First Voyage Finished!

17 days later....I've finished my first voyage on the QE. All voyage we've had two sets of dancers on board, the old and the new cast, and today the old one left, after being on board since before the ship launched last October. So the original cast of the QE has finally all finished their extended inaugural contract. This voyage the new dancers will finish their install and perform everything involved in their contract for the first time, though they have opened a few shows last voyage. Its a little confusing, but the QU Theatre Company is made up of 3 groups, who have been staggering their handover from old to new: 4 singers, 5 actors, 12 dancers. The actors changed over first, then the singers, and now we're in the final dancer stage. These three groups perform alone or with each other in different ways to create the variety of production shows on board. For example, the actors on their own present a Neil Simon double bill, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, etc. The dancers do one big show on their own, plus several 10-15 minute feature show-openers. The singers do a caberet with us on their own. Then the three groups combine in different ways for other shows. One show, A Slice of Saturday Night, uses everyone, and is an original musical with a light plot. (It doesn't use brass, so I get the night off). Anyway I still haven't worked out exactly who is in what show....and there are a few I haven't seen yet....but I'll figure it all out eventually. At least now I won't be mixing up the new dancers with the old.

Today we also lose our guitarist, Stevie "Stud", a 27-year Cunard employee, 59 year old Jewish-English man, a legend among all Cunard musicians past an present. I can't really describe him in a way that does him justice...suffice it to say that he is a character and will be missed. Last night we had final drinks with him, and he said to me, "I"m 59 years old, you know....and I'll be 60....on my birthday." "The other day I woke up and tried not to be me....it only worked for about 5 minutes, then I was me again." He also brings along a banjo just for the dixieland sets, and dances while playing. Tim gave him the mic at one point, and he said, "Not only am I the youngest person in the band, I'm also the best looking....the lady on the bass is my mother, and the lady on the trombone is my grandmother," The guests love him. Bye, Stevie!

Today my grandparents are coming on board!! Exciting!!!

Venice!!!

I finally got to see Venice!!! I was up early and out on deck to watch us sail into the harbor. It is incredible, we actually sail right past St. Mark's square. I got off the ship on my own, and decided, after a quick look at a posted map to get my general bearings, I would wander around without buying one and just allow myself to get lost in Venice, which I've heard is really the thing to do. So I took my time wandering in the direction of San Marco, exploring the narrow streets and canals and going whichever way I pleased, on my own time. It was a great way to experience the city for the first time. It is really stunning. I did a bit of shopping and came away with my very own Venetian masks, two of my favorites after looking in a dozen shops. I wanted to find one that I knew was made in Venice by a particular artist, and not imported from China for cheap tourist souvenirs. I love the ones I found, made by artist Gastaldi Amelio in Venice. After a few hours I finally reached the famous square, and took in the moment for a while. I saw a few people covered in pigeons, but didn't feel the urge to buy bread and place myself in a similar possibly dirty situation.

At that point I finally bought a map in preparation for the next part of the day - meeting up with my friends for lunch. Gianni, our resident handsome Italian drummer, had invited us to meet in San Margarita square for lunch at 1pm. Having no idea where to start I did buy a map, quickly realizing I had much further to go than I assumed, and raced across bridges and through narrow passageways for half an hour in order to get there close to on-time. I found Gianni and 4 others from our band at the far end of the square at a restaurant Gianni had picked out and recommended. It was a wonderful lunch, in a beautiful place!! I felt so happy and satisfied with my day. Wandering on my own and discovering Venice without worry about anything other than which corner I wanted to peek around next, and then a leisurely and tasty Italian lunch with friends. Mmmm….pizza in Italy…. Gianni insisted on paying for everyone - which was so generous and sweet of him. He really acted the host as we enjoyed being in his country.

Tonight's show is Hayden Smith - who I played for two or three times on the Rhapsody - so it was nice to see him again. Just before the show he asked us if we'd mind him recording our horn parts during the show as we performed, so he can use them when he has to perform without a band. Oh, and he'll pay us a hundred dollars each to agree. Hmmm….no brainer! Get paid twice to play the same show I get paid to play anyway? Yes please.