April 15, 2015 - AT SEA

It's not a bad way to travel! Today is a sea day so I did my normal routine. Sleep in, acupuncture at 10, sun on the Lido deck for an hour, lunch, dance lesson, presentation on the next port of call, gin and tonic, shower for dinner, dinner, dancing, show, back to dancing, and then head to bed. Not a bad life at all!

When I was packing for this trip I brought some canvases and paints, my Zen tangle notebook, and my exercise stretch strap. I planned on losing 20 pounds while I was gone, which is reasonable since it's 55 days.

Well I did paint one picture for Gerry who left in Barcelona; I did draw a couple of days; the exercise stretch strap is still in the closet; the treadmill that has my name on it is broken (what a shame!); And I don't think I put on any weight but I sure as hell didn't lose any. Maybe I'll do better when I go to Italy. WHAT?????

While I was on the Lido deck this morning I noticed an island on the starboard side(now I'm trying to sound professional but I have no idea which is the starboard side or the port side) and the captain happened to be standing there talking to another officer. So I walked up to him and said "I know if no one else you will know the answer to this. What is the name of that island?" He said to me, "well, I'm really not sure; that's why we have navigators on the ship. But I will have the answer for you when I make my announcement at 12:45." He came over about 10 minutes later while I was having lunch to inform me that it was the island of Cyprus I thanked him and we both had a good laugh.

Tomorrow we are in Turkey.

CASTELLON DA PLANA, SPAIN

  ..."Once you have travelled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey."...Pat Conroy

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2015 – CASTELLON

NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS PORT. I HEARD THAT THIS IS A NEW PORT FOR HOLLAND AMERICA…WELL I HOPE THEY TAKE IT OFF THE SCHEDULE.

WE HAD A VERY NICE WELCOME; LOCAL MUSICIANS PLAYING, WELCOMING EVERYONE OFF THE SHIP AND UNLIMITED FRESH SQUEEZED VALENCIA ORANGE JUICE. BUT IT WAS A LONG WAY INTO THE CITY AND IF YOU WEREN’T ON A TOUR, IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING AROUND ON YOUR OWN. SIGNAGE WAS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT.

BUT, I DID FIND A NEAT LITTLE STORE AND SINCE I NEEDED A WEDGE SHOE SO I DON’T WADDLE AROUND WITH ME BOOT, I WAS ABLE TO GET 3 PAIR…DAYTIME, BLACK EVENING AND BONE EVENING…SO I’LL BE READY TO DANCE AS SOON AS THE SWELLING GOES DOWN! ALSO FOUND A FEW PURSES AND SCARVES.

THEY REALLY DO KNOW HOW TO MAKE PASTRIES, BUT EVEN BETTER…THEIR HOT CHOCOLATE IS THE GOOD OLE EUROPEAN HOT CHOCOLATE….JUST LIKE WARM, COOKED PUDDING…SO THICK AND CHOCOLATY …HMMM, HMMM GOOD!

IT WAS BACK TO THE SHIP FOR OUR FAREWELL DINNER TO GERRY OUR FRIEND AND TABLE MATE.

I’M LOSING A DEAR FRIEND TONIGHT. GERRY IS DISEMBARKING IN BARCELONA TOMORROW AND SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED. WE WERE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME DINNER TABLE AND WE HIT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. GERRY IS ONE IN A MILLION. SHE IS 92 YEARS YOUNG AND HAS MORE STAMINA THAN I DO!

SHE LOVES CRUISING AND HAS BEEN ON THE PRINSENDAM SEVERAL TIMES….SHE LIKES TO BOOK THE LONGER CRUISES BECAUSE HOLLAND AMERICA HAS DANCE HOSTS ON CRUISES OVER 45 DAYS.  SCHEDULED HER NEXT CRUISE FOR SEPTEMBER OUT OF SAN DIEGO AND WILL BE BACK ON THE PRINSENDAM NEXT YEAR FOR THIS SAME CRUISE. SHE’S TRYING TO TALK ME INTO DOING IT, TOO. SHE NEVER GOES INTO THE CITIES WHEN WE DOCK; SHE STAYS ON THE SHIP.

GERRY TOLD ME SHE MET HER SECOND HUSBAND ON THE PRINSENDAM AND THEY WERE MARRIED 2 MONTHS LATER. HE ACTUALLY ASKED HER ON THE PHONE!!

SHE LOVES TO DANCE AND SHE HAD HER FAVORITE DANCE HOSTS FOR CERTAIN DANCES. SHE LOVES DOING THE 2-STEP WITH GEOFF, BUT SHE ALSO LOVES DANCING WITH RAY…SHE LIKES THAT WAY HE LEADS.

EVERY NIGHT WE WOULD FINISH DINNER AND GERRY WOULD HEAD TO HER ROOM TO BRUSH HER TEETH AND THEN INTO THE OCEAN BAR WHERE WE WOULD DANCE TILL IT WAS SHOWTIME. SHE WOULD DO THE TWO-STEP, JIVE, CHA-CHA, RHUMBA, WALTZ…SHE KNOWS THEM ALL AND SHE DOESN’T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT!

AFTER THE SHOW, IT’S BACK TO THE DANCE FLOOR WHERE SHE’D GO UNTIL THE BAND TOOK A BREAK AND THEN CALL IT A NIGHT.

SHE WOULD GET SO MAD AT ME BECAUSE I KEPT TELLING ARNIE (THE GUITAR PLAYER) TO PLAY DISCO FOR GERRY (WHICH SHE HATED) AND HE WOULD THEN DEDICATE THE DISCO SONG TO HER.

I ASKED THE GUYS IN THE BAND TO PLAY HER FAVORITE SONGS HER LAST NIGHT AND THEY HIT EVERY ONE! SHE DANCED WITH ALL THE DANCE HOSTS AND THERE WERE A FEW TEARS DOING OUR GOODBYE. I WILL REALLY MISS HER!

THE DANCE HOSTS –



 

Geoff, Ray, Stan, Emero

DANCE HOSTS ARE HIRED BY HOLLAND ON LONG CRUISES FOR THOSE LADIES TRAVELING ALONE. THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR AIRFARE TO AND FROM, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE. IF THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO ASSIST ON AN EXCURSION THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEY DO GET A DAY OFF EVERY WEEK OR SO.  THEIR JOB IS TO BE ON THE DANCE FLOOR FROM 5 – 6 PM,  7:30 – 8:30 PM, AND THEN 9:15PM TILL THERE ARE NO WOMEN ON THE DANCE FLOOR.  CUSHY JOB! THEY ARE NOT MARRIED (BUT I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S A REQUIREMENT). THEY’RE A REALLY NICE GROUP OF GUYS.

STAN IS FROM VANCOUVER AND A GREAT TEACHER.  HE’S BEEN A DANCE HOST FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HE WAS THE FIRST ONE I DANCED WITH AND I LIKE DOING THE MERANGUE WITH HIM.

EMERO IS FROM CANADA; HE AND HIS FAMILY EMIGRATED FROM EYGPT WHEN HE WAS IN HIS 20S HE HAS 3 SISTERS AND THEY AND HIS MOTHER ARE IN CANADA AND THE STATES. HIS FATHER DIED WHENHE WAS YOUNG AND SO HE WAS THE MAN OF THE FAMILY.

AS FAR AS HIS DANCING,  HE STARTS A DANCE THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE AND THEN HE STARTS PUTTING IN HIS OWN STEPS AND CHANGES EVERYTHING SO BY THE END OF A DANCE A WALTZ OR RHUMBA TURNS INTO A DANCE STYLE THAT ONLY HIS BRAIN KNOWS HOW TO DO AND HE PROBABLY COULDN’T DUPLICATE IT IF HE TRIED. I MAKE FUN OF HIM AND WE LAUGH A LOT AND HE KNOWS I’M BUSTIN’ HIS CHOPS.

HE TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT HE STUDIED PSYCHOLOGY AND HE HAS ME PEGGED….I DON’T THINK SO!

HE IS NOT YET RETIRED; HE SAID HE JUST GOT HIS DEGREE LAST YEAR (DIDN’T SAY IN WHAT) AND HE IS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON WAYS TO PREVENT FLOODING IN HIS AREA AND HE’S HOPING TO GET A CONSULTING JOB WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

GEOFF IS FROM WALES..GREAT ACCENT AND A PRETTY GOOD GUY. HE USED TO BE A BLACKJACK DEALER IN THE U.K. AND HE GAVE ME SOME TIPS AS I WAS HEADING TO THE CASINO ONE NIGHT AND I NEVER REALLY PLAYED BLACKJACK FOR REAL (WELL, I PLAYED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND ONLY LOST $10!!! NOT BAD!)

RAY HAILS FROM FLORIDA….STONECREST (JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE VILLAGES). THIS IS HIS FIRST CRUISE AS A DANCE HOST. HE’S A VERY GOOD DANCER AND HAS A GIRLFRIEND IN THE VILLAGES; THEY DO A LOT OF DANCING AT KATIE BELLE’S. I LIKE DANCING WITH RAY; I CAN FOLLOW HIM EASIER THAN THE OTHERS.

               
 
 

HAIFA, ISRAEL

April 14, 2015 -- HAIFA, ISRAEL

Today is a 10 hour tour and hopefully will be more exciting than yesterday. We are heading to a national park, lunch at a kibbutz, and then we head over to the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, and the Golan Heights. Israel is bordered by Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and lies along the Mediterranean….or surrounded by the Red, Dead, and Med.

I opted to stay on the bus during the national Park visit since I knew that there would be a lot more walking ahead. I was told by some of the other tourists that I was very smart doing what I did.

We had the same tour guide is yesterday, much to my regret, but luckily the Rabbi was the escort so I thought we would have more details and correct information.(In talking with the Rabbi later in the day it turned out that the guide was giving misinformation and had no idea what she was talking about and was arguing with the Rabbi. Don't mess with the Rabbi!) The guide asked for one of the tourist to read out of the Bible when we were at Capernaum. As soon as she mentioned reading out of the Bible approximately 8 of the 34 people walked away. I can understand their dismay… I don't feel that she should have been reading the Bible to a mixed group of people.

Lunch at the kibbutz was about the same as yesterday… There was more than enough food and unlimited wine at the table. They had a souvenir shop in the kibbutz building… They are very proud of their souvenirs and the price shows it.

The afternoon brought us to the Sea of Galilee and finally I felt I was in a holy place. We were at Capernaum, home of St. Peter and the synagogue where Christ taught. It was a very moving experience to see the synagogue. A church was built upon St. Peter's home and part of the floor with a laugh so that you could see the actual foundation and walls from the home. It was a very serene area and luckily there are not that many tourists which made it all the better. There was a boat on the sea and you could almost imagine Christ telling his apostles to throw the net into the water together the fish.

We then went on to the River Jordan where Christ was baptized by John. One of the women told me that she was there 30 years ago and there was nothing there but the river; today we have ramps and stairs and plants and trees and gift shops and bathrooms and souvenirs and anything else you want including towels if you decide to go into the river to baptize yourself!?!?

There was a bus load of pilgrims from Trinidad and Tobago and they were all going into the river immersing themselves completely and being baptized by I assume a priest. It was a very pretty area and if you turned your back to the shops and all the other distractions you can imagine what it was like 2000 years ago.

 Onto the Golan Heights. This drive was amazing! Traveling on a very narrow switchback road we traveled upwards to I believe 2000 meters. As we were traveling up the guide told us that the land on the left-hand side was once part of Syria before the War. The Golan Heights is bordered by Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. As we were traveling up we came to a Syrian checkpoint…

About 1/4 mile off the road. The bus stopped but the guide said we couldn't stay there very long and so we continued on. When we reach the top of the Heights you can see why the Israelis wanted it. It is a very fertile region where they are growing wheat and other grains. About 20,000 people live in the Golan Heights and of course there was a kibbutz in the area. We stopped at an overlook which encompass the entire Sea of Galilee and the Heights. It was a magnificent view and it didn't take much to imagine what it was like all those years ago.

 

All in all it was a pretty good day; we got back to the ship around 7:30 and left the port at eight. Too tired to head up to the Lido so was room service, a glass of wine, shower, and bed.

 

A note about my fellow tourists. We have a couple on the cruise from Amsterdam who are both sight impaired. He has macular degeneration and she has a condition where everything looks very misty. They are in their late 40s and they have a guide dog. When they are on a tour he sits up front so he can see and she goes to the back of the bus in the last row so the dog has room. She is to rose from the back door and as soon as she puts the harness on the dog he knows he's going to be going somewhere. Now if you see this going on which you not wait to get off the bus until she has made her way off? Well not this group. The dog is trying to move in these people are rushing to get off the bus like they're going to get a bonus if they are the first ones off. Oh well, I guess it's just human nature I just smile walk with my boot and trip whoever I can with my cane...NOT!

 "I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it."...Rosalia de Castro

JERUSALEM

April 13, 2015 -- Jerusalem

 

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I entered the most holiest of cities, but I can say with certainty that I was little disappointed. It just wasn't what I thought it would be. When I was in Rome I really felt the holiness about the place;  Jerusalem just didn't have it.

But it was an interesting day.

The panoramic view of the city was beautiful. You could see the Dome of the Rock, towers and minarets, the old wall in the new Jerusalem built wall around it.As we were driving towards the old city our guide pointed out the black and white drums on the roofs of the houses. These drums hold water and the black drums represent Muslim homes and the white Jewish.

Our first stop was the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before he was arrested. The church on the site was very dark inside and it was difficult to see much but our guide to point out  the rock where Jesus prayed.

We continued on to the old city, and walking through curved, narrow streets through the Muslim quarter and then the Jewish quarter. Shop after shop after shop trying to get you to come in and buy their "junk".

We went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which was flooded with tourists and those that were on pilgrimage. The church itself is huge and is taking care of by several different religions, since Judaism, Catholicism, and Muslim all claim right to the site. So with the Catholics take care of one part of the church, the Jews another, and the Muslims another. There's a small ladder between two windows on the outside that has been there for years and no one will remove it because they can't decide which sect put it there.

When you walk into the church there is a huge mural which depicts the death of Christ and on the floor in front of it is this stone where he  was laid when he was removed from the cross. Upstairs the last five stations of the cross are depicted, in the Franciscan room is the 10th station, which is very plain, and the next room, which is run by the Byzantine, the 11th and 12th are depicted. This room is very ornate. I was not able to get over to the last because there are just too many people.

We had lunch at a kibbutz which was very interesting and even though we were unsure what kind of food were going to get it was very American... Fish, roast beef, vegetables, hummus, bagels, the usual American fare.

We then continued on and saw the room where the Last Supper was in the tomb of King David. We then walked down, thank goodness, 
 

because I climbed more steps and walked over rough stone and put my foot through such pain, to the Wailing Wall. We were divided men on one side women on the other and of course I place my prayer in one of the cracks of the wall. I have to say I was a bit disappointed with this I really expected more.

One of the tour guides told me that he had a woman in his group that went up to the wall and started crying and wailing and carrying on that everyone was looking at her. She thought that's what she was supposed to do with the Wailing Wall...duh!

Our guide was one in 1 in a million too. She was getting more information from the driver than she knew herself at one point she left her backpack somewhere and had to go back and find it. That took 20 minutes and then she was so flustered that the rest of the day was shot.

It was a long day; nine hours; got back to the ship listen to some music, two glasses of wine, room service, shower, and bed. Tomorrow it's the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights… Another ten-hour day. Good night.

"Every hundred feet the world changes." – – Roberto Bolano

CRETE

Saturday, April 11, 2015 – – Crete

Today we arrive in Iraklion, Crete, to visit the palace of Knossos. I was very excited to see this palace as I’m reading a novel that talks about it in depth. The palace was built by the Minoans approximately 1500BC and contained over 100 rooms. The ruins were not discovered until 1900 and are now fully excavated and partially reconstructed to provide an overview of the complex labyrinth system. We saw the remains of the king’s and queen’s living quarters, the storerooms, potter’s workshop and the theatre.

It is truly a wonder how a civilization had the knowledge and ability to build such massive structures. This is my first visit to Greece and I cannot wait to see the other islands.

Personal note: I’m losing my dance hosts. When  Lesley and Gerry disembarked in Barcelona I had my choice of hosts, but now there are several married women whose husbands do not dance and guess what….yep they are using my men!!

 "It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about traveling." – – Gustave Flaubert

MALTA

HISTORY ABOUNDS IN MALTA. THE KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN HAD ITS ORIGINS IN THE CHRISSTIAN CRUSADES OF THE 11^TH AND 12^TH CENTURY. THE FORTIFICATIONS THEY BUILT IN THE AREA ARE MAGNIFICENT. BUT BEFORE THE KNIGHTS THERE WERE THE  PHOENICIANS, CARTHAGINIANS, ROMANS,  BYZANTINE,  ARABS,  NORMANS, FRENCH,  BRITISH, AND THEN FINALLY, IN 1964 MALTA GAINS INDEPENDENCE.

BACK TO THE KNIGHTS AND THEIR FORTIFICATIONS MAKE FOR A BEAUTIFUL CITY!

 

SORRY, NEED TO POST WHEN I CAN....MORE LATER.

BARCELONA

SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2015 – BARCELONA

BACK IN BARCELONA…AND IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY! EASTER AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE…EVERYWHERE…AT THE BEACH, THE ATTRACTIONS, THE SAGRADA FAMILIA, BUSES, METRO, EVERYWHERE.

I NEVER GOT TO THE GOTHIC QUARTER (EL GOTIC) AND SO I HEADED OUT TODAY ON A MISSION. WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER AND SAW THE CATHEDRAL IT BLEW MY MIND. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.  THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT. I MADE IT INSIDE JUST IN TIME TO RECEIVE COMMUNION. I THOUGHT I’D STAY FOR THE NEXT MASS BUT SOMETHING PULLED ME OUTSIDE.

THERE, ON THE FRONT STEPS OF THE CATHEDRAL WAS A GROUP PLAYING MUSIC AND IN THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH GROUPS OF PEOPLE DANCING, SOME SORT OF CATALUN FOLK DANCE; THE MUSIC WAS SLOW AND THE DANCERS WERE MOVING AROUND IN A CIRCLE; AS THE MUSIC’S TEMPO INCREASED, THEY STARTED JUMPING TO THE MUSIC AND THEN AT THE END THERE WAS A LOUD CHEER. (I’LL TRY TO ATTACH A VIDEO, OTHERWISE CHECK MY FACEBOOK PAGE.)

I LATER TOOK A STROLL THRU THE OLD QUARTER AND IT WAS REALLY NEAT. THE STREETS WERE SO NARROW EVEN A SMALL CAR COULDN’T GET THROUGH BUT LUCKILY THEY DIDN’T EVEN ALLOW SCOOTERS. IT WAS REALLY A MAGICAL PLACE.

I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT EL PARAIGUR…PAELLA WITH RIOJA VINO…MOLTO BENE!

GOT BACK TO THE SHIP JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND TO CHECK OUT THE NEW PEOPLE THAT BOARDED TODAY….INTRUDERS!

THEY'VE OUTLAWED BULLFIGHTING IN BARCELONA AND SO, THEY CHANGE THE BULLRING TO A SHOPPING MALL.











WALKED INTO THE DINING ROOM AND THERE WAS THE EASTER BUNNY! ACTUALLY 2…ONE WHITE, ONE PINK. THE DINING ROOM WAS DECORATED FOR EASTER AND THEY HAD THE NEATEST, BIGGEST EASTER EGGS….ACTUALLY THEY WERE WATERMELONS PAINTED A PATCHWORK OF COLOR!

SUNSET ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.



                …”No matter how deeply you come to know a place, you can keep coming back to know it more.” --- Rebecca Solnit

CASTELLON DE LA PLANA

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2015 – CASTELLON

NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS PORT. I HEARD THAT THIS IS A NEW PORT FOR HOLLAND AMERICA…WELL I HOPE THEY TAKE IT OFF THE SCHEDULE.

WE HAD A VERY NICE WELCOME; LOCAL MUSICIANS PLAYING, WELCOMING EVERYONE OFF THE SHIP AND UNLIMITED FRESH SQUEEZED VALENCIA ORANGE JUICE. BUT IT WAS A LONG WAY INTO THE CITY AND IF YOU WEREN’T ON A TOUR, IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING AROUND ON YOUR OWN. SIGNAGE WAS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT.

BUT, I DID FIND A NEAT LITTLE STORE AND SINCE I NEEDED A WEDGE SHOE SO I DON’T WADDLE AROUND WITH ME BOOT, I WAS ABLE TO GET 3 PAIR…DAYTIME, BLACK EVENING AND BONE EVENING…SO I’LL BE READY TO DANCE AS SOON AS THE SWELLING GOES DOWN! ALSO FOUND A FEW PURSES AND SCARVES.

THEY REALLY DO KNOW HOW TO MAKE PASTRIES, BUT EVEN BETTER…THEIR HOT CHOCOLATE IS THE GOOD OLE EUROPEAN HOT CHOCOLATE….JUST LIKE WARM, COOKED PUDDING…SO THICK AND CHOCOLATY …HMMM, HMMM GOOD!

IT WAS BACK TO THE SHIP FOR OUR FAREWELL DINNER TO GERRY OUR FRIEND AND TABLE MATE.

I’M LOSING A DEAR FRIEND TONIGHT. GERRY IS DISEMBARKING IN BARCELONA TOMORROW AND SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED. WE WERE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME DINNER TABLE AND WE HIT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. GERRY IS ONE IN A MILLION. SHE IS 92 YEARS YOUNG AND HAS MORE STAMINA THAN I DO!

SHE LOVES CRUISING AND HAS BEEN ON THE PRINSENDAM SEVERAL TIMES….SHE LIKES TO BOOK THE LONGER CRUISES BECAUSE HOLLAND AMERICA HAS DANCE HOSTS ON CRUISES OVER 45 DAYS.  SCHEDULED HER NEXT CRUISE FOR SEPTEMBER OUT OF SAN DIEGO AND WILL BE BACK ON THE PRINSENDAM NEXT YEAR FOR THIS SAME CRUISE. SHE’S TRYING TO TALK ME INTO DOING IT, TOO. SHE NEVER GOES INTO THE CITIES WHEN WE DOCK; SHE STAYS ON THE SHIP.

GERRY TOLD ME SHE MET HER SECOND HUSBAND ON THE PRINSENDAM AND THEY WERE MARRIED 2 MONTHS LATER. HE ACTUALLY ASKED HER ON THE PHONE!!

SHE LOVES TO DANCE AND SHE HAD HER FAVORITE DANCE HOSTS FOR CERTAIN DANCES. SHE LOVES DOING THE 2-STEP WITH GEOFF, BUT SHE ALSO LOVES DANCING WITH RAY…SHE LIKES THAT WAY HE LEADS.

EVERY NIGHT WE WOULD FINISH DINNER AND GERRY WOULD HEAD TO HER ROOM TO BRUSH HER TEETH AND THEN INTO THE OCEAN BAR WHERE WE WOULD DANCE TILL IT WAS SHOWTIME. SHE WOULD DO THE TWO-STEP, JIVE, CHA-CHA, RHUMBA, WALTZ…SHE KNOWS THEM ALL AND SHE DOESN’T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT!

AFTER THE SHOW, IT’S BACK TO THE DANCE FLOOR WHERE SHE’D GO UNTIL THE BAND TOOK A BREAK AND THEN CALL IT A NIGHT.

SHE WOULD GET SO MAD AT ME BECAUSE I KEPT TELLING ARNIE (THE GUITAR PLAYER) TO PLAY DISCO FOR GERRY (WHICH SHE HATED) AND HE WOULD THEN DEDICATE THE DISCO SONG TO HER.

I ASKED THE GUYS IN THE BAND TO PLAY HER FAVORITE SONGS HER LAST NIGHT AND THEY HIT EVERY ONE! SHE DANCED WITH ALL THE DANCE HOSTS AND THERE WERE A FEW TEARS DOING OUR GOODBYE. I WILL REALLY MISS HER!

THE DANCE HOSTS –

DANCE HOSTS ARE HIRED BY HOLLAND ON LONG CRUISES FOR THOSE LADIES TRAVELING ALONE. THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR AIRFARE TO AND FROM, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE. IF THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO ASSIST ON AN EXCURSION THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEY DO GET A DAY OFF EVERY WEEK OR SO.  THEIR JOB IS TO BE ON THE DANCE FLOOR FROM 5 – 6 PM,  7:30 – 8:30 PM, AND THEN 9:15PM TILL THERE ARE NO WOMEN ON THE DANCE FLOOR.  CUSHY JOB! THEY ARE NOT MARRIED (BUT I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S A REQUIREMENT). THEY’RE A REALLY NICE GROUP OF GUYS.

STAN IS FROM VANCOUVER AND A GREAT TEACHER.  HE'S STILL WORKING IN SALES AND HE’S BEEN A DANCE HOST FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HE WAS THE FIRST ONE I DANCED WITH AND I LIKE DOING THE MERANGUE WITH HIM.

EMERO IS FROM CANADA; HE AND HIS FAMILY EMIGRATED FROM EYGPT WHEN HE WAS 10. HE STARTS A DANCE THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE AND THEN HE STARTS PUTTING IN HIS OWN STEPS AND CHANGES EVERYTHING SO BY THE END OF A DANCE A WALTZ OR RHUMBA TURNS INTO A DANCE STYLE THAT ONLY HIS BRAIN KNOWS HOW TO DO AND HE PROBABLY COULDN’T DUPLICATE IT IF HE TRIED.

HE TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT HE STUDIED PSYCHOLOGY AND HE HAS ME PEGGED….I DON’T THINK SO!

GEOFF IS FROM WALES..GREAT ACCENT AND A PRETTY GOOD GUY. HE USED TO BE A BLACKJACK DEALER IN THE U.K. AND HE GAVE ME SOME TIPS AS I WAS HEADING TO THE CASINO ONE NIGHT AND I NEVER REALLY PLAYED BLACKJACK FOR REAL (WELL, I PLAYED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND ONLY LOST $10!!! NOT BAD!)

RAY HAILS FROM FLORIDA….STONECREST (JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE VILLAGES). THIS IS HIS FIRST CRUISE AS A DANCE HOST. HE’S A VERY GOOD DANCER AND HAS A GIRLFRIEND IN THE VILLAGES; THEY DO A LOT OF DANCING AT KATIE BELLE’S. I LIKE DANCING WITH RAY; I CAN FOLLOW HIM EASIER THAN THE OTHERS.

                …”All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” --- Martin Buber

HOLY WEEK IN SPAIN

"It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about traveling." – – Gustave Flaubert




I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THE PAGENTRY AND FERVOR OF HOLY WEEK HERE IN SPAIN. I'VE COPIED SOME INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET....IT IS TRULY WORTH SEARCHING AND SEEING SOME OF THE OUTFITS THAT ARE WORN AND THE BEAUTIFUL....LACK OF ANOTHER WORD...FLOATS...THAT BRING THE BEAUTY TO THIS WEEK.  I'LL TRY TO POST A VIDEO OF WHAT I SAW IN CADIZ...EITHER IN THE BLOG OR ON FACEBOOK.

I'M NOT THAT MUCH OF A RELIGIOUS PERSON, BUT WATCHING THS BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES!  yes...I do have tears!!!!!

Holy Week, Semana Santa, in Andalucia is an event that literally transforms towns and cities across this region. Processions of elaborately decorated floats with Jesus and Mary statues, groups of pointy-hood wearing Nazarenos (penitents), and shrill brass bands, walk slowly through the streets, from their parish church to the cathedral and back. It is an amazing experience, and a great time to come to Andalucia if you want to imbibe some deeply-held traditions that have less to do with religion than with social groupings and rituals. Many people avoid this time of year to visit Andalucia, but if you come prepared, both for the crowds and the inflated prices, then it is well worth the effort. You will never see anything like it again.

 

If you want major pageantry and rich, bejewelled Virgins, Malaga or Seville are the cities to head for. Seville has 60 brotherhoods, some with as many as 2000 members. The biggest stars of the show are the Virgins of Macarena and Triana, both of which make their grand appearance at 'La Madrugada', the small hours of Good Friday.

From Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday traffic is closed off in city centres and the solemn processions take over in the afternoons (so be sure to do your shopping in the morning). The aroma of burning candles, the passionate strains of a late night saeta and the mournful trumpets that accompany images of Christ and the Virgin Mary create an other-wordly ambience that can transport even the most casual observer to another time and place.

But you don't have to be in a big city to get the Semana Santa vibe - villages and towns of every size have their own celebrations, and each province offers its own variation on the Holy Week theme, with many festivities declared to be of National Interest for Tourists.

If you really want to understand Semana Santa in Andalucia, then you need to learn about the groups of people who are at the heart of it all - the cofrades or members of cofradías, the religious associations that care for the images of Christ and Mary that are used in the processions and that meet throughout the year for various activities and to plan the next Holy Week celebrations and events in their local area.

In the heart of these organisations we find the history of present day Holy Week celebrations in Andalucia. It all goes back to when the cofradías formed in the 16th century and were provided with regulations by the Council of Trent to ensure that they based themselves on true Catholic doctrines and did not include any pagan or unnecessary traditions.

There are three types of cofradías:
Penitenciales
De Gloria
Sacramentales

Only the penitenciales participate in the Holy Week parades around Andalucia. Their historical purpose has been to bring silent Catholic convictions out into the light of day at specific times of the year - such as Holy Week - in order to bring the liturgy out of the church to the people in the street.

Members of Cofradías take their responsibilities very seriously. They are highly organised groups with governing bodies and committees. Everyone has a role to play and news of these groups will appear in local press from time to time throughout the year with information becoming more and more frequent as Semana Santa nears.

Watch a Semana Santa procession

Holy week processions throughout Andalucia may differ according to the traditions of each city or town. However, there is a general order to most, starting with a large cross, cruz de guía, that is followed by a group of participants bearing lanterns. The rest follow these leaders and are known as penitentes and nazarenos. The centre of attention, however, is the floats - usually two - with their respective images of Christ and the Virgin Mary. These massive, heavy floats are carried on the shoulders, or necks, of numerous members of the religious associations that care for them throughout the year. It is a particular honour to carry the floats and some will even do so barefoot as a sign of extreme penitence.

To the outsider all of these floats might look fairly similar. To the insider, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Each image of Christ and Mary is totally unique and has a special name that points to the legend surrounding that particular version of the figure.
Following are a few examples, with their English translations:

Christ Figures

• Nuestro Padre Jesus el Cautivo - Our Father Christ the Captive
• Señor de Sevilla - Lord of Seville
• Cristo del Gran Poder - Christ of the Great Power
• Cristo de Pasión - Christ of the Passion
• Cristo de la Expiración el Viernes Santo - Christ of the Holy Friday Expiration
• Gitano del Polvorín - Gypsy of the Gunpowder

Virgin Mary Figures

• Virgen del Rocio - Virgin of the Dew
• Virgen de la Macarena
• Virgen de la Esperanza - Virgin of Hope
• Virgen de Dolores Coronado - Virgin of Crowned Pains
• Virgen de la Victoria - Virgin of the Victory

Semana Santa in Malaga

By Brenda Padilla

Málaga's Holy Week celebrations were declared to be of interest to International Tourism in 1965 and they have also obtained the regional stamp of approval "Fiesta of National Interest". Thousands of visitors from across Spain and abroad come to follow the processions throughout the city's historic centre.

Málaga's Cofradías are active all year and regularly hold special meetings and masses with the aim of providing members with ongoing religious training as well as encouraging worship and acts of charity. The city has the region's oldest federation of Cofradías, which goes back to 1921.

It is possible to hire seats on the main avenue, the Alameda Principal. However, this must be arranged far in advance. For more information contact the Málaga City Hall (Ayuntamiento de Málaga).

All of the local dailies in Málaga publish schedules for the Holy Week processions. These guides are in Spanish but usually have helpful timetables that are easy to decipher.

GLOSSARY:

Capa - The cape worn in Holy Week processions..
Capirote - the cone-shaped head dress worn in Holy Week processions.
Capuz - the part of the head dress that covers the face of those participating in Holy Week processions.
Cofradías - Catholic groups dedicated to religious training, worship and charity that focus on penitence and show their penitence publicly during Semana Santa processions as they carry floats through the streets.
Costaleros - members of "Cofradías" who carry the floats through the streets.
Faja - a type of belt that float bearers wear in order to protect their backs as they carry the heavy Holy Week floats through the streets.
Imagen - life size representations of Jesús and Mary that are paraded through the streets.
Pasos - The actual processions that parade through the streets of towns and cities throughout the country.
Penitente - also called a "Nazareno". These participants are traditionally supposed to be doing public penance.
Pregón - speeches given throughout Holy Week and also at different points during the year.
Pregonero - a person who delivers a "pregón" speech.
Procesión - the parades of "pasos" (see definitions) that make their way through the streets in Holy Week.
Saeta - soulful, throaty, passionate songs sung acapella in the streets during Holy Week.
Túnica - the robe that Nazarenos wear under their capes.

CANARY ISLANDS

Friday, March 20, 2015

Three days at sea, we are halfway there. I thought I would be bored at sea but there's been so much going on that I need to pencil in time just take a break. In between trivia, eating, games, eating, watercolor, dance lessons, spa appointments and more eating the time is flying by. It's amazing with the ship being so small, capacity I believe is 850 people, and we are at 270 it's like you know everybody.

This morning they had a Mariners luncheon for all those on board who are part of the mariner society, which of course, is the frequent cruiser policy. Believe it or not there were some people who have done more than 800 hours of cruising with Holland America!
 

It's been kind of rock 'n rollin' traveling across the Atlantic. The captain says that there are 10 foot swells, so you are always rolling around but it's great to be rocked to sleep and everybody looks like a drunk in the hallway so there's no problem. At least we haven't had any rain a bit cloudy at times but still you can always see some blue sky.

That's the more interesting people over the past few days some a little more eccentric than others and then there are those that you thought you would never have a good time with what you're having a fantastic time.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Crossing is complete! Six days of rockin' and rollin' and I have crossed the Atlantic, taking a southern route from St Maarten, heading northeast towards the western coast of Africa. I didn't realize it, but the Canary Islands, part of Spain, is only 100 km off the coast of Africa, Morocco to be exact.

 The Canary Islands consist of 13 islands, seven of which are occupied. We will be visiting three during the next few days; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria. The islands were named not for canaries but actually dogs or canines.

 The islands boast near perfect year-round temperature because of the Tradewinds… There was no tropical Tradewinds, or warm weather, or sun. As a matter of fact we were told that the weather we encountered was very unusual. Luckily I had bought a sweatshirt so I was a little warm with my windbreaker over everything but it was a very chilling experience but a fantastic one as well. It's amazing how the islands have their mountains from the volcanoes and black cloth of dirt all over but it's very harried area which is why camels are in use and cacti are found all over the islands.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015, Lanzarote

I never got to see Tenerife as I came down with a 24 hour bug that kept me in bed for the better part of the day and half. So my first excursion into the islands was on Lanzarote. I took a tour to explore several parts of the island, our first stop being the former capital of Teguise. We stopped at a small church, our Lady of Guadalupe and walked around the village. All the homes on the islands are painted white, due to the Moorish influence and have roofs so that whatever minor rainwater there is can be collected.

 

 Later in the morning we continued on to view the rest of the island which really look like a lunar landscape. We went to an aloe farm which had some beautiful plants and wonderful products including a juice that supposedly will take care of all your ailments from arhe common cold to arthritis to whatever else is bothering you.Yeah, I bought a bottle.... Hey a gir'ls gotta do what a girl's got a do!

 

A native of Lonzarote, Cesar Manrique, a well-known artist and sculpture, whose work is found all around the island. He reminded me a bit of Gaudi. Many of his steel sculptures are found around the island and in the roundabouts.

 

We visited a quarry which was turned into a beautiful cactus garden, Jardin de Cactus, home to more than 10,000 cacti. It was amazing walking around the terraces and seeing some of the beautiful plants.

 

Thursday, March 26, 2015 Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

 

Today, I head off on my own to do the hop on hop off bus and check out Las Palmas. Las Palmas is a crazy hodgepodge of a city with buildings from 3 to 10 stories different colors, squeezed together, narrow roads, and crazy drivers. (One part of the island is very narrow where you can look to the right and see the ocean and look to the left and see more water from the pier.)

 

After going the entire route, I continued back to hit the old town. I headed first to the Cathedral, where I went up the Bell tower to get a beautiful view of the city. Up in the mountains, neighborhoods squeezed together on the hillsides with white houses crammed so close together it look like little Monopoly houses but it was a beautiful sight. The interior of the Cathedral was lovely. I am still amazed at the craftsmanship and beauty of the pulpits in these all churches.

 

Across from the cathedral there's a square and in the place of honor are the canines for which the islands were named. While admiring the view who should I run into but Stan, one of the dance hosts, and Leslie. We headed back to the bus stop because there was supposed to be a walking tour at 1:15. But when we got there we found out that you had to have the hop on hop off ticket to do the tour which Stan and Leslie did not have. Rather than leave them, I decided to go with them rather than the other group. So glad I did!

 

We found the home of Christopher Columbus, as well as the small church that bears his name. I told Stan and Leslie about the Mercado and we headed off in that direction. Off on a side street we heard this crazy, raucous music. We found a simple doorway where the music was coming from but when I looked inside but didn’t see anything but a little bar. Leslie walked in and at the other end found the musicians.

We went in there were about 20 women laughing and singing and dancing and carrying on like it was a wild party. Five old gentleman playing guitar, ukulele, one guy rubbing two pieces of wood together, one guy holding two little balls making some kind of noise, all of them singing their hearts out with the women.

Asked if I could take a picture and they said yes and the next thing we know we're dancing and singing and laughing and having a crazy wonderful time! I ordered some tapas... Tuna, potatoes, cheese, and, of course, wine. It was the best tuna I have ever tasted! Between eating and drinking and singing and dancing we passed away a couple of hours. I asked one of the women if it was a party and she said ‘no we just have a couple of hours free’. One of them spoke a little English and asked where I was from. When I told her Florida she got so excited because she had been to Florida... Orlando and Miami, and she told me her son is going to university in the States. When it was time for them to get back to work we took a last picture and she gave me her email address so I could send it to her.

 

It was really the best part of the trip so far. We had no idea what they were saying or singing but we dance with them and la-la-la'd our way through the music with them, yeah and said our goodbyes, or adios, and both went our separate ways.

 

A note about ship life.

 

It seems that every few days we get a new gift. The first SCIF was a tote bag and a small credit card case. The next time I got a little bag that had sewing kit and Band-Aids and miscellaneous stuff in it. Today I got a Tumi portable luggage scale to make sure that I don't go over my 50 pound limit. It's like having a birthday every third or fourth day.

 

Days at sea they have a lot of activities but what I like most or the dance lessons. I’ve learned the samba, the merengue, the rhumba, tango, and there are four dance hosts who are at our beck and call every evening. Gerri, the 91-year-old southern belle from Mississippi, wears them out. She loves her two-step and freaks out when I suggest disco!