Sunday March 4, 2012 Day 58 at Sea–Captain’s Dinner

Tonight was our Captain’s Grand Voyage Dinner with Captain Jonathan Mercer.

After a wonderful meal at the Pinnacle, Captain Mercer presented a gift to us; a porcelain tulip from Holland with Godiva chocolates inside. It is entitled “Tulipmania During the Dutch Golden Age” crafted of Royal Goedewaager. In the 1630’s the Netherlands was gripped by tulipmania. A speculative fever unprecedented in scale and folly. Otherwise sensible merchants, nobles and artisans spent all they had, and much they didn’t have, on tulip bulbs. These bulbs changed hands hundreds of times in one day, sold and resold for thousands. Tulipmania is seen as an example of the gullibility of crowds and the dangers of financial speculation.

It was an enjoyable evening! We are looking forward to a port day tomorrow visiting the Komodo dragons.