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

5th country: Turkey!

Merhaba (Hello) everyone! I am extremely sorry I am so far behind on keeping you all up to date on my travels! I spent the past five days in Istanbul, Turkey…and have much to write about…

Istanbul is the largest city in Europe, with its borders extending into Asia (and I feel as though I only saw a speck of it!). The Bosphorus River splits through it, and many bridges connect the two sides. The main bridge lights up at night and changes colors, which is beautiful. It is estimated that 15-20 million people currently reside in this chaotic and charming city, a fact I learned while listening to the Diplomatic meeting onboard the ship the morning of our arrival. Much history lies within the cities precincts. Their currency is the Turkish Lira, with the current exchange rate about 1.53 Lira for every US dollar. Suzannah has raved about Turkey ever since she spent two weeks there on an orchestra trip. She told me I would love it, and hooked me up via e-mail with a great friend of hers who gave us recommendations for things to do and see during our stay. Although I was excited for this stop, this was also the first port in which I was extremely fearful. And my fear only grew during the pre-port SAS lecture, as they talked for a while about the risks of terrorism. It was scary to listen to. The realization that anything can happen just hits you like a ton of bricks. With everything SAS was saying… most of us were asking “If there are these dangers here, why did they take us to Turkey?” I was thinking about it too much that I had a melt down in Anthony’s room after. It was just a lot to handle, and I am a worrier…

But, I prayed everyday and wore a pin that held The Eye, which is meant to ward off evil and protect.

I am extremely grateful that as I write this everyone is back safely on the MV Explorer as we await our departure…

So… your probably wondering how those 5 days were!

Well, on the first day, Anthony, Kevin, Bo and I ventured over the bridge to explore some famous sights. Our first stop was the famous Blue Mosque, which was incredible. I had never been inside of a mosque before, and it was quite an experience. In order to enter we had to take off our shoes and I had to cover my head (I put on my zip-up with my hood). Some people were praying while we there, so we had to be respectful. Inside, the tiles were colorful and the architecture was breathtaking. After, we paid a seven Lira admission charge to see the ancient Sistern. Good thing we had Kevin with us, because we would not have known about it. We would have just walked on by it…and I would have been upset because it had been quite a pleasant surprise! The Sistern was built in the 6th century for underground water storage. It was so neat… I have never seen anything like it before. Anthony said it reminded him a little of Howe Caverns…but I have never been there. Inside the Sistern there was still water with lots of fish amongst rows of thick pillars. They lit the water and pillars with lights, and with the lighting it was just beautiful. And, at the bottom of two pillars, we were able to see the two heads of Medusa from Greek Mythology. Pretty cool…I definitely got some pictures.

After the Sistern, we found our way into the Grand Bazaar. Wow. It is this huge indoor market with GREAT SHOPPING. But… I was with three guys… so I did not get a chance to do what girls do best! The guys were saying it was to overwhelming so they would go back another day. So we just buzzed through it. Oh well…
After that, we walked to the spice bazaar, which was located close by. It was also nice, although I am not a fan of tea or Turkish delights. So, my shopping was very limited there.

After a full day of walking around the vast city, we filled our bellies with food from the ship. Expecting to call it a night, I went back to my cabin to rest up for a little. However, I decided last minute to join Anthony and Rachael for a night out on the town. With Turkey being a predominately Muslim country, I was not sure what to expect in terms of their nightlife. But… it turns out they have quite a nightlife, and I was glad I went out. The area we went to was AMAZING. We were able to walk there and back, which took about 30 minutes, and the main street, Istiklal, was extremely lively! TONS of people were walking around, and it was nicely lit up. And it stayed happening for most of the night… The shops didn’t even close until about 11 o’clock. And the restaurants, clubs and bars remained open until the wee hours of the morning… some even 24/7. We stumbled upon a karaoke bar, and we all sang some tunes. Its always a good night when I get to sing!

Day 2:

We got back pretty late the night before… so I awoke after only about 4 hours of sleep in order to make my SAS trip: A Ballikaya Hike. Since the area is located on the Asian side of Istanbul… I can say I have hiked in Asia! It was my first hike with SAS, and let me say I am glad it is my last. I am not sure what company they went through…but it was pretty poorly organized. Don’t get me wrong… the hike was beautiful, but…there were definitely some issues. For instance, we got lost and everyone ran out of water. One girl got so dehydrated she couldn’t walk anymore. People were panicking for a little while, but the guides eventually found cell-phone service and we were able to get some help. Also, strenuous was an understatement as we pretty much scaled rocks. Other than that…it was good. And we only got back the ship 2 hours later than our scheduled time.

At night, we went to a soccer match between Turkey and Italy. The crowd was intense with many Turkish fans chanting and cheering wildly. People were decked out in black and white, Turkey’s team’s colors. Many SAS’s tried to blend in, buying jerseys and banners, but one could easily tell we were American. It was still fun!

Day 3:

Today we lied pretty low. But, we had a great day nonetheless. Nina, Anthony and I hit up the movie theaters and saw the second Transformers. The movies they play here are in English with Turkish subtitles, so we had no problem! It was a great action packed movie…and it got me super excited for Egypt! (Some scenes are filmed with the Pyramids!) It is weird that at the theatres in Turkey they have an intermission. Alas, we were all a little confused when midway through the film it just stopped at some random point. The lights came on and people got up and left. We were all like “What? What happened?” I ended up asking someone, but they only spoke French…so I used what French I know and was able to communicate with him!

After, we did some clothes shopping on Istiklal Street. I got a skirt and a pair of jeans! And…when we all got hungry we had a group dinner at the one and only Pizza Hut. Haha. It was a fun time…but nothing like the Hut in Greece. And it wasn’t the best pizza I’ve had…

Before bed, we chilled at a hooka bar, which are all over the city. I never tried the hooka, but it smelled good! Also, in Turkey most of the bars and restaurants offer games. For instance, I always saw people sipping tea, smoking hooka and playing backgammon or checkers. I even saw one place that offered Scrabble! I liked this part… I do love my games.

Day 4:

Today was a day for SHOPPING! The girls awoke early and headed straight for the Grand Bazaar. Shop after shop, there was jewelry, handbags, lamps, souvenirs, clothes, tea, etc… I did buy some things… people will have to wait and see.

After the Grand Bazaar, I was definitely down for a nice dinner out in the city with friends…and that is just what we did! A group of twelve of us went to this spectacular rooftop restaurant for dinner. It offered breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline. We could even see our ship lit up in the port! We spent more than 2 hours there, and the food was amazing! I had a chicken Caesar salad, complete with chunks of real Parmesan cheese…YUM! I have rarely had salad on this trip… so it was a nice treat.

After our meal, we caught Taksi’s (their spelling) back to Taksim Square. Lauren, Eric, Ben, Anthony, Becca, Kate, Rachael and I went to this chill place we would have never had found had it not been for Eric’s friend from Turkey. We had such a fun time… and they offered one of the best collections of drinks I had ever seen! The drinks were not only creative but also delicious. They had a set of four shots for 25 Lira called the Ninja Turtle shots. YUM. After leaving that bar, we attempted to find a place to do Karaoke…but couldn’t. After that failed, we enjoyed each other’s company at a hookah bar until about 4 in the morning. It was a long but great night!

Day 5:

It’s always nice to have a relaxing last day in port. We usually are exhausted from seeing the sights, and like to stay close by to the ship since on-board time is 6 p.m. We do not want to be late for that! So…on our farewell day in Istanbul, Anthony, Nina and I saw our second movie together…The Proposal. It starred Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds and I loved it!! We saw the 2 o’clock showing for 8 Lira. It was such a good movie! And on the walk back to the ship… I splurged and got one more frapaccino from Starbucks… a java chip one!

Reflecting on Turkey as a whole… I am not so sure of what I think of it. I had great days and nights, but out of all the countries we have visited thus far I felt the most stressed. It is definitely the most different. It is so many things at once… exotic, confusing… there is a lot to take in. It has the hustle bustle of normal city life, but I found it to be a little filthier than most other cities I have been to. You hear roughly 5 times a day the call to worship – where singers from the mosques sing and it is broadcast all over the city. The mosques, standing out with their unique architecture, are beautiful. There is a wide collection of people living here and roaming the streets – a lot of diversity. Also, it can be a very sketchy place to be at night… very unsafe.

In terms of the language barrier… most people I spoke to could understand me, and most people knew at least a few words in English. Still, communication was a struggle at times. Of the things I wanted to do in Turkey… I didn’t get a chance to do a Turkish bath… they were more expensive than I thought. Nor did I get to see a Suri Dervish ceremony. Maybe someday…

And overall, I spent about 200 Lira during the 5 days, plus the hike, which cost about $39.00.

Our next stop: Bulgaria

I love and miss everyone dearly…words cannot express it! I look forward to arriving in Norfolk in one month… and prayer everyday for everyone’s safety. 
XOXO
Erika

P.S. We walked a TON in Turkey!

Goodbye Greece...

So… I am saddened to say that I did not make it to a Greek Island. I never got to see the beautiful Mamma Mia scenery! I instead stayed in Piraeus for the last two days …which really bummed me out. I feel like I poorly planned the port…and wasted precious time in Greece. Many SAS’s had the time of their lives in Santorini or Mykonos…and I missed out on that! But… I can’t live in regret and am still very fortunate for having seen the things I did…such as the Acropolis and Delphi.

So what did I do in Piraeus? Anthony and I walked around looking for a beach, which we eventually found after about 45 minutes. It was in an industrial like area…and the sand was not impressive. However, the water was clear and felt very refreshing under the beaming sun. After that, Anthony and I were really missing home, so decided to have an American day in Greece…complete with dinner at Pizza Hut, dessert at Haigan Diaz, and a caramel frapaccino at Starbucks. I definitely spent a lot of Euros on food! But let me tell you… the Pizza Hut was the most upscale Pizza Hut I have ever been to! It was very classy… and the ones in the states could take a few pointers from their Greek chains. And boy, did it taste good. I can’t remember the last time I indulged and allowed myself that delicious pizza. It brought back great memories, as Anthony and I have spent many great afternoons eating for six at the Wolf Rd. joint. After pizza, I could have definitely done without the ice cream. It was the priciest brownie sundae I ever bought… 9 Euros (approx. 12 dollars), but it was in an awesome location. So, Ant, Shannon, Nina, Bo, Kevin and I all splurged and enjoyed the atmosphere.

For our last night in Greece, we all stayed close to the ship and chilled at the Irish Pub again…with the same Aussie waiter. After that, we went around the corner to a small Karaoke bar, where Anthony of course sang. I would have too…except there weren’t many people in the place… and those who were there were all decent singers! But…they did think Anthony’s voice was amazing… so the owner gave Anthony and I each a frozen martini on the house! I love smooching off of Anthony’s talent!

The last day in Greece: I slept in…called Memere and Aunt Michelle at 7 in the morning before the Phone Center closed… spent some time on the Internet, and then sipped on yet another caramel frapacchino from my favorite coffeehouse, Starbucks. That’s what I did on my last day in Greece… yup.

BUT… for those who did go to Santorini or Mykonos… which included one of my roommates, Kate, and some friends of ours … Rachael, Becca, Lindsay and Nico… their return ferry was late so they did not make it back to the ship on time. In total, about 50 SAS student’s were about an hour and a half late. A bunch of us on the ship stood on the decks and watched as many of them ran to the gangway. I would have been doing the same thing, as being as late as they were, they now have 18 hours dock time. They must serve this at our next port. So basically they will lose a day in Istanbul staying on the ship. But… their pictures from Santorini look AMAZING and they said their trip was well worth the dock time. I am jealous they saw the island!

As the ship pulled away, Anthony and I watched Something’s Got to Give. Great movie.

Next up: Turkey.

Until then…
Much love,
Erika

I hope everyone is well at home! I miss everyone dearly!

Day 2 Greece: Delphi!

Today I went on an SAS trip to Delphi. I knew little about the historical place, and had only seen a few pictures. Alas, I did not know what to expect… but it turned out to be an amazing day. Delphi is located about 170 km north of Piraeus, which is about 3 hours away. However, the traffic in Athens was heavy during the morning hours, so it actually took us about 4 hours to reach. We left early, at 7:45 in the morning. I tried to sleep a little, but you know me…I have much difficulty with that…and it didn’t help that our tour guide talked the majority of the time. I shouldn’t say anything though, because our tour guide was exceptional. She helped us to understand the most important and pivotal information about the sights. She was extremely knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and seemed to know everything about Ancient Greece! She must really love her job!

Traveling North, I was able to see a different side of Greece. When I picture Greece, I think of the islands with the white and blue houses among the ocean (I think Mamma Mia!). However, the area we went to was nothing like that… instead it was quite the opposite… quite unique. It was located on a steep mountainside near the Ionian Sea. Most of the mountains were covered with lush greenery, although there were patches of mountainous bare, gray rock. Olive trees grew amongst the other foliage. The roads we drove on hugged the cliffs (like many of the roads I have been on during this voyage!), which at times was scary. Nevertheless, this allowed for spectacular, serene views. On this journey, we were taught much about Delphi. And in short, it stood as the place were the Greeks went to visit the oracle of the God Apollo, and to gain advice on both private and personal matters. The ruins date from the 4th century BC, and included a temple, a stadium, a theatre, a walkway of treasuries and shops, among other things.

Upon arrival, we first had time to explore the museum, which housed 13 rooms of many artifacts from the actual site. The remains of certain pillars, sculptures, treasuries, gold, ivory masks…everything inside was just remarkable.

The lunch provided on the trip took place at a friendly Greek restaurant. They gave us lots of food; as the appetizers themselves could have been suffice (although I didn’t really care for them). I liked the fried cheese stick and bread, but not the fried zucchini ball, veal and cabbage, spinach/filo dough thing (spanikopia?), or the Greek salad. The main course was more my style… rice, French fries, and a hamburger patty type thing. Well…I at least think it was hamburger meat…but afterwards people told me it was lamb. If it was…oh well. Still yummy. For dessert, I had juicy watermelon and honeydew. Delicious. I really wish we could take fruit on the ship with us!

On our return, our bus stopped for about an hour at the monastery of St. Lucas. It included two old churches, as well as the areas where the monks resided. Parts of St. Lucas’s skeletons rest here, which we were able to see. This monastery was about 45 minutes away from Delphi, also nestled on the peaceful mountainside. It is amazing to visit all of these important religious sites. Religion has inspired so much art, music, architecture, etc.… and has played/still plays a huge role in the lives of so many… It is just great to be apart of that. There is much history to soak up.

After the monastery, we continued our drive back to Piraeus. Our bus ended up being about an hour late, as we arrived back at our ship around 7:15 pm…which isn’t bad, except that everything in Piraeus closes pretty early! (which is surprising as it is a fairly large port city) Anthony and I were looking forward to using the international phone center to make some calls, but that and most others stores were already closed by 7!

At night, Bo, Morgan, Nina, Shannon and I stayed close to the ship and chilled in an Irish Pub…with an Australian waiter! He was super nice, and was from Brisbane. Us SAS’s talked for a while, and enjoyed a low-key night together.

Until next time, much love,
Erika

P.S. I updated some pictures on Facebook… feel free to check them out!

4th Country: Greece!

YAY!! We’re in Greece! We docked in Piraeus, which is the second largest city in Greece after Athens, and its port is huge! Gigantic cruise ships and ferry ships dominate the waters. And even where our ship is docked, it looks as though it is basically kissing another ship.

Immigration cleared the ship around 8:30 a.m., so I quickly got my things together to meet Anthony around 9. Upon debarking the MV Explorer, we asked locals to direct us to where ferry tickets our sold. We want to go to a Greek Island, as much of SAS is doing…but we heard many rumors on the ship that ferries for certain islands were all sold out! Not good! So…wanting to see if this were true or not, we jetted over to the kiosks. Luckily, none of the ferries we asked about were sold out! Yay! Greek islands here we come!

After going to the ferry stand, Anthony, Rachael, Kate and I met up for our 1 p.m. SAS trip: The sights of Athens and the Acropolis. I am SO glad I booked this trip through SAS…Athens is HUGE, and we would have been absolutely EXHAUSTED had it not been for the convenience of our bus and guide. And with signs all in Greek, which has some different letters, we would have been more than lost. The trip lasted four hours, and I was able to see a good amount of historical sights during that time. Our first stop was the original Olympic Stadium. After that… we saw other notable places such as their University and Parliament before our main stop: The Acropolis!

The Acropolis was phenomenal. The ruins…the columns…it just blows my mind. How did the ancient Greeks build everything?! Every angle was the perfect spot for a picture…and I think I got some good ones! It is perched high on a hill overlooking Athens…which as I said was HUGE…but the city also glistened. I have noticed that a lot of rooftops here appear to be equipped with technology to use solar energy…so I think the metal reflects the sun and sparkles. We were also able to see the Parthenon, and the remains of the Temple of Zeus. But geez…you think we would get used to walking by now… but no. It is just draining with that sun! We only spent a little over 2 hours at the archeological site, and boy did I want a nap after!

At night, Anthony, Rachael, Kate, Lindsay and I grabbed a taxi to Athens. I ended up only staying out about 4 hours because I had to wake up for our 7:30 a.m. SAS trip…but it was SO much fun! The area we went to was super nice…. I loved it. I just wish we didn’t have to take a taxi there and back…it is expensive! There were fancy restaurants, clubs, and tons of upscale bars packed with locals our age. There was both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as rooftop terraces. The music was what we like to listen to, and the drinks were top notch (I got a strawberry daiquiri!) I just really enjoyed the whole atmosphere. Plus, I indulged in a Greek Gyro (pita bread with chicken) for 2.30 euro and it was AMAZING! I hope I get a chance to get another one…

On the topic of food… Starbucks, pizza hut, dominos, McDonalds… there are tons of American options to choose from in the way of food. Although all of it sounds yummy, I am going to do my best to stick with local Greek cuisine. Me? Who would have thought?! And I’m excited because the Greeks seem to like their coffee iced or blended. Just how I like it! I tried an iced cappuccino at a local chain named Goody’s. It cost me a little over a euro, and was well worth it! (Although I do miss my splenda or equal options in the states) And the burgers and salads at Goody’s looked SOOO good! I hope I make it back there to give it a taste!

And in Piraeus, there is a close phone center near by so I was able to call home! It made my day…as it is always good to hear my family’s voices! (Sorry for waking you up Mom!) I miss them everyday SO MUCH, and wish they could be here experiencing everything with me. I cannot wait to see everyone in August.

Love,
Erika

Sea Olympics!

The day before our arrival in Greece, July 12th, we had no classes in light of the 2009 Summer voyage Sea Olympics! Depending on where your cabin is located, the ship was divided into nine different seas. Our room, 3148, is part of the Baltic Sea.

Our Sea got together to prep for the Olympics the night before. And… our LLC got us a ½ sheet ice cream cake to enjoy! It was absolutely delicious… Kate and I devoured our pieces and rushed back for seconds. Besides eating, we accomplished a lot. Our sea decided on some important things, such as our mascot and chant. We chose to be the baboons…don’t ask me why…and our banner for our sea turned out to be kick ass: complete with Rafiki from the Lion King! Also, each Sea was assigned a different color, and ours was teal (or teal and white). Anthony’s Sea was the Adriatic I believe… and they were pink. He somehow ended up being one of their sea captains, and I think he had a great time…I know I did as:

The day was a blast. It started after lunch with an opening ceremony in the Union in which each Sea introduced themselves, the Sea Captains ran around with a fake Olympic torch, the rules were set, and everyone got pumped! The competition was on! The whole shipboard went all out for the Olympics…and the energy throughout the ship was electric. Everyone was in great spirits.

Throughout the afternoon, there were a total of about ten events. I took part in one of the first ones, which was Pictionary. Each round lasted 2 minutes, and 2 teams raced each other at once. Our team won the first two rounds we played, but eventually the Baltic Sea was defeated. I did draw a pretty impressive parking ticket and UFO though. I also took part in the relay race, where in my role I had to win four games of rock paper scissors against the judges. In another event, Eric (who lives a few cabins down from me) did a phenomenal drag-queen type lip-syncing show to nab first place in that competition. He sang, “When I think about you, I touch myself”. Even though the Baltic Sea rocked the boat in that area… it sadly was not enough. We still lost the Olympics. We didn’t even get the Bronze! I think we came in 5th or 6th place…can’t remember. But drum roll…the winning sea was: the Yellow Sea … and not only do they have bragging rights for the remainder of the voyage, but they are the first ones allowed off the ship in Norfolk. I wanted to be able to do that so badly so I could get breakfast with my parents!

After the Olympics… the crew hosted a BBQ for us all out on Deck 7. I was super excited for a hamburger or hot dog, but it ended up being grilled steaks and jerk chicken. It was still a nice change…and a good way to end a great day.

Later on that evening… to help get ourselves pumped up for Greece…we watched Mamma Mia! Watching the breathtaking scenery in the film, and knowing I would be there shortly experiencing it with my own eyes only made my anticipation grow!

Love,
Erika

It's a Small World

Sleeping in has been wonderful. Croatia has definitely been much more relaxing than the previous 2 countries. It will be sad to leave… and our last day flew by.

We disembarked the ship after lunch and headed straight for the Old City. I was able to get a scoop of that delicious ice cream one last time before we began shopping in the cute little stores located within the walls. After shopping, we headed over to the beach in front of East West. Seeing it only briefly once before at night, we did not know what we were missing! This place was amazing!  And of course it had to be the last day in Dubrovnik that we go back… leaving us with only a few hours. I really wish we had done it sooner…I could have spent a whole day there. It was happening, and was a super fancy rock beach. One could rent out lounge chairs, or even beds on the beach! You could even pay for a massage, which would have been marvelous. East West offered meals that left us drooling, and frozen drinks that I have been craving. Anthony and I wanted so badly to at least get a drink, which were 69 Kuna each (about 12 dollars) …but we didn’t have enough money. We were a little bummed about that, but at least we got to swim and enjoy the water during the hottest part of the day!

While floating around in the Adriatic, we met a nice bloke named Adam from Australia!  This of course made me miss Australia very much…and especially the accent! He was from Melbourne, and was traveling with a friend who is studying next semester at Penn State. We prepped them for the states, and let them know they were in for a good time. But he was not the only person we met…as we also met a guy from Albany who went to Colonie High school! He graduated in 2002, and is visiting his grandmother who resides in Dubrovnik. Anthony and I were in disbelief. What are the chances that we would meet him…swimming in the Ocean in Croatia?! We talked to him for a while, and we learned that he even had many of the same teachers as we had, like Mr. Meagher. He went to SUNY Albany and Union, and still lives in Colonie. What a small world. 

I was able to save about 3 Kuna coins as souvenirs, as eventually the Kuna will die out and the Euro will take its place. All in all, my total expenses have been about 750 Kuna, or about $150.00. Not too bad.

It was a little upsetting when we learned that we would not be departing Dubrovnik until the next morning, on the 11th, although we were originally planned to leave at 8 pm on the 10th. I wish SAS would have worked something out and allowed us to stay off the ship for at least a little while longer! We had to be on by 6 pm… so it felt like we were missing a whole night out and about in Croatia…and there was nothing we could do but stay on our docked ship. And last night would have been the night to be out, as it was the start of their summer festival. There were even fireworks in the Old City! Anthony was especially upset about missing those. Oh well.

Next stop: Greece!

I hope everyone is well at home! I love and miss you all!
-Erika

Kayaking the Adriatic!

“Blissful”
“Sore”
“Fantastique”

Those three words describe today’s events by members of team ABA (our self-created name, meaning American Backpackers Association). I am stealing their expressions because I am at a loss. Today was everything I pictured Croatia to be and more. Every aspect was amazing, and I will never forget it. So what did we do? We went kayaking in the Adriatic Sea!! Anthony said that it was the best $50.00 he ever spent, worth every dime, and I concur.  It is for days like these that I wish my digital camera were waterproof! I would have been able to clip it to my life vest and take some remarkable pictures. There were ten of us who went, but we were in a larger group of about 45 people. We had to split up into twos, so Anthony and I went together. I sat in front, and I swear I did all of the work! He actually kept commenting on how impressed he was with my paddling techniques… which motivated me to keep going when I thought my arms were going to fall off! We did A LOT of kayaking, and I thought for sure I would be sore…but actually I’m feeling pretty good right now. We started out by the City Walls, and then kayaked around a beautiful island. Halfway through, we stopped in a cave to go swimming, and snorkel if we wanted. The water felt more than refreshing. It was clear, warm, calm… just amazing. And I was happy that we were able to take some cute pictures with our goggles. Kayaking once again, we passed some nude beaches…but the beaches were on these different levels of rocks… so as Kate put it, it looked as though they were just chilling on some monument. It was quite a sight. Besides for that… Croatia is just gorgeous is every direction. I tried to take it all in…The sweeping mountains, the city walls, the fortress looking architecture, the red/orange-roofed (“why not purple?”) houses, and the tranquil waters underneath the sun’s rays. Wow. Pulling back in after the three-hour adventure, we were able to get a first hand look at a professional diver practicing for the Redbull Cliff-diving challenge that is being held the day after we leave. I wish we could stay for it! Croatia is known for cliff jumping… and it is ridiculous the heights that some of these people jump from! I wouldn’t do it…

At night we met four guys around our age from Germany. We talked with them for quite a while, and we were outside of a supermarket…we actually spent like two hours there, and it was a great time! They spoke English very well. Anthony and I were able to interrogate them on their feelings of the European Union, which I will for sure share in my EU class! They all thought positively about it, voted in the Parliament elections, and envisioned a united future for Europe. Hopefully I’ll gain some points with my professor! The Germans were also luckily to have had the opportunity to hear my wonderful voice. And we have it on tape! Kate recorded Anthony and I doing callbacks... ugh I try so hard and wish I could sing! After that, we ventured by bus over to Old City and indulged in some more ice cream. What a surprise, eh? We found this place, which is by far my favorite, with 7 Kuna scoops that are huge! That is a little over $1.00! And supposedly it is the site of the first ice cream in Croatia. I will have to stop again before our departure!

Love,
Erika  

Croatia: Day 2

We slept in! Well… until about 10 a.m. (but was interrupted various times by announcements). It still felt amazing to wake up feeling pretty well rested with 7 hours of sleep. And I had time to leisurely get ready for the day, as we could not disembark the ship until about 12. This is because our ship could not obtain a dock at the port today. Therefore, our ship had to move and anchor out in the sea until about 8 tonight.  Because of this, we had to tender. This was a new experience for me. We basically had to take our lifeboats into the port. It was interesting, and the ride lasted about ten minutes. I hope that is the only time I will have to get into a lifeboat!

Today we took the ferry over to Lupod, a small island off of Dubrovnik, which took about 50 minutes and cost 35 Kuna round trip. Anthony and I sang most of the ride over, which was very enjoyable. Our group is dying to find a karaoke bar! When we arrived on the island, at around 2:30, the sun was shining and we headed right for the beach. I was more than ready to finally spend a day relaxing by the water. All we do on this trip is walk, so I was anticipating a day off! I pictured the ferry dropping us off right on a beach. And that was the case… there was a nice beach right by the drop-off point, but did we choose to go to that one? NO. Instead, we chose to venture to a further beach (we had heard good things about it). Well… this beach was not just around the corner… it was a HIKE to get to. It was basically on the other side of the island! It gets better… not only did we sweat our behinds off… but when we finally got to the small, secluded beach… it clouded up and it was no longer sunny! I was ticked! It was like the first day of our whole trip where we planned a beach day and the first day of the trip where it got cloudy! But really I shouldn’t complain… the hike was really pretty, and the sun ended up coming back out. The walk, although intense and mostly uphill, was quiet and peaceful. Being surrounded by nature, with the smells and the sounds and the trees, it all reminded me of camping. The beach we walked to had waves, which surprised me because most beaches I have seen in the Mediterranean have been calm water. We all went swimming for a little while, but because of the waves, the clouds, and seldom places to lay on the sand, Anthony, Bo and I decided to leave Becca, Kate and Racheal to head back to the other side of the island. This was much better, and we parked ourselves on the beach that we had first passed earlier. The sun came out again, and stayed out. It was so nice… I swam in tranquil waters; fell asleep for about ten minutes in the sand, and of course got Ice Cream (cookie flavor). It was a much better afternoon.

6:50 was the last ferry back to the mainland. There were a ton of people, and we had to push our way through to make sure we got seats on the upper outside deck because it smelled something awful on the lower one. And there was this older woman who was behind Anthony and I in line who was like glue… we could not stop laughing. Whenever we moved in line… so did she. It was very awkward…and I guess its one of those things where you probably had to be there.

When we got back we rushed to the ship to try and grab dinner, which ended at 8:30 due to the tendering situation. I should have taken my time, because dinner was everything I disliked. Oh well… I finished off my last balance bar. Tear. And then grabbed a slice of pizza out later.

I don’t know how we missed a happening corner of Old Town the first night we headed out…but we did. Because Bo, Anthony, Kevin, Nico and I met up with 2 other SASer’s in an awesome area, which appeared to be dominated by locals. It was crowded, and everyone looked to be having a good time. It was all outdoor seating, and in the vicinity was about five or six different bars. Anthony, Bo and I splurged and bought this XXL Long Island Kamikaze that came in a vase with super long and bright straws. It was delicious, fun… and we sucked it down in about 2 minutes. We’re American…what can I say? After that we all just talked, laughed, and enjoyed the night and each other’s company… and on the walk home Anthony and I were tempted to dance… which in turn led to us busting out some moves in the middle of the Old City. It was lots of fun… and a night to remember.

I guess that’s all… I must rest up for tomorrow’s activities! Hope all is well back home! XOXO

I love and miss everyone dearly,
Erika

3rd Country: Croatia!!

We are now in Dubrovnik, Croatia!! And WOW… so far it beats out Spain and Italy by far. The people are extremely nice, seem to speak a good amount of English (at least most people), and are very helpful. I have never seen a city like this… walking around I feel like I am in a movie, or at Disney… or that it is just plain fake. It is just incredible… and I have moments to remind myself that it is real, that this is how people live. Mom and dad – I think you both would absolutely love it here – more so than Italy. I know you would love exploring the Old City and the Old City Wall dad. And mom – you would love the sandy beaches with clear blue water. There are also lots of islands and water activities… like snorkeling!

Attempting to describe Dubrovnik: Huge hillsides that remind me of the ones from The Sound of Music. I just want to run up them and yodel (even though I can’t!) All the rooftops are the same – bright orange shingles (terra cotta maybe?) The area is touristy, but not overly so. I like it so much better than Rome…it is just so different. In the Old City, huge fortress walls surround it… you wouldn’t think that this area was involved in a treacherous war just 20 years prior. Old City is about a 30-minute walk from our ship in the harbor; where there are various yachts, cruise ships, and fishing ships waiting to be taken out. The walk of the City Walls was AMAZING and we were able to enter as students (20 Kuna vs. 50 Kuna). It took about 90 minutes to 2 hours for us to walk it, and within that time we saw spectacular views…of the many rooftops of Old City, of Islands in the distance, cliffs, the water, the hillside, just everything. WOW… SO WORTH IT.

So… here we were – our first day in Croatia, the most beautiful place – and I was sick! I had eaten an apple and pear for breakfast, and boy did it mess with my stomach. I was upset that I wasn’t feeling very good, but tried very hard to keep going. It was hard though, as all we did was walk around under the scorching sun. I ended up getting sick a little on the City Walls themselves. After the city walls, I took a bus back to the ship by myself to lie down, which was around 3 p.m. Such a good decision, as I felt much better after I took some Tums and lied down for a little before dinner. And everyone got back to the ship around 4:30 anyways… so I was happy that I didn’t miss out on much and that I was able to rejoin the group!

Their currency is called the Kuna. We were all eager to experience our first country not utilizing the Euro, for we were anticipating a great exchange rate. And there is one, as 1 US dollar translates to about 5.2 Kuna. However, everything seems to be just priced highly in Kuna to reflect that difference. So, really, we are not saving anything. It just messes with your head and you think you are spending a lot! I feel like a high roller dropping 11 Kuna on water alone. It will definitely take some getting used to!

On the topic of food… whoever thought they could only get pizza and gelato in Italy is wrong! It is also all over the place and super yummy! So… my diet of pizza and ice cream continues. I had a delicious slice from a vendor twice yesterday for ten Kuna, and of course got some cookie gelato. I will definitely venture out, however, and try some traditional Croatian cuisine…I think.

For dinner we ate on the ship. It wasn’t the best meal they’ve had. But while we waited for 5:30 (the start of dinner), Anthony, Bo, and I lounged around for a little bit on deck 7 by the pool. We also all tried to tap into some free Wireless Internet connection, but failed. By the pool, we saw this HUGE grasshopper looking insect. It was seriously ridiculously large… And Anthony happened to be lying down at the time. So, cleverly, Bo and I devised a plan to try and put it on him. Haha…Anthony saw it coming and FREAKED. He bolted and screamed, and it never touched him. I guess I am a horrible video-grapher, as I only managed to film the tail end of Anthony’s freak out. Bo and I had a good laugh though. Anthony… not so much.

A huge cruise ship, the Celebrity Summit, has been docked along side us since we arrived in Dubrovnik. It was also in Civiteviccia, so it must be following us! But Kevin said the greatest thing when we were walking back to the ship (although I missed it and only heard the story told to me at dinner). He states “Oh look, there is a mini MV Explorer” – and he was pointing to our ship. He thought the monstrous Celebrity cruise ship was ours. Haha… it really did make our ship look tiny. – and Anthony had to break the news to him that no, it wasn’t a mini MV Explorer…it WAS the MV Explorer.

Our first night out in Croatia was pretty fun… Anthony, Bo, Kevin and I started the night by attempting to pre-game in a parking lot (It was interesting)…then we took a bus down to Old City and first hit a bar by the name of Exit club. They have a happy hour, which runs from 6 – 10 pm with 25 Kuna (about 5 US) Mojito’s! Since I have been craving one since my 21st, I was super excited so ran inside to order one. Um… it super good, just what I expected… but I should have looked at my watch first. It was almost 11, so I coughed over 43 Kuna for it (about 8.50 US). Still not to bad I guess. The next place we hit up was a super nice club on the beach called East West. They had dancing, but it was extremely fancy and expensive, with lots of SAS’ers, so did not stay there long. We actually ended up going back to Exit Club with a bunch more people, including Kate, Rachael, Becca, and this girl we just met named Deborah. She is sooo nice! And there she splurged and bought us all a 3 L Sex on the Beach cocktail tower which cost 270 Kuna! After that, at around 1:30, we roamed the serene streets of Old Town nestled inside the City Walls, with some areas lighted by actual fire lanterns. I felt like I was in a castle, and couldn’t believe I was there!

Although many people seem to know English here, especially those our age, it is polite to try and speak a little Croatian. Here are just a few of the words I have been trying to use (It is a difficult language!):

Hello: Zdravo or Bog (ZDRAH-vo / Bog)
Yes: Da
No: Neh
Thank you: Hvala vam (HVAH-la vahm)
Goodbye: Dovidenja (do-vee-JEHN-ya)
Please: Molim (MO-leem)

Anthony and others started grading the countries we have visited, and I think that is a good idea... So I am going to copy them and do the same!

For the overall experience:                    
Spain… A
Italy… B+

For the food:
Spain…C
Italy…A+

And even though we have spent little time in Croatia… it is looking like an A+!
I will keep you posted! XOXO

Much love,
Erika

Or it's this website...

Try this for the same pictures as well:

http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv89/morrisse/?albumview=slideshow

To check out some pictures....

Hey! I had a chance to upload a few select pictures here at an Internet Cafe in Croatia... here is the link:

http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv89/morrisse/

Hope it works!

Love, Erika

Notes...

A few other things I forgot to mention about Italy: We rode the trolley in Capri down to the harbor. It was way cool… quite unique, as it was positioned at a steep slant. It felt almost like we were boarding a roller coaster! And being one of their common forms of transportation, (like a small, slow subway) one would have thought that it would level out… but no, it never did. The track went down the cliff of the island. It reminded me of the thing I took in Australia to get back up the Blue Mountains. Pretty nifty!

And one thing that pissed me off… I wrote out lots of postcards –to home, Grammy and Grandpa, Memere and aunt Michelle, and friends. And are they going to send?! The purser said there is a good chance they will not and there is nothing I can do! I guess stamps bought at the Vatican can only be sent there or in the surrounding area, since it is its own city. Ugh! I just picked up stamps there because we had passed the post office and it seemed easy to grab them there and then mail the cards on the ship later. I am very upset over the whole situation… I wish they had communicated this important information to us beforeee we spent the money and time on writing them! Not to mention the stamps cost .85 euros each… which is well over a dollar (The stamps we bought and Italian stamps cost the same… so what is the difference?!) I guess a lot of people did the same thing as I, including Anthony, and we can now only hope for their delivery.

Good thing I went to sleep early (even though everyone made fun of me for laying down around 9 p.m… they said I was pathetic) because the whole ship got woken up around 7:30 am by an announcement stating that were sailing the through the Messina Straight… which is right in-between Italy and Sicily! So right away Shannon and I went upstairs for breakfast outside on the deck. It was such a beautiful morning, with the entrance of the straight in the horizon, and Sicily and Italy on either side of the ship. With that view, I think its safe to say that breakfast set the bar pretty high for lunch and dinner…Allllthough lunch on the ship wasss chicken fajitas… one of the best meals yet! And I was able to sneak some pears out for later!! Yumm!

I guess that’s all… sorry for the mumble jumble of a blog today… but Ant and I are going to try and play scrabble now… so talk to you later!

Love,
Erika

Capri and Anacapri!

After spending time in Rome, Civitevecchia, Pompeii, Sorrento and Naples, we spent our last day in Italy visiting the Island CAPRI!  Kate, Becca and I were in the same group so spent the day together, and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip! It was seriously SO amazing! A playground for the rich and famous, it was a sight to see.

I cannot express how happy I am that I kept this trip! I would have been very sad if I sold it, which I almost did after hearing a scary story from my EU Professor about his journey on the narrow, twisting roads to Anacapri. Three people offered to buy it from me, but for a cheaper price, so I said no. Sometimes I am just too much of a worrywart…
Our tour guide was a younger fellow named Sasha. He was crazy, but is good at what he does. He was knowledgeable about the Island and was very funny (my only complaint was he said Hellllloooo way too many times!). He wanted us to have a good time, and we definitely did…

To get from Capri to Naples, we took the hydrofoil, which is the fastest ferry. We left at 8:35, and it took about 45 minutes (I dozed off a little on the way, so it seemed shorter). Upon arrival to the island, we immediately drove up to Anacapri. For the ride, our group was split up into two tiny buses, crammed tight with about 25 people each. It took about 20 minutes…and was one of the most ridiculous drives I have ever been on! The roads are extremely narrow and HUG the cliffs all the way up (which of course boasts spectacular views!) There were lots of twists and turns, and I’m not going to lie I was a little scared (but I was before thanks to my Mr. Wilkerson, my EU Prof.). But, I conquered my fear and it was well worth it!

While in Anacapri, we took a chair-lift ride up to the highest point. The chairlift alone made the whole trip to Capri worthwhile! The sights were INCREDIBLE; breathtaking. I could go on and on but I feel no adjective would do it justice! It was a little scary at first, as we were extremely high up! And the chairs just held one person, so we had to go in singles. It reminded me of the Aladdin ride at The Great Escape, except it kept increasing in height. It was extremely relaxing, and I was able to capture great video clips as well as pictures. It was a round-trip lift, but we were able to get off at the top and take in more amazing views. Looking down from this angle, we could see a different side of the island, which was much more private. The teal water glistened, and huge yachts freckled the sea. I desperately want to meet the people in those things! I guess that area has many private beaches and restaurants that can be accessed by private boats only. The rich and famous party hardy there over the summer, and often end the night with firework displays. Um… Yea…. That would be the life.

Everything is Lemon in the towns surrounding Naples! Sorrento grows giant Lemons, and so does Capri. Lemonchello is everywhere; in all the shops and restaurants. I was also able to try melonchello on the island – which I liked much more. I wish I could have brought some home with me. I am just too scared to try and sneak it on the ship. Anthony apparently snuck some on… and I think it would be really easy to get past security… but you know me… I worry…In addition to the liqueur tasting; we were able to try milk, white and dark chocolate infused with a lemon flavoring. You wouldn’t think its good… but WOW. It was good. The dark one was my favorite. We all wanted to buy some, but figured it would melt by the time we got back to the ship because it was HOT outside.

Lunch was included in our tour and I was extremely impressed! It was much better than the one included with the Pompeii and Sorrento tour. To drink, everyone received his or her own carafe of white wine. And to start, they had had amazing rolls. Then a huge bowl of penne pasta with tomato sauce and basil came (like the size of an Olive Garden dish!), followed by chicken parm (2 slices) and french fries. I didn’t want to eat the french fries. I didn’t. But she put them in front of me and then they disappeared!  Then, of course there was a dessert; a slice of chocolate cake covered with powdered sugar and a small scoop of vanilla gelato. I ate everything…and I just cannot believe how much food I ate!

Since where on the topic of food, I just want to say that I DO NOT THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN THIS FULL! Italy has destroyed me… I have ate more in these past 5 days than I do in weeks… and write now, as I am writing this, I am SO uncomfortably full. But I’m not the only one, as everyone is in accordance. The food is just that good. And yesterday, when I ate dinner on the ship trying to save money… nope, I just went out and bought a second dinner. I had a whole margarita pizza with some beer and wine. About six hours later, at breakfast, I had cereal with milk, 2 fried eggs and mixed fruit. For snack, we had those chocolates and melonchello. Lunch, which was part of our Capri tour, was described above. For dinner…well… dinner was THE 4th of JULY BBQ!! The ship went all out for it…and there was so much food I didn’t know where to begin. I wasn’t even hungry but still managed to wolf down a Cheeseburger, huge slice of cake, ice cream and ribs.  I’ve never been a fan of ribs before, but boy they looked good and tasted even better. They had a huge fruit display so I managed to grab some apples for tomorrow. Hopefully I’m done overstuffing my self.

It was a perfect day, with blue skies and the sun shining (like most of the days have been!). Alas, instead of shopping around Capri during the afternoon… most of the SAS kids and I (along with Sasha) rented a boat at the harbor and took it out for a cruise around the island! Ahh it was so awesome! It was a small private boat, and we were able to pull right into some caves. We saw amazing red and pink coral, hidden statues, expensive yachts, gorgeous homes, and gigantic, stunning cliffs. We even sailed under the arch of a famous rock near Porto di Tragar (the rich, quiet part of Capri), and then the boat stopped so everyone could jump off the sides into the sea and go swimming! It was so refreshing, and a surreal experience! The water was amazingly clear… We could perfectly see our feet as we swam in the warm, salty water. It is a great memory to have of Italy, & I hope one day to be back there! Anthony loved the island just as much as I did, although he explored it alone today. I was sad he was not with the group, but so happy he got to experience it! And when we saw each other later on the ship, he came into my room and said, “I knew how much you must have loved Capri, so I bought a little something for you.” – while handing me a small photo holder of a ships anchor with CAPRI written across it (I LOVE IT). I am so fortunate to be able to share this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with such an amazing friend and caring person.

It is sad to leave Italy, but I think I am ready. I was not impressed with the city of Naples, and our port is not only confusing, but also located in a sketchy part of town. The beauty of Capri and the idea of lounging around the beach have attracted me to our next port of call, Croatia. I eagerly await our arrival, and am more than excited! We will be there the day after tomorrow!

Until then, I will be trying to catch up on some much needed rest (and of course back to classes tomorrow). Hope all is well with everyone! XOXO

Love,
Erika

Pompeii and Sorrento!

Happy 4th of July!! I hope everyone in the states had a great day, filled with family, friends, fireworks, and a good BBQ! Can’t wait to take part in those festivities Labor Day Weekend! But for us, our 4th of July will be tomorrow night after we get back on the ship to depart Naples. They have a BBQ and other special activities planned for the whole shipboard community on Deck 7 starting at 5:30. It will be good to have a hot dog or hamburger… It has been a while!

But today, I took part in the SAS trip to Pompeii and Sorrento. It was so nice not having to worry about how we were getting somewhere, what to bring, etc. We just walked right off the ship at around 9 this morning, and there was a coach bus waiting for us. And everything was planned for us! It was quite a different feel than the exhausting trip to Rome. Bo and Kevin both went on the same trip with me (although they got it for free from the donation box! … SO jealous!), and we were also in the same group (bus #6). Becca and Nina we saw sparsely, as they were in another group. It was one of the first days we were all kind of separated and were not all together. Anthony, Shannon and Kate all hiked Mt. Vesuvius with SAS, the active volcano who’s past eruption is responsible for the burying of Pompeii. With the weather the way it was, and all the walking we have done since arriving in Italy, I am glad I did not sign up for that! I do not know how I would have done it!

But after boarding our buses in the a.m., our energetic tour guide, Paulo, explained what our day would be like. We first went to Sorrento, a popular seaside town with jetting cliffs about an hour and a half away from our dock in Naples. If we didn’t go there first, I guess we would have been waiting in traffic for hours, as there is only one way into Sorrento and since it is the weekend it was to fill up with beachgoers. And oh did those beaches look amazing! They were lined with pretty colored lounges and umbrellas, and the water looked so inviting. People had floats, slides, and some were snorkeling. With the weather the way it was today (VERY HOT!), I wanted to go in SO bad! But hopefully we can do that and more in Croatia!

So instead of swimming, we shopped. Sorrento was filled with cute little stores, and is I guess known for a beautiful type of woodwork, their music boxes, lemons, and olive oil (which they do not export out of the area). The music boxes really were gorgeous, but the prices were a little too high for me. We also got a free shot of limenchello in one of the shops, which is a lemon liqueur extremely popular in Sorrento. It was a little strong tasting, but still good.

After walking around and taking lots of pictures of the scenery, we ate lunch at a lovely outdoor restaurant. The few from my seat included a plethora of colorful flora and lush green trees that lined a dark cliff. Of course I took pictures there as well! So… great setting, but not so great food. Well, a lot of people enjoyed it, but I did not. For starters, we had no options. Everyone was served the same meal. To start with, we had a small plate of ziti with marinara (my first plate of pasta in Italy!), with some type of meat-filled shell. After that, there came fish… with a small helping of buttered potatoes and a vegetable tossed in vinegar. We guessed it to be spinach at first, but it was definitely not that. I guess I will never be sure what I ate. But, I can say that I definitely did not eat the fish. After that, dessert was served, which was a small slice of a lemon cake. I ate it, and it was okay… just very lemony for my liking. It was also a disappointment since Bo and I had been craving coffee and tiramisu! Oh well. I had eaten a HUGE breakfast in the dining hall earlier anyhow, thinking we wouldn’t eat until 2 or 3, so I was fine.

After filling our stomachs, we departed Sorrento for Pompeii! I was super excited to see it! The ride took about 30 minutes, and it was filled with twists and turns. I tried to sleep for a little while (I had about 4 hours sleep last night!), and may have nodded off for a second or two, but mainly the constant sharp turns of the roads kept me from doing so.

We walked around Pompeii for about two hours with Paulo leading the way. He was a good guide; funny, who spoke English pretty well. Pompeii was a thriving, rich town back in about 700 BC, which is SUCH A LONG TIME AGO! It was ridiculous to see the excavations of such a huge and elaborate city (about 163 acres) with my own eyes. They had theaters, religious centers, shops, and elaborate decorations and paintings still preserved on many walls. For being so old, the society seemed so advanced. I was truly amazed. They also had many brothels, with explicit paintings showing erotic scenes. That was weird… but I guess it was an aspect of their life. We also saw four people still preserved by the ash in the positions of their death. Very eerie. It is really sad to think of the thousands of people who lost their lives in such a catastrophic event. Nowadays, scientists carefully monitor Mt. Vesivius (which is huge!), and they should be able to tell about 20 days ahead of time if an eruption is coming.

Although Naples is where Pizza originated, we still all ate dinner on the ship. I swear the ship has such better food when we are in port rather than at sea! They probably expect no one to be there so they whip out the good stuff then. Tonight alone I had teriyaki chicken, ripe plums, and cheese tortellini with a creamy tomato sauce. Yum! There weren’t too many people there… (I’m sure everyone is off eating PIZZA!), but I was able to save some money. And we all still plan on going out and exploring Naples later tonight, so I hope to get a slice and maybe some gelato then! Until then… nap time!

XOXO

-Erika

2nd Port: ITALY!!

HELLO ITALY!!! We docked in Civitavecchia, Italy on Wednesday morning, July 1st! It was about time after those three long days at sea.

We took the train from Civitavecchia to Rome, which took a little over an hour. Rome is a gigantic metropolis, full of a variety of different people, including tourists, business people, religious professional… etc. We of course stood out with out our huge backpacks and cameras. But Oh how it was it amazing. It definitely stands out from other large cities… as ruins, such as the coliseum, can be found throughout. The city just has so much history, and meaning, I cannot believe I was there and saw everything with my own eyes. It is so different from experiencing it first hand versus learning about it in a textbook.

Did our hostel situation work out like we planned? Of course not. The owner flipped out on us when we tried to sneak eight people into a four-person room. There are to be no visitors what so ever, so as soon as he saw them go up he called our room to tell them to leave. Luckily, Kate, Rachael, Dinello and Kevin were able to find a 20-euro a person hotel near to us with availability. I was so happy that it ended up all working out.

Seriously… I have like overdosed on Gelato… if that is possible. Yesterday alone I had it four different times. But oh it is SO YUMMY! Most of the time, I get crème caramel… I do love my caramel. The triple berry and cookie flavors are close alternatives. Most gelato I have found in Rome ranges from 2 – 3 euros, but we found a great place in Civitavecchia where it only costs 1 euro! What a steal!

In Rome, we went to this awesome Gelato place by the Spanish Steps…it is by far my favorite one thus far. The workers were super nice… and it was like a one-stop shop. We had Viagra, Whiskey shots, and Gelato all in one! Haha… no, not viagra the drug, but Viagra the ice cream. It is the title of their most impressive, delicious gelato. Supposedly, it won first in an international taste-testing contest. It was extremely chocolately, and the workers were giving us sample after sample of it! We joked around that they put something in it because they were just trying to get rid of it… and with the name of course, we wouldn’t have been surprised. & I guess the named it that on purpose…  But anyway, at the same place we also took a round of whiskey shots… when in Rome! 

The sights in Rome were breath taking. The coliseum was my favorite. Kate, Becca and I spent 22 euro on a guided tour of that , but our 2nd tour guide was super hot! He actually is a very successful Shakespearean actor… and has been in several films and T.V. shows. He helped train the models of America’s Next Top Model to be Gladiator fighters for a shot… in addition to work in Gladiator, Troy…etc., … he recently auditioned for the next installment of the Twilight Film… I hope he gets it! He was so nice… joking with us, taking our picture, and giving us advice about Rome and Italy. He is originally from Scotland, though, so his English was perfect.

The Pantheon was amazing to see. It had a circular hole in its roof, allowing the sun to shine through it. The floors had wholes to allow for the drainage of the rainwater.  It was spectacular… It was so old, and stood out like a sore thumb. We saw it about 40 minutes before it stated to down pour… it would have been something to see it rain in the Pantheon. Instead we were on our way to the Trevi Fountain… another amazing site of Rome. There were tons of people there, in addition to TONS of gelato places… just absorbing the beauty of the fountain. I really wish I could explain the artwork… it is just phenomenal.

Who said you had to wait in line for the Vatican?! We didn’t! It was ridiculous seeing all of the amazing artwork inspired by the Catholic religion. The statues… the faces, the maps, the artwork, the SISTINE CHAPEL… Just AMAZING! Seeing the work of Michealangelo sent chills through my body. It must have taken him forever to do the detailed work that he did. He was an extremely skillful and talented artist, and admire the work he did. Although we were forbidden to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel, my camera was about to die as I tried tirelessly to document every other aspect of the Vatican Museum. I guess one hears the expression “Rome wasn’t built in a day”… and you really understand it once you have been there and seen the Vatican. Honestly I do not know how the ancient Romans did what they did… It will remain a mystery to me.

Kate and Becca were lucky… as they got to see the Pope himself speak as they got dropped off for the day (SAS trip, Rome on your own). The rest of us just got to see his window as we explored and took pictures of the St. Peter’s Basilica. It was Beautiful. I can’t wait to see the movies Angels and Demon’s now… as so much of it takes place in Rome!

I guess wherever I am I always end up running for the 10:09 p.m., there is a train that departs from for Citivecchia. We all plan on taking that, . The train is departing from Bin 28 (a.k.a. Track 28)… but we have NO idea where that is! We did see a couple of signs for 25-29, and followed them, but they were confusing! We ended up jogging through the station at about 10:07 trying to catch the train… I for sure thought we would miss it. We ended up catching it… I don’t even know how we did it! Anthony ended up sticking his arms through the doors of the train car as we tried to get on… allowing all five of us to get on. Seriously, we would have missed our train if we took a second longer. As we took our seats, we laughed, caught our breath and reminisced what a close call it was. We were grateful to make it… And do they check tickets on trains? They did not check ours on the way to Rome or on the way back… so hmm… We just had our metro passes and assumed they worked… But could we have rode for free to say Florence?! I wonder…

The last day in Civitavecchia, we kind of laid low. We attempted to explore the small town after sleeping in and lunch on the boat, but really there is not much to do.
On our third day in Civitaveccia, after two tiring days in Rome, we ended up spending most of our time on the ship. We chilled and sunbathed for a while up on deck seven, enjoying time by the pool. It was just so hot out, and our port city was a small town, that it was nice to relax and finally go in our pool. Although there weren’t many people who were on the boat, it was still nice. Citivaveccia was really a let down, (a small fishing town), with really a small beach with mainly a rocky shore and no swimming signs everywhere (although everyone was obviously ignoring it).

Before on-ship time at 9 p.m., where we depart Citevecchia for Naples, we went out to dinner and ordered some drinks. They were delicious. And Bo, Becca, Shannon and I splurged on a 2-Euro personal bottle of Posseco each, which is a type of Sparkling Wine from Northern Italy. I was excited to drink it as we learned about in our European Union class… (our Professor loves wine, let me tell you!)… & I myself find the whole industry extremely interesting also!

On our way to Naples, Bo, Anthony, Rachael, Nicole, Kate, Shannon, Kevin, Nina, Becca and I piled into a room to watch Slumdog Millionaire. Great film. I’m jealous that other SAS trips visit the Taj Mahal! Oh well…, I shouldn’t complain, as tomorrow I will be visiting Pompeii and Sorrento on my first SAS trip yet! I am so excited I cannot wait!

I know I have been ALL OVER the place with this blog… But seeing the touristy sites takes A LOT out of you! I hope to explain a lot more during or after our time in Naples… or one can just read Anthony’s blog (so Jealous of it!)….

-       Other notes in this port: I was able to call my mom, dad and Annmarie from a phone center! Yay! … So glad to hear there voices!

Until then,
XoXo

-Erika