RAIN!!!

We are in Naples again today, as this is the very first cruise with a different itinerary. We were just here the day before yesterday. This is going to be a 12 day cruise, with a stop and Katakolon, which is the port for Olympia, Greece. I hope I get to do a tour there. This is also Marie's last cruise, which is going to be hard for me. We've lived together and been each other's best friend on board for 4 months. I can't believe she's leaving - things will be totally different without her.

Today we had an amazing blessing - RAIN! This is the first rainy day of my contract. Marie and I were so excited that we walked around Naples for a couple hours in the rain. At one point we were trying to decide where to walk next, and I said something like, "Lets head back down toward the castle", and it hit me how crazy that is. It has become completely normal to say something like that, but if I was at home, that would never happen. It just stopped me in my tracks for a couple minutes. Anyway, we were so thrilled for the rain that we were whooping and yelling and running around when we got off this ship. I guess I should feel bad since rain is a really bad thing for all the guests, and they were giving us mean looks, but it is such a wonderful change for us, we couldn't help but be happy.

We ate lunch at our favorite place in Naples, and here's a tip: If your ever in a port city and want to figure out if a place has good food and decent/low prices, check the walls for signed pictures of cruise ships. Crews always have time to find the best places to eat, and eat there every time, becoming friends with the owners and leaving signed pictures of their ships in the restaurant. Ha ha. So there's Andrea's travel advice for the day. :-)

Tonight's show is a vocalist named Lindsay Hamilton, who swears she knows me from somewhere. She's actually really awesome to work with and down to earth (unusual for a vocalist). She's a star of London's West End. Yep, another one. We have a new one every cruise. :-) Anyway, I like her and her show is alright (even if we do have to play Don't Cry for Me Argentina and Memory, like we do for almost every vocalist). :-) Alright, I have to be backstage in half an hour, so off I go!

Kusadasi, Turkey

Yesterday we had four jazz sets to play, the first being by the pool. That first set was canceled due to wind. Then the last set was canceled because our pianist was needed at a crew event that conflicted. A few hours later, they canceled the other sets, too. So we had the day off, which was nice. Although it would have been nice to know before that afternoon. Ha ha, funny how things work around here. Since we had the night off, Marie, Ben and I decided to try to eat at casual dining. Usually in order to get in you need to have your manager send an email to the head of your department at lest 24 hours in advance, and then they in turn get permission from the restaurant manager....and so on and so forth.... But, after about an hour of waiting around and going to different people's offices, we were able to squeeze our way in. We were surprised that it actually worked, and enjoyed our dinner very much.

The crew event that required our pianist was called the "Celebrity Idol" competition, and about 8 people competed. The event was held in the theatre, with lights, costumes, fog, and everything. It was really well done. Our cruise director Stewart hosted it, and performed at intermission as well as opening the show by singing while wearing an officer's uniform. Mark Donaghue the really nice guest entertainer volunteered to perform for free as well, and the crew really loved that. A couple of our friends competed, which was fun to see. First prize won $500 dollars, and the winner really deserved it. He is a Filipino man with six kids at home who works in the Food and Beverage Department, and he blew us all away with an amazing voice, plus incredible stage presence. It was funny because he was actually the first to perform. None of the others compared, although one was really entertaining - one guy had dressed up in such a way that when he was facing right, he looked like a man wearing a suit, with a beard and mustache and short hair, but when he faced left he looked like a long-haired woman wearing a formal dress, with jewelry, nailpolish, and completely shaved face. Its a bit hard to explain how he did this - it would take too much time. But anyway, he sang a duet with himself - he would face one direction and sing like a guy, and then face the other way and sing the girl part. It was absolutely hilarious. Marie made a video - I'm making sure to get a copy. So anyway, the crew talent show type thing was really awesome and tons of fun.

Tonight we're doing something new - playing one set of big band music at some exclusive Captain's Club event. It should be interesting - I'm looking forward to doing something different.