Yep, we have yet another day off....Its because this cruise is so long, and three of the guest entertainers don't require the band. And we've played all of our big band sets, so we're out of stuff to do. We give the other bands days off when we play in the lounges, but there are only so many lounges. Someone has to have the day off. So we're taking one for the team. Its raining pretty hard today, so we aren't very active. Yesterday we played Monopoly, so that's out of our system now. :-) I got lunch with Hayden and then we went to the post office, and now we're using the free internet at Burger King.
English Church went pretty well the other night. People seemed to think it was a success. I was surprised to see one of the girls from the children's program show up, and I think we'll have even more next time. I met a guy who does music ministry, and we are going to meet tonight to rehearse some worship music for next time. He has a guitar and a keyboard. So I'll play keyboard. I'm excited! I want this to keep developing...hopefully we can find some people who aren't leaving for a while to take over. But anyway, it went well. Praise God! Tomorrow is our next meeting. Keep praying! I'm hoping for many new faces next time. And also pray that I won't have to work! I would hate to rehearse for nothing.
I can't believe this cruise is almost over! It has been our longest yet. Two more of these, and then I'm coming home! I can't wait to see everyone. My sign off day is a month from tomorrow. Its hard to believe. Oh, also I'm very concerned about the fires there. You all have to take care of yourselves since I can't be there. It is very scary for me to be so far away when this is happening. I'm praying for the situation and especially that Lake Arrowhead is ok. Take care of yourselves and pray hard!
Finally - I've posted two more photo albums - here are the links!
http://apu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042461&l=a721b&id=56903845
http://apu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042460&l=b9ab4&id=56903845
Mont Blanc
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Going Places
Today I had probably the coolest excursions ever. I really didn’t have any expectations for Odessa – I had no idea what it would be like. It turns out it is a really beautiful good-sized city, with a lot of 18th and 19th century buildings and architecture. The streets are very very wide, which made a huge contrast with what I’ve become accustomed to in our other ports. Odessa is a very green city, with huge trees everywhere – which means that there are a lot of nice colors as its fall now and the leaves are all in some stage of changing color. I was able to take a full day excursion since we don’t have a show tonight, and so I saw a lot!! We saw so much of the city – in one day I took 300 pictures!! Can you believe that?? I can’t.
For lunch we ate in a famous hotel, in a grand hall at the end of which was a stage – and there was a concert just for us as we ate!! And the food was extra gourmet - we’re talking salmon caviar here (yes, I tried it. And, ewww…) And it was a 5 course meal. Our dessert was smoked walnut-stuffed prunes with whipped cream. ?!? I know, strange. There was also vodka (which I tasted….also EWWW!!!) because Russia (and therefore the Ukraine) is famous for it. Anyway, there were some parts of the meal that I actually really enjoyed, including the soup and good old garlic bread. But I really had a lot of fun trying new things. Even if I hated them. ☺
But the highlight of the tour was going to the Odessa Opera House, whose ballet company is supposedly world renowned. The company put on an hour and a half private ballet performance for the tour groups, in the most beautiful opera house. And I had a box seat! I felt very special. The dancers were fantastic. The first half was a more traditional ballet exhibition, and the second half was a condensed version of Bizet’s Carmen. This was really cool for me, because I fell in love with that music years ago, and it was really cool to see it danced. Oh, did I mention live orchestra? There was a live orchestra. In a real pit! Woohoo! (I keep forgetting most places have those….thanks APU and Rim High)
Anyway, it was a pretty full, amazing day. I’m so glad I got to do this excursion! And I hope I get to do more next cruise. Hopefully I’m not working again! Well, I’m off to do my jazz set for the night, and then to English church!
For lunch we ate in a famous hotel, in a grand hall at the end of which was a stage – and there was a concert just for us as we ate!! And the food was extra gourmet - we’re talking salmon caviar here (yes, I tried it. And, ewww…) And it was a 5 course meal. Our dessert was smoked walnut-stuffed prunes with whipped cream. ?!? I know, strange. There was also vodka (which I tasted….also EWWW!!!) because Russia (and therefore the Ukraine) is famous for it. Anyway, there were some parts of the meal that I actually really enjoyed, including the soup and good old garlic bread. But I really had a lot of fun trying new things. Even if I hated them. ☺
But the highlight of the tour was going to the Odessa Opera House, whose ballet company is supposedly world renowned. The company put on an hour and a half private ballet performance for the tour groups, in the most beautiful opera house. And I had a box seat! I felt very special. The dancers were fantastic. The first half was a more traditional ballet exhibition, and the second half was a condensed version of Bizet’s Carmen. This was really cool for me, because I fell in love with that music years ago, and it was really cool to see it danced. Oh, did I mention live orchestra? There was a live orchestra. In a real pit! Woohoo! (I keep forgetting most places have those….thanks APU and Rim High)
Anyway, it was a pretty full, amazing day. I’m so glad I got to do this excursion! And I hope I get to do more next cruise. Hopefully I’m not working again! Well, I’m off to do my jazz set for the night, and then to English church!
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