Civitavecchia: Sunday, November 21, 2010
- Brock and I took the train from Rome to Civitavecchia. It was a really gross day but we got to the port with no problems and got right on the ship. We got to our room/suite and it was awesome. We had been bumped up to a suite with a balcony and with that came lots of extras. We walked in to find a bottle of champagne and snacks. We then had a late lunch at the buffet and explored the ship. Later that night we went to the show, which was a circus theme with a couple doing acrobatics. Then we went to dinner. We were seated with a couple from Canada that was here celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary. They have children the exact same age as us, boy and girl, so they may have thought they were getting a week away from the kids but we messed that up for them! We both had fresh Buffalo mozzarella cheese and ham, Brock had vegetable soup, filet of salted dry cod; and I had grilled lamb chops. Then we went to the Miss Costa Pacifica contest and I was pulled up onto the dance floor, but due to my lack of ability to speak five languages I looked like a retard and was one of the first people to mess up and in a Simon says type game and got kicked out.
Savona: Monday, November 22, 2010
- Brock and I used our suite powers and ordered breakfast in that morning. After we got off the ship we wandered aimlessly through the town and stumbled into the cloister of a church. There we found a tourist map that showed a huge market on it. We walked toward that direction and ended up finding the market that we then spent most of the day in. Brock bought shoes and bought me a sweater. After leaving the market and walking around town we decided to go back to the market. On the way Brock tore his jeans so then we were on a mission to find a needle and thread in the market, which we did successfully find. After that we bought our postcards and headed to the castle to get some really good pictures of the mountains. Back on the ship I was thrilled to experience my first burger and fries in the last three months!!! A lot of people got on in Savona so we noticed the ship were way more crowded the night we left Savona. For dinner we both had cauliflower cream soup and pasta, mine with lobster sauce, Brock’s with red sauce. For the entrée, I had veal and Brock had Milanese style chicken. Desert was awesome that night; we had chocolate cake with Gran Marnier sauce. The show was a visual comedy show.
Barcelona: Tuesday, November 23, 2010
- After getting off the ship, we had to take a shuttle to the end of the port, then we got on the metro and headed up to Parc Guell. The park was really cool. First thing I got to do was walk down the runway from the ANTM season finale when they did the Vera Wang fashion show. Then we went up to a huge open circle where there we lots of vendors. We shopped around and just as we finished the police came and all the vendors grabbed their merchandise and ran like mad men. We wandered from there down to another metro to take us to Sagrada Familia. I managed to just pay student prices for us. We walked through there and got lots of pictures. Then we headed to another metro to go the Gaudi houses. After that we headed for the gothic quarter and saw the cathedral, and ended up on La Rambla where we had tapas and I had Sangria, and Brock had a beer. Then, thinking we had plenty of time we went back to where the shuttle was supposed to get us, but it was completely deserted. We saw another couple that seemed to be as lost as us, and when they hailed a taxi we ambushed them an asked if they were going to the ship. They ended up being crew, and so they let us ride we them and then paid too! Back on the ship, we skipped the show because it was close to dinnertime. That night for dinner, Brock and I chose to use our invitation to the private restaurant, Club Blue Moon. We had our first dinner for two, complete with champagne. We both had asparagus wrapped in chicken. I had rack of lamb and Brock had beef. Then I had crème brule for desert, but Brock stole the show by ordering gelato, which was made right in front of us with liquid nitrogen and all! After dinner there was a big pirate party with midnight buffet on the pool deck.
Palma de Mallorca: Wednesday, November 24, 2010
- We got off the ship and took a city bus to the center. There were tons of really nice yachts parked on the harbor. We walked along the water edge and into a huge cathedral, La Seu. Then we went to the Arab baths, which were small but very private. Then we walked toward the shopping area, we saw town hall and Santa Eulalia church as well. The town was really clean, wealthy, and nicely decorated for Christmas. Then Brock bought another pair of brown shoes, which are the best! We headed back to the ship for lunch in the restaurant. I had an amazing cold shrimp salad and beef stroganoff. Brock had the beef as well as vegetable soup. Then we got ready for the Gala night. The show was sport show, the first one we had seen with a company of dancers and singers. Dinner was really fancy that night, we both started with mushroom soup. I had spaghetti with clams and Brock had pesto pasta. We both ate veal for dinner and lemon sorbet for desert.
Tunis: Thursday, November 25, 2010, Thanksgiving Day
- So today we were in Africa!!!! We weren’t expected there until the afternoon so that morning they had Oktoberfest on board. They had decorations of the Paulaner beer I drank in Germany. Brock got a big Costa pint glass with Paulaner of course and I had a delicious hot dog in a cinnamon bun?! Pulling into the port, we saw a show of drummers and camels greeting us from shore. We left the boat and decided to take a private taxi tour around the city. The first place we went was Medina. There was a market there that was extremely scary but we got some sweet “Prada” sunglasses for five euros each!! Then I got some pretty glasses. We then stopped at a bar and drank coke in a can with Arabic writing. After meeting the taxi driver, we drove through what he called the modern city, which was made up of “expensive” townhouses on plots of dirt. Then we stopped at Carthage, the ancient city and saw a bunch of ruins. We then got a view of the mosque, which was built on a hill and lit up as if it were the White House. We then went to a church and then Sidi Bou Said, which had another market. Upon arrival back to the ship, we discovered we left Brock’s atm card in the machine, which lead to a slue of disasters that thankfully got worked out. That night we saw a magic show. At dinner we were lucky enough to have turkey! It was also Italian night on board the ship so we had fried mozzarella and flank steak as well. After dinner there was a huge party in the dinning room. I danced with our waiter and then there was a Congo line around the floor and some of the waiters danced up on the second floor and the stairs while everyone sang Italian songs.
Malta de Valletta: Friday, November 26, 2010
- We got a late start that morning but then walked around the entire city of Valletta on the island of Malta. It was insanely hot that day but the town was really nice and definitely a possible place for future vacations. The town itself was all decorated for Christmas and was really nice to walk around in. We headed back to the ship early because it was so hot out. Then we sat up on the pool deck and went in the hot tub and down the water slide. The show was another music show done by the singers and dancers. That night was the Captain’s dinner. We both had potato pie stuffed with spinach and cheese, and lobster soup. I had pasta with baby shrimps. We both had beef filet and Brock also had grilled salmon. For dinner there was another show done but the staff. The presented Baked Alaska with blow torches and the captain came for a Champagne toast.
Catania: Saturday, November 27, 2010
- Today we got off the ship and again walked on our own around the town. We saw lots of churches and piazzas and enjoyed a walk through the gardens of a Villa. After getting back to the ship we ate again at the restaurant. I had vegetable tempura, and grilled chicken with salad. Brock had potato and broccoli soup with grilled chicken. After lunch we relaxed until we had a meeting about disembarkation. Then the ship was passing through a straight connecting the tip of the boot of Italy to Sicily. We went out on the deck to watch. Then we went to the buffet to get pizza because we hadn’t had any yet.
Rome: Sunday, November 28, 2010
- So after having a week of perfect weather, leave it to our luck to arrive in Rome with a week of rain ahead! Walking to the train station from the ship was a disaster of a trip. Back in Rome it was still raining, but this gave us a good break to relax and unpack our stuff. Sunday night I made Brock pasta and red sauce for dinner and then we called it an early night.
Rome: Monday, November 29, 2010
- This morning we took our time getting ready, had breakfast, and watched a movie. I had studio in the after noon so Brock was off on his first adventure all by himself. In the three hours he was gone he covered a lot of area. After class we ate dinner at Abbey Theater. We went there so Brock could try the almost authentic Beef and Guinness stew. Then we stayed with a bunch of my friends since drinks were buy one get one! That was fun!
Rome: Tuesday, November 30, 2010
- Again I had class in the morning but the afternoon was free, so Brock and I headed over to St. Peter’s. We went into the Basilica and then climbed the dome to the top! We had a slice of pizza for lunch and then headed back so I could go to class again. For dinner we went to Tre Scalini. Brock had spaghetti and meatballs and I had spaghetti and seafood. Then, of course, we both got Tartufo for dessert.
Rome: Wednesday, December 1, 2010
- This morning was fun. We got to wake up super early to get on a metro to a post office outside the city walls for my analysis class. After looking at that architectural gem we headed back to the metro to go to the EUR. This place was pretty cool and we got to see some buildings that didn’t actually have flowers on top of every column. After the EUR we went to walk around Garbatella district. Then it was back to the center city for a four hour long studio session, during which Brock explored on his own again. For dinner we went to Buffeto, my favorite pizzeria. Then we went to the ice cube bar for drinks after.
Rome: Thursday, December 2, 2010
- Today I had my last class with Allan Ceen, and Brock was lucky enough to
join. We started on the terrace overlooking Piazza Popolo and then made our way through Villa Borghese. For the first time all week it was a beautiful day! After class we walked to the bone chapel and then had a delicious, American lunch at the Hard Rock. After that we did some shopping by the Trevi Fountain and then headed to Castel Sant Angelo, which I thought was actually the coolest thing I have done yet in Rome. Then it was back to class and then home for homemade buffalo chicken sandwiches. I had a review Friday so Thursday night was spent working while Brock enjoyed the night out with some of my Larchie friends!
Rome: Friday, December 3, 2010
- This morning I had crits but was lucky enough to get out of them sooner than I thought. Brock and I headed over to Coloseeum when I was done. We first went into the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. Then we made it in to the Coloseeum and spent a little while there. After we wandered over to the mouth of truth that I had wanted to go to. Basically it is a stone plate against the wall of a mouth and you put your hand in the mouth and take a picture. Supposedly the mouth would bite anyone’s hand who was a liar. After we went to Buffeto again for dinner. After waiting on a hour line, we got sat with a bunch of people and then had to wait over an hour for food. It was interesting though because we were sat with an older couple from Barcelona, a couple our age from Tokyo, and two boys our age from London- so the conversation was good! We ended the night with my friends and Abbey Theater.
Rome: Saturday, December 4, 2010
- Today we headed straight to the cannon up on the hill to watch it be fired at noon. We got seats on the wall and of course just sat there and watched the rain clouds come in. Then we went over to the Tempietto and back home to make more buffalo chicken sandwiches. After we did some shopping and then had the best meal ever! We went to a place that is actually right next to my classrooms by the Pantheon. Brock actually had wine, and it was really funny because we got a half of bottle and the man brought it over, poured some in Brocks glass and waited while Brock didn’t respond because he didn’t know he was supposed to try it! I had homemade tortellini and Brock had eggplant parm. There was olive bread and we had bruschetta. Then we had shots of Limón cello for dessert.
