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