Wednesday, April 6, 2022 – Photo of the Day – At Sea

10:00 TALE OF TALES: Tale Teller Special Guest EAMONN GEARON
Today’s Topic: Tales from The Sahara: Encounters with the World’s Greatest Desert

Eamonn Gearon is an author, analyst, and public historian who has spent more than 20 years living and working across the Middle East and North Africa.

Eamonn spent many happy times exploring the Sahara as a young man, alone but for his trio of camels. He has never lost money on the resale of a camel.

After honeymooning in Kabul, Afghanistan, Eamonn and his American wife moved to Washington D.C. to teach at Johns Hopkins-SAIS. While there, he was approached by the U.S. Department of State to design and deliver training for American diplomats.

Eamonn is now training British diplomats at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where he also pioneered online Area Studies training.

Eamonn is passionate about education in its broadest possible sense, which includes helping those of us already out in the world to better understand it and each other.

He has published a number of courses for the former “The Great Courses”, now known as Wondrium.

Gearon is best known for his book The Sahara: A Cultural History

COOKING DEMONSTRATION A CULINARY MASTER CLASS

Greece’s islands boast some of the healthiest and most delicious food in the world, with succulent honey-soaked treats and exceptional olive oil.

Each island has unique products to discover, whether it be olives, wine, cheese, or honey.

Today David prepares dishes from Crete and Cyprus whilst sharing food stories of the islands.

2:45 Enrichment Lecture with Destination Consultant Jon Fleming
Today’s Topic: Istanbul – The City Where Europe Meets Asia

MEET DESTINATION LECTURER JON FLEMING
Jon Fleming’s combination of personal experience and historical knowledge, plus an entertaining presentation style has made him very sought after in the Cruise industry. He has sailed on over 250 cruises worldwide including Silversea’s last 9 World Cruises.

Over the last sixteen years, Jon has lectured on over 500 cruise destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australasia, and the Pacific.

He has an informal and humorous lecture style that aims to make history interesting, accessible, and relevant for his audience, without bombarding them with dates and facts.

Jon was born in London, and studied Modern History at York University. After university, he pursued a successful career in marketing, before deciding to get out of the rat race and devote himself to travel full-time either by cruise ship or at the other end of the luxury scale, in a camper van with his wife Tracy.

His interest in travel was sparked by a two-month train trip around Europe when he was 18, and he has been looking for excuses to travel ever since! He has traveled extensively throughout the world, visiting over 125 countries in the process (the number is growing all the time). Having recently sold his beloved camper van, Jon now spends his summers in Europe looking for the perfect place to finally settle down…

3:45 Enrichment Lecture with World Affairs Lecturer Dr. Mark Elovitz
Today’s Topic: Talking Turkey & Erdogan’s Autocracy.

MEET ENRICHMENT LECTURER DR. MARK ELOVITZ
Back in 2012, Singapore’s Prestige Lifestyle Magazine featured Dr. Elovitz as a “Seminal Visionary.” International audiences acclaim him as a captivating commentator on world affairs. But, Dr. E. – as worldwide aficionados happily refer to him – simply says he is a geopolitician blessed with strategic hindsight.
Prior to lecturing around the globe, Dr. Elovitz served as a litigator, a professor of law, a U.S. government advisor, and a U.S. Air Force Officer. As a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, he has earned four (4) post-graduate degrees.
Dr. Elovitz has published hundreds of articles. His wide-ranging subjects have addressed legal liability, American public policy, world affairs & international geopolitics. Some of Dr. E’s many colorful commentaries include: “Whose Lunch Is The Dragon Eating?”The Machiavellian Mideast,” Bear Claws & Dragon Breath,” Political Wimps, Wusses & Wieners” and “When Is Later Too Late?”.
In addition, Dr. Elovitz had previously authored a regular newspaper column focusing on enhanced healthcare delivery. He has also been the lively and often provocative anchor/commentator for a World Affairs T.V. show.
Dr. Elovitz has lived in both Europe and the Mideast. As the United States Air Force Officer, he was a liaison to the American military stationed throughout England, Europe, and North Africa. In that role, he received the U.S.A.F. Commendation Medal for “Exemplary Pedagogic Skill.”
Additionally, Dr. Elovitz served in Washington during the Carter and Reagan Administrations as a government advisor on public policy. Dr. Elovitz has testified before the U.S. Congress’ Committee on Foreign Affairs. He has also been a participant in the U.S. Naval War College’s Current Strategy Forum. Currently, Dr. Elovitz is Director of the Centre For Strategic Geopolitics, a world affairs think tank.
Dr. Elovitz is recognized for his penetrating insights into and astute assessments of world affairs. His distinctive careers, extensive worldwide travels, and diverse international contacts produce presentations with uncommon depth and unique understandings of world affairs. He deftly provides the unjaded content and context that are often sadly absent from the print and broadcast media. As a result, Dr. E’s dynamic presentations are colorful, illuminating, and decidedly thought-provoking.

ALEXANDRITE GEM
This rare gem was named after Czar Alexander II for two reasons. First, the gem was discovered in 1830 in the Ural Mountains of Russia on the birthday of the Czar.
Second, its changing colors, red and green, are the same as the Russian Imperial Guard.

It has been a prevalent belief in Russia this gemstone can bring in a good omen for the owner and is also the birthstone for the month of June.

NAKI ATAMAN TONIGHT’S SHOW “SOMEWHERE IN TIME”
AT 6:45 PM THE SHOW LOUNGE, DECK 6
The son of renowned concert violinist and conductor, Zeki Ataman, Naki was born in the ancient city of Istanbul but was raised and educated in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, where he still resides.

In addition to his musical accomplishments, Naki speaks six languages fluently and holds a Ph. D in Clinical Psychology. However, his first love is music and performing.

He has appeared on numerous TV programs throughout the world, as well as hosting his own TV show in Turkey.
Naki also performs on many cruise lines. Given Naki Ataman’s background, the musical accomplishments of this multitalented man are not surprising.

Critics have used all these superlatives to describe Naki’s piano virtuosity as “dazzling, sensitive, magnificent, astonishing and unusually creative”.

Once you have witnessed this man’s talent and virtuosity, you may come up with some superlatives of your own