, with a St. Patrick’s Day special event. Although there was no corned beef, the lamb stew, cabbage, colcannon, and soda bread more than made up for that omission. In addition to the food, alcohol was also a part of the event. The bar staff prepared a drink with Cointreau and Sour Apple Schnapps called a Leprechaun, and an Irish Coffee Station offered many delightful options. I sampled both.

St. Patrick's Day Special Lunch

It appears that flocks of birds had been circling the ship today, even catching a ride on the bow. I only saw a few from my balcony, but they reportedly put on quite the show.

A Few of the Birds that Circled the Ship Today

Tonight, Tim and I joined our friend Nancy at The Chef’s Table for the California Cuisine menu. The food and wine were excellent, and the company was delightful. This was the description of the menu:

The Pacific Coast Food Scene by Guest Chef Rachel Vaughn

California Cuisine Menu, with Descriptions of the Five Courses Pictured Below

Amuse Bouche, First Course, Granite, Main Course, and Dessert