IF A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...

HERE'S your 13,000 worth of words to chew on, in other words...here are 13 of our pictures. We took excursions to so many places. The people were so friendly. This guy just ran and jumped in my picture as John was trying to take it.

We drove through Rotterdam and saw the sites there.......

We went to a shoemaking village. Doesn't John look cute in these clogs...

This is your typical English breakfast...bacon, sausage, beans and bread. The

pancakes were good and yummy...kinda yeasty tasting...

We visited a Delft pottery shop...there are only two businesses that make this pottery in the world today. And there is this special signature thingy on the bottom of the originals...don't be fooled guys by the imitations. Yes, this pottery is beautiful...and no, I didn't get the vase that I'm holding $$$$$$. I got a tiny one that could hold one stem to be placed in my bedroom for fond memories of Holland.

There were so many shops in this village (Delft). There was a huge town square and Xmas tree that was breathtaking...

This shot is from the same little village square.

And this blue heart is the end of the town square.

This place was so exciting and fabulous. This is the northern rersort town called Scheveningen. That tall tower looking thingy is where you bungy jump. John wants to come back here. On January 1, people run into the north sea...some type of ritual...there are shops galore...really nice. Can't wait...maybe next time we can come in the spring when all of the flowers and tulips are in bloom.

This is the coolest place. John fell in love with Madurodam. This is the reason he wants to come back here and play in this miniature town with real trains that run through the place...it was too much for him...he says he has to come back. Okay...April 2009???

These windmills are in the town of Zaanse Schans. We toured a windmill, talked to people who told us the history of this area. Fascinating...you know 40% of the land has been reclaimed from the sea with these windmills. Now, actually I think they use electric pumps. This place is preserved for tourists.

Okay, we went to a cheese place and gots lots a cheese...my favorite is the smoked cheese with this honey mustard stuff. Yummo.

We really, really enjoyed this trip. I hope to come back in the spring. I know it would be absolutely beautiful.

AMSTERDAM...DAY 1

John and I like Amsterdam. This is a very interesting city...seems like the "entire world" is here. We are staying at a CITIZENM hotel. This place is really, cool. Very high tech...just wish the room was larger...but even so it's cool http://www.citizenmamsterdamairport.com/

We finally figured out the train system and took off hitting the streets downtown, FREEZING....The Xmas lights were so pretty we took a dinner cruise on the canal...there were really cool houseboats along the way decorated with lights.

BOPPIN' IN BANGALORE

Okay we went to Bangalore this weekend...my primary goal was to get my hair braided. I was ecstatic that I could actually get my hair braided in India. I guess there is a larger African community in Bangalore, and after searching the internet, I found "Sasha's" which advertised African braiding. Well, Vendan ranted on and on how well he knew Bangalore...I gave him the addresses well in advance. Even thought about printing out directions to this place...(my lesson for today, always follow your initial instinct and never rely on anyone else). We were so lost for so long...(oh well). We piled into the car, and it was really nice to get away from Chennai for a few days. The mountain range was nice, the weather was considerably cooler. In photo number 1, out of boredom, Bree decided to melt a chocolate mint on John's forehead while he slept...

Anyway, I had everything timed out, from how long it would take to get there, to how long it should take to get my hair braided (like 5 hours in the chair). Our hotel (The Monarch, above), was right across the street. Definitely nothing to write home about, but it was in the right location, and had a tub, {We only have showers in our home, bummer}...free breakfast, and was...okay for a 3-star, if you know what I mean. (Yeah, we had to scream to get hot water, but it eventually came).

I'm racing into the hotel after an hour or so circling around, trying to find this place...I call Sasha, tell her I'm checking in and I will be right over....AND THIS WOMAN HAS THE NERVE TO TELL ME, WHOOPS, THE STYLIST SAYS SHE IS SICK TODAY, COME BACK TOMORROW AT 2:30. YOU KNOW I AM SEEING RED. DOES SHE REALIZE WHAT IT COSTS TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN THIS PLACE, OR THAT MY HUSBAND HAS TO BE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY, OR THAT COMING IN AT 2:30 PUTS US DRIVING BACK ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 9:30 OR 10:00...AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR NIGHT DRIVING HERE... YES, I AM LIVID. I HAD CALLED A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE TO VERIFY THAT THE APPOINTMENT WAS STILL "ON"...AND NO ONE CALLS ME BEFORE I COME THIS FAR TO ... I GUESS YOU GET IT.

I'm still mad about this. Then to top it all off, after starting at 3:00, I didn't get out of this chair until 8:30 p.m.; rather than risking life and limb trying to get home dodging cows and heaven only knows what else is in the road...we just decided to stay another day.

So, was it worth it...I really wanted my hair braided. No, it's hard to find the same quality that we have in good ol' Decatur. (One braid thick, one braid thin...) And then they charged me an extra 1,000 rupees over what was quoted before I came. Yeah, Merry Xmas. I hate being "taken", and I suppose I need to just become more adamant, aggressive and demanding over stuff. Yeah, that's my New Year's resolution. I need a good assertiveness class. I told this woman this was not the original price quoted...

Yes, this was a very expensive hair do; not sure I will do it again. Guess I will just wait to get to the State's next time.

We found the Hard Rock Cafe, (Poor Vendan couldn't seem to get directions right...I told him to just pull over, pay a rickshaw guy to guide us there, and let it go...but NO...he would find the way). Anyway, the important thing about this venture was....

I SAW THE GUITARS FROM "THE CARS" ON THE WALL. This is my favorite rock group. When I was a freshman, there was a girl on the floor who blasted the cars non-stop, like 24-7. I hated this music...but maybe after the zillionth time, you kinda get the songs in your head, and you start groovin' to the bass and rythms...yeah, I now confess, I really love the cars...Candy-O and all. So much for trippin' back to 1979.

We made it back to Chennai...and now we are bracing up for Amsterdam. Ashley and Bri will be running amuk, and I'll bring you up to speed on what's happenin' there later.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE XMAS...

NOT. Okay, today is just like another hum-drum day. What is it..like 90 degrees outside? I laid out like 25 minutes as usual trying to get my fill of vitamin D in...http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx



So now I'm into the Budwig protocol...http://www.budwigvideos.com/ as well as infrared sauna and a few other treatments that are good for your liver. (Okay, I'll skip the boring health stuff).



Sunday we went to dinner at Sparky's. All I can say is WOW, boy does he have Xmas going on big-time. I'm gonna make John dig out our tree. I miss Xmas. My mother passed away Xmas morning, 2005. It really changes the way you live through your holidays. You know that year my kids got me Oprah's 20 year special anniversary collection, and I think I stayed in bed for a week and just watched the entire 6 cd's and cried. Well, Ashley drug it out a few days ago, and we just watched them every day and night until we got through them all and boo-hoo'd. I need to get out of this rut...



And guess what, I've got just the ticket. John, Bri and I are gonna bust a move to Bangalore this weekend. Yeahhh, they have African Braiding there. So I think I'm gonna transform myself, give my 'fro a rest and I'll post pictures if it turns out good.



So this pinched nerve in my back is driving me crazy. I'm seriously considering acupuncture. Ashley said she would give me a massage tonight. I hope this helps. John's working late, Bri is in bed sleep (it's only 5:00 p.m. (She'll probably be up all night talking on the phone since we got our Vonage going again.)



Okay, sisters...ya'll can call me now...get me through the holidays...

SO HERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY...

Okay, I'm gonna get through the rest of this trip today if it kills me.

We arrived in port to visit Pisa and Florence...Paulo was waiting for us. Paulo, we love you. You are such a sweetheart...(Johnnie let me say this, okay). A kiss on both cheeks to you.

Should any of you find yourself in need of a guide on an Italian tour excursion, go to www.unforgettabletuscany.com. This operation is run by Paulo who really, really helped us to fall in love with Italy. We went everywhere, saw everything, absorbed so much history, from the Medici's to Michael Angelo, from the leaning tower of Pisa to the back roads of Tuscany...such beauty...the wine vineyards, the olive trees. Ultimately we toured a beautiful castle, which was like a private hotel...wrong word, I mean museum. This is the first time I ever heard John exclaim that he would take me here on our 50th anniversary. I laughed and thought to myself, hmmm so that must mean next year, right. Let me give you the website...but the pictures on the web just doesn't do this place justice...oh well, http://www.montegufoni.eu/

I think I should rent out the lower wing that holds 8, and grab as many of my peeps as would travel that far and...wouldn't that be a blast. (Let's just pray that the economy doesn't completely tank).

Truthfully, we won a free round trip ticket to anywhere in Europe, and this would have been first on the list for this Xmas, but...I can't swing it $$$ with all of the girls right now, so John just settled on going to Amsterdam the day after Xmas to celebrate our 25th, since we were at a loss during September because of unforseeable events occurring then. The girls will be up to mischief for 4 days, but still having an adventure without us.

These private excursions were so wonderful, we got to see tons of more things than just taking the ship's tour with like 50 people being herded here and there and paying $$$much too much through them. Yes, we want to definitely come back.

FRANCE...

You know I loved Princess Grace. It seemed just like yesterday remembering her death...little Stephanie in the car with her...well Jerome came through to get us at the pier in France...http://www.rivierapremiumtour.com/ So according to Jerome, Prince Albert is now engaged to a beautiful blonde who is a great swimmer/athlete.

Oh, the French!!! You know you must be a gazillionaire to live in Monaco, yes, we saw it all. The changing of the guard... Nice was beautiful...and the most fascinating place that I tried to book for after Xmas this year (but had flight problems returning to Chennai) was called the village of Eze. This fortress was constructed in like the 13th or 14th century (I'm never good with details)..but it captivated my heart. The views into the harbor from the cliffs were so awsome. Here's a link to it: http://www.circumvista.com/chateau-eza.html

Yes, yes, the French riviera was wonderful. So now I feel the need to learn both French and Italian after I finish stumbling through my Tamil lessons. You know they say Tamil is one of the oldest languages on earth today...(and one of the hardest, if you asked me). My teacher said most other languages require your jaw to go up and down, in Tamil, it goes sideways.

We arrived back to Barcelona where the tour company emailed and said they had my cell phone and back pack. All is well, John is forgiven for leaving it...and there was peace in the valley.

So, that sums up our travels in a nutshell...but it seems like if you are following the news, chaos reins. I'm sitting here under a blasting air conditioner thinking about how hot it is now...but not really missing icy wintery weather. Ashley took Lilly over to a friend's house to play and boy oh boy did Lilly cause a raucus. So there it is...Merry Xmas everyone...no, our tree is somewhere in a box still.

TERROR ALERTS...WE ARE OKAY

I first want to let all friends and family know that we are doing fine. What has happened in Mumbai has been devastating. We are following the consulate's advice, but you can't go on living your life in fear...just take the best precautions that you can and then..."let go and trust God". Today we are just getting our internet back, and it is still popping in and out. I really wanted to finish up our last trip...after all, we have still got to get through Florence/Pisa (Tuscany), Monaco/Nice/Eze, France and back to Barcelona, but I am just moving in slow gear.

To Sister Olivia Hill...I love you, we love you...we were so shocked and hurt to hear of Bro. Hill's passing. He was just like a second father/uncle/loving, close relative to us. I am giving you a {{{hug}}}. It's so hard to be so far away, and then so many things start happening, and what can you do but pray to God. May He comfort your hearts, Jasper Street.

God has been so good to us, and today I received family pictures of Sean, his wife, Kris and new baby, Noah. The Sykes family name will go on (smile). Yes, John really, really wanted a son...but we won't go there...so Sean carries on the family name. Boy, if you aren't the spitting image of Willie James and Connie....we love you all.

Briana finally got admitted into the American School yesterday. I don't know how to say it, but if this child hasn't given me a head full of gray hairs...to cut to the chase, I am thankful in some ways that her "rocky" experiences and dealings in an underprivileged initial setting will eventually find a way to make her appreciate so many things that our kids take for granted...Thanks to all who have said a prayer for us, and especially for Bree. I can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been busy with our OWC group, we've been singing Christmas carols for elderly men and women, I have been going to all kinds of neat places...the Madras Club...we visited another home for the elderly where orphaned children put on a play and sang. They were so sweet. I miss those days of directing choirs and singing with the children, but I am grateful I got to do a little of it here as well.

Our book club this month was a blast. This is the first book I managed to get through in a long time..."The White Tiger". I guess you almost have to be here in India, living the life to really, really "get it" and appreciate this book. Wow. Our discussions were fun and racy.

I even took a trip with another ladies' group to visit "Jean Lesage". Who is Jean Lesage, you might ask? I'll try to post a link for you...http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/13/stories/2005101300640100.htm

That's who.

We miss all of our family...immediate, distant, courthouse, Decatur Cat, church family..everyone. We are fine, I feel fine...maybe even lost a couple of pounds. ) Yes, I am jumping on a rebounder). Now, if only I can get John to jump. He's still golfing like crazy.

Well, I'll write more tomorrow, Lord willing...if the creek don't rise...

SPQR...ROME

Rome was actually about an hour away from the port where our ship had docked. We had arranged a tour, and Manillo was there to greet us. We embarked on what was to be another life changing experience for me.

In my line of work...or somehow I should translate it to reflect my "past" line of work there was very little from a graphic point of view that I hadn't seen. Nineteen years in criminal work and a couple years beyond that in Atlanta left me feeling as though I was a fairly seasoned court reporter. Don't get me wrong, to this day there are pictures I will never get out of my mind... graphic, mutilated bodies, autopsies of babies...there will always be a few cases that haunt my mind which to this day I still have to push the thoughts out when they still return. Even so, I don't think I have ever been driven to the point of ad nauseum until we arrived at the colosseum.

There is a huge cross that has been placed there now...and the imagery that filters into my mind comes from the book of Revelation, of the martyrs' spilled blood, crying from the ground for God to take vengence...it was just a killing field, which was more than I could stand. I guess I'm just a sensitive soul...John and the kids, you could almost hear them saying "pass the popcorn".

I couldn't look at it from an architectural point of view...truly an amazing wonder when you research the construction, the way it was a lake that was drained, the precise measurements used to keep water from back flowing in, the underground construction put in so that animals could pop up through the floor for drama and surprise everyone...truly a marvel...but all I could keep seeing was blood, crying from the ground.

Rome, the Vatican....it really would be a place we'd like to return to, but with 8 hours in port and traveling time to and from the ship...yes, we need a few days there to truly absorb this amazing place. Like a fog, trying to clear the mist away, four years of Latin in high school began replaying through my mind as I struggled to translate various writings that were everywhere. Ollie was the Latin scholar...(my mentor). Actually all of the girls in the family followed in her footsteps and tried to emulate her.

John says he kept thinking about the movie, GLADIATOR. We saw so many wonderful things, out of the 7 hills, we got to visit only one...temples...Circus Maximus...we went into the catacombs...but you weren't allowed to film down there. Well, there was a "peaceful" protest going on of students, and we were stuck in traffic for an hour. Then as we were racing back to the ship, a rain storm blew in, with hail, mind you. How befitting for an end to the "Eternal City". Yes, I hope we can find our way there again.

A BUM DAY

(These pictures were taken before we went to the OWC ball...this was the dress I bought in 1997 for my parent's 50th anniversary.)

For all of the excitement that has come my way during the last week or so...and there has been a lot Iwanted to share with you guys...John and I won two of the top prizes at the OWC ball, (a beautiful silk duvet and the grand prize...a roundtrip ticket to anywhere in Europe on Lufthansa...I attended the violin concert of Sara Michieletto, who played movements from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"...my very FAVORITE composer and favorite composition...I think it was Spring and Summer...she played with such passion that I was brought near to tears...), all that said, today was a sad day for me.

Battling cancer, I developed a circle of cyber friends. I got to the point where I had to get away from some of the chatting because things can get depressing. Health begins to fail...desperation setting in...members all trying to help and suggest different things for final stages...not a good place to spend a lot of time, so I just stopped going there to keep my head in a good "mental" zone.

Well, for those of you who really know me from 1999 on, you also know I was a Y-2K freak who became a gun toting, survivalist...preparing for the worst possible outcome, stashing my basement with enough food for a year or so, seeds to sow in case I had to grow my own garden...yeah, I even got a generator...whatever it took to survive independent of the power grid. (I think everyone who knew me thought, if it gets that bad...we'll just crash in on Marsha for supplies). Well, thank God the grid and computer systems didn't crash...but I hung out on a website called Timebomb, which was a "survivalist" type spot...and there I met EXPOSE...alius Deborah.

I hadn't been on this site for months, and just happened to click on it today. Expose died of cancer, and they were posting their farewells and condolences. She had emailed me, trying to help me with helpful advice, sharing whatever she could. It hit hard. I hate cancer. It took my mom away...I know we are not meant to stay on this earth. One day, something will take us all away. Guess I'll go and spend some quality time with my husband and kids and be thankful for right "now", because that's really all we have.

Tomorrow I'll try to tell you all of our journey to Rome...

PERIL IN POMPEII

Pictures of Pompeii, racing through the streets of Naples in a taxi...Briana is responsible for these "back-of-the-head shots".

Peril...peril? What peril you might ask? {The kid in me wants to do a tongue twister thingy with 'The Perils of Penelope Pitstop'...I guess I'll never grow up.} After all, we did manage to avoid being hit by the volcanic ash from 79 AD, so surely any other obscure dangers lurking would be inconsequential to our traipsing through the ruins, right?

No, the dangers I'm talkin' about is grabbing an 11 year old girl named BRIANA, and dragging her away from the market stands (yes with her straining eyes aglow) from the prominently displayed EROTICA (bronzed 12 inch ...hmmm....how shall I say it...male anatomies) that were just everywhere. I had forgotton that Pompeii was also known for its erotica, wall murals of brothels, well...it goes on and on. Just do your own "erotic art in Pompeii" at google...need I say more? So, once again, my sweet, innocent baby has been exposed to more than I anticipated. Great. I really am trying to keep her from growing up too fast, but it just seems the world keeps exposing our kids to so much...and I am sorry...I'm still a prude.

We used the camcorder a lot, and as of yet, I still am unsure about putting video shots up...I'll have to get some of my friends to help me. I'm doing big stuff just loading up a picture.

Well, the girls and I fought our way through the ruins, listened in on other guides giving the particulars...John stayed on board, and through a mishap of our original tour, we didn't do so badly getting around for not having a plan that day. We had a crazy cab driver who was a lot of fun. The Italians we met were fun-loving people who love their homeland.

Maybe one day I'll go back and we can check out the Amalfi Coast.
P.S. Lilly's leg is healing well.

MALTA...MY OH MY

Ladies from North Carolina; entering the catacombs

blown glass shops; historical churches

going into the catacombs; our ship, the NORWEGIAN GEM...

Last night our dog, Lillie, cut her leg so badly...blood everywhere. Obviously a vein damaged and you could just see the bone...to say the least, it's been a harrowing night and morning; but I am thankful to find the vet to help her and she will now be getting shots for 7 more days. She was crying at my bedroom door trying to get in...

Okay...I'll spare you all the details and go on with Malta, but I wanted you to know there has been so much drama going on...I'll just intersperse it between shore excursions.

We were a day at sea before arriving to the island of Malta. I had read cruise ship forums which stated..just do the tour yourself and save $$$ do this, that and the other. I had no idea what Malta held in store for us, nor did I realize just how much this was to become a spiritual journey.

Leaving Barcelona, and seeing the remnants of the Roman Empire was quite memoralized in my mind...buildings where the original walls still stood, just rebuilt upon and used as the foundation of other buildings that were erected over the same spot...anyway, while watching the tv on the ship, they show what all awaits you in Malta. Then, they showed pictures of the cave where Paul was held prisoner after his shipwreck episode. It was here while gathering wood a snake bit Paul and they all waited for him to die, and he didn't...I just about fell out of my bed. I didn't realize I would be coming here...I didn't realize the impact that this struck me with. Well, I couldn't get John and the kids to go with me on this trek, they did their own thing. So, let me tell you about my excursion of Malta.

It kicked off first visiting elaborate churches, with unbelievable domes, gold, detail...On the front of this one church they had all of the apostles that were huge outside. I tried to zero in 0n a picture of St. Thomas since he was killed in Chennai. There were huge portraits of Paul, the snake scene within the church. A bomb during WWII had blew threw the dome, but was repaired...Then we went on to shops where they had the most beautiful glass art. I got a blue swirled lovebird duo. Malta is known for their blown glass. We ultimately ended up heading for the catacombs that were connected to the crypt where Paul had lived during his stay to be transported to Rome. Going into these catacombs really leaves you with a strange feeling...walking through these narrow hilly streets gazing into the windows...people were very friendly. I got the best peanut brittle with tons of different spices in it, so different than what we have back home...

There were so many stories I can't remember them all, stories of the Maltese Cross (8 pointed cross) and the order of St. John...

Anyway we were thoroughly enjoying our cruise. Met some fascinating, fun loving Obama loving ladies who flagged us down...they were all college graduates who reunited every year and took trips together. They were out of North Carolina, and this was so similar to Tyler Perry's movie with Janet Jackson..."Why did I get Married"...if you haven't seen this movie, you have got to. I'll try to put their picture up as well, but we had such camera problems for a couple of days, that we didn't even get Colosseum pictures on our camera...had to use Ashley's.

But I just feel so blessed. Blessed, that God allowed me to physically go and cast my eyes upon these places that seem so much just like a "story" which you've read all your life, heard preachers give sermons about, and looking at the Bible as a living, breathing, book...just waiting to be ultimately fulfilled...you won't believe the physical sickness wave that overwhelms your soul just stepping toward the colusseum...but I'll get to those stories later.

Oh well...the journey continues.

HOW COOL-AAH IS BARCELONA

It's so funny, despite fighting it throughout most of my life, I can now say that, YES...I have become my mother. As a child tagging along with my mom shopping or whatever, one might think my mom knew the entire city of Decatur. She spoke to strangers on the street, in the malls or grocery stores like she had known them all of her life. For being so introverted and shy at times, you'd never know it watching her laugh, crack jokes and chatting with people. So yes, I have developed that knack. It's really kind of fun, and I kicked it off from the guy picking us up at the airport all the way through the end of the trip...John just kinda let go and just enjoyed the ride.

We loved Barcelona. Spain was so cool, and even with my limited, broken Spanish, we did great. Ashley even managed to find a restaurant and order in Spanish off the menu with Bree in tow when John and I took off for the flamenco dancing show. I wished I could be travelling here with my family, especially Ollie. So the best I can do is show you all the pictures and share a few emblazened memories.

Europe doesn't come cheap...you think you can put 4 in a room, like a double in the US...Naaahhh, doesn't work that way here. Three is the max, so we had two rooms for a couple of days at the Market Hotel, a budget hotel which had great reviews in Travel and Leisure magazine with breakfasts (the apple glazed muffins with cream cheese or something sinfully delicious in the center were the bomb, you know we were not dieting, okay.)...included in the deal, free wifi (don't you hate paying an arm and a leg just to use the internet in hotels...) free apples and water to send you off on your daily trek, and it was definitely in the middle of things if you like action...It was a 15 minute walk from the main strip, (Las Ramblas). Oh, if only I had money to truly shop for clothes, because guys, you know the Spanish know how to dress. (Like I could really get one more thing in my overweight suitcase)...and the coolest designs were just dazzling before my eyes. Our first dinner was at a Hard Rock Cafe. It was a bit challenging finding it. It's amazing how words I hadn't used in over 20 years (Spanish 101) filtered back into my mind . Just to show you that it's a small world, we were sitting there, enjoying the ambience of your typical Hard Rock Cafe, chowing down on some barbecue ribs...John was still wearing his CAT cap, and low and behold, at a table across from us was another CAT family out of Peoria on an R&R/vacation also. I forgot where they were stationed. You'd almost think we set this rendezvous up! We had a nice evening.

The next day we took a day tour of Barcelona...to go into these churches and see the beautiful, artistic work was amazing...all through Europe, it was just amazing. Then our tour guide was chatting about Christopher Columbus coming back here for this, that and the other...have you ever been so overwhelmed...sensory overload...that you can only just stand there and your mind/body can only filter in so much? The afternoon was dedicated to Gaudi...a man after my own heart when it comes to design. We ran out of time to go into Picasso's museum, John left my backpack with my cell phone in it on the tour bus...(but it all works out in the very end).

We ended the day by dressing up...John and I headed for the flamenco dancing dinner, (yeah, they bring you a fish with the head still on it and the eyes of it are looking dead at you...) and Bree and Ash hit the streets and found a restaurant close to our hotel. Okay, like maybe 6 people were even in this dive...but boy could this guy sing and dance and the guitar playing made you want to grab a pair of castinets and let go...Oh, I almost forgot to tell you...I got drug up on the stage to dance with this guy. John wouldn't go when they tried to drag him, but he pushed me forward. Thanks, John. We spent the next morning getting to the pier, ready to board the NORWEGIAN GEM...an awsome ship.

We had a minisuite with a balcony...which I wanted to share with the girls, but they had insisted on being on their own...so they were a few floors down from us. I'll tell you more about the embarkment of this journey later...although it's winter supposedly in Chennai (probably 90 degrees outside), monsoon season must still be here because it's raining cats and dogs right now...and this internet is acting funny. Maybe I should shut it down lest another power surge should do me in...if you know what I mean.

I SPOKE TOO LATE...I AM WRITING THIS NOW 24 HOURS LATER...OUR SERVER WAS DOWN UNTIL NOW. Vendan says that our street is very bad for internet, I guess the one in front of us and behind us are just fine...somehow I should have known...Tomorrow I will try to tell you about Malta.