Autumn in the Caribbean is the perfect time to visit. Time to top up the fading summer tan and escape those first dark damp nights in Scotland.
Busy busy busy first day at sea. Early 10am start for Ukulele workshops - over 50 guests took part in first baby steps. Well done to the gang..what a team.
First lecture of the cruise " The Beatles v's Beach boys" I love this lecture (well I did write it lol). One kind gentleman came to me afterwards with tears in his eyes and shared a moving story about a special song by The Beatles and how this song shaped his life. The song was The Long and Winding Road. I mention in my talk that this is my favourite Beatles song.
This relaxed way of travelling gives me the opportunity to connect with fellow entertainers. On this is trip I was delighted to chum up with two pals from previous trips. First, was a fellow Scot, Ken Lennox - Former picture editor of The Sun, Executive picture Editor of New of the World, plus additional Fleet Street positions in The Mirror, Star and Daily Express to name a few. Loved his stories of the infamous and famous! and his stories about the Royal family were beautiful and moving.
The other chum was the talented Micky Zany - A natural performer and seriously funny guy. Check out his schedule at mickyzany.co.uk
After enjoying the delights of Madeira it was sunshine all the way to the Caribbean. Time to put on my other cruise hat here - as tour escort. What a thrill it is being a tour escort. It gives me a chance to spend time with guests having fun and discovering new areas of the hidden Caribbean. One adventure was in Dominica and visiting the Titou Gorge and the relaxing Bongo Baths.
Titou Gorge was used in Pirates of the Caribbean/Dead Man's Chest - Orlando Bloom and his shipmates were suspended in cages above this Gorge ( nowhere to be seen this day :(...so no chance of giving him the kiss of life !) Anyway..a "must" visit in Dominica to enjoy the short swim through the narrow gorge to the beautiful powerful waterfall. You can find more information at the Lonely Planet site:
We then relaxed in the Bongo Baths - beautiful baths of variable temperatures embedded in a tropical paradise.....with a little rum punch.
Rum Punches seemed to be the theme of this trip...I had one (or two) in Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, St Kitts and Grenada :) ....In some places it was two for the price of one!!! Rude not too...
Final sun stop was the the island of Saint Martin. Here, the Dutch and the French cultures rub along side by side. This was a day to relax and catch up, as my friends Andrew and Douglas were here on holiday..brilliant day driving around the island with stops for food and ..well..more rum punch! Crazy stop at Maho Beach to watch airplanes. You could smell the coffee onboard!
Having said earlier about meeting special people on trips, after my final lecture on Popular American Music, I was overwhelmed (doesn't happen often) when a lovely chap called John, gifted me a wonderful book. The book was "The Wichita Lineman" by Dylan Jones and the story about the "world's greatest unfinished song" What a beautiful read. The moving ballad "Wichita Lineman" was written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 for Glen Campbell - a song of the times.
John asked me to read the book, email him my thoughts and then..the important part.. "Pay it Forward" What a great idea! The book was a great read.
I must admit, I didn't really know too much about the great Glen Campbell classic and looking at the book I did think it was going to be another bland American account of a song. How wrong was I!!???
The book very lively but tenderly maps out the story of one of America's most popular recordings and the story of one of the world's greatest unfinished song. Reading through the lyrics "I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time" It is easy to understand why Bob Dylan called it the greatest song ever written.
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