I stand on the balcony looking out to sea wondering just how
different it was many years ago. Then there were no cruise ships like the one I
am on but rather great galleons taking precious cargo back home or slaves to
another country. Back then the ships relied on wind to bring them to their
destination. On the days without wind the unfortunate slaves were forced to row,
that was if they had enough energy if their rations hadn't run out yet.
Sometimes it would take months to reach their destinations and when they ran
out of food there was no Mezzanine deck to run to. I can hear the rumbling of
the stomachs of the sailors and the excitement in their voices as they shout
‘Land Ahoy!’ back then they did not have the custom officials to check that
everyone had the right visas because then there weren't any visas to be
checked.
The great sails are
filled with wind and the country’s flag hoisted up to proudly show to the new
country’s occupants who they were. For the galleons containing explorers ready
to conquer or name the new land this was an important time. When the boat was
shallow enough the anchor would be thrown overboard position whilst the crew
went on land to gather supplies and trade. Back then you would notice
immediately that the boat was no longer moving along the current but nowadays
the motion is so subtle that I didn't even once notice it on the passenger
ship.
August 2011
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