It's impossible to interpret Russian without a significant initial gorunding in how to even pronounce which letters make which sounds. Walking around in Russia, though there is a good deal of spotty Westernization, feels truly and absolutely foreign like nowhere else thus far.
Taxi drivers in Russia will be an entire post of its own soon. Suffice to say that for example yesterday our zealous cabbie wanted to get moving so badly at one point he got out of the cab, went to the car in front of us, and starting accosting that driver. Later the traffic wasn't moving on the street, so he pulled halfway onto the curb, putting two wheels on the sidewalk, and shot ahead that way. Then he pulled entirely onto the sidewalk.
Our "Fabulous Places" welcome aboard show (doesn't even the TITLE make you itch?) is together now, the process eased by our director and musical director, tw men we were all happy to see again even if it was for this. We're also working up four openers, which only a cruel and foolish tyrant would make us use much.
The days dreading this rehearsal and installation process were much worse than the process itself. All the black market DVDs I'm collecting certainly ease the pain. ;)
Anyway, tomorrow back to Hel... sinki. I refuse to say that any other way.
"What are you doing today?"
"Going to Hel..."
"So you're..."
"...sinki."
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
Ho-hum.
A little monotony, a little down. The Baltic season is off and running with a charter full of people who couldn't care less about anything the ship has to offer that isn't the casino or the restaurants.
Our routine is being broken by the rehearsals for and installation of a welcome aboard show that is, frankly, the EPITOME of the stereotypical idea of a cheeseball cruise ship show... which our regular shows are not. It's not a good thing. Bah.
Anyway, I'm a little down, a little homesick, and that just makes me realize again that I've technically got no home at present - gave up my apartment some time ago 'cause I'm always on the road. Hrmph. Anyway, I could use some good cheer from home!
One month + one day = my birthday thirty + one.
Our routine is being broken by the rehearsals for and installation of a welcome aboard show that is, frankly, the EPITOME of the stereotypical idea of a cheeseball cruise ship show... which our regular shows are not. It's not a good thing. Bah.
Anyway, I'm a little down, a little homesick, and that just makes me realize again that I've technically got no home at present - gave up my apartment some time ago 'cause I'm always on the road. Hrmph. Anyway, I could use some good cheer from home!
One month + one day = my birthday thirty + one.
Monday, June 20, 2005
More details, less time...
Amsterdam was exactly what you think it will be.
Quick note: The idea of being on a ship like this is that you have what amounts to (maybe) several hours to experience each city; you truncate the experience and drink in what you can in short bursts. Now, though, we're hitting these cities many times over and again. In St. Petersburg especially we have many, many overnights and altogether I'll be there for 29 days.
So... Amsterdam. We all wanted to see Anne Frank's house. If any of you have seen the Mr. Show episode about Anne Frank's house, you'll sympathize with the immense guilt I felt siltently giggling at the memory while confronted with the astounding reality of that monument. It's so ... well, it's EXACTLY what I imagined it would be. Profoundly affecting and ...thankfully, mostly uncommercialized.
Then we walked out to find the Red Light district. We didn't enjoy the city to its fullest, as the ship tends to give "random" tests for such things.
The Red Light district is... a stark contrast to the Anne Frank house. One unexpected thing about Amsterdam was the fact that it is the only city we've visited that has many, many "Gay and Lesbian Tourist Information" kiosks about town; there's a big ... well, I don't know what it is but it's called the "Homomonument"... and these things are not, as some of you may think, in the Red Light District. However, the only English language comic book store I've yet found (or had yet found until TODAY) IS in the Red Light District.
Copenhagen was very rainy but has 7-11s, which don't make their coffee cups to US standards and heats their coffee so hot that, if the cup collapses and it spills on your hand while you're holding a bunch of stuff you can't just "drop"... it will in fact raise blisters. Also, Copenhagen... well, to be fair it rained ALL DAY. I loved it, though, and can't wait to see it in the sun.
Talinn was maybe the second biggest surprise of this trip. I never in my life have thought, "You know, I should go to Estonia."
You should go to Talinn. It's this fascinating place that has many, many buildings and structures still standing from the medieval origin of the place next to a great mall and modern convenience; winding streets of fascinating history. This place was occupied by the Nazis AND then part of the Soviet Union; the breath of freedom here now is palpable. I can't wait to spend more time there.
St. PEtersburg, however, while I did love it and am glad to have so much time to be there, does NOT feel a palpable breath of freedom. It's like ... well, if this means anything to you, it's very much what you might call "Soviet" in its feeling. There are certainly exceptions and it offers a lot to the modern traveller... but travelers without visas are not allowed to disembark without escort. Luckily, those of us on the crew have special "seamen's books" which allow us to get around that. The passengers have to stick with tours. We went to the markets, took local busses about town, absorbed local color, tried not to get robbed, were abandoned in the cab by one of our cab drivers downa back alley as he went in this beat up door because "there's a little problem, you no mine I take five minute."
He comes back, says "Spasiva" (Thank You) and proceeds on our way. I was sure we were kidnapped or worse.
A guest who DID have a visa was accosted by Gypsies. You know, in the US if I heard that I'd have thought it a joke. Gypsies? No, really. They're around, and they're dangerous.
Pickpockets in Europe are VERY common, FYI; lots of signs warning about it in particular around the Church of the Spilled Blood and the market nearby. That is, I should note, my second favorite building I've ever seen, next to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
I bought a lot of Russian DVDs of questionable origin and will soon be visiting a legendary electronics market which tends to shade toward the dark side.
Today was Stockholm, and while I was only off the ship for a few hours I discovered A LOT of things to see and do and a wonderful English Language comic / sci fi book / dvd shop. An amazing place really. I'll put the link up here at some point.
Quick note: The idea of being on a ship like this is that you have what amounts to (maybe) several hours to experience each city; you truncate the experience and drink in what you can in short bursts. Now, though, we're hitting these cities many times over and again. In St. Petersburg especially we have many, many overnights and altogether I'll be there for 29 days.
So... Amsterdam. We all wanted to see Anne Frank's house. If any of you have seen the Mr. Show episode about Anne Frank's house, you'll sympathize with the immense guilt I felt siltently giggling at the memory while confronted with the astounding reality of that monument. It's so ... well, it's EXACTLY what I imagined it would be. Profoundly affecting and ...thankfully, mostly uncommercialized.
Then we walked out to find the Red Light district. We didn't enjoy the city to its fullest, as the ship tends to give "random" tests for such things.
The Red Light district is... a stark contrast to the Anne Frank house. One unexpected thing about Amsterdam was the fact that it is the only city we've visited that has many, many "Gay and Lesbian Tourist Information" kiosks about town; there's a big ... well, I don't know what it is but it's called the "Homomonument"... and these things are not, as some of you may think, in the Red Light District. However, the only English language comic book store I've yet found (or had yet found until TODAY) IS in the Red Light District.
Copenhagen was very rainy but has 7-11s, which don't make their coffee cups to US standards and heats their coffee so hot that, if the cup collapses and it spills on your hand while you're holding a bunch of stuff you can't just "drop"... it will in fact raise blisters. Also, Copenhagen... well, to be fair it rained ALL DAY. I loved it, though, and can't wait to see it in the sun.
Talinn was maybe the second biggest surprise of this trip. I never in my life have thought, "You know, I should go to Estonia."
You should go to Talinn. It's this fascinating place that has many, many buildings and structures still standing from the medieval origin of the place next to a great mall and modern convenience; winding streets of fascinating history. This place was occupied by the Nazis AND then part of the Soviet Union; the breath of freedom here now is palpable. I can't wait to spend more time there.
St. PEtersburg, however, while I did love it and am glad to have so much time to be there, does NOT feel a palpable breath of freedom. It's like ... well, if this means anything to you, it's very much what you might call "Soviet" in its feeling. There are certainly exceptions and it offers a lot to the modern traveller... but travelers without visas are not allowed to disembark without escort. Luckily, those of us on the crew have special "seamen's books" which allow us to get around that. The passengers have to stick with tours. We went to the markets, took local busses about town, absorbed local color, tried not to get robbed, were abandoned in the cab by one of our cab drivers downa back alley as he went in this beat up door because "there's a little problem, you no mine I take five minute."
He comes back, says "Spasiva" (Thank You) and proceeds on our way. I was sure we were kidnapped or worse.
A guest who DID have a visa was accosted by Gypsies. You know, in the US if I heard that I'd have thought it a joke. Gypsies? No, really. They're around, and they're dangerous.
Pickpockets in Europe are VERY common, FYI; lots of signs warning about it in particular around the Church of the Spilled Blood and the market nearby. That is, I should note, my second favorite building I've ever seen, next to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
I bought a lot of Russian DVDs of questionable origin and will soon be visiting a legendary electronics market which tends to shade toward the dark side.
Today was Stockholm, and while I was only off the ship for a few hours I discovered A LOT of things to see and do and a wonderful English Language comic / sci fi book / dvd shop. An amazing place really. I'll put the link up here at some point.
...Where was I?
...In the past days I've been to Rostock and Warnemunde Germany... Amsterdam, The Netherlands... Copenhagen, Denmark... Tallinn, Estonia... St. Petersburg, Russia... and today, Stockholm, Sweden.
I have been swamped with things to do and the onboard internet has been insanely slow; so slow that even checking e-mail requires something more than a half-hour commitment.
I will go back at some point and read what the last place I wrote was; I don't remember right now.
It's been insane, and Russia is amazing, but... well, more on this later. I have to go enjoy watching DVDs of films that haven't been released yet and I'd miss anyway being on the ship. Thank you, black market.
I have been swamped with things to do and the onboard internet has been insanely slow; so slow that even checking e-mail requires something more than a half-hour commitment.
I will go back at some point and read what the last place I wrote was; I don't remember right now.
It's been insane, and Russia is amazing, but... well, more on this later. I have to go enjoy watching DVDs of films that haven't been released yet and I'd miss anyway being on the ship. Thank you, black market.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
These pictures are awful, and not the first I intended to send, but all I had with me on my PSP memory stick. More to come. This is me in Rome at the ruins near the Colosseum. Yesterday? Amsterdam. Tomorrow? Copenhagen. Day after that? Berlin. This is a GREAT week. In OTHER news, this morning I had breakfast with the man in created (or was founder of the company that created and sued Atari) vector graphics, and also DRAGON'S LAIR and such famous games. So, more pictures to come, and ... well, life is good. 
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
The world is officially too small.
I just discovered that I'm on the ship with at least three other people who've performed at the Crown Uptown.
Of course, it's a small world of working performers, and I wasn't surprised to find that one of the dancers in the cast had worked there; I learned that in rehearsal.
The others are not performers on the ship - well, the "social hostess" is a performer, but not for the few weeks she's moonlighting in that gig here on the ship. Our Tour Manager also worked there, and that's not remotely performing.
ODD.
Anyway, those of you who responded to my call for music - THANK YOU.
Those of you who are pestering me for photos, I'll get to it, soon, I promise. I don't have the ability to put my own computer online here, so it's a little tricky (and slow.)
That's it. Must dash to lose the tuxedo and get ready for the show.
Of course, it's a small world of working performers, and I wasn't surprised to find that one of the dancers in the cast had worked there; I learned that in rehearsal.
The others are not performers on the ship - well, the "social hostess" is a performer, but not for the few weeks she's moonlighting in that gig here on the ship. Our Tour Manager also worked there, and that's not remotely performing.
ODD.
Anyway, those of you who responded to my call for music - THANK YOU.
Those of you who are pestering me for photos, I'll get to it, soon, I promise. I don't have the ability to put my own computer online here, so it's a little tricky (and slow.)
That's it. Must dash to lose the tuxedo and get ready for the show.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
All I Really Need Is The Music (Keep The Mirror)
I have a request for some of you...
I have had an opportunity pop up, but I need to lay hands on some music. It's primarily music I already have, but these particular pieces are in storage or otherwise not accessible. These also don't exist in anyone's onboard stashes.
So, if there's any way anyone out there has any or all of these and can mail me copies of sheet music arrangements, I'd be in your debt...
Stars
Bring Him Home
I, Don Quixote
If I Loved You
People Will Say We're In Love
Try To Remember
ANY up-tempo baritone numbers you can think of that aren't terriible... and how many are there?
Help in this matter is greatly appreciated. I'll gladly repay postage if you let me know you're sending it.
Thanks!
I have had an opportunity pop up, but I need to lay hands on some music. It's primarily music I already have, but these particular pieces are in storage or otherwise not accessible. These also don't exist in anyone's onboard stashes.
So, if there's any way anyone out there has any or all of these and can mail me copies of sheet music arrangements, I'd be in your debt...
Stars
Bring Him Home
I, Don Quixote
If I Loved You
People Will Say We're In Love
Try To Remember
ANY up-tempo baritone numbers you can think of that aren't terriible... and how many are there?
Help in this matter is greatly appreciated. I'll gladly repay postage if you let me know you're sending it.
Thanks!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Address...
Okay, read back a few posts and you'll see me pointing out how nice it would be to get stuff from home.
Especially considering my birthday is coming up, not too soon but soon enough that with international shipping and all, well...
We don't have one fixed address here, but we'll be hitting St. Petersburg a LOT in the next few months. If you use this address, things will probably get to me.
Donald Winsor - CREW / ENTERTAINER
RSSC VOYAGER
c/o Inflot Worldwide St. Petersburg
142 / 16 'B' Obvodny Canal Quay
198020 St. Petersburg Russia
There you have it.
Especially considering my birthday is coming up, not too soon but soon enough that with international shipping and all, well...
We don't have one fixed address here, but we'll be hitting St. Petersburg a LOT in the next few months. If you use this address, things will probably get to me.
Donald Winsor - CREW / ENTERTAINER
RSSC VOYAGER
c/o Inflot Worldwide St. Petersburg
142 / 16 'B' Obvodny Canal Quay
198020 St. Petersburg Russia
There you have it.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
[Insert clever heading relating spellings of "Elvis" and "Seville"]
So, irony.
I have stuided and performed Shakespeare. I have sung the classics of the American songbook all over the US, many of the great roles of musical theatre. You see where I'm going there...
There is one thing I never thought I'd have cause to say in my performing life.
"In Europe, they love my Elvis."
They must, because this quick Elvis show I threw together a couple of weeks ago is... well, I'm doing it twice this coming cruise. It's nothing, just 5-6 songs in a set. I offered to do it when something was needed one night; now it's a staple. I think I should learn some new songs though.
Tonight we will do the classical show (during which I sing things like "Couplets de Escamillo" and "Largo Al Factorum" amongst others) and I will immediately leave to do my Elvis set in another location. It's particularly cool tonight because we have a British TV show onboard, "Live Your Dream" or something, and they've brought someone whose dream is to sing with a big band in a big venue. He'll sing a song as part of the set, and they'll be taping the whole thing for the episode. We gave the guy a sit-down "advice session" on camera yesterday, and he's quite nice. It'll be on ITV for those who know what that is. I do not.
Kara (the alto) does another section of this "dance party" night, and we're both wondering why on earth we're doing the same show twice in one cruise. Well, ours is not to wonder why...
My cabaret went over quite well. It's obscure baritone musical theatre stuff I like, so it's not a "big" show, but it worked for the people who came and was well publicized so they knew what they were getting into.
I'm still processing my reaction to STAR WARS - it felt like an ending to something more than just those films. The hit of music we're all familiar with as the end credits began to roll took me by surprise. Well, my reaction took me by surprise. I loved the film - vast improvements, less attempt to make it "light", and such... but at the end there was... well, my reaction... it was like someone in a little room somewhere closed the volume they'd been working on or reading for ages, wiped their hands, and said "well, that's done."
I heard a suggestion that it felt like childhood was now over.
Pshaw, I say pshaw! to that.
So in the course of one cruise, this cruise, things I will sing include:
I've Got A Little List
Largo Al Factorum
Crocodile Rock
Some Enchanted Evening
Master of the House
The Jet Song
Blue Suede Shoes
If I Can't Love Her
Big Girls Don't Cry
I Am The Very Model
You May Be Right
It's Now or Never
La Ci Darem La Mano
Jailhouse Rock... and many more.
I don't think there's much more I could ask in the way of variety.
I have stuided and performed Shakespeare. I have sung the classics of the American songbook all over the US, many of the great roles of musical theatre. You see where I'm going there...
There is one thing I never thought I'd have cause to say in my performing life.
"In Europe, they love my Elvis."
They must, because this quick Elvis show I threw together a couple of weeks ago is... well, I'm doing it twice this coming cruise. It's nothing, just 5-6 songs in a set. I offered to do it when something was needed one night; now it's a staple. I think I should learn some new songs though.
Tonight we will do the classical show (during which I sing things like "Couplets de Escamillo" and "Largo Al Factorum" amongst others) and I will immediately leave to do my Elvis set in another location. It's particularly cool tonight because we have a British TV show onboard, "Live Your Dream" or something, and they've brought someone whose dream is to sing with a big band in a big venue. He'll sing a song as part of the set, and they'll be taping the whole thing for the episode. We gave the guy a sit-down "advice session" on camera yesterday, and he's quite nice. It'll be on ITV for those who know what that is. I do not.
Kara (the alto) does another section of this "dance party" night, and we're both wondering why on earth we're doing the same show twice in one cruise. Well, ours is not to wonder why...
My cabaret went over quite well. It's obscure baritone musical theatre stuff I like, so it's not a "big" show, but it worked for the people who came and was well publicized so they knew what they were getting into.
I'm still processing my reaction to STAR WARS - it felt like an ending to something more than just those films. The hit of music we're all familiar with as the end credits began to roll took me by surprise. Well, my reaction took me by surprise. I loved the film - vast improvements, less attempt to make it "light", and such... but at the end there was... well, my reaction... it was like someone in a little room somewhere closed the volume they'd been working on or reading for ages, wiped their hands, and said "well, that's done."
I heard a suggestion that it felt like childhood was now over.
Pshaw, I say pshaw! to that.
So in the course of one cruise, this cruise, things I will sing include:
I've Got A Little List
Largo Al Factorum
Crocodile Rock
Some Enchanted Evening
Master of the House
The Jet Song
Blue Suede Shoes
If I Can't Love Her
Big Girls Don't Cry
I Am The Very Model
You May Be Right
It's Now or Never
La Ci Darem La Mano
Jailhouse Rock... and many more.
I don't think there's much more I could ask in the way of variety.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)