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.