We will be having a big change in the band at the end of the next cruise - 3 players will be finishing their contracts, so we'll have a new bass, alto sax, and drummer. I'm excited to see what the dynamic of the band will be then. I've heard really good things about the bass player, and apparently the alto sax is going to be a girl! 75% of the horn line will be female in two weeks! Neat. Ben is going to feel out of place. :-)
We played 4 big band sets tonight, which is one of my favorite things to do (we only do it once every cruise). We have another day off tomorrow, which is nice because I've worn myself out a bit doing so many excursions. I can't wait to sleep in!
Today my excursion went to Lindos in Rhodes, where there is an old castle and acropolis, from which point you have a beautiful view of the coastline (pictures soon!). I really love Rhodes - it is a fantastic island and it is becoming my favorite port of call. I love it. It reminds me a bit of California foothills, only with more rocks and hills and some slightly different vegetation. Most of our ports don't have anything like it - they are all city and no nature. Rhodes is different, and more tranquil, which I really appreciate.
Our last stop on the tour was at a handmade Greek ceramics workshop. I got to watch all the different steps in the process of making and decorating a plate or vase, which are classic Greek art. It was so neat to see that I even bought one - a small plate. Its good to know that it was made right there, and neat that I know exactly how it was made from having watched some works in progress. Well, its getting late, so I will say goodnight!
Mont Blanc
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Kusadasi, Turkey (again)
Good afternoon! Its really hot here in the Mediterranean, especially in the afternoons. I'm in the shade and its still sweltering! I guess California is pretty hot, too, though.
Today I got escorted another tour, and got to go see several neat places near Ephesus. One was the remains of the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. There's not very much left of it, but it was still neat to see. We saw a castle from 500 A.D., as well as a house where it is believed that Mary the mother of Jesus spent the last years of her life (while on the cross Jesus told John to take care of his mother, and we know John ended up in Ephesus.) In my opinion, the house is probably not the exact place where she lived, but it was still a neat experience, since she did live somewhere in that general area. But the highlight of the tour for me was St. John's Basilica, where John's actual burial place is. That was an incredible feeling, and the ruins of the basilica were fantastic. I took pictures but I'm having a hard time uploading them today, so you will have to wait til later to see them. Sorry!! But it was pretty darn cool.
Yesterday the band had a day off, so five of us went to the beach together in Mykonos, and then Marie had made a reservation to eat dinner in the dining room. So we all got dressed up and got to eat in the main restaurant like normal guests - and the food was so amazing! The atmosphere made it really great, too. We all stuffed ourselves. I had steak. (I know you would have done the same, Dad :-) Oh, and "chilled strawberry soup" which was basically like thick strawberry juice with cream....probably one of the most refreshing and delicious things I've ever tasted. So good!! It cost us $5 each to cover the tip, but it was SO worth it. We enjoyed our time there so much we think we're going to make a tradition of eating there once a cruise on our night off.
Finally, one more piece of good news - I had a really good conversation with Marie and was able to share the gospel with her. She listened and said she wanted to take some time to think about what I had said. It went so well. Please be praying that god will work in her heart - and that she will ask me more questions about how to become a Christian. She is such an amazing girl - I really hope that the Holy Spirit beings her to a relationship with Jesus. In any case, is was a very satisfying conversation, and went so well. She and I are starting to spend a lot of time together and get pretty close. I hope that God can use me in her life! As a result of all this I am feeling pretty positive about life!! Thanks, God!
Today I got escorted another tour, and got to go see several neat places near Ephesus. One was the remains of the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. There's not very much left of it, but it was still neat to see. We saw a castle from 500 A.D., as well as a house where it is believed that Mary the mother of Jesus spent the last years of her life (while on the cross Jesus told John to take care of his mother, and we know John ended up in Ephesus.) In my opinion, the house is probably not the exact place where she lived, but it was still a neat experience, since she did live somewhere in that general area. But the highlight of the tour for me was St. John's Basilica, where John's actual burial place is. That was an incredible feeling, and the ruins of the basilica were fantastic. I took pictures but I'm having a hard time uploading them today, so you will have to wait til later to see them. Sorry!! But it was pretty darn cool.
Yesterday the band had a day off, so five of us went to the beach together in Mykonos, and then Marie had made a reservation to eat dinner in the dining room. So we all got dressed up and got to eat in the main restaurant like normal guests - and the food was so amazing! The atmosphere made it really great, too. We all stuffed ourselves. I had steak. (I know you would have done the same, Dad :-) Oh, and "chilled strawberry soup" which was basically like thick strawberry juice with cream....probably one of the most refreshing and delicious things I've ever tasted. So good!! It cost us $5 each to cover the tip, but it was SO worth it. We enjoyed our time there so much we think we're going to make a tradition of eating there once a cruise on our night off.
Finally, one more piece of good news - I had a really good conversation with Marie and was able to share the gospel with her. She listened and said she wanted to take some time to think about what I had said. It went so well. Please be praying that god will work in her heart - and that she will ask me more questions about how to become a Christian. She is such an amazing girl - I really hope that the Holy Spirit beings her to a relationship with Jesus. In any case, is was a very satisfying conversation, and went so well. She and I are starting to spend a lot of time together and get pretty close. I hope that God can use me in her life! As a result of all this I am feeling pretty positive about life!! Thanks, God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
