The Adventures of Sunsette -- Texas Travels, Part II— Apr. 12

[Alliecat]

"OK, Mum says the title is misleading because it makes it sound like we actually went sailing, and we didn't really (ferries don't count).  BUT, we WERE on a boat.... so there.
"Mum took us to see the nao Santa Maria, a replica of Columbus's ship from 1492.  In a roundabout way, sailing ships led Mum to dolls, and I was the first to start the crew here, so I was really excited to finally see a real one.  Of course I took my lil sis."


"BOAT!!!!"






"The wood is beautiful."



"Wheeeeeeee!!!  We'reonaboatwe'reonaboatwe'reonaboat....!!!!"






"Columbus had the only cabin.  Everybody else slept wherever they could find some sheltered space on deck (and there isn't much!)."



"This would be his little office."



"What some of their containers and tools were like."



"Yep, it steers with a joystick.  ...!!  This is a whipstaff, which they used before ships had wheels.  You basically shove the tiller back and forth with it.  Mum said, 'ugh'!"



"Here it is again, looking toward the main and foremasts.  The crew speak some English, and some better than others.  Mum had a good chat with one guy, but the second one really stalled when she started asking how the lines differed from those on an 18th-century square sail..."



"Why are all these tourists aboard of here?  Let's get 'em off and get this tub underway!"



"Haaaands to the halyard!!"
"(Well, it might be a halyard...)"



"Wheee, there are cannons!!  Two, six, heave!!!  Mum, can we shoot something???"



"Pleeeeeeaaase??"



"Man the capstan!"



Scarlett:  "Or, we could just have a nap on it..."
Sunsette:  "Yeah... that works too...."



"Here's Scarlett down below with a definitely-not-we-sized deadeye."



"We had a great time.  The sound of water lapping against the hull, the feel of a coil of line, and the smell, which Mum said was oh so familiar.  But, although the lady she talked to longest encouraged her to volunteer, she's not too sure about this one.  It's pretty primitive... Mum said it looks like it rolls like a *#%^!! too, and the crew pretty much confirmed that.  Look how high it is."



"Some decorations on the wharf that we thought were cute."



"Mum also says she is ovverrrr ittt with the ferry, especially with annoying schedule restrictions like this 'dangerous goods' crossing.
"Dang right we're dangerous!!....
"Dangerously CUTE!!"

..."What do you mean it's not for us?"

"Thanks for reading!
"Love, Sunsette"