Would love to hear any of your tales from life on the Orsova.
We went from South Australia - Adelaide's Outer Harbour- across the Indian Ocean to Durban, then down to Cape Town, across the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro, up the coast to Salvador, back across the Atlantic to Dakar in Senegal, than Casablanca, then Lisbon, and finally Southampton. It took about 7 weeks, I was 11 years of age, and had the time of my life.
Brian, thanks very much for that. Yes, I watched that Pathe newsreel a while ago, but I'm grateful to you for reminding me about it. There's a number of Youtubes about the Orsova and her sisters. If you look at 0:58 in the video, the structures on each side, with the derricks above them, are the male and female changing rooms for the swimming pool between. That's where I was put through the 'Crossing the Line' ceremony. I had to kiss the kipper ( a varnished fish head fastened to an engraved plaque) before being covered in batter by King Neptune's policemen and thrown in the pool. I still have the certificate.
Photo by you, Graham?
Being Taurean, I like the name
"Mike, yes, you're absolutely right; there is another explanation. "
Not so, Paul.
I looked it up, and it's the roof of the rearmost, highest cabin on a ship. Perfect spot for the toilet until you remember that the wind comes from BEHIND a sailing ship.