So, the problem with not spending money on ship internet is that I can't really post whenever I want. This is why a bunch of posts appear at once. Also, I'll have to write my last post from Gibralter.
Thanks to all who have read my blog this time around. I've really had a good time this cruise. My next plans to get on a ship are the 6 weeks I have free in December and early January. I've requested they put me on a ship that sails out of NY, but who knows. I've been told that it's fairly easy to get on a ship for the holidays since everyone wants to come home.
As I did last time, I'll be posting all of my pictures on webshots when I get home. So, I'll include the link once again when they're up.
If you're wondering, it all was as cool as I made it sound. Sometimes, cooler.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Internet
I'm sorry I haven't been posting as often as I'd like. I've actually been writing these entries fairly regularly. However, I was determined to only use 1 internet card. So, when that ran out, I've been left to wait for good internet ports. I'll get internet in Barcelona, on Wednesday in Gibralter, and then hopefully once more.
I can't believe I come home in a week. Starting to think about Wild Mike's next Wednesday. Also, can't believe that when I come back, there will be no Kevin and Emily, no Breighan, no Kim G, no Illana, no Brett. However, there will be 2 shows that need music directing. ...and probably much fewer European landmarks than I have here.
I can't believe I come home in a week. Starting to think about Wild Mike's next Wednesday. Also, can't believe that when I come back, there will be no Kevin and Emily, no Breighan, no Kim G, no Illana, no Brett. However, there will be 2 shows that need music directing. ...and probably much fewer European landmarks than I have here.
Adventures in Wine
On my last contract, my very favorite couple, Shane and Bridgett decided to wait until after I had been to Italy already for the last time to request that I buy them some Italian wine. Instead, I attempted to buy them some Spanish wine in Malaga. Since it was at the end of my contract, I didn't have any Euro on me, and the wonderful wine shop I found didn't take credit cards. So, I came home empty-handed (wine-wise)
Flash forward to now. Each time I've been to italy, I have not been anywhere near a wine shop. The one time I saw one in Rome, we were on a tour and I couldn't stop. Then we returned to Malaga. Cash in hand, I was very excited to find that wonderful old wine shop I had found on my last trip. Sadly, it seems that the wine shop no longer exists there. I can't be certain, but there was a brand new sex shop that definitely wasn't there last time and is right around where I remember the wine shop being. I decided that sexy Spanish massage oil was not the same as wine, so no gifts for Bridgett there (...hi Mrs. Mamola!)
Today I was in Nice and passed by a cute little wine shop on the way to the center of the city. I asked the shopkeeper "Parles vous Anglaise?" He replied "Only a little." I replied "Je parle un tres tres petite Francais." That ended the French-speaking part of our interaction. By "a little," he meant he could hold a simple conversation. By "tres petite" I meant that I could formulate enough French to explain, in French, that I wouldn't be speaking any more French to him.
After helping me pick out a local red wine, I pulled out the 100 Euro bill I had been given in the hotel in Lisbon. I had no credit card with me, so that was my only currency. He looked at the bill an unually long time, moving it back and forth and trying to catch it in the light. Dissatisfied, he showed it to his wife who seemed a little more approving of it. "I'm sorry, I can't take this, I'm just not sure about it. Do you have a credit card?" So, my malagan attempt at a wine purchase was foiled for lack of cash and now it seemed that my French attempt would be foiled by lack of credit card. But, unwilling to be put off (and failing at getting anyone else to make change), I went to the ATM and took out some smaller bills and bought some lovely local red wine from Nice for my favorite couple.
...complete with a story filled with sex shops and international intrigue in the form of suspicion of Euro counterfeiting.
Flash forward to now. Each time I've been to italy, I have not been anywhere near a wine shop. The one time I saw one in Rome, we were on a tour and I couldn't stop. Then we returned to Malaga. Cash in hand, I was very excited to find that wonderful old wine shop I had found on my last trip. Sadly, it seems that the wine shop no longer exists there. I can't be certain, but there was a brand new sex shop that definitely wasn't there last time and is right around where I remember the wine shop being. I decided that sexy Spanish massage oil was not the same as wine, so no gifts for Bridgett there (...hi Mrs. Mamola!)
Today I was in Nice and passed by a cute little wine shop on the way to the center of the city. I asked the shopkeeper "Parles vous Anglaise?" He replied "Only a little." I replied "Je parle un tres tres petite Francais." That ended the French-speaking part of our interaction. By "a little," he meant he could hold a simple conversation. By "tres petite" I meant that I could formulate enough French to explain, in French, that I wouldn't be speaking any more French to him.
After helping me pick out a local red wine, I pulled out the 100 Euro bill I had been given in the hotel in Lisbon. I had no credit card with me, so that was my only currency. He looked at the bill an unually long time, moving it back and forth and trying to catch it in the light. Dissatisfied, he showed it to his wife who seemed a little more approving of it. "I'm sorry, I can't take this, I'm just not sure about it. Do you have a credit card?" So, my malagan attempt at a wine purchase was foiled for lack of cash and now it seemed that my French attempt would be foiled by lack of credit card. But, unwilling to be put off (and failing at getting anyone else to make change), I went to the ATM and took out some smaller bills and bought some lovely local red wine from Nice for my favorite couple.
...complete with a story filled with sex shops and international intrigue in the form of suspicion of Euro counterfeiting.
My Sister's daughter is my Nice OR Yes we Cannes
Today I went on another pax tour to Nice in the French Riviera. It wasn't all that exciting except that we had about an hour free in a farmer's market in the center of town. For 1 Euro I purchased a wonderful baguette of crusty French bread. It was pretty amazing. Also, I found a wine shop to purchase some wine for Shane and Bridgett (see next post).
The better part of the day was when I got back, walking around Cannes. Although it was very hot, the air was amazing. It was somehow lighter and cleaner than other air. Hard to describe. Cannes is a great combination of old Hollywood, Miami nightlife and beach front, and French Riviera. I was sad we didn't have an overnight here because I imagine it becomes a wonderful party town at night with all the clubs along the beach. I visited the event center for the Cannes film festival, complete with red-carpetted stairs and hand prints in the cement with signatures such as Anthony Quinn, Mickey mouse, and David Lynch. For those that follow the show Entourage, I took some pictures of spots I remembered for the Season 4 finale in which the crew goes to Cannes.
All in all, it was a great day out. I would highly recommend Cannes for honeymooning since you could spend your days on the beach or visitng the French countryside of Nice, Monacao, or Monte Carlo (even a night in Monte Carlo would be fun) and then go out at night.
The better part of the day was when I got back, walking around Cannes. Although it was very hot, the air was amazing. It was somehow lighter and cleaner than other air. Hard to describe. Cannes is a great combination of old Hollywood, Miami nightlife and beach front, and French Riviera. I was sad we didn't have an overnight here because I imagine it becomes a wonderful party town at night with all the clubs along the beach. I visited the event center for the Cannes film festival, complete with red-carpetted stairs and hand prints in the cement with signatures such as Anthony Quinn, Mickey mouse, and David Lynch. For those that follow the show Entourage, I took some pictures of spots I remembered for the Season 4 finale in which the crew goes to Cannes.
All in all, it was a great day out. I would highly recommend Cannes for honeymooning since you could spend your days on the beach or visitng the French countryside of Nice, Monacao, or Monte Carlo (even a night in Monte Carlo would be fun) and then go out at night.
You down with P-O-P-E? Yeah you know me
Pax tours are a great thing. I haven't mentioned them before since I haven't had a chance to go on one. Yesterday we were in Italy and I signed up to escort a pax (passenger) tour to Rome and the Vatican. Since all tours are given through independent companies, the ship sends crew members along as representatives of the company to make sure everything goes smoothly. For the crew, we get to go on $300 passenger tours for free.
The tour first went to the Colloseum for some photos and the Trevi Fountain. I've been to both of those places recently so it didn't have the same impact as the first trip, but still fun.
After lunch, we headed to the Vatican. Because (ideally), there's no talking in the Sistine chapel, outside in the square are replications of the artwork so that the tour guides can explain it all before we go in. Although my guide was very informative, he wasn't very interesting. So, I found myself shutting off the little earpiece we heard our guide through and listening to some of the other tourguides talk about the art.
The Sistine chapel itself is down a series of stairs and hallways - each one filled with countless paintings and sculptures. Some of my favorites were in some special style of painting made to look like marble carving, but actually just painted on flat walls. I took pictures: it's pretty amazing.
When you finally enter the Sistine chapel itself, you're impressed by the simplicity with which they've preserved the room. Almost all of the lighting was through windows. It made you really think about the 8 years Michaelangelo spent on his back on the ceiling, ruining his eyes to complete this project. And there's the creation of man painted unassumingly above you. I'll admit, it was a little smaller than I had imagined.
After that, St. Peter's Basilica was quite impressive. The large Golden frame (I went off from the group a little, so I didn't actually learn what it really is), reminded me a lot of the giant black curtain in the Ministry of magic from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Before we got on the bus to head back, we stopped by the gift shop (whose motto is "Our prices Vat-i-can't be beat"). Outside the gift shop was a little cart with gelato and drinks and things like that and eventually we saw some monks walk up. I wondered if they get a discount.
The tour first went to the Colloseum for some photos and the Trevi Fountain. I've been to both of those places recently so it didn't have the same impact as the first trip, but still fun.
After lunch, we headed to the Vatican. Because (ideally), there's no talking in the Sistine chapel, outside in the square are replications of the artwork so that the tour guides can explain it all before we go in. Although my guide was very informative, he wasn't very interesting. So, I found myself shutting off the little earpiece we heard our guide through and listening to some of the other tourguides talk about the art.
The Sistine chapel itself is down a series of stairs and hallways - each one filled with countless paintings and sculptures. Some of my favorites were in some special style of painting made to look like marble carving, but actually just painted on flat walls. I took pictures: it's pretty amazing.
When you finally enter the Sistine chapel itself, you're impressed by the simplicity with which they've preserved the room. Almost all of the lighting was through windows. It made you really think about the 8 years Michaelangelo spent on his back on the ceiling, ruining his eyes to complete this project. And there's the creation of man painted unassumingly above you. I'll admit, it was a little smaller than I had imagined.
After that, St. Peter's Basilica was quite impressive. The large Golden frame (I went off from the group a little, so I didn't actually learn what it really is), reminded me a lot of the giant black curtain in the Ministry of magic from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Before we got on the bus to head back, we stopped by the gift shop (whose motto is "Our prices Vat-i-can't be beat"). Outside the gift shop was a little cart with gelato and drinks and things like that and eventually we saw some monks walk up. I wondered if they get a discount.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Spa Day
Another discovery I made was that on certain nights, the spa closes for a couple of hours and is open for the crew to use for free. So, sunburn and all, I went with some of the band to the spa after our second show (I DO work here and there..).
WE went into the sauna first. This was not fun at first. The last thing my sunburn wanted was to be in an 8 billion degree room for a long period of time. But, after sweating for a while, it seemed to help. Following the sauna came the ice bath. Outside the sauna was a hottub filled with very cold water. I'm not sure how to describe it other than it was very cold. The combination of the sauna and the water turned out to be great though. I could barely feel my sunburn anymore.
The guys seemed to think this was exfoliating and good for a sunburn. Does anyone know if that's true or not? It did make it feel better ultimately.
And, even though I'm writing about sunning and spas, I do play shows every day. They're just, thankfully uneventful.
WE went into the sauna first. This was not fun at first. The last thing my sunburn wanted was to be in an 8 billion degree room for a long period of time. But, after sweating for a while, it seemed to help. Following the sauna came the ice bath. Outside the sauna was a hottub filled with very cold water. I'm not sure how to describe it other than it was very cold. The combination of the sauna and the water turned out to be great though. I could barely feel my sunburn anymore.
The guys seemed to think this was exfoliating and good for a sunburn. Does anyone know if that's true or not? It did make it feel better ultimately.
And, even though I'm writing about sunning and spas, I do play shows every day. They're just, thankfully uneventful.
Sun
So, to start at the end, I have a sunburn. Two days ago, I was introduced to the sundeck. On deck 8 forward there's a little strip of deck with a tiny pool that some of the crew (I'm guessing the same crew that can eat in the buffet upstairs) can use to lay out or go for a quick swim.
Yesterday, we were in Malaga, Spain. I went to the beach with Nelshah (pictures to come). Trying to be smart, I put sunblock on all over. ...Then I went swimming.
So, now I have a sunburn on my arms and my shins. Except, for some reason, for a small oval on my shoulder. I didn't have anything on my to cause that, but there's a perfect oval of pale on my shoulder.
Yesterday, we were in Malaga, Spain. I went to the beach with Nelshah (pictures to come). Trying to be smart, I put sunblock on all over. ...Then I went swimming.
So, now I have a sunburn on my arms and my shins. Except, for some reason, for a small oval on my shoulder. I didn't have anything on my to cause that, but there's a perfect oval of pale on my shoulder.
Room Service II
I ordered room service tonight because I worked straight from 5:30-9:30 and then worked out. Omlette with everything, turkey club, and fruit plate. I felt guilty when the guy came with the food since we're both crew but he's working and bringing me food and I'm...ordering room service.
On the plus side, the omlette was hot and delicious!
On the plus side, the omlette was hot and delicious!
food
Since I know that many of you are interested (for some reason), I thought I'd let you know that I ordered room service last night for the first time. For the price of a $2 tip, I had a lovely turkey club and some chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Room service was particularly useful since I've been working out regularly again and need to eat a little more often. The buffet upstairs, which I could normally get fruit and thing from around 10:30 or so, was closed in preparation for the "chocoholic buffet" they do once a cruise.
They create these amazing chocolate sculptures and then give everyone 20 minutes or so to photgraph them before they open the buffet. It's a well thought-out program.
Tonight is the last night of the cruise which is great because I will have learned just about all the music I need to for the next 2 weeks. It's mostly repeats. Ugh, I still have these damn cookies staring me in the face. I'm trying to go through them slowly...but they're sooo tasty.
They create these amazing chocolate sculptures and then give everyone 20 minutes or so to photgraph them before they open the buffet. It's a well thought-out program.
Tonight is the last night of the cruise which is great because I will have learned just about all the music I need to for the next 2 weeks. It's mostly repeats. Ugh, I still have these damn cookies staring me in the face. I'm trying to go through them slowly...but they're sooo tasty.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Food
Since I know that many of you are interested (for some reason), I thought I'd let you know that I ordered room service last night for the first time. For the price of a $2 tip, I had a lovely turkey club and some chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Room service was particularly useful since I've been working out regularly again and need to eat a little more often. The buffet upstairs, which I could normally get fruit and thing from around 10:30 or so, was closed in preparation for the "chocoholic buffet" they do once a cruise.
They create these amazing chocolate sculptures and then give everyone 20 minutes or so to photgraph them before they open the buffet. It's a well thought-out program.
Tonight is the last night of the cruise which is great because I will have learned just about all the music I need to for the next 2 weeks. It's mostly repeats. Ugh, I still have these damn cookies staring me in the face. I'm trying to go through them slowly...but they're sooo tasty.
They create these amazing chocolate sculptures and then give everyone 20 minutes or so to photgraph them before they open the buffet. It's a well thought-out program.
Tonight is the last night of the cruise which is great because I will have learned just about all the music I need to for the next 2 weeks. It's mostly repeats. Ugh, I still have these damn cookies staring me in the face. I'm trying to go through them slowly...but they're sooo tasty.
Legs
So, normally at home I go for a 3-4 mile run at least once a week (Not doing too much cardio helps me keep some weight on). Since Cincinnati is the City of 7 Hills (and also the Queen City...Fav), there's always at least one or two steep hills to run up. Being on the ship, I havn't had that advantage and I can feel my leg muscles suffering. So, I've made a pact to only use stairs, particularly on the way up. This is great because I live on deck 4 and the buffet that I eat at is on deck 12. That's 8 solid flights twice a day to go eat.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
busy
Sorry it's been a couple days. The past two days have been some of my busiest since i've been on the ship. A combination of practicing, rehearsing, and performing has kept me at the keyboard for about 8-10 hrs each day for the past couple of days. The plus side is that performances have been well received. However, after that much playing, I can start to feel it in my wrists.
Today I went to Gibralter and walked around (took a picture of the rock of Gibralter). It was hot and touristy. Today the band has to take a promotional photo for the "white hot party" in white shirts. Rumor is that there will be some extra buttons unbuttoned on our shirts since it's supposed to be a sexy picture. They wanted to make sure to take the picture while I'm here since the guy I'm subbing for is fairly old and not so much with the young and sexy. I told them that anyone that says "quick, take the sexy picture before Brian leaves" is in a bad situation.
Tonight the showband is repeating the jazz jam that we did for the crew last week. This time we're doing it at one of the bars for the passengers. It remains to be seen if we can capture the atmosphere that we had with the crew for the passengers. Many of the band is skeptical about that. I'll let you know.
PS - we shot a promotional video for the band just now and ended it with a jump freeze! (my idea)
Today I went to Gibralter and walked around (took a picture of the rock of Gibralter). It was hot and touristy. Today the band has to take a promotional photo for the "white hot party" in white shirts. Rumor is that there will be some extra buttons unbuttoned on our shirts since it's supposed to be a sexy picture. They wanted to make sure to take the picture while I'm here since the guy I'm subbing for is fairly old and not so much with the young and sexy. I told them that anyone that says "quick, take the sexy picture before Brian leaves" is in a bad situation.
Tonight the showband is repeating the jazz jam that we did for the crew last week. This time we're doing it at one of the bars for the passengers. It remains to be seen if we can capture the atmosphere that we had with the crew for the passengers. Many of the band is skeptical about that. I'll let you know.
PS - we shot a promotional video for the band just now and ended it with a jump freeze! (my idea)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Duomo Origato, Mr. Roboto
Today I arranged to meet Kim G, a good friend of mine from Cincinnati, in Florence. The difficulty of getting to Florence, as with most famous landlocked European cities, is the various chains of transportation required. At this port (Livorno), you need a shuttle bus from the ship to the town (5E, though I got on before the ticket person was there, so I saved that), then you take a public bus from the town to the train station (1E), then you take an hour and 20 minute train ride into Florence.
I made it to the train exactly 1 minute before it departed at 9:11am, getting me into Florence at 10:50, an hour before I was to meet Kim. I figured I'd find our meeting sport and then walk around a bit. I had very DaVinci Code-like instructions about our meeting spot: We'll meet across from the golden doors of the Baptistry. She didn't say anything about a murderous albino or anything, but still kind of cool. I wandered about the streets of Florence around the Duomo for a while, stumbling across a duet of a guitar and clarinet. They provided a wonderful soundtrack for my walk through Florence. That is, until they started playing Girl From Ipanema. Not so Florence.
Kim spotted me very easily as soon as I walked into the Piazza, making my trip 2/2 in finding Cincinnati friends in strange cities with no trouble. Since it was Sunday, it was difficult to figure out when/if you could go inside. So. instead we walked to the Ponti Vecchio Bridge, took some pictures, and then enjoyed some pizza and wine. Two things there are an abundance of in Florence. After a very enjoyable lunch, I had a decision to make. There was a 2:30 and a 3:30 train back to Livorno. In theory, the 3:30 train would get back at 4:50, giving me over an hour to get from the station to the ship. But, if that train got cancelled, I would not only be late for the crew's on-board time, but could potentially miss the ship altogether. So, I made the responsible decision to get on the 2:30 train.
This was hard for multiple reasons. Mostly, because Kim is moving to Florida so this is the last time I'll see her for a while. Kim and I got some gelatto (my #1 goal while visiting Italy this time around), and I got on the train. It turns out I made the right decision. After taking the 2:30 train, I walked on the ship at 4:30. This means that if I took the 3:30 and all things went the same, I'd have gotten on the ship at 5:30. This means that if there was a half hour delay anywhere in the return trip I would have been late.
Sadly, I didn't get to see the state of David while I was there. If I go anywhere next time I'm at this port it'd be to Pisa (which is only a 20 minute train ride or so). Though, chances are I won't bother spending the 13E round-trip just to see the leaning tower of Pisa. We'll see how much money I've spent by then I guess.
I made it to the train exactly 1 minute before it departed at 9:11am, getting me into Florence at 10:50, an hour before I was to meet Kim. I figured I'd find our meeting sport and then walk around a bit. I had very DaVinci Code-like instructions about our meeting spot: We'll meet across from the golden doors of the Baptistry. She didn't say anything about a murderous albino or anything, but still kind of cool. I wandered about the streets of Florence around the Duomo for a while, stumbling across a duet of a guitar and clarinet. They provided a wonderful soundtrack for my walk through Florence. That is, until they started playing Girl From Ipanema. Not so Florence.
Kim spotted me very easily as soon as I walked into the Piazza, making my trip 2/2 in finding Cincinnati friends in strange cities with no trouble. Since it was Sunday, it was difficult to figure out when/if you could go inside. So. instead we walked to the Ponti Vecchio Bridge, took some pictures, and then enjoyed some pizza and wine. Two things there are an abundance of in Florence. After a very enjoyable lunch, I had a decision to make. There was a 2:30 and a 3:30 train back to Livorno. In theory, the 3:30 train would get back at 4:50, giving me over an hour to get from the station to the ship. But, if that train got cancelled, I would not only be late for the crew's on-board time, but could potentially miss the ship altogether. So, I made the responsible decision to get on the 2:30 train.
This was hard for multiple reasons. Mostly, because Kim is moving to Florida so this is the last time I'll see her for a while. Kim and I got some gelatto (my #1 goal while visiting Italy this time around), and I got on the train. It turns out I made the right decision. After taking the 2:30 train, I walked on the ship at 4:30. This means that if I took the 3:30 and all things went the same, I'd have gotten on the ship at 5:30. This means that if there was a half hour delay anywhere in the return trip I would have been late.
Sadly, I didn't get to see the state of David while I was there. If I go anywhere next time I'm at this port it'd be to Pisa (which is only a 20 minute train ride or so). Though, chances are I won't bother spending the 13E round-trip just to see the leaning tower of Pisa. We'll see how much money I've spent by then I guess.
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