Leaving Southampton

Our last Southampton was a really big day for the ship, for everyone involved.  We had a major turnover of crew - over a hundred signed off and were replaced by new crew.  The stage staff were busy all morning unloading set pieces and props for shows that have been cancelled, to be stored in the huge warehouse of old and recycled sets in Carnival House near the port.  We got a new string quartet and solo pianist among our musician family on board, all ladies I know from my first contract here, one who was my roommate for several months.  We said our final goodbye's to the actors, except for the one who managed to get himself back up the gangway as entertainment staff when someone didn't show up, despite all our efforts to get him off the ship.  We did our final shopping in our favorite stores, in preparation for 3 months in Greece, Italy, and Turkey where certain things will be harder to find.  Later in the afternoon when Nick was able to get ashore, we met up for a final lunch with his "mum" Lynne, and his niece Hope.  Nick took advantage of his last chance to offload some things at home.  Lynne gave me a great birthday present - tickets to see Starlight Express in December when I'm visiting them.  I can't wait - its a show I've never seen.

Today we're in Gibraltar after two days at sea, which means we've completed our final crossing of the dreaded Bay of Biscay, known for rough seas.  Things should be fairly calm here in the Med now, much to the relief of my roommate who invariably succumbs to seasickness on rough days.  I don't ever get sick, but I do feel really tired and sluggish on those days, so I won't miss them either.  I have moved back into my old cabin from last year, with my old roommate Kat, a stage tech from Southampton, an old friend of Nick's.  Its nice to be back in the normal section where all the musos (pronounced mew - zo's, ship and international slang for musicians), cast, and techies are.  Now I feel like I'm part of the normal community I'm used to again.  I'm back on the top bunk again, but Kat was here first this time, and fair's fair.  I had it my entire last contract, so I can't complain.  And I'm finding I don't mind at all.  I like having Kat for a roommate, and that makes it a great place to be.

Last night we weren't required in the show, so it was my turn, along with our tenor player Bryan, to be on jazz sets with the rhythm section.  We played two sets in the Garden Lounge up on the top of the ship, a beautiful indoor garden style room with a glass roof.  During the second set an older gentleman brought his trumpet up and asked if he could play a tune with us.  I allowed it, despite it being a bit of an awkward situation since we didn't know how well he played.  I had in mind for him to play one solo on one of our tunes, since the set is all improvised anyway.  But once I let him up there, he sort of took over, and had even brought a chart for us to play.  He even sang the verse on the microphone and then kept yelling things like "Come on, you lot!" to get us to improvise along with him on this song we'd never heard before.  It was interesting, to say the least.  Its a difficult situation when you want to accommodate a guest without compromising the integrity of the set.  Later Tim (my boss, who wasn't present) told me in the future I can say something about it being company policy not to allow guests to perform.  Stories of the incident had got back to him, likely as a result of the gentleman managing to insult half the band with his opinionated comments and domineering attitude on stage.  I believe he told Vlad he played his guitar like a balalaika, with which somewhat racist comment Vlad was understandably unimpressed.  I know this guy is going to show up at Tim's jazz set later in the voyage, and I hope he will be able to let him down gently after me having set the precedent of allowing him to play.   From the experience I'm taking the lesson that its better not to allow a guest to join in, unless you already know them, their attitude, and their abilities.  It's a bit unfortunate that it has to be that way, as I like to make people happy and give them a chance, but after that experience I wont be tempted to a repeat anytime soon.  

The hot summer begins!

We just finished our first trip to the Mediterranean, and it has been really really hot! This much sun is definitely a big change from Norway and the British Isles.  We had several nice days in Barcelona (where I got to catch up with my RCCL Rhapsody friends Tim and Mandy), Cannes (where I found a place that did an amazing mango soy milkshake, Florence (where I celebrated my birthday), Civitavecchia (where I visited my favorite outdoor market and enjoyed some great Italian pasta and espresso), Alicante (a Spanish port, first time for me, where we saw an old Spanish Galleon docked), and Gibraltar (where I caught up on internet).   Today we are in the lovely Lisbon, and Nick and I went up the old elevator Santa Justa, built in 1902.  At the top there is an amazing view of the city! We also managed to find a great vegetarian restaurant for lunch with an amazing buffet.  Yum!! I love trying new things.

Tomorrow is our last time to have our turnaround in Southampton.  After tomorrow the ship won't return until December, after I've signed off.  I will be sad to leave it behind, I really like it as a home port.  So from now on we will be based solely in the Med, out of Piraeus (Athens), Greece and Venice, Italy.  I am looking forward to revisiting some of the beautiful Greek islands, as well as the Holy Land. And I can't wait for the upcoming overnights in Venice!!!  

Norway

We just got back from a one-week voyage around Norway.  I apologize for not posting sooner, my blackberry somehow got tangled up in the the scanners in Southampton terminal without me realizing, so I've been without it all week.  I get it back today, very excited about it as I'm going through withdrawals.

Norway was really great - we were lucky enough to get some good weather, which can easily make or break it.  In Bergen I took Nick to a couple of things that I had previously done last year - a great restaurant called Pygmalion and a hike up to the Floin lookout point that has a fantastic view of the city.  In Geiranger Nick had big plans - we rented a sea kayak and spent a couple of hours exploring the fjord on our own.  It was a fantastic day.  We followed that up with a big hike the next day in Skiolden, a 3 or 4 hour round trip to a lookout point over the fjord from a mountain farm called Rebnisli.  After two days of heavy activity in a row we were pretty exhausted, but very happy. It was really idyllic to be in the fjords and valleys and mountains in such fine weather, with wildflowers all around and a stunning view anywhere you looked.  Our last port of call was Stavanger, which has a neat wharf area full of interesting building and shops, with a bustling atmosphere.  We recently discovered that crew have free access to all museums in Stavanger, so we availed ourselves of that and had a look round the old fire watchtower in town.

After four port days in a row yesterday's sea day was extremely welcome.  We had a dixieland set in the afternoon in the pub, our second of the voyage.  A group of half a dozen Scottish ladies who were at our first set and I had met and chatted with came back again, and sat around the very front.  They were all so sweet and energetic.  One lady, Mary, was celebrating her 79th birthday, and her friends requested we play Happy Birthday for her.  We did, and then at the end of the set I snuck in a bit more of the tune during my big final solo.  She noticed and even teared up a bit.  She told me afterwards this has been the best birthday she could imagine, and she doesn't think her family will ever top it with the big get-together they are planning for her 80th.  She was so neat to meet and talk to, and gave me some encouragement with my playing.  Its days like that which make it all worth it.  

'Round Britain

I've had really busy couple of days trying to see as much as possible on this 'Round Britain cruise. I wish we did this one more than once a year, I really enjoy it. I got to visit Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, for the first time. Nick and I managed to figure out how to take a public bus and then a short walk on our own in order to see the famous Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, prehistoric monuments of unknown purpose that are incredibly still in place. Its a bit like Stonehenge, only different, haha. I was really glad we were able to navigate our way out there and back in the short amount of time we had. We were quite proud of ourselves for managing it. We also had a wander around town and looked inside the 12th century Cathedral there, as well as some ruins known as the Bishop's Palace.

In Glasgow, we got to meet some of Nick's relatives, who took us out to lunch at a nice pub-style restaurant overlooking the firth and Dunbarton Rock. It was nice to get to meet them.
Today we were in Liverpool, and the band had the night off. A few of us went to a pub to meet up with Albert, our trumpet player last contract, who lives nearby. It was good to see him and catch up a bit. After that Nick took me back to the Cavern Club to see inside, something I hadn't been able to do last time. I had been on a tour that only stopped for a photo outside. This club is a replica, just a few feet from the original, which was sadly demolished. But it uses the original bricks, which is neat. We spent a bit of time down there, there was some live music. It was a great day off! Not that we really needed one after only a week on board, but I'll take it where I can get it.
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