MONDAY - OCTOBER 18

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18 – Feast of St. Luke, and the anniversary of the assassination in Lagos. Somehow, in spite of good intentions and deep desires to sleep late, I am awake after about six hours, and I mean awake – not going back to sleep. So I was at breakfast by 7 – it is still dark at 7. Which is nice, watching the sun come up. Except that today the clouds are dark and full and sunrise is more black turning into grey. I ate lightly – in spite of an earlier comment, I don’t think I am going to come off the ship significantly lighter or smaller than I boarded. I went to one of the lounges – empty, of course – to pray and watch the heavy rain falling. Lovely. And quiet. Because the lounge was closed, no one thought it necessary to pipe in music, which is the case in virtually every other area of the ship except out on deck.

A couple of hundred people boarded the ship in Istanbul, so they had their orientation meetings and drills yesterday afternoon, and last night and today are engaged in wandering the ship, learning the geography. There are “rehearsals” for the last night talent show this morning. One can’t tell if that is auditions, or if everyone who shows up gets to perform. Several of our group are hot for me to take part, and I am (strangely) ambivalent. Certainly could be a good way to get the Xavier Society name in front of a lot of people. But it would also mean staying for the whole show. For all I know there could be magnificent talent on board. I am still reluctant. The call today takes place during the time we had scheduled for Mass, so I may be able to hide behind that – or show up just to see what’s going on. I did not bring any music, although I do have some accompaniment CD’s with me.

This afternoon we are supposed to go to Mykonos, which Yanni is going to lead us to as an individual (unpaid) visit. I will certainly be heading for an internet site – I am assuming there may be calendar proofs to look at, I have to send birthday greetings to people I have missed over the last several days, and I may be able to upload these latest ramblings. I am in one of the cocktail lounges as I write this – the sea has small whitecaps, and while the clouds overhead are dark grey, there is light on the horizon (at least on the port side) and no idea what the weather might be like for the afternoon. People are going by on their way to breakfast, and other small groups are sitting here talking and enjoying the view. Of course, rock music playing in the background, although more softly than usual. Grateful for small favors.

Time for Mass, so I went down and put together the Mass kit. The library was open and being used, so I went and sat in the Metropolitan Lounge for a bit. Mass was nice – several people not there, I know two had massage appointments. An Australian chap who had come in to use the library stayed for Mass. Several people had talked last night about singing – I was sort of hoping they’d forget the idea but they hadn’t, so we did, and it was very nice. I preached about the anniversary – it was on this date eleven years ago that I found myself in the middle of the assassination attempt. After Mass I stopped in the talent show sign ups but all I saw were people sitting in different areas either reading or chatting. Went into the lounge and had a Bloody Mary – thought I’d do some reading. The sea has gotten much rougher, the ship is definitely moving, and rain and grey clouds. But as I was starting my drink, the team trivia contest was also just starting. Sigh. Off to find a quiet spot. Not possible. The upstairs lounge where I had prayed this morning had a private function going on. The pool deck had a very loud drink making exhibition. All the chairs in the casino were filled, ditto the seating area outside Reception (where I had also gone earlier to change the tip totals for the cruise) – so I ended up back in my cabin, feeling a little curmudgeonly. I can only imagine what this ship is like if it is running at capacity. It’s not just the crowds but the accompanying volume with which people think it necessary to make announcements.

I did head back after a bit because the pool deck had a gyro station, and I love lamb. I stopped en route at the Rendez Vous lounge and ended up singing a couple of songs again, with a large group present, including several of the staff. The cruise director, the social activities lady, thinks I have a “magnificent” voice – who am I to argue. I made a strategic disappearance after some singing and headed up for lunch and the gyro. Turned out to be a chicken gyro station. Sigh. Not a day to buy a lottery ticket.

The ship is heading for Mykonos, but plowing through moderate seas and heavy rain. Things cleared a bit as we approached the fabled island. We had a short meeting, back to get things together and the traditional gathering for departure. There are shuttle buses that take passengers from the new cruise ship port (handles two hips at a time, and a much larger ship was already ahead of us in one berth, and we got the other.) Drops you off about a ten minute walk from the center of the town. There was a tour to the ruins of Delos – good luck to those folks, because the rain continued, alternating between moments of calm to absolute downpour – by the time we got to the center, we were all pretty much soaked. Bob and I peeled off and headed for an internet café, and found a real café on the waterfront with wifi – ie, no charge. So we ordered beers, and later on fries, and settled in. His computer only has about two hours of battery life, so after a bit he moved inside where there was electricity, I did as much as I could, and then wandered about the town for a bit. I did not get to the windmills, I did get to meet Pete the Pelican. As I hit the boat, the rain poured, and lightning across the bay is always dramatic.

The picture is our guide, Yanni, standing on the shore of Mykonos, at a rare quiet interval between rain downpours.

Had a wash, changed clothes and headed to the lounge for a drink, and then dinner in our private little dining room. Two of our group treated us to champagne – I asked what the occasion was and they said my anniversary – I think the morning homily had an impact. We tend to spend a full two hours at the table, which most seem to enjoy, but the staff ain’t crazy about. Tonight, there were fewer people serving, and we certainly could have been out and finished much sooner, if the service had been more efficient. I went to the lounge and ordered an Irish coffee and was sitting there as others come by. Elizabeth, the cruise director, came past and I asked her how the wedding had gone. We (the group) chatted with her for a bit, and I asked her if it was ok if I sang occasionally – I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. She said yes, and at that moment the piano was playing Moon River, so I jumped in. And a bit later did Torna a Sorrento. Nice reception. One  had left her card in her room – so I walked her to the desk to arrange for someone to let her in. I went back to the lounge, but the conversation was loud (to the obvious annoyance of some of the patrons who wanted to listen to the music) and very negative in tone, all about events that were over and resolved. So I wandered off. The pool deck was deep in a Latin dance event, it was pouring rain and getting rougher, so I figured it was probably time to go to bed. So I did.