April 26

Peace begins with a smile.

Mother Theresa

Greece has passed, and once again we have set to sea.  New conversations, new thoughts, new pictures, same people.  To the black sea we say, as we haul our lines away.  With little to do, apart from classes and ship-work, we read and play.  Perhaps Indiana Jones will grace our eyes today.

Movie night!  Indeed, long time since our last one.  Apart from that, I loved Greece, with its beautiful architecture and thin winding streets.  Its donkeys graced my pictures and its castles gave me a place to explore.  I would love to go back and explore more of the country, meet more of the people, and enjoy more of the culture.  We happened to dock quite near to “Socrates Tree” which unfortunately I was unable to get to.  Eh, its just a tree right?  We had an amazing tour through most of Rhodes on the third day, allowing us to explore everything from an old castle to a chapel perched on top of a mountain.  I enjoyed the church the most, but really felt it in my legs after I climbed to the peak.  Another highlight of my Grecian experience, was my exploration of the hidden tunnels below the walls.  While you aren’t supposed to be down there (no light, you have to crouch to get through them, damp walls, bugs, etc.), myself and a couple friends brought a couple flashlights to a small entrance that we had found the day before.  That’s when the fun began.  While we found little down there, the sheer experience of exploring hundreds of meters of winding tunnels below an ancient city in complete darkness with no idea where we were going was simply, stellar.  It was the first (and possible only) time I will ever make a paper trail, and in the end the whole group was glad of it.  As it goes, Greece boils down to being my most favorite port thus far in the “I want to return” category.  Indeed.

April 27

He knows not his own strength, he who has not met adversity.

Ben Johnson

Arr maties!  Finally our beautiful ship has caught up with the rough seas of yore.  Waves crash over the bow as we haul on lines, setting sail for the future.  What it may bring, we do not know, nor care.  For we live in the present; for we live our life, alive.

Time: 0200 hours:  Just got up for watch, grabbed my foulies, harness, and a jacket.  I am ready to go.

0220 hours: Not enough warm clothes, so I return to my cabin shivering in my shoes.

0230 hours: I mount the bridge stairs, thinking myself ready to begin my 30 minute test of endurance.

0235 hours: It’s going well so far, as long as I keep my face out of the whipping wind.  I have only lost the feeling in my toes, which is to be expected when wearing keens.

0245 hours: Alas!  The cold is slowly attacking me, its grip tight around my body.  I can feel the winds icy gaze sharp against my back.  It subsists for a moment, before remounting its assault; it has beaten my outer-defenses, and soon my skin will be feeling its harshness.

0250 hours: Can I survive the next ten minutes I wonder?  I swear against the wind, and hope for quick relief.  The cold has slid into my coat, and down my shirt.  My skin feels as if it was on fire, the cold is unforgivable; the cold never pardons those who hide from it.

0300 hours: Where is my relief?  She must be late?  Perhaps the cold has already got to her?  Perhaps she is asleep.  I yell across the ship, “Is she coming?!”.  I am now moving around like a mad man, desperate for warmth.  The light of the mess explodes into the night as a hatch opens.  I shiver my relief and swear against the cold once again.  Perhaps I let myself go crazy for a second, perhaps not.  It is only a dark memory among many, perhaps it was only a dream.  No, it was real.  I know it was real.

0301 hours: I fall against the hard wood, and fall asleep instantly.  Other watch mates shiver in their sleep around me.  One might say you could see the cold in that room.

0345 hours: I wake up in a cold sweat, my fingers are gone.  I feel for them with my palms… why can’t I sense them?  Springing up from my uncomfortable position I rush to the sink and pour hot water over my ten digits.  The feeling returns, and in relief I go back to my wooden bed.

0356 hours: My inner clock chimes, watch is over, my eyes fly open and I move, zombie-like, to watch change.

0401 hours: I hit my bunk, asleep before my head touches the pillow.

In less interesting news (for most) I have started working on a possible design for a new travel website.  The client is secret right now, but she is an amazing writer and deserves a place to present her astounding work.  Hopefully my design will help her do so.

April 28, 2007

This is one change-filled year neh?  First Shri-Lanka, then Dubai, Eritrea, Israel, now Ukraine; jeez, it’s crazy!  So, we are a’ heading back to Greece, Athens in fact, which is exciting however it’s sad that we will miss Ukraine.  Apparently due to harsh weather we would be unable to spend more than one day there, had we gone.
As for myself, I am quite excited to visit Athens and the Parthenon; however, many of the other crew members are quite dismayed.  So, this being my last journal entry before Greece, well, there ain’t much to say.  Talk to you soon? 

Oh and before I forget, I never want any of you guys to EVER complain about laundry.  I have gone three weeks now without laundry.  (If I miss my next laundry day due to port, it will be my fourth week.)  It’s getting bad.  So yea, no complaining; laundry is a privilege.