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