HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

The installing of our four shows is officially completed and I couldn’t be happier :D This has been a long and tiring process; from two months in the studios of Florida to intense flying training aboard the ship, and finally a month of working with sets, costumes, and flying apparatuses to put up four full production shows! I feel very accomplished and motivated to continue seeking other opportunities to challenge myself as a performer and ways to grow as a person :D

The most challenging show to open has been Under The Big Top, our circus show. Independence is the only ship in the fleet that has this show and there’s so much that goes into it because it has the most circus elements. Right in the beginning I’m flying on what’s called the Spanish web, a rope used to climb and hang off of. Luke stands beneath me and twirls the rope so that I can do different positions in the air, while spinning really fast :D Now, I know you all are wondering how I’ve been handling this with  my severe motion sickness :/ During training I took my motion tablets to learn the apparatus as I had to do it over and over. But eventually I had to attempt it without the help of the pill and I did get very dizzy and have to sink to the ground and lay there for awhile to calm my tummy LOL. But now that I’ve been practicing it more and more I’m getting used to it! :D I don’t think I will ever get over the weird sensation of being in the air and losing feeling in my arms and feet because I’m whipping so fast! But don’t worry mom, I’m safe :D  

Though we’ve been working long hours in the theater, we’ve had some time off here and there to run out and explore the ports. I made the trip to Brugge, Belgium twice to marvel at the gorgeous city and munch on Dutch French fries and the incomparable Belgian hot chocolate and giant Belgian waffles!! The weather was so perfect, a nice crisp chill in the air to gently remind you that it is autumn. The leaves were changing colors and the air smelt of the fall harvest. I wish I could stay in Brugge for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas to see how beautiful the seasons change because it’s one of my favorite places in the world!!!!

We also docked twice in Le Havre, France, which is the gateway city to Paris. We didn’t have enough time off to make it to Paris but I was grateful to get off for dinner and enjoy a port at night. When we were there Monday, the 27^th, we had a bit of a hard time finding a restaurant open because it was a holiday and the French usually don’t open til late anyways. We finally happened upon a pub and sipped on wine while we waited for the kitchen to open. I ordered a veggie pizza, which surprisingly came with potato slices on it. A “French fry” pizza?!? It was DELCIOUS!!!! I naturally had a nutella crepe for dessert ;)

Wednesday night we found a fancy restaurant serving more traditional French food. I had a boiled egg in a bowl of cheese (I can’t remember the fancy French cheese name but it was good!) and had nibbles of my friend’s garlic and cheese mushrooms :D We later found a cute bar designed to look like a farm house where I drank a very tasty cherry beer. I hate the taste of beer but I guess this was more of a cider and to me, it tasted like cherry juice so I was happy!

Tomorrow we start the crossing back to the states and though I’m sad to leave Europe, I’m very excited to have my phone back to contact the ones I love more easily and to start my vocal and scuba lessons! I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday! We will be celebrating tonight with a scary movie (eek!!) and the crew Halloween party will be next cruise. I will be appearing as Zorro but unfortunately I can’t bring a fake sword on the ship so I hope the mask and outfit do the job!!!