The Waiting Game

This past week had some definite highlights and lowlights.  We started off strong, going to the beautiful port of Mykonos, a fun island where we had a nice day.  I laid out on the beach for a few hours before wandering the very cool steps and little sugar-cube houses looking at shops and munching on a gyro.  I ended up walking to the top of the hill of the city where an old windmill sat and I just took a few minutes appreciating where I was, looking down on my ship sitting in the blue bay and Greece pouring out below me, tumbling into the Med.  It was a great sight. 

The following day we returned to Kusadasi where I spent all day using the internet since I had already explored the port.  I was able to really get caught up on pictures and things, too!  That night and into the next morning, however, I got really sick.  I don’t know if it was some food I ate or what, but my stomach didn’t feel good at ALL and I was very weak.  It’s so awful to get sick away from home, much less on the ship.  I felt like I had nowhere to go and no one to help me.  I was stuck in my tiny cabin and just wished I could be at home! L  I went to the doctor on board first thing in the morning, though, and she gave me some medicine, plus a bottle of Gatorade to re-hydrate myself.  We were in the port of Rhodes so I tried to get out for a while, but I still wasn’t really up for exploring. 

The next two days we spent in Greece and I got off the ship, but nothing much to report because I had duties to fulfill.  Between rehearsals and games…I usually only had time to have a meal and call it a day.  Nafplion was nice with a  cute restaurant in a park and some shopping, but no big stories.  One reason I wasn’t set on seeing everything was because I knew we were gearing up for a big week.  This cruise (starting today) begins the “Discovery Collection.”  This is a series of cruises that completes my contract and covers a lot of really fascinating Middle Eastern ports of call.  We have been looking forward to this cruise for a long time!

To get ready, though, there was a lot of preparation.  We are doing some new shows, resurrecting some extra activities, etc.  There has also been a full overall of all the “big wigs” on board; today we got a new captain, general manager, cruise director, and staff captain!  They are all here for this grand voyage and we have to keep everyone occupied for MANY sea days coming up and some of the passengers are going to be with us for months!  (Many beyond the end of our contracts on board.)  These are guests that have sailed with Regent for HUNDREDS of nights and know more about how this whole thing should go than many of us even!  Ha ha! 

This week we are looking forward to some MAJOR highlights.  If everything goes as planned I should be able to see the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, a mystical ancient city, tombs of pharaohs, and many other exciting things.  We are all just holding our breaths, though, to see how it all works out.  Our new cruise director holds the power in her hands to make or break these last weeks for us and, let’s just say her reputation isn’t promising…boo.  Anyway- we’ll see what happens and I’ll continue to think positively!  I really can’t wait to see you guys and hope everything is going well.  Let me know what’s up in your life… I would love to hear!

Tripp