106 Days And Counting.....

There is a dress code for evening dining on this cruise.  According to the Silversea Setting Sail Guide the following requirements are in place:

"In the Main Dining Room, evening attire falls into three categories: casual, informal and formal. On casual evenings, open-neck shirts, slacks and casual wear are appropriate. On informal evenings, ladies usually wear dresses or pant suits; gentlemen wear jackets (tie optional).  Appropriate formal evening wear for women is an evening gown or cocktail dress; gentlemen wear tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits. Sailings of 9 days or less typically feature 1 formal night, while longer voyages usually have 2-3 formal nights."

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Myster has graciously agreed to dine in the MDR on formal night once per cruise segment.  There are 7 segments plus the pre-cruise gala and the Masked Ball in Venice.  That means he must "dress up" for 9 evenings.  For the informal nights and for the formal nights when we dine at La Terrazza, he must don a jacket (tie optional).  Because some of the cruise ports will be very warm, I thought a light weight jacket would be more comfortable for him.  I found a tropic weight cotton jacket at LL Bean and ordered it for him.  It should arrive today.  My packing list for Myster includes his black suit, his light beige suit, a black and white checked sport jacket and his new light weight cotton jacket in Khaki. Hopefully he will be happy with these choices.

On to another port shore excursion choice.  For the port of Cochin, India we have selected a tour called The Cultures of Cochin.  A description of this excursion appears below.  Fort Cochin is a region in the city of Cochin in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Cochin, and collectively known as Old Cochin or West Cochin.

"Discover a unique blend of diverse cultures, traditions and architecture during this scenic, half-day sightseeing excursion to Cochin.

Fort Cochin & St. Francis Church

Depart the pier for the approximately 30-minute drive to Fort Cochin. Located in a relatively small area along the southern peninsula of the tropical Malabar Coast, the older parts of Fort Cochin are home to an eclectic blend of Medieval Portuguese churches, Dutch buildings, and English country villages. Note the Chinese fishing nets near the tip of Fort Cochin. These fixed, cantilevered contraptions are mainly used at high tide and operated via a system of counterweights.

Next, a visit is made to the St. Francis Church. Also known as the 'Church of South India' it is Cochin's oldest European-built church. A tombstone inside the church marks the place where Vasco da Gama was interred in 1524. His remains were later transferred to Lisbon.

Dutch Palace, Paradesi Synagogue & Jew Town

From here, proceed for a visit to the Dutch Palace, built as a gift for the Cochin Rajah in the late-17th century. The upper rooms display fine murals and items once found in the maharajah's household.

Your tour continues with a stop at the 16th-century Paradesi Synagogue. Its eclectic décor includes a floor paved with hand-painted Cantonese porcelain tiles.  Your tour concludes with a visit to Jew Town. This area, located next to the Royal Palace in Mattancherry, was presented to the Jews by the Raja of Kochi.

During your visit, some free time is made available to browse the fascinating mix of antique and specialty shops, old houses, warehouses and spice auction rooms before commencing the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier."

A picture of the Chinese fishing nets near Fort Cochin appears below.

And the planning continues.....