Ireland!!

We've just finished our whirlwind of 3 Irish ports in a row, and Chelsea and I wore ourselves out seeing as much as we could.  Today we have a sea day to recover - and we are making the most of it.  We slept in as long as we possibly could.  But let me catch you up on Ireland - one port at a time!

Cork (Cobh):  Chelsea and I each went on separate tours because unfortunately we didn't get our first choices. I went on a pretty short tour, that drove around Cork so you could see it only from the bus, and then went to Blarney Castle.  My first Irish Castle!!  I was so excited.  The Castle is not maintained - it is a ruin - which made it all the more appealing to me.  We had about two hours there, which was more than enough time to do the tourist thing there - which is to kiss the Blarney Stone.  Now kissing the stone is, in my tour guide's words, "not for the faint of heart."  You have make your way bent-over through passageways, climb through the old castle up several of the most confined stone spiral staircases of the towers, and basically let yourself be lowered out over the highest battlement with the grounds far below in order to kiss the stone.  And I'm pretty sure they don't sanitize it in between kissers. But yes, I did it.  And now I have officially received the "gift of eloquence," which is the traditional legend.  Afterwards I walked around Cobh in the wind and rain until I couldn't stand it anymore.  The small port town's claim to fame is that the Titanic was docked there.  There is also a pretty impressive cathedral in the French Gothic style that I visited.  Ok, next port!

Dublin: Wow, what a city.  Dublin seems like a really vibrant and fun place to live.  My short tour featured a visit to Trinity College, more specifically to their library called the Long Room and their exhibit on the Book of Kells.  The Book is an 8th century manuscript that is a highly illuminated (decorated) copy of the four gospels.  The Long Room is exactly that - a long, open, room with vaulted ceilings, with two stories of centuries-old books and ancient manuscripts.  (if you've seen Beauty and the Beast, it kindof looks like that library, only really long)    It even has the thin sliding ladders that let you reach the books on the top shelf, and the room smells of old books.  If you know me well you'll understand that this was right up my alley - I really enjoyed the visit.  After that we visited Dublin Castle, which isn't very castle-looking, but is more like a nice mansion.  After the tour was over I stayed in Dublin for a couple hours on my own, wandering around and shopping.  For lunch I treated myself to some fish and chips and tried a famous Irish Coffee.  One neat thing about signs in the Republic of Ireland is that they are all written in both English and Gaelic, which I found really interesting.

Belfast, Northern Ireland: For our last port in Ireland, we left the Republic of Ireland and entered Northern Ireland, which remains part of the English commonwealth.  No Gaelic appears on the signs here, and the currency is pounds sterling instead of the euro.  Luck was with us today (Irish luck?): Chelsea and I got on the same tour, to the place we most wanted to go.  We left at different times, but once we got there she jumped tours and we spent the rest of the day together.  The trip was an hour and a half drive to the Giant's Causeway at the very northern tip of Ireland.  On the way we drove through some really beautiful, green Irish countryside, seeing lots of farmland, cows, and sheep.  We arrived at the site, which is a series of rock formations on the coast.  It is difficult to explain how it looks, but basically it is a huge area of stones shaped like hexagonal columns.  It almost resembles a honeycomb, but some of the columns are very tall. The expanse stretches out into the sea, and the legend is that an Irish giant built the causeway as a path all the way across the sea to Scotland, but a Scottish Giant's fear of fighting him caused him to tear up most of the path behind him, and what we see now is all that's left.  It was a really incredible sight, and Chelsea and I had a good time wandering around taking pictures.   On the way back we stopped for quick photos at the ruins of Dunlace Castle.  Altogether, it was an amazing day - the perfect conclusion to our three days in Ireland.  

In ship news, last night after leaving Ireland the waves were the most rough as we've had yet, and the comedian could hardly stay standing during his show.  We suggested he should try sit-down comedy next time....(-:  They put barf-bags up in strategic locations around the ship, and I saw a lot of people who weren't looking so good.  I didn't have any issues with it at all, but Chelsea had a rough night.  Today like I said we are at sea, and it has calmed down considerably after last night.   Tomorrow we begin what I see as the second half of the cruise - the Norway half.  We'll get to visit one port that I haven't been to yet, which is exciting.  Its hard to believe that I'm almost done with the Baltic portion of my contract.  Man, I wish we could spend more time in Ireland!!  Oh well, at least I really had a great time there.  I feel so lucky to have seen so much in less than 2 months. Tonight we have late Big Band sets, which will give me my first chance to have a really leisurely dinner with Chelsea in the grand dining room.  

Birthday at sea #2

Once again I found myself away from home on August 20th - the day on which I walk around with a big smile and feel like everyone should know its my birthday. After all, haven't we all been waiting a whole year for this?!  Anyway we were actually at sea all day, so Chelsea and I spent a leisurely day together on the Century.  We went out the Aqua Spa Café for lunch (one of our favorite places to eat on the ship), and spent a while together opening presents from home.  The presents my family sent were all small enough to fit in an overseas package, but meaningful enough to really make me feel the love from home!!  I had the most fun with a tiny music box that played "Happy Birthday" as you cranked the handle!!!  I love it!!!  I pick it up and make it play all the time and have lots of fun chasing people around with it. :-)  I also got some of the most useful gifts I've ever received for my birthday - like a bunch of awesome magnets so I can hang stuff up on my walls and a personalized planner with little messages written in from my sister Holly.  Chelsea gave me a BEAUTIFUL Russian lacquer box that I am in love with.  I could go on and on, but I guess you don't need to know about every single thing I got.  So Chelsea and I had a neat private little party with those.  

We had two shows at night, and afterwards Marie told me she wanted to spend the evening with me - just the two of us having a girls night out.  She had me get dressed up and everything and we went to Michael's Club for about an hour and talked while listening to the pianist there.  Then she suggested we switch to the Rendezvous Lounge for a while.  SURPRISE!!!  She had totally tricked me - there were about 20 people there, with birthday cards and even a birthday cake!!!  The musicians in the lounge played Happy Birthday for me while everyone sang....I was absolutely shocked.  I had no clue anything was planned....I didn't know what to say.  Marie planned the whole thing for me, including getting the cake and calling everyone all day to get them there and taking me the back way so I wouldn't see them, and going to the Rendezvous at just the right time....everything.  I can't believe she went through so much trouble.  She also gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure - a tradition she started last year when we were together on the Galaxy.  All I can say is that she is one of the most amazing friends I've ever had.  I am blown away that she would go through so much trouble to make the day special for me.  I am still in shock a little.  I can't remember ever being so thoroughly surprised.    There aren't many people in the world who would do something like that for a friend - Marie is one of the best.  I can't think of a more amazing thing to happen on my birthday.  :-)

Well, this cruise is my last with Chelsea - and it feels like a present in itself!  Ireland here we come!!!!  We can't wait to arrive in Cork tomorrow!!! 

Estonia

some photos from Berlin: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2062122&l=848ef&id=56903845

Today Chelsea and I are in Tallin, Estonia, sitting at the Reval Café enjoying the ambience while using the internet.  I, of course, am enjoying my cappuccino, as has become tradition whenever I find a nice café to sit and use the internet.  It is really one of the ways that I relax.  The weather is a bit chilly and overcast today, so staying indoors sounded like a good plan to both of us after we had walked around old town for about 20 minutes.  

Last night the band had an easy night (preceded by a night off in St. Petersburg!!!) and it has been really nice for me to allow my chops a rest for a couple days.  Tonight we'll be back in the swing of things, though - with a guest entertainer's show.  I hear she is a violinist.  Should be fun!  I'm ready to get back into it.  We are now on the tail end of this cruise, headed back for Amsterdam.  Chelsea and I are both really excited to begin next cruise, as we are headed for a few ports in Ireland!!!  I really can't wait. 

Hesinki, Finland

Chelsea and I had a nice relaxing day today - we didn't take any tours for once.  We just walked around on our own in town today.  We visited Market Square with all its vendors and bought ourselves half a liter or blueberries, which we've been snacking on all day.  We visited the two biggest Cathedrals in the area for some pictures, and then settled down here in this little café for the rest of the afternoon to use the internet.  

Something miraculous happened today - I have a day off!!!  Wow!  The band doesn't have one, but Ian and I are off.  The daily program (whose word is law) says that the celebrity jazz TRIO is playing today for two sets.   Emphasis on trio, ha ha - they probably just made a typo.  But I'm not complaining!  Kevin and Marie are each going to play a tune or two to spice things up, but thats about it.  It will be my first day off since I've been here, and I am pretty excited.  We are also hearing rumors that the whole band might have a true day off in St. Petersburg, but I'm not counting on it.  Well, the new drummer's name is Stephan: he's a really nice guy, 26, from South Africa.  But, it is his first contract ever, and he doesn't have very much experience doing the kind of things we do here - as a result he plays very tentatively.  So far Kevin has been patient with him, and I hope Stephan starts to improve and catch on soon.  We'll see what happens.  In any case I know being here is definitely going to give this guy a chance to improve and gain a lot of experience.  

As for the rest of today, Chelsea and I plan to rest a bit to prepare ourselves for St. Petersburg - we've both signed up for tours both days, so it will be a bit of a whirlwind.  But it should be a lot of fun.  I know Chelsea's really looking forward to it, especially to the Hermitage. Russia, here we come!

Stockholm

Some new photos! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061854&l=d190d&id=56903845

I think that Stockholm is my favorite port so far this contract.  True, I've only been here twice, and the weather has been sunny and beautiful both times, but so far I really love it.  There are so many gorgeous, elegant eye-catching buildings, on a series of islands connected by bridges over the water.  Today I took a tour to see something I've been wanting to see since I heard about it - the Vasa Museum.  The museum is a building constructed around the Swedish warship Vasa, a ship which was built in 1628 and sunk on its maiden voyage out of Stockholm harbor.  It was underwater for over three hundred years before it was found, raised from the seafloor, and restored inside this museum.  It is immense and breathtaking.  The museum which houses it has very low lighting and controlled humidity, giving the ship a very ghostly feel to it.  I was really looking forward to seeing it and wasn't disappointed.  I already have a love for old sailing ships and the way they look, and I found the experience a little overwhelming.  I hope the pictures come out well enough to do it justice.  I spent a lot of money in the gift shop to show my reverence and appreciation of this amazing experience.  :-)  

Right now I am still in Stockholm, at my latest discovery - the Seaman's Mission.  Its a free crew hangout that has lounges, computers, free wireless, a cafe, a chapel, a library, and even a grand piano!  Its really really nice - if only there was something like this everywhere we went.  Its too bad that this is my last day in Stockholm: this is one place where I really could spend weeks.  I hope I get to come back someday.  

A new Era...

I know its been a while since I've posted - my apologies!  Chelsea and I have been busy wearing ourselves out trying to see everything we possibly can.  The shore excursion staff have been really great and are letting her be a tour escort like I can do, and even letting us go on a couple tours together.  Today is day one of our second Scandinavia/Russia cruise, and Chelsea's second cruise of her stay.  It looks like we'll be able to have my room to ourselves for one more cruise!!  But my band leader isn't too cooperative, so we'll see what happens after that - we don't want to make anyone mad.  Still keeping our fingers crossed that she'll be able to stay for all three cruises.  So far, so good, but prayer is still appreciated!!

Today we get a new drummer, who we are all anxious to meet and hear him play.  From today on it will be the same band members until the end of my contract, so we are all hoping the drummer is awesome - it would be so nice to have a stable, good, band - and the drummer can make or break it.  All I know right now is that he's from South Africa and is in fact a he. :-)  Anyway, I miss the other Andrea already!  Its too bad she couldn't be here for a whole contract.  She's on her way back to Texas to begin the next school year at North Texas, and I'm sure she'll be happy to be home.  

Last night we had a pretty fun show - something a little different.  It was a shared show between the acapella group Metro and one of the headline entertainers from earlier in the cruise - Mark O'Malley doing a second show.  At the end of Mark's section he brought back Metro and another guest entertainer (Lindsay Hamilton) and all six of them did an acapella number all together. The sang "Bring Him Home", and it was really something.  Chelsea recorded a bit of it for me - this sort of thing never happens - they just decided to get together throughout the cruise and put it all together just for fun - taking advantage of so much talent being on board at once.  I really enjoyed their spontaneous collaboration - it was a rare treat.  

Chelsea!

Chelsea is on board!!! Everything worked out according to plan, thank goodness! God is good. My wonderful roommate even offered to move next door where there is an empty bed so that the two of us could have my room to ourselves. So now we have our own room and separate beds. Woohoo! We sure got lucky on that one. We still don't know what the rooming situation will be for the next couple of cruises, but I'm sure something will work out. I am so excited to have her on board! And she's having a good time already. Yesterday we walked around all morning in Alesund, and it was a really beautiful day. Last time I was there it was rainy and cold, but today was sunny and perfect. We tired ourselves out walking around, and are both grateful that today is another sea day to give us some time to relax.

Our new pianist is a Russian woman named Marina, and she is a sweet lady and a great pianist. I can tell I'm going to enjoy working with her, and if we end up roommates (which is likely) I look forward to it. She seems really cool.

Today we have Lindsay Hamilton's show, which I've played before several times. Lindsay has a little 2 or 3 year old daughter who is really cute, and she always comes to the rehearsals to dance around while we practice the music and pretend to play drums and conduct the band. She is a beautiful little girl with big blond ringlets and bright blue eyes, and always steals the show. Or at least the rehearsal. :-)