The End...

The last 10 days of the voyage were a variety of things: long, sad, stressful, joyful, and at times boring. At the same time of wanting the trip to continue, I think the majority of us were ready to be home, to see our families and friends, as we had no more new countries ahead of us. That was true for me.

But as time passed, I think that overall the final four days of classes went by pretty fast. After classes, we had three more school-related days at sea. A day devoted to the Global Studies Final, a day to study for our remaining finals, and then the last day of finals. The EU final, worth 50% of our grades, was the most stressful. Anthony and I made flashcards and often studied together, but the format was all written, with short answer and an essay. Being our only test, and cumulative, we had no idea what he would ask! It was a relief when that test, which was also our final test, was over. All of our papers were submitted, and we had no more studying to do…nothing. It was a great feeling! It was then that the fun could begin. We chilled poolside (I got tan!), watched movies together, shared laughs, traded pictures, played games, and enjoyed our final hours at sea. We also took part in the various activities SAS had for us.

One such event was the student talent show, held in the Union. I was able to find out that not only did we have a talented crew, but also a talented body of students! Anthony of course sang (a Josh Grobin song) – and was amazing as usual. There was also another singer, Amanda, whom I know will go far. She sang three songs, and her voice was incredible! Other acts included Shannon, my roommate, taking part in a group hip-hop dance, and also the “Real SASer’s of Genius” – who made fun of various administration through creative, originally written pieces of music. THEY WERE HYSTERICAL – and they ended up getting a cabin named after them on the ship. They will forever be remembered! I wish I recorded them!

The following night, on Thursday, August 20th, SAS held the Summer 2009 Ambassador’s Ball. It was an amazing night, and is a big deal on every voyage. Everyone dresses up, as it is a formal function, and voyagers are inducted into the SAS Alumni organization. So… yes… I am now a Semester at Sea Alum!! Just saying it… I cannot believe it! I remember when I first stumbled across the program’s website over a year ago. I saw pictures of students studying on the boat, exploring the countries… and now I…I am a part of it! I will forever cherish the memories that were created on this experience, and hope to one day be back on the MV Explorer. In addition to the feeling of accomplishment, joining the Alumni association also came with a major sense of relief. It is an understatement when I say that deciding to partake in a voyage is stressful – I constantly worried. The dangers of world travel right now are real, and scary. You just never know when anything can happen. However, I am glad that I did not let my fears hold me back… and I was all smiles at the realization that I was returning safely to the states; to my family; and to my friends.

At the ball, I wore a strapless black dress. It was fun getting all dressed up with the roomies one last time. It felt as though we were going to be getting off the ship…when in reality we were only going up 2 floors to the Main Dining Room. The night began with dinner, which started at 8 p.m. While entering the decorated dining area, everyone was served a glass of champagne. Various photos of the voyage spanned the walkways. Looking around, everyone on the ship looked radiant. The dresses were gorgeous, and the men looked spiffy. The atmosphere in the dining room was so different – it was unlike every other meal. With the lights dimmed I could really admire the chandeliers (which I hadn’t noticed the whole voyage!) Eating, A.B.A. was split into two tables – Anthony, Lauren, Eric, Ben, Shannon, Nina and I were at one, while the rest of the crew sat near by. We were served a scrumptious four-course meal, of which mine consisted of bruschetta, salad, and French-onion soup, followed by the main course of chicken, carrots, and potatoes. Dessert was served in Tymitz Square at 9:30, and included a wide variety of baked goods. I personally loved the marble cheesecake squares, and my plate showed it! Four may have been a little too much… Oh well! After dessert, it was time to dance! From 10 until midnight, a DJ played music in the Union. A.B.A. danced their hearts out, and shared a great night together.

Our final day at sea – Day 66 – was devoted to packing and other preparations for our arrival to the states. Luggage had to be packed by 1 p.m., as it was taken at that time. We could only have a small backpack or overnight bag with us when we walked off the ship. Packing was a little difficult – as I had to fit everything I had bought into my already cramped suitcases. I somehow did it – and they even zipped shut! My souvenirs were everywhere – wrapped in just about every piece of clothing I owned. I did not want anything breaking!

At night, SAS had some more things planned for us. We started the night by meeting one last time with our small groups. We talked about the impacts of the voyage on our life, and watched a hysterical film made by anonymous thieves of “Fred”. After that, Shaun had a small thank-you party for the R.A.s, with chips, salsa, and mini-cheeseburgers. I hadn’t had chips and salsa the whole voyage – I went crazy! I’m pretty sure I ate the equivalent of an entire jar of salsa myself. I also stole some for Kevin (who had been craving the snack forever!). He was ecstatic when I brought them to him – but poor Kevin – everyone else saw them and people basically fought over chips! Everyone was interested in how I somehow got my hands on …. CHIPS AND SALSA!! Haha… Anyways, at 9 p.m., we had our final pre-port with a green-sheet and all. People said good-byes, and administration wished us well. The “Real SASer’s of Genius” made another appearance – and left the crowd teary eyed, as we were all laughing so hard.

Barely sleeping the final night, the shipboard community was woken up around 6 a.m. by the soothing singing voice of Dean Shaun’s mother-in-law. Eager to see land and grab breakfast, we headed up to Deck 6. We sat outside as A.B.A. enjoyed their last breakfast together on the MV Explorer, using our cameras to capture the beautiful sunrise.

Before the ship pulled into port, we regained cell-phone service! It was weird being able to use my cell phone again…and I immediately called my parents. I hadn’t heard their voices since Greece! It was so great to hear them talk!

Our ship slowly docked around 8 a.m. The ship was able to do a complete 180 degree turn before docking, allowing everyone on the decks to wave to the plethora of waving and smiling parents on the pier. Although my parents came a little later, seeing them for the first time was such a terrific feeling! I had been so excited for our reunion that words cannot express it! I first saw them around 9:30 a.m. from the back of deck 6, as they were standing and waving from the pier. I was able to easily point out my dad in his red shirt, and my mom with her black and white striped attire. Although we could see each other briefly, we were still separated for hours more as debarkation was delayed over 2 hours due to luggage troubles. And since the crane was moving the luggage, I was able to only see my parents for roughly 3 minutes (I was yelled out by the crew to get off the back deck).

As everyone awaited debarkation, A.B.A. lounged around Anthony and Kevin’s room one last time. We traded some final pictures, and everyone signed my global studies textbook (it was like having people sign a yearbook! Weird!) When they did call people for disembarkation - my sea, the Baltic Sea, was fourth in line to disembark out of a possible ten. Anthony followed three seas after. All in all, I got off the ship around 1 p.m. After collecting my bags and going through customs, I ran and hugged my parents as soon as I saw them. I was home!! Waiting for Anthony, we walked my luggage to the car, and hit up a near-by Starbucks. Yum – Venti Caramel Light Frapaccino. When Anthony was ready (which took no time at all), we said our goodbyes to everyone on the pier. It was difficult – but I see an A.B.A. reunion in the near future! New York? Vegas? Chicago? Alumni Voyage?! We have options!

So…It is now over. No more MV Explorer, no more A.B.A. everyday…the 99th voyage is complete. I am still in shock, and don’t even know what to say. I don’t think it has really hit me, as I haven’t really had the time to think about this crazy, whirlwind of a summer. I debarked the ship in Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday, August 22 a little after noon, and left approximately 24 hours later for Oswego. I slipped right back into R.A. training up at school, and have had a thousand things on my to-do list. I have yet to really reflect on this trip, let alone see the majority of my family and friends from home! Until then… all I can say is I am so grateful to have gone on this adventure. I met great people, expanded my knowledge of the world, of different cultures, traditions, and beliefs.... my eyes are now open to things I would have never even noticed before. Believe in yourself … and as Anthony says:
Explore. Dream. Discover.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

Today, the 100th voyage of SAS set sail from Halifax, NS. Good luck voyagers, and soak up every moment!

Thank you to everyone who has helped in making this trip possible. You are loved.
XOXO
-Erika

8th Country: Morocco!

To prepare for our final port, Anthony and I watched the one and only Casablanca. Having not seen it before, we didn’t want to miss out when SAS played in the Union. I enjoyed the classic film – and it definitely pumped me up for the next four days. One of my missions became seeing Rick’s Café! (Although sadly that did not happen - But I still had a great time in the beautiful country of Maroc!)

“The ship may roll” – was the warning we heard on the loudspeaker as we prepared to enter the Harbor of Casablanca. We were told to refrain from excessively moving about the ship, and to secure our belongings so they would not slide around. Okay - definitely not the most comforting news to hear. I guess it is that the cross currents are especially strong there, as it is where the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea meet. Luckily, there was no such scary fiasco, and the ship cruised on into the port safe and sound.

Arriving in Casablanca, I had to get up and be ready early, as our trip left first thing in the morning. A large proportion of the students were on the Camel Trek trip – translating to SAS basically invading Morocco as an amoeba of about 175 American students. Wonderful! For our trip, there were 14 small mini-buses waiting for us outside of the ship. Sad to not have the large luxurious buses, we sucked it up and approximately 15 students crammed into each bus. When I say “cram” – I literally mean cram. I had been any taller I do not think I would have been able to fit into the seats! We had zero legroom – and every seat except one was full. To top it off, there was basically no air. At times, there may have been small amounts of cool air blowing out of the vents, but mainly it was either hot… or hot. But… what am I complaining about?! We were only going to be spending about 25 hours in it! That’s not too long. At least Kate, Becca, Nicole, Anthony and I managed to secure seats on the same bus. And we had a small, friendly, Berber driver by the name of Omar. However, he spoke little English. Instead, he spoke mainly French, but it was hard to understand him because it was of an Arabic dialect. But cool fact: He was the driver in the movie Babel, with Brad Pitt! He even showed us his ID cards from the film... he seemed so excited to share this news with us! … And I thought it was neat. I regret not getting a picture with him!

Starting the vehicle, Omar began departing Casablanca and headed towards the city of Marrakech. The ride lasted a little over 4 hours, which included our long stop at a gas station. I am not sure whose idea it was to have all 14 buses stop at the same one – but I must say it was a poor one. Every SASer wanted crackers, chips, or some drink… and the line was ridiculously long! Plus, no one had local currency yet, so charge it was. It took much more time than any of us wanted…But I was able to get a delicious Solero bar – vanilla ice cream coated with peach, mango and passion fruit. I had had one in Spain and had been craving another one. So, I was happy… I do love my mango!

Arriving in Marrakech around 3, we immediately went for a late lunch. We ate at a restaurant in a nice square. I can’t quite remember the name – but it was like Germanfore, or something like that. The plaza was exciting and alive, filled with snake charmers, monkeys, acrobats, henna drawers, a huge bazaar, and lots of vendors offering a variety of food and drink – with freshly squeezed orange juice being the most popular. Our meal consisted of bread and six small appetizers dishes, followed with a lemon chicken and dessert. Dessert was the best part… SO good! Our table had a huge dish of sliced orange pieces topped with cinnamon and crushed nuts. I am not sure what type…maybe almond, but oh they were so yummy! As Ant wrote in his blog, I definitely went back for 6th or 7th’s. In addition to that, they had biscotti, and some pie crust-filled cookie thing… not sure what was in it, but everything was scrumptious! Following dessert…we had mint tea. I’m not a big tea drinker, but it reminded me of a warm mojito… yum!

While letting our huge meal digest, we had some free time to explore the plaza and the bazaar. It was a tease though – because we still had not been able to access an ATM to withdraw funds. Vendors did not believe us when we said we were just looking because we had no money. Oh well. After not buying anything – it was finally time to check into our hotel. Staying at the Hotel Meyriem, Becca and I shared a room. It was nice – most definitely not like the Marriott Cairo, but better than it could have been elsewhere!

For dinner, only a few hours after lunch, we headed to a place called Chez Ali. I had a blast! It reminded me a little of the horse show we saw in Orlando – Arabian nights I think it was called. We spent a few hours there, walking around, eating dinner, and enjoying the show. The dinner served was delicious – bread, meatballs with egg (odd combination…but surprisingly tasty!) chicken with couscous… and a large fruit plate full of fresh, juicy oranges, peaches and plums. Throughout the meal, which took place in a tent, different musical acts would walk by, providing unique entertainment. Chez Ali is definitely aimed for tourists – but just being there immersed in everything - in all of the music they were playing, the traditional food being served – it felt like something more. The riders of the horses were very talented; doing tricks carrying rifles I would not survive doing. There was also a belly dancer perform who was much better than the one we saw in Egypt. The fireworks and live magic carpet that floated across the arena made for the perfect ending. After getting back to the hotel around midnight, I called it a night. I was pooped…

With our 5:45 a.m. wake-up call, I fell back to sleep until about 6:20. Running late, I showered as quickly as possible, gathered my belongings, and flew down to breakfast before meeting in the lobby at 7. I should have taken my time…because 2 people on our bus were late. They slept through their wake-up call, and we had to wait almost an hour. Waiting was definitely something of a habit on the trip. Anyways, we left around 8 for our 8-hour drive in our comfy vehicle…haha, just kidding. We drove over the high and Mid-Atlas mountains to a place called the Draa Valley. The drive was horrendous – and most people on the bus joked about our possible death - if our bus made any wrong movement, we would plunge down the ridiculously high slopes of the mountain. Most areas didn’t even have guardrails! I did not find it funny in the least. Neither did Anthony. We closed our curtain for most of the time, and prayed.

After surviving part one of the long drive… it was time to ride camels to the nomad tents…through the Sahara!!! Anthony and I double-upped, and rode a tan camel whom we named Fred, short for Fredrique. It wasn’t bad…it was fun! But boy was it hot and sandy! I was chewing sand, getting it in my eyes – everywhere! Most people had brought scarves to wrap around their face, but did I? No…bad decision on my part. Oh well… I just put Anthony’s extra T-shirt over my head and covered my face with it. I looked stylish. And we stopped at a sand dune to take some pictures… it was definitely a Kodak moment we couldn’t pass up! I think I got some sick shots. Too bad my outfit was horrible… I do not look good in any of my desert pics! Oh well.

Arriving to the nomad tent, I determined that we were in for an amazing night. It was like this small, pop-up village in the middle of nowhere, with just the nomads and us. They were very welcoming, and they greeted us with musical performances – which lasted late into the evening. The area provided a very laid back atmosphere, and students played cards, danced around the fire, chatted with friends, …it was all very relaxing and surreal. Women at the camp offered Henna, and dinner was fantastic. (Although there was sand everywhere, like even covering the fork – you couldn’t escape it!) Anyways, it included the best stew I have ever tasted. Even the carrots were mouth-watering – and I don’t even like carrots! 

Stuffed, I leisurely sat around the camp, admiring the culture and atmosphere of the African heritage, when all of a sudden my nose started running…with blood…because the air was so dry! I actually had to deal with two nosebleeds throughout the evening, which is weird because I usually don’t get them. But the desert does a wonder on your body!

Moving on from that graphic picture…the view of the stars in the desert was being in a planetarium. There were so many, lighting up the sky in all directions. Wanting to soak up the opportunity, we laid down and stared above in amazement. We pointed out different constellations to each other, and all witnessed shooting stars. I think it was the first time I saw one! It was also the first time I really realized what the Milky Way was. The light white strip in the sky was easy to detect, and quite remarkable, nothing like it is at home. And even though the sky was clearer… it was even more so a little ways outside of the camp. So, we eventually walked a little ways away from the lights of the tents to some random spot. It was so dark… good thing Kate brought a flashlight so we could see where we were walking. When we found a good spot, we sat down to observe our surroundings. I remember feeling like I was really someplace new, distant: removed from civilization. We were in a remote location. And adding the cherry to an already sweet evening, we watched surprisingly in the pitch-black desert as some of the nomads let up a glowing Semester at Sea sign on a sand dune in front of us. It was remarkable. It only lasted a few minutes, but the memory of it will last forever… and I got a sick picture of it!

After chilling around the fire, the five of us called it a night fairly early. However, we were not able to sleep because of the many ridiculous drunk SAS students. A group had brought a large amount of alcohol with them, and I am embarrassed by their behavior. Because of them, the nomads were left with a bad impression of Americans. I cannot even type the horrendous things they were saying – but they were picking fights with other students, and trying to knock down people’s tents. Someone jumped on ours, and they even succeeded in knocking down the one next to ours. Faculty eventually scolded them, and those students are getting in trouble with SAS. Full day meetings were held on their account the first day back at sea – and it is a possibility they may no longer receive academic credit from SAS. I think that is fair.

Subsequent to that eventful part of the night, I had one of the craziest dreams ever – even though I slept for maybe 3 hours! I remember thinking how real it felt – and how long it lasted. I think I might have had the same dream for the whole 3 hours. It was funny sharing it with everyone when I woke up – but in summary, it went like this: I got a horrible nosebleed on the ship, so I told Anthony to call the doctor. He did, and when I went to the medical office, there was a nurse sitting there. However – it was a different nurse… in fact everyone was different, because I traveled through time and was now on the 2050 voyage… no longer on the 2009 summer voyage! It was crazy… and the time kept switching back. I remember having many conversations with people – and nobody would believe me!
Okay – sorry for boring you with the details –  I just don’t want to forget about it. It was such a vivid and realistic dream… very cool!

After sleeping a short while – I awoke to the sun rising over the desert. It was nice that we would be heading back to the buses before the sweltering heat of the day really hit. Breakfast included more fresh mint tea and bread, along with fresh oranges and hard-boiled eggs. I don’t understand how the oranges in Morocco are SO good! I had two… and wish I could bring some home!

After refueling ourselves, Anthony and I paired up yet again to trek back to the buses by camel. Sadly, we were not able to ride Fred. Being on a new camel, we named her Carly… don’t ask me why. I thought she was a little more uncomfortable than Fred. Her hump made the 30-minute journey seem much longer, as I was in pain. I did not realize how sore I had gotten from the first ride until we had to do it again! Camel riding definitely affects your inner-thigh area…that’s for sure – but the experience was worth it! It was amazing.

… And this is the part where we had to endure the reversal 8-hour drive. No comment – except that we survived, and it is done with. YAY! (We did however stop midway for lunch at this outdoor restaurant that overlooked a huge fortress. Part of Gladiator the movie was filmed there. It was a nice area, and the food – bread with bruschetta type toppings, beef with almonds and dates, followed by dessert containing watermelon and melon slices – was delectable.)

Our last night IN ANY PORT was…was… hard to fathom. I don’t think that it has hit me that we will not have another Rome, Seville, Cairo…nothing. From here – it is the long stretch home. Don’t get me wrong I am psyched for home, for I miss my family and friends more than I can express. I long to see them; lay by the pool; sleep in my bed; play Scrabble; watch TV; drive my car; go to Barnes and Nobles. But I know once this is over, and I am back to all of those wonderful things, I will miss this: my floating home: swiping my card, walking up the gangway, strolling down the long corridor to my room, falling asleep to the soft rocking and sound of the engine, eating pasta and potato’s with all of the great people who make up A.B.A, smuggling fruit out of the dining halls...  I will miss pre-ports, the excitement of first exploring the streets of a new country, getting lost, trying new foods… I will just have all of the memories that have been created while on the MV Explorer with SAS.

Okay – sorry to get off track. Back to our last night… we enjoyed a late dinner (at a little past midnight), at a small outside café not far from our hotel. It was too late to make pizzas, so I settled for Spaghetti Bolognaise (my first non-Moroccan meal since we debarked the ship in Casablanca). It was delicious… in addition to the dessert! I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed banana splits until I stole some of Lindsay and Anthony’s. YUM – definitely making those when I get home. Still wired and not yet ready for bed (even though I was going on little sleep) – I chose to stay out with Rachael, Ant, Lindsay, Eric and Lauren. We headed to a near by bar to sit outside and further enjoy each other’s company on our last night out. I tried some Moroccan wine. It was good.

I awoke the last morning (the last one in a port!) by the sound of the maid attempting to enter the room. Having still an hour until all of SAS had to meet in the lobby, I casually got up and started getting my things together. As I was making sure I had everything… I realized my camera was nowhere in sight! I could have sworn it had been in my backpack, but after going through it 3 times… there was definitely no camera. I started to frantically search the room, tearing the comforter and sheets off of the bed. I thought my camera was stolen! I didn’t even care that much about the camera… but I kept thinking of all of the pictures I had taken… those were irreplaceable! I didn’t know what to do… and I began to cry. I thought it was worth a try to speak to the front desk, so I attempted that. As I was sobbing, the manager was actually very helpful and he began trying to get a printout of all the times my room door was opened – that way, if I had been out of the room and it was opened – I would know someone swiped it. After sitting in the lobby waiting for the staff to do that, I remained sobbing. Then… Anthony came bolting in the room… with my camera! He found it in Kate’s room… and it still remains a mystery how it got there. I am so happy it was found!

With everything in tact… passport, money (thank you money belt!), camera (thank you Ant!) and backpack, I boarded Omar’s minibus one last time, and back to Casablanca we went. About a 4 and ½ hour drive, we returned home to the MV Explorer about 90 minutes before on-ship time. After waiting in the long line to get our bags checked, I walked up the gangway and swiped my card one last time. Unless…an alumni cruise awaits in the near future!

Some info:

The currency of Morocco is the Durham – with the exchange rate being about 7.95 Durham to every dollar. Not to bad. They have two official languages – French and Arabic. I was quite excited to finally be able to try and use some of my limited language skills. However, I let myself down, and found that I didn’t try as much as I should have. I did attempt to converse with an unfriendly taxi driver, however. All in all, I found myself speaking much more English. I fear I have lost much of what I once knew. Maybe I’ll visit Paris soon, and have a chance to work on it?!

Some thoughts:

Although I feel like we spent the majority of our time in Morocco on a bus, the scenery was breathtaking and we were able to see more of the country. I picture the land closely resembling parts of Arizona, and know Aunt Michelle would love it. The architecture of the buildings and mud houses of the Berbers in the Atlas Mountains are like nothing I’ve seen before. I do however wish I could have enjoyed Morocco to the max, instead of being stressed from the drive. I am so glad that that drive is over, and I never have to do it again. It was worse than any of the previous drives we encountered in the other countries, as our driver sped around windy turns while following a road that hugged the side of steep cliffs. Many people took motion-sickness medicine, as the constant switchbacks were hard on the stomach. I was even feeling it.

Moroccan food was delicious. I tried many more dishes than I have in any of the previous ports… and ate I don’t even know how much bread! Even though I am a fan of American food, I was satisfied with the SAS trip in how every meal they provided was traditional. And it was cool how the meals were served – each table took from the large plates the waiters brought over in ceramic cooking dishes with gorgeous tops. It was always a surprise when they removed the cover!

Morocco is quite different from Egypt: The architecture, amount of people, atmosphere, history… they are almost night and day. I expected Morocco to appear worse than Egypt in terms of their standard of living and economic status, but that was not the case from what I could see. They had organized traffic, less people, less trash, newer buildings… very unlike Egypt.

“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” – Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) from Casablanca – A now favorite quote of mine, I think it stands true for many of the great people I have met on this unbelievable voyage. I cannot believe that Morocco was our last port…

I will see everyone home soon… I love and miss everyone, and cannot wait for our reunion!
XOXO
Erika

Going Once, Going Twice...Sold!

Back on the ship… time is going by fairly slowly as we try to make it through our longest stretch at sea since crossing the Atlantic. We are traveling at an average speed of 18.5 knots. In addition, we have started gaining back hours, translating to us having two-25 hour days thus far. Having an extra hour of sleep isn’t bad though! I am just too excited for Morocco and totally over the whole school thing that I do not have the motivation to write any of the papers I have left!

Last night was tons of fun though, as the crew put on a ridiculous talent show! The union was filled to capacity as about all 1,000 people on board attempted to cram into the room to witness the anticipated event. I somehow managed to nab a front row seat… no idea how! It was hilarious seeing all of the amazing crewmembers dance, sing and pull of extraordinary talents. I was more than impressed! I wish I videotaped it. The crew hails from a total of 19 countries, with the majority being from the Philippines. Our cabin steward, Achilles, who always seems so shy and proper, was busting moves right and left as he showed off his skills in a dance featuring 2 other stewards. Others did this wine bottle joggling/dancing thing… I don’t even know what it was but I want private lessons! I watched in awe…and would love to walk into a party being able to do that! It was just great to see all of the crew in a different light. They seemed to really have a great time, as did the whole ship. They must really look forward to this on every voyage.

After the crew talent show, it was time for Casino Night! Anthony worked very hard on setting this up with some of the LLC’s, and all of his work paid off. There was a great turnout, and people seemed to be really enjoying themselves. It lasted until almost 1 in the morning, and games offered included Bingo, blackjack, texas hold’em and poker. It was free for all, and people were able to trade in their chips for raffle tickets for a chance to win some great prizes. 2 Massages, a special dinner, 2 gift cards, an ice cream cake and Internet minutes were all up for grabs. Since I helped work the night administering raffle tickets, I never got a chance to play. I did however drop my 10 raffle tickets into the buckets before I called it a night.

Today, our third day at sea, has not been bad at all. First of all, we were all able to sleep in because we have NO CLASSES. Yay! 2 days were enough for me… It’s nice to have a break. And upon waking up, when I headed down to the guys’ room… I found out the best news! My name was drawn in the Casino Night raffle and I had won an hour massage up at the wellness center! I was shocked, because the massage bucket was overflowing, and I had only put 2 of my 10 tickets in there! I had put the rest in the huge ice cream cake bucket (but I wanted the massage more… I just thought I had a better chance of winning!) I was seriously so happy… I would have been pissed if they were pulling my leg. They weren’t… and I booked a deep tissue massage on August 14th, after our last port of call. I am so excited! I am always asking for shoulder massages when everyone is hanging out, and they always say no. This time, I can relax and my poor back will finally get some relief from a strenuous summer! YAY!

Other great news… I found out that I will be receiving a Voyage Scholarship ranging from $30.00 to $100.00! I should know the exact details by the time we reach Morocco, but it was another pleasant surprise! I am grateful… and at least it will cover the $25.00 ID replacement cost I had to spend earlier in the voyage.

Why did we not have classes? Well, today was the SAS Auction Day. Throughout the day, they offered a silent auction, consisting of a variety of items. Followed by the silent auction there was a live auction in the Union… my first live auction! It was eventful… and entertaining to watch. Being an auctioneer would be a fun job… There were times of intense competitions with the paddles… especially for the all-inclusive trip to Pakistan! Over $25,000 was raised during the 2 hours for the SAS scholarship fund… pretty impressive! People bid on a variety of trips, to places such as Colorado to Alaska to the Bahamas; items, such as a private cabin, unlimited Internet minutes or signed maps by the captain; and opportunities, like blowing the horn when we pull into Norfolk. A bunch of A.B.A.er’s won a private milk and cookies party for $200.00 total. I wanted to be a part of it, but I think at $20.00 each it’s a little pricey.

I’m just happy about my massage!

It’s getting late here, and I’m exhausted. Until next time, XOXO.

I love and miss everyone,
Erika

I Saw the Pyramids!!

Reflecting on the past four days is going to be no easy task, as I am still in complete awe. My mind is trying to process all the information I absorbed, antiquities I saw, and of course, the visit to the Pyramids of Giza.

It was scary at first boarding a bus hardly knowing anyone. This was the first port where Team A.B.A. all went our separate ways… some to Luxor, some to Mt. Sinai, others elsewhere. Anthony, Kate, Erik and Lauren were all on the Overnight Cairo trip… I was on the Extended Overnight Cairo. Although our trip overlapped briefly, I rarely saw them. Even so, I had an AMAZING time! I met knew people, had the best tour guide, the comfiest bed, delicious food and 5-star treatment in addition to all that I saw!

Hannah was our tour guide, and resides in Cairo. Cairo is Egypt’s largest city and immensely overpopulated.  Every 9 months the population of Egypt grows by about 1 million. Because of this, they are slowly attempting to build further into the desert areas. The divide between the rich and poor is immensely large. It was hard seeing the way so many people lived. The standard of living is like none I have ever seen before. There were areas of extreme filth. Parts of the Nile were completely littered with garbage, yet people, children, would be swimming in it. Many, many buildings were unfinished although many people resided in them. It was weird seeing building after building with no windows, etc. And whole residential areas would contain unfinished buildings. It was strange to see. It was extremely saddening. I don’t know how people live that way. I don’t think I could do it. Maybe they don’t know any difference? Seeing the economic status of the country along with the conditions of living has made me appreciate what we have in the states. We are very lucky, and should not take anything for granted. Unfortunately, Egypt is and will continue to face extreme difficulties because of these many issues – especially with the population rising at a startling rate. It is not hard to see that much change needs to occur. Because everything appeared so different, I think I took many more scenic pictures here compared to the other countries. Additional scenery along the way included an industrial area with large salt deposits, agricultural fields and tons of date palm trees – they were everywhere.

Upon our arrival in Cairo, we immediately got to it and stopped at the National Egyptian Museum. It houses some of Egypt’s most magnificent treasures…including the majority of the items found in the famous tomb of King Tut. The wealth that they must have had is incredible, as one could easily see with all the gold! And the superior artistry… WOW. I do not know how to describe everything, but the colors, the carvings, the jewelry, the tombs… I cannot believe what they did by hand! I was sad that we were not allowed to take pictures!

After the museum, we were off to check into our hotel. Where did we stay? Well… SAS put us up at the 5-star Marriott Cairo and Casino! I was super excited and more than pleased! Located directly on the Nile River, I would say that SAS did a job well done.

My first experience with the Pyramids was on our first night, when we attended the Sound and Light show there. It was practically all SASers from all the different trips, so I was more than thrilled that I got to witness it sitting next to great friends, like Anthony and Kate. But, I WISH all my family and friends from home could have been here so we could have shared such a magical moment together. Lasting roughly 50 minutes, I enjoyed the show. However, I do think much more could have been done with it. As Anthony said, “I could make them so much money”, pertaining to the changes he would make. After the show, we encountered much slow-moving traffic, which caused us to be almost an hour late for our dinner! Oh well – I still indulged in our scrumptious buffet at the Marriott even though it was about 11:00 p.m. 

My second experience with the Pyramids was about 6 hours later… as they opened the area to just us to enjoy the sunrise! The 4:15 a.m. wake-up call was SO WORTH IT! It was so peaceful – we were the only ones there until 7:15! Plus, I was able to share the experience alongside Anthony, Kate, Lauren and Erik and Morgan. We were able to get some great pictures – and boy did we take a lot of pictures! We were snap happy with our cameras, trying to capture the perfect pictures with the one and only Pyramids of Giza. The sunrise was breathtaking – but sadly so because much of the way the colors appeared was caused by the pollution. One speaker on our voyage had warned that after spending a day in Cairo, “do not be alarmed when you blow your nose and your snot is black”. It is alarming.

After the sunrise, Morgan and I shared a quick camel ride in the area of the Pyramids. It was like a sneak peek of what we will be experiencing in Morocco! It was fun… a very cool experience. Our camel was awesome, and I loved how colorful his saddles and attire was! It was a little scary getting on and off them, as you slide quite forward and then backwards as they lie down with their 2 front legs followed by their 2 back legs. After that, we drove down closer to the second Pyramid and then the Sphinx. The Sphinx was a little smaller than I had pictured – but still more than impressive. Many people posed in pictures in a way that it appeared like they were kissing the Sphinx, but I didn’t realize this until later so missed out on this great photo-op! However, I did get to sit on a Pyramid! … I do not know what further words to use to describe this experience. I do know that I will never forget it.

Following a little over 4 hours at the Pyramids, we headed towards the Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali’s famous Alabaster Mosque. Removing our shoes, we entered the beautiful mosque filled with beautiful shades of green. We were also able to see the resting location of the body of Muhammad Ali (not the boxer) inside. I actually think I liked it better than the Blue Mosque from Istanbul. And the inside of the citadel offered panoramic views of Cairo.

Lunch was at a floating restaurant on the Nile River located fairly close to our hotel. Called Le Pacha, it was voted Egypt’s best restaurant, as well as one of the world’s top 50 restaurants in 2006. It had a wall displaying pictures of all the recent famous people who ate there… Vanessa Williams was just there. The place was nice and well decorated, and I pigged out yet again… especially on the dessert. Yum.

After lunch, I shifted into my shopping mode to get ready for the El Khalily Bazaar! This is a huge uncovered market popular amongst tourists known for their great deals. We only had one hour – and I definitely needed more time. I flew through the vendors as fast as I could, buying, buying and buying! I have some buyer’s remorse on a few items because I was felt so rushed, but other than that I think I did okay!

Subsequent to a much-needed rest in one of the comfiest beds back at the Marriott– it was time for dinner! And not just any dinner – but dinner onboard a Nile River cruise boat! Entertainment during the delicious meal included a belly dancing show and a Whirling Dervish dancer who lit up. The band and the dancers did a phenomenal job, and made it a point to interact with us as much as they could. At one point the whole room of SAS’s was up dancing and having a great time.

Morgan and I were hesitant to end our final night in Cairo by just going to bed. Instead, we ventured to Egyptian Nights, a hooka bar in our hotel located by the pool. And… I did it! I tried hooka for the first time! Now I regret not doing it in Turkey with everyone! It was good – we got cantaloupe flavor, but I’m sure I would like others better. It was relaxing sitting there, and I got to know Morgan a lot more. I definitely felt out of place though, as for it being a more Western hotel – I felt like one of the only Westerner’s there.

Our last day in Cairo, we were able to sleep in a little later (we received a 7:45 a.m. wake-up call) before enjoying one of the best breakfast buffets I have had. Located at the hotel, they offered everything! Omelets, waffles, pancakes, muffins, bagels, fruit, fresh honey (it was like a dripping honeycomb!)… it was hard to decide! I ended up going with an omelet and tons of fruit. The fruit salad was amazing… complete with apples, grapes peaches and fresh mango! I actually think it was the first time I had fresh mango… and oh it was yummy. Egypt is huge on mango, and we passed many trees on our excursions. And I guess August is their prime time… so we picked the right time to visit.

After stuffing myself, our first stop was to the Sakkara area to see the famous Step Pyramid as well as some tombs. It was about a 45-minute drive from our hotel, and the area largely contrasted the city, as Sakkara was mostly desert. Here is where we saw the Step Pyramid, Egypt’s oldest pyramid… and we GOT TO GO INSIDE OF IT!! Being an active archeological dig, it is off-limits to tourists, but our awesome tour guide got us in! It was amazing. My adrenaline pumped as we wandered inside towards the huge shaft in the middle. I snapped a picture and took a brief video (than got yelled at)… but it felt like we were in the scene of a movie! It was just so exciting. It was a big deal, and you can also read about it directly on SAS’s web page. It states: “Summer Voyagers Treated to Pyramid Tour by Leading Expert. Cairo, Egypt: Current voyagers were given a surprise tour of Pharaoh Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, a site not open to the public, by Dr. Zahi Hawass, one of the world's leading archeologists. Hawass, who has been featured in numerous documentaries about the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings, recently gave a tour of the pyramids to President Obama. Read more about Hawass on his professional website.”

After Sakkara, we continued on to Memphis. The first capital of Egypt (& I think maybe the world), Memphis was small due to the fact that the majority of the city rests underwater. And an Egyptian Law forbids any new building in the city… they are literally waiting for buildings to be so run down the people have to leave so that they can excavate all of the area.

The last stop on our itinerary before our drive back to Alexandria was lunch, at the Meridian Pyramids Hotel. The pyramids of Giza were literally across the street, and offered spectacular views. The hotel was ridiculously nice; I couldn’t imagine how much a night cost.

Upon my return to the ship, Anthony, Kate, Scott, Lindsay and I gathered the energy to go out at about 11 o’clock at night (we had spent some time shopping around the port area)…we couldn’t spend our last night in Egypt on the MV Explorer! I am so glad we did, because it was a great night. Alexandria comes alive… I don’t know when they sleep! We caught a sketchy blue taxi (he was probably one of the slowest drivers in the city)… and went on our merry way to the Four Seasons Hotel. There, we went to a rooftop restaurant by the name of Blue. I ordered scrumptious mango sorbet to accompany the guava shiska (hooka) we shared as a table. It was much better than the cantaloupe one I tried the previous night…it makes me want to try the actual fruit! And… it was monumental because Anthony tried it for the first time, which means we both tried it in Egypt!

My last day in Egypt… I spent some time shopping at the local vendors located directly in the port in addition to visiting the famous Alexandria library. This time, I was able to go inside to witness the astonishing architecture. It truly is a magnificent building. I am glad that I was able to see it before I left!

Some thoughts:

-I have never been through as many metal detectors as I have been here… which at the same time has made me feel both safe and fearful. Security has been high. Immigration and port officers have consistently checked our passports more so than in any other port while walking around with large weapons. A fortress like wall surrounded our hotel, and we had to go through metal detectors each time we entered there as well. While on our Nile River boat cruise, several police boats cruised along side us, as it was a 5-star company popular with Westerners.

-In regards to money…Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound, symbolized as L.E. While we were there it was about 5.5 Egyptian pounds to the US dollar. It was a good rate, but still I felt like a high roller buying items for 50, 100, or even 150 pounds. I am not used to forking over what seems like huge quantities of money! I had to keep telling myself that a 50 L.E. was really less than $10.00. It was also hard to not only keep track of my spending, but also how much to take out of the ATM. I ended up withdrawing money 3 different times trying to calculate how much I would need! And overall, I think I spent a lot more in this port than I have in the others…But who knows if I’ll ever be back to Egypt, right?! Got to live it up!

-In addition to the American food chains I mentioned in the previous post, I also saw a T.G.I. Fridays, a Fuddrucker’s, Cinnabon, Ruby Tuesdays, and Hard Rock Cafe. Weird!
       
-The past few countries I have become thankful for clean toilets! Outside of our luxury hotels, we would have to carry toilet paper, and even pay to use what they call the W.C. And lets just say I went through a good amount of Purell…

-The driving here is just insane, as I mentioned earlier. But… I did learn some ways of the road. With no stoplights, their main way of communication is by use of their horns. Supposedly one honk is “I’m coming”, two is “thank you”, and a bunch of honks is basically not good and is “get out of my way”. It is similar to an idea I had in my younger years – that cars should have a happy face and thank you light on their bumpers. Haha – maybe one day. And our bus seemed to have different tones or rhythms of honking to chose from – we would all be sitting there and then here this ridiculous honk. It was a little weird – we would be wondering what was happening. Surprisingly though, over the course of 5 days I say no accidents. How? I don’ know. We definitely survived from sketchy taxi rides. Kate even had one break down while she was a passenger, and she and someone else had to basically flee from a shady alleyway mechanical workshop.

-It is always a nice feeling to return your passport to the purser’s desk after each port (Although sad that the country is over). I am always stressed out carrying it… knowing if I lose it I am in deep trouble. Three people ended up losing theirs in Bulgaria, and I heard it was an expensive mess trying to get rush passports from the embassy. Fortunately, they were able to get new ones in time for the ships sailing, or they would have had to remain in Bulgaria. How is that not stressful?!

-I love my small group (which we attend the night we leave every port). We discussed our travels and some of the major disparities affecting Egypt – and I heard some touching stories from the group leaders. My favorite was that when they did a previous voyage years ago, they had met a nice Egyptian horse and buggy driver, with whom they got a picture. Well… on their first day in port this voyage, they attempted to find this same man with the printed picture in hand – and succeeded. Within a few hours, they found him, doing the same job – and he cried when he saw them. He said, “My American friends, you came back”. They then spent almost two full days with him – getting to know him and learning his truly heartfelt life story. Listening to them speak really personalized the Egyptian person for me. Even though I constantly saw extreme poverty, I still somehow felt disconnected, or protected somehow. I felt like I was constantly in a bubble or shell, traveling from one five-star location to the next. Hearing this individualized story literally brought tears to my eyes.

-Writing this blog has been like an information overload! I was stressed! I thought about so much while in Egypt – it is hard to remember and gather everything – and then present it in a coherent, organized journal entry. I’m sorry if everything appears all over the place – and I’m sure there is lots I forgot to mention…

Well, it is hard to believe that our 5 days in Egypt are over. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was there… seeing history that I have learned from like the second grade come alive.

Now… 5 days at sea accompanied with lots of papers. Next stop… Morocco!

I cannot wait to see everyone! I miss and love everyone more than I can express.
XOXO
-Erika

P.S. I met an Egyptian movie star!!

7th Country: EGYPT!!

After two days at sea…

I am in EGYPT!! We are officially done with our European aspect of the voyage as we make our way into Africa! We docked this morning around 8 a.m. in Alexandria (located in the North), which is Egypt’s second largest city and second capital. It was also the second capital of the ancient Roman Empire after Rome itself. The population currently stands at about 6 million people, and it is Egypt’s largest port.

Immigration officials stamped our passports upon arrival (YAY!)… but this is the first country in which we need them to actually disembark the ship. Usually, we could leave them on the ship if we were not doing an overnight trip or leaving the area. Here however, officials are on board at the gangway checking them. I pray I don’t lose mine! 

Being a little hesitant to explore Alexandria on our own, a bunch of us attempted to get on an afternoon SAS guided trip. I was able to secure a ticket for the Catacombs and City Orientation trip – but Anthony, Kate and Bo could not. So, I went on the trip alone, which lasted a little over four hours. During this time, I was able to see much of the large city. I am glad we did not attempt to find our own way to the sights! …Anthony, Bo and Kate made it on a little later trip that spent more time at the famous library rather than go to the Catacombs.

On the tour bus, I snapped a ton of pictures. The older part of Alexandria seems much different than places we have been. It is much filthier. The newer part of Alexandria is, I would say, to be more Westernized. It is a little cleaner, and I say many American chains… such as Pizza Hut, Little Ceasers and Chili’s (surprised at those!), KFC, Domino’s, and STARBUCKS! Wahoo! I had looked up their website before I left and hadn’t seen Egypt on the list… I guess there presence is fairly recent. I was not able to get a drink of mine, for we just passed it on the bus. I would love to get a souvenir Starbucks mug saying it is from Egypt though!

I was able to see the old Tram system that still runs. It is a rather cheap mode of transportation that many locals rely on. It began operating in 1860, and is actually the oldest tram system in Africa. Only in 1902 did it become electrified, prior to it being steam-run. Other forms of transportation I noticed included some horse-drawn carriages in addition to the many yellow and black taxi’s I saw on the crazy roads.

The catacombs were the highlight of the trip. I was a little bummed however that we were not allowed to take pictures! We even had to leave our cameras on the bus. Oh well. I will try my best to explain in words. The Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa were only recently discovered in 1900, when a donkey actually accidentally fell into an opening. They are Alexandria’s most important archaeological site, and excavations are still going on. Three levels comprised the catacombs, and we walked down a set of spiral stairs to reach the 2nd level. Unfortunately, since it is close to the Mediterranean, the 3rd level has been flooded. There was even some water on the 2nd level. But the three main tombs and the over 400 catacombs were quite a sight to see. Being there – walking on wooden boards – made me feel like I was on set for the film The Mummy. It makes me want to visit the Valley of the Kings!…Maybe next time…

Among our other stops, we were able to take pictures of the Qait Bey Fort that was built in the 15th century that stands at the site of the old lighthouse of Alexandria – which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We also walked around the Montazah Royal Palace: “One of the royal palaces of the last king of Egypt: Farouk.” It is surrounded by beautiful gardens. There were also some wealthy hotels, that I guess go for about $2,000 US dollars a night.

I was also able to notice that Alexandria has an enormous amount of beaches… more than I expected for a Muslim country to be honest. I don’t recall really seeing any in Istanbul. But here… they are everywhere! And these beaches are jam-packed! When I saw them, they were super crowded – and some even had slides in the sea! It looked like fun… but it looked to be mostly locals, plus I don’t have the required swimwear. I saw the beaches from the bus – we took a very scenic coastline drive, which hugged 30 kms of attractive sandy beaches.

Today I also learned that the drivers are crazy! Traffic is insane… and they don’t pay any attention to lanes. I guess the white and yellow lines on the road are just decoration?! Anyhow, I am glad that we had a decent driver.

It is amazing how women are treated differently here, and gender roles overall. It seems that every woman is covered… and as Lauren put it, “I never thought I would feel like a slut showing my ankles”. It is very unsafe for women to travel alone – and the men can be quite perverted. Also, with seeing so many beaches, it was weird to see women swimming fully clothed, even wearing their headscarves or hijab! Men, of course, were just in swim trunks. The temperatures are scotching… they must be so hot…and so uncomfortable when they swim.

After dinner on the ship, Anthony, Lauren, Eric, Bo, Morgan and I took a blue 6-person taxi over to a mall! Our taxi driver even waited the 2-½ hours for us outside while we did our thing. He was a nice guy…quiet though. And we survived the crazy driving! At the mall, our plan was to see a movie, but that didn’t work out because of the times...but that was okay because the place was amazing! It had tons of shops, eateries, and a huge mega-store that reminded me of a super Wal-mart. We spent lots of time in the grocery aspect of the store – and I stocked up on some soda, water, and strawberry mentos. I was getting a great deal, until I didn’t realize that I spent about 7 US dollars on a box of crackers! Oops… Anyways… in this mall there was even a small amusement park inside! It was definitely an experience, and was much better than staying on the MV Explorer. So far… Egypt has been awesome… and I can’t believe I’m in Africa!

Fun Facts:

-Beer was invented in Egypt
-Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world & second most in Africa

Tomorrow I will travel with SAS to see the Pyramids!! I am extremely excited! I will be gone for three days… but I will update my blog as soon as I can!

I love and miss everyone, and wish everyone could be here to see these ancient ruins as well!
XOXO
-Erika

Days 3 & 4: Bulgaria

Awakening up to our third day in Bulgaria, it was pouring rain and cloudy! This could not be… as we were to go parasailing… and lounge beachside! Although unfortunate, it remained cloudy (although it did stop raining) for a good part of the afternoon. However, we managed to tweak our plans a bit and managed to have a great day and night nonetheless. So after lunch onboard the ship, Lauren, Eric, Bo, Ben, Anthony and I walked towards the garden a little to get to the Pedestrian St. in Varna. Since we had only been there at night (it is where Galaxy bowling is located), we figured it would be a cool place to check out during the day. It was. I was finally able to try a fruit frapaccino thing from Cuzza Coffee… which totally reminded me of a Starbucks! It was delicious. And of course we did some shopping, and I found some cheap clothing at this store called the New Yorker. Since the laundry situation on the ship is …well… pretty much nonexistent, I was in desperate need of some shirts, or anything really. And I was able to get 3 shirts and these knee-length sweat-pant type bottoms to where in Egypt and Morocco.

After checking out some more stores, we headed to Happy’s Bar and Grill to get some dinner. Happy’s are all over Varna… and they reminded me a little of an Applebee’s. It is amazing how all over the world things seem so westernized, and it is what sells. Anyhow, I ordered chicken kebabs that were oh so yummy. The service was exceptionally slow, but we were all able to have some deep and reflective conversations. Straight from dinner, around 7:30, we caught two cabs to Golden Sands. It took us a little while to hail them and get a fairly decent price, but we finally did. Ben, Eric and I shared a cab… and I was shocked to learn that Eric spoke a good amount of Russian! Ben and I basically sat the entire time in the back of the cab listening to the taxi driver and him go back and forth in Russian! It was quite impressive, and definitely unexpected. I guess he started the language at school and is trying to minor in it. You just never know things about people! And on the way our driver (who was really nice!) pointed out to us a small old car that was driving along side of us. He said it was from East Germany and made of wood…kind of cool to see.

When we all met up at Golden Sands… our first stop was the International Casino! Oh yea… we were up for some gambling. It was fun… but the place was a lot smaller than I thought it would be (it looked Huge from the outside!). But, I played what I learned in Halifax… Roulette. 10 Leva… that’s the amount I lost rather quickly. Although I did find 3 coins in a slot machine…put them in and won 5 Leva back which I quickly cashed in! I was proud of myself!
       
After the casino, our crazy night continued as we headed towards Muppet’s Karaoke Bar. We ended up staying there for hours, and had such a blast. I didn’t sing (although Ben and I were trying to!)…but Anthony and Eric did many times. It was such a blast, and the place was really happening! They had a dance floor and I was grooving! Pizza before the 3 am taxi ride home finished up the evening.
       
For our last day in Bulgaria, we stayed in Varna as to not spend the time or money on a cab to Golden Sands. Many SAS’s went Bungee Jumping…but I couldn’t do that! So, I ended up hitting up the main Pedestrian area again this time with Kate, Kevin and Becca to do some last minute shopping. I had 10 Leva more to spend… and I think I made it go pretty far! (In Varna, there are like no souvenir shops…but we were able to find the select few).

As I had to be back to the ship by 5 p.m. to work my last port duty, I ventured back a little early as everyone remained at an Internet Café. For my work-study, I stood at the gangway for an hour and reminded people that their Egypt camera form was due. (Every individual had to fill out a form documenting the serial numbers of every camera and video camera they intend to bring into Egypt… Egyptian Law). Glad that hour’s over.

Reflecting on Bulgaria… I am super glad that we went there. It was Semester at Sea’s first voyage including this country, and I hope it makes the itinerary for future voyages as well (although it is the only country they are not going to Summer 2010 that is different from ours). Although there were not many monumental things to see, it was a nice stop… it was relaxing. It was a change of pace, and provided for us what I would say to be a little Spring Break. The nature combined with the picturesque coastline was worth it.

And, I hear that the majority of the SAS trips were phenomenal! I am so jealous that I did not make it on the full-day Jeep Safari trip… it sounds like they really had one of the best days! But if I did ever make back to Bulgaria… I think I would attempt to visit a different side of the country… like venture into a small village. Kate, one of my roommates, went on an SAS trip to a village with a population of 200 and said it was one of the most incredible experiences, and really made Bulgaria special for her. Speaking of the village… the population once stood at about 2000. This is one of Bulgaria’s biggest issues they are facing… a lowered and uneven population as many young people are deciding to study and eventually move abroad. Because of this, there are many abandoned buildings (even skyscrapers) unfinished construction, and a growing elderly population. This is affecting their employment and production levels. In addition, I would go parasailing & check out the 7-story mall that many SAS’s found and said was quite the place! I bet I could have found some more clothes there!

Nevertheless, I had a great time in Bulgaria! I will miss it.

After settling back onto the ship and debarking (we had like a fan of people on the pier watch us leave port btw), I wrote my second music field report on the Sufi Dervish shows that are in Turkey. Yay… 1 paper down… 4 to go!

It should be a busy 2 days at sea before we get to EGYPT! Lots of meetings, a test, and things to do.

Until next time, I hope everyone is well at home! I miss and love you all so much! Can’t wait to see you!
XOXO
-Erika

6th Country: Bulgaria!

We are in BULGARIA!! We have docked in Varna, the sea capital of the Black Sea Coast. And… I have a cold. I tried so hard to not get sick… and I am. It’s a bummer because Bulgaria is AMAZING. Mom – you would love it here! It is beach central…like paradise. This is not what I was expecting…but I am pleasantly surprised. Definitely one of my favorite ports thus far. It is a smaller city, with less than ½ million residents. It’s weird to think that just about 20 years ago they were under a communist / socialist government. A lot has changed… as they are now a democratic member of the European Union. Their currency is currently the Leva, although they will eventually switch over the to Euro. A lot of the younger people seem to speak a good amount of English, which has been helpful because I cannot decipher their alphabet whatsoever! It is much closer to the Russian alphabet than to ours…

We had to tender off of the ship, since our ship was not able to dock until 8 p.m. the first day. Tendering was more interesting this time… but still a hassle. It took about 30 minutes to get from the ship to the dock by way of our lifeboat – but the seas were incredible choppy for some reason. They actually ended up having to end the tendering process earlier in the afternoon because of the rough seas. Becca was on one of the bad tenders and got seasick, and it took Shannon’s tender an hour and a half to reach the ship.

To start off our time in this country, Anthony and I went on an FDP trip to the Ship Hydrodynamics Center for our European Union class. We first sat through a Powerpoint presentation about some of their major projects and then toured the facility. It was pretty boring – but it wasn’t too long. The whole trip took about 2 ½ hours. Now… I just have to figure out how to write a 3-page paper on it. Should be fun. Not.

After our SAS trip – Anthony and I scoped out Varna. We first took a bus to the Dolphinarium, where they have a few dolphin shows a day, like Sea World! But we missed the show. So, we got some yummy ice cream (Anthony ate 2 cones – then felt sick after), then continued on exploring. We ended up walking through this huge park type thing which is miles long. Lots of vendors are set up, and there are some rides, bars, restaurants, and mini-golf. There is also a planetarium, zoo, aquarium… all along the beach in what is known as the Sea Gardens. It was cool.

Our ship is in a pretty nice location…as a huge beach is like a 5-minute walk from our ship. Pretty sweet. And the area is also very classy and clean. Poles on the walkway are decorated with lighted anchors that light up at night. Ferrari’s and Porsches are driving around – which is weird because Bulgaria is one of the poorest countries of the EU and that we are visiting. And on the beach near our ship – there is an international beach volleyball tournament going on. I watched a 2 on 2 match between the Czech Republic and Brazil … it was pretty intense.

Our first night out, we all decided to go BOWLING…in BOWLGARIA! Haha. Sorry. Anyhow… it was such a great time. It was called Galaxy Bowling and I wish our bowling alleys in the states were like this one! It was super upscale – but still really cheap! I love the exchange rate … and how low priced everything is! Currently, for every US dollar we get 1.4 Leva. And, the highest price drink is like 5 Leva – for frozen drinks or top cocktails, like Long Islands or Mojitos! Huge beers are like 1 Leva! We were all super excited and had a good time. And the bowling game only cost 5 Leva as well – All in all I spent 25 Leva and it was a blast. And, we made a late night stop at the Golden Arches. That’s right…Mickey D’s. And guess what? I had my first McDonald’s cheeseburger in Bulgaria! It was oh so yummy.

On our second day we all went to Golden Sands, a resort town about a 20-minute taxi ride away. I am so glad we went because it is AMAZING! It reminds me of Vegas, Mexico, a happening beach, and an amusement park all in one. I wish I could explain it. It is water sport central – jetskiing, parasailing, banana boating, tubing…just everything. I want to go Parasailing! And they have massages all over the beach. I would love one of those as well… we will have to see! They even have a miniature Eiffel Tower with a restaurant on it. Upon arrival we immediately laid out and went swimming in the Black Sea. The water was so nice and refreshing. I could have spent so much time in there! People were floating around in floats, sliding off of slides…everything. I wanted a float! In addition to the Sea, there are pools everywhere! Like really nice, crystal blue pools surrounded by Beach hut bars everywhere offering delicious cocktails – like frozen strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas! Anthony, Lauren, Eric, Ben and I all went to a happy hour at a poolside bar – we were like “where are we right now?!” It was just that nice. It felt like we were on spring break! And can you believe that none of us had our camera?! Not good – we missed out on some optimal photo opportunities! We were all kicking ourselves for not bringing one. And even though some of us wanted to stay in Golden Sands for the evening, we headed back towards the ship and went out for a little while the same place we were the first night. I had fun.

I miss and love everyone! Until next time…
XOXO
-Erika