So Much More Fun Than Searching for a Bomb

This morning the crew had a mandatory bomb drill. As I am not on a search party I pretty much stayed in my room until ordered to go to my muster station where I would normally direct guests to safety. The guests, though, were all out enjoying the beauty of Stockholm. I could merely see it from the window. I was not happy. Neither was anyone else. The minute we heard the the "ding-dong" announcing the drill was over, you wouldn't believe how quickly the crew was moving downstairs towards our rooms. I had laid my clothes out and was ready to go in a matter of minutes.

Val, Anna and I boarded a bus full of crew membes escaping the ship for a few hours. I was put in charge of leading these hungry girls to the previosuly described indoor market with the world's greatest Swedish meatballs. We took our meatballs to sit outside and a bench just outside the market was open, in the shade with a beautiful view of the market. I'm taking it as a little gift from Sweden for our last visit. The meatballs were just as sweet and delicious as I remembered. The girls complimented me on my good call of getting meatballs, and for remembering where the place was! It was a great little lunch.

Then we being girls with free time found the nearest H&M. This place is going to get me in trouble. I was on a search for a shirt I had seen in an H&M in Helsinki almost 11 days. I figure if it's been 11 days and I'm still thinking of how much I want it, I deserve to treat myself. I was seriously on a mission. Val was simply strolling and browsing, I was sniffing out this dark blue, paisley shirt like no one's business. I turned to my friend and claimed it was like searching for that "bomb" this morning, but this was way more fun! I was also way more excited when I found it.

Stockholm granted us a beautiful, crisp day for our last visit. Perhaps the Baltic knows were leaving it soon and wants to leave us with a great impression? I'll take it.

Bye Bye Warnemunde

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day in Germany. The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze as Valerie and I walked to the train station. Our unair-conditioned train took us to the medieval town of Rostock, just 30 minutes from our port of call, Warnemunde. When we arrived we walked about fifteen minutes into town and found the most adorable shop lined streets. We had lunch at Subway. Now I know what you're thinking, you're in Europe and you get Subway!? We each have tasted the local cuisine and sometimes you just want something familiar - especially with the crap they serve us onboard. It was perfect. We sat outside and Valerie went on and on about how she could spend all day getting some sun on the sidewalk.

We walked around, popping in souvenir shops and I looked for a new camera. Yea, mine finally died. The lens won't even open anymore. Sad, I know, but I'll find a cheap one somewhere soon. Rostock was the perfect size city. It was big enough that it looked like there was always something to do, but not so big that it became intimidating - like my beloved NYC can be. It was the kind of town I want to settle in one day. Don't worry people, the German language scares me too much to ever even consider moving here.

After we got our fill of Rostock we got back on th train bound for Warnemunde, both mine and Val's favorite port. It's such a cute little town with a pier and sailboats, seagulls and shops. There are cheap clothing stores and windows displaying amber jewelry. What did I buy? Candy. Yea, I know, but if you could taste this German chocolate, you'd stock up, too. Val and I ended our last day in our favorite port by sitting on a little bench taking pictures of ourselves and the authentic German pretzels we bought. Like I said, the perfect farewell to my favorite Baltic port.

My New Friend

It's been a while, I know. Unfortunately since Helsinki about a week ago, I've only gotten off the ship once for an hour in Tallinn. Got a great burger and some free internet time, but nothing else. No money to buy a "visa" for Russia, and no time to get into Copenhagen.

What havev I learned? If you don't get off this ship as often as possible, you go crazy. You get sucked into dramas and everyone begins to annoy you. As we sail to Amsterdam I'm planning how to spend every port this next Baltic tour. EVERY port. Amsterdam I'll get lunch and visit the post. Germany I want to go to Rostock for shopping in the medieval town. Stockholm I must find the Ice Bar. Helsinki I want to shop with Jamie again. First Russia day I may have to stay onboard, but the second one, I want to take a tour to Peterhoef. I hope I get it. Tallinn I want to go to the little cafe in the cave, and Copenhagen I want to wander, shop, and say goodbye to the little mermaid. Sounds good, right? Let's hope I get it all done.

Unusually slow sea day today. It's rocky and my poor spa girls are feeling it worst on deck 11. The sail from Denmark to Holland is always rocky. Not as bad today, but you can certainly feel it. Days like this remind the sea is just as alive as you and me. It breathes, moves, has good days and bad ones. I've made friends with the sea, and don't know if I can ever live too far from it. Thinking back over my short life, even being in Elon felt too far from the sea. There's something about the water that draws me in. I can stand on deck 6 looking over the edge forever, losing track of time and ignoring anything going on around here.

Yeah, the sea and I are buddies. We get each other.

Sangria on the Sidewalk

I had the most adorable day in Helsinki yesterday. I woke up to my friend Jamie from England calling asking if I wanted to get off the ship. I always want to get off the ship. I met her and another Brit, Christina, on the gangway and we boarded the shuttle for Helsinki. Jamie planned to show us all the great shopping - and boy did she. Gentlemen, this part of the entry gets a little unbearable for you. We hit up all of these little shops I'd never heard of like Gina's, Mango, and then there was Zara and H&M which I was familiar with. I spent way too much money, but it sure felt nice to treat myself. A nice blue top from this Mango place, a new teal dress for formal night from Zara, a skirt for Sizzle in Gina's and a few odds and ends in H&M. I was shocked at myself, buying dresses and skirts and even picking out pink items to try on! What are these Europeans doing to me!?

After we shopped we dropped at this little sidewalk cafe for a pitcher of some of the best sangria I'd ever had. We put on our big sunglasses and sat back enjoying the charm of Helsinki. It was a such a sweet moment we had a passerby take our picture.

Today is the first day back to St. Petersburg. I'm out of money, so no shuttle ticket for this girl. It wasn't too bad hanging out on the ship and sleeping in. Tonight we're having a Casino Night. I won't be participating, but it can't hurt to enjoy a drink and watch my friends waste their money, right?

My On-Air Skills Weren't Flushed Away After All!

It's really the little things that make my days around here - lunches with girls from youth staff and shorex, sodas in the staff bar with talkative bartenders, finding a cute German top for just 10 Euros (please don't remind me what that is in American dollars).

Yesterday I had a lovely day in my favorite port of this itinerary. Warenemunde gave us the most beautiful day for getting, as my cruise director would say, "blissfully lost" around the boardwalk. Valerie and I found a grocery store with the most delicious German chocolates. The Europeans have a great talent for candy. My favorites, as most of you know, are usually any sweets that mix the perfect flavors of chocolate and peanut butter. Here, though, in Germany, they have replaced the peanut butter with hazlenut. These little Kinder candies are my new weakness. Germany has been the biggest surprise of all. I had this pre-conceived image of Germany, mostly from all of my history classes and the one unpleasant German I knew in Ireland. I expected darkness, serious people and cloudy days. I've been shocked. It's bright, beautiful and charming, and the people are so friendly. I really love Germany.

Last night after talking with a friend about our homesickness, I had the uncotrollable urge to call home. I bought a phone card and rang up Tiffany, as it's been about 2 months since I'd heard her voice. With the exception of the few emergencies and special occasions I've had, I've been avoiding calling home. I figured hearing everyone's voices all the time would just make things worse for me. I'm slowly realizing completely isolating myself is actually making things tougher. Most other people around here do it that way. Valerie checks her e-mail once every other week and Anna rarely calls home. I just figured they must be doing it the right way. Quite the contrary, talking to Tiffany made me feel a lot better. It helps me feel connected, like I'm really not that far away. I may have to start buying more calling cards. Guess that means less cute tops in Germany.

Everyone will be happy to know that I have put my journalistic talents to use! No, I'm not putting together any pieces on the breaking news in my ports of call, though that would be pretty cool. I recently put together a commercial, at the request of the hotel department, reminding our guests not to throw their handi-wipes from home down our toilets. I know what you're all thinking (especially you, Rich), but let me explain. We went and shot this in an empty guest cabin and the Cruise Director was called away before he could do the voice over. He turned to my manager and said, "Well, maybe someone else can do it?" My manager, being a native of The Philippines, of course couldn't do it in his somewhat broken english. Both heads turned to me. I accepted the task with a slight shrug. So I sat down and had to write out what I was going to say. I had very little time to do this (much like when I was a reporter) and I had to use the simplest language I could muster (again, like when I was a reporter), since most of our guests speak very simple English. I tracked just the way I did in the dungeons of McEwen. I counted down and did it in takes. When I was done my boss was impressed and said he liked the way I spoke with the microphone. So yes, it is very small and nothing like what my fellow graduates are doing as reporters and producers in the States, but hey, it still came in handy out here in the Baltic. It's also cool to hear my own voice on TV again.

It's really the little things.

Did Anyone Meet Anyone Not From the Ship?

Being out here at sea is trying. Everyday I'm happy to be here, and I have a nice little life setup for myself. Good friends, a job I generally enjoy, and ports of call I never would have found on my own. However, there are days where home feels too far away. Those are the days like yesterday, when you get bad news from home, and at the same time you know there's a big event going on you're missing. Valerie joked today as we walked back to the ship from Tallinn, "good old home sweet home," she called it. "No," I said, "Dear God, do not call it that," I chuckled back to her.

I was up most of the night thinking of home. Doesn't help matters that my bunk bed wall is plastered with pictures of those I care about. Ones with the Fabulous 5 of Elon, Mikey and me, Cheri, Dannika, Glenn, and family.

I know this is an amazing opportunity I'm having, I know. Please don't think I'm unhappy. Just needed to get the homesickness off my chest.

Two nights ago was our overnight in St. Petersburg, so a bunch of the crew hopped into taxis and found a Russian night club. What. A. Night. Wow. Essentially, I've realized living on a ship has made us lose all socializing abilities, since we only talked to one another and we basically took the crew bar and put it in a Russian bar. It was fun to at least get out and have a new setting. Makes me look forward to the overnight in Amsterdam.

Today was Tallinn, Estonia. There isn't a whole lot to do in this tiny town, but we found the beautiful Alexander Cathedral and I dragged Valerie inside. It was very Russian influenced, with gold adornents all over. We also had a very nice lunch at an Irish pub (go figure, right?) and then found the most delcious pastries at this coffee shop in a cave. Yes, in a cave.

Tonight's the 70's Night Fever in the disco and my cruise director has informed me that we need to shoot the daily announcements early, as he needs at least 45 minutes to get into his "70's getup." Yup, just another day at work.

A Canadian, a Belgian, a Dutchman and an American Walk Into a Bar

No that's not the setup to a joke, but how I spent my afternoon in Stockholm. I guess I should first fill in the blank space between Russia and now.

I went to Copenhagen. It was a windy, rainy day and I was on a walking tour. Despite it all, I loved the city of the little mermaid. I got my picture with her and on my tour the older woman gathered us all around. There, in front of the classic statue, she told us the REAL little mermaid tale - not the one Disney added a soundtrack to. I love both versions, but it was so quaint and classic to stand at the pier where the statue sits, and hear the story from a Danish woman. Needless to say, I'm counting the days until Copenhagen again.

We got a new Cruise Director who is changing things, some bad, some good. He and the Activity Manager are giving me more creative things to do, which I really appreciate. My bingo commercials air all day and I hear people around the ship saying how amused they were at them. That makes me feel better, anyway. I like this guy, though I miss the old one. This new guy is an old stunt man/actor from LA. He's much more laid back and is the kind of guy you can sit back and have a cocktail with. No beer, no with this guy it would be a glass of scotch, or whiskey in the Cigar Room.

So back to today. Today was my second time in Stockholm. I didn't like it all that much the first time, but today was beautiful and sunny. When we got off, one of my friends from guest relations said there were only 18 guests left onboard. Everyone wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous day. Since I didn't bring any shorts with me, and my jeans are all getting holes in them, I decided to put on a very flowy skirt. It was perfect for strolling the city on a hot day. Sergio the Dutchman lead his girlfriend Karen the Canadian, our other friend Eef the Belgian and me the American to an indoor market he found on our free map. It was easily one of the best finds I've ever had in all of Europe. It was like a flea market, but cleaner and all the stands had little bars with stools so you could stop and eat. It was pretty clear we were some of the few tourists in the place, which we took to be a good sign. We sat at one bar and I had the greatest meatballs of my life. Real Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes all washed down with a Carlsburg. Oh man. My stomach hasn't been that happy with me in a long time. If the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach, then Sweden has a special spot in mine.

We walked around a bit more and went back to the Century. We are now sailing towards Helsinki where I will probably spend more money that I really don't have.