Be Italian

Posted on October 5, 2014 by CaseyT

Cathedral in Florence

Last cruise, I was finally able to fulfill my dream of going to Florence. I got off the ship with a group of 8, planning to take public transit. In the cruise terminal, however, a charming taxi driver approached us offering a tour to Pisa and Florence. The major selling point was that the van was equipped with wifi!

Back to Pisa

On our way to Pisa, we learned more about our driver. His name was Andreas, and sadly, since he was extremely attractive, he was married with two children. After the tourist season ended, he and his family were going to take a long vacation to Thailand. He also had great taste in music! The playlist for the drive was right up my alley.

Since I already had my photo session at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I just grabbed a coffee and wandered around during our 15-minute stop. I ran into one of the guys from the sport staff, unsuccessfully trying to take a selfie. I helped him get a decent photo, and then went back to the van.

Basilica

The drive to Florence was beautiful. When we reached the city, we were dropped off at Piazza Duomo, given maps of the city, a suggested route, and set a meeting time 4 hours later. We first stopped at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower, originally called Il Duomo di Firenze. Arnolfo di Cambio designed the Gothic style basilica in 1296. Filippo Brunelleschi completed the dome in 1436.

Il Duomo

From there, we walked down Via Calzaioli to Piazza Signoria to see the imitation statue of Michelangelo’s “David”. The original statue is across the city at the Academia, but photos are prohibited. We then walked through the cortile, or internal courtyard, of the Uffizi Gallery, a structure originally built for Cosimo de Medici as the offies for Florentine magistrates.

Piazza Signoria

“David” imitation

We ended up near the old bridge at Ponte Vecchio. The bridge is lined with shops and fantastic views over Fiume Arno. After taking a few photos and grabbing some souvenirs, we walked southwest, outside the general tourist area, to find lunch. We read some delicious sounding menus, before ending up at a pizzeria. There were a few picky eaters in the group, so pizza was the safest way to satisfy everyone.

View from Ponte Vecchio

After lunch, we wandered through a market at Piazza Madonna, then went to the Academia in hopes of seeing the original “David”. Unfortunately, the lines were much too long. We decided instead to do a bit more shopping and get some gelato.

Gates of Paradise near our meeting point

When we met back up with Andreas, we had an easy drive back to the ship. I was sad to leave the city, as there as still much more that I’d like to see. However, I was extremely satisfied with my day in Florence! Italy, I will be coming back!

Beauty everywhere

A Nice Day in Nice

Posted on September 30, 2014 by CaseyT

Train station in Nice

We stopped in Villefranche last week, and I headed out with a few friends to catch the train to Nice. We had to take tender boats from the ship to the port, and then it was just a 10 minute walk to the train station and an 8 minute train ride!

Walking to the shops

Once in Nice, we walked to a little shopping street to find food. I felt obligated to try a Niciose salad in Nice, and was not disappointed!

Niciose salad

After lunch, we slowly made our way to the beach. A Finnish skater in the group went in for a swim, but I chose to just admire the beautiful blue water from the sidewalk. The water was much too cold for me!

Beautiful beach

We unfortunately didn’t have much time, so after stopping at the beach, we wandered back through some shops, grabbed a quick drink, and headed back to the train station.

Arabesques around the world

Although the day was very short, it was nice and relaxing. I’d love to return to Nice to see more.

Loving the French Riviera

Back to Barcelona

Posted on September 28, 2014 by CaseyT

Amazing building

In Barcelona, I joined a group of musicians to go back to La Sagrada Familia. We purchased tickets the night before to go inside, but were too late to get tickets to go up the towers.

The altar

More stained glass

The five of us were able to fit into a taxi van and go straight to the cathedral. We were a little early, so we walked around the outside before going in. Once inside, I was awed by the stained glass windows. The ceiling was also incredible. The top of the columns branched off into multiple beams that wove their way into the peaks and patterns of the ceiling.

Ceiling

I attempted to go into the prayer room, but was turned away because my dress was exposing too much skin. After walking around the main area for a while, we went below the church to the museum.

Inappropriately dressed

The boys I was with were not interested in spending much time in a museum, so we quickly walked through. I did learn about a hanging model Gaudi used for another design, and saw a model of La Sagrada Familia in its finished state.

Hanging model

Model of La Sagrada Familia

Our next stop was a nearby restaurant for pizza and drinks. It wasn’t a very “Spanish” meal, but it was delicious! We stopped in the food market on Las Ramblas before walking to the shuttle stop to go back to the ship.

Gaudi

It was a quick afternoon out, but it was fantastic. I still want to return to La Sagrada Familia, my favorite building, to go up in the columns, but I was very happy to finally see part of the inside!

I’ll be back!

Exterior details

On Top of the World

Posted on September 26, 2014 by CaseyT

Last cruise, the ice captain organized an outing to Preikestolen for a hike up to Pulpit Rock. When we docked in Stavanger, 26 members of the crew, mostly from the cruise division, met at the gangway. We had a quick walk through town to the ferry station, then were able to buy ferry and bus round trip tickets once on board.

Starting the hike

The ferry ride took about 30 minutes, and then there was a 15-20 minute bus ride to the mountain. When we got off the bus, our leader set a time to meet back at the bus stop, and we broke off into smaller groups to hike.

Getting higher

The entire way up, I was astounded by how beautiful my surroundings were. Up, down, left, right… Everywhere I looked, there was something to take my breath away.

In a cloud

Some parts of the climb were harder than others. For example, some portions were just rocks, and since it had recently rained, it was a bit slippery. I was tired and sweaty by the time I reached the top, but it was worth it!

Amazing

Looking across the way, there were more mountains. The valley in between had a large river. The edge of the main cliff dropped straight down. Sitting on the edge for a photo, I was simultaneously scared and stimulated. There was actually a line for photos there!

Waiting for the perfect photo

I had about thirty minutes until I needed to head back down, so I took a seat with some of my friends and we pulled out the sandwiches we had snuck off the ship. After our little picnic and a few more photos, we started down.

My turn!

In the steep sections, going down was almost harder than going up. My knees hurt by the time it was all over, but I felt rejuvenated after breathing the fresh mountain air.

Incredible views

We caught the bus and ferry back to Stavanger, and had just enough time to walk through town before our all-aboard time. The day, in a word, was perfect.

Life doesn’t get much better…

All Wet in Alesund

Posted on September 21, 2014 by CaseyT

Alesund

In Alesund, Norway, I was in an adventurous mood. I got off the ship with a few friends hoping to either bike or kayak. Since kayaking is less common, and there was a rental just two blocks away, we opted to do that.

Getting directions

Growing up in Texas, I didn’t participate in many water activities. This was actually my first kayaking experience! The woman adjusting my pedals decided that since I had long legs, I’d be more comfortable without them. I, not knowing what I was supposed to feel like in the kayak, didn’t see the problem with this decision until it was too late.

Let’s go!

We started rowing, and since I didn’t have a solid base from pushing against pedals, I felt quite unstable. However, I thought that was just because it was my first time. When we were directly behind our ship, within view of some friends sitting back deck, one of the guys in my group nudged me. That little push was enough for me to tip over! I was stuck, fully clothed, in the water with my kayak flipped over.

Site of the accident

I was able to turn the kayak back over, but needed both boys to help stabilize it while I climbed in. Since I was horribly embarrassed, I chose to row back to a dock we had passed so we could dump the water out of the kayak rather than pumping it all out. My friend also re-adjusted my pedals so I was more stable.

All good now!

Although I was soaked and cold, the day got much better after that! The views from the water were fantastic. It was a really neat way of seeing the town. We also so a few unidentified creatures while we were rowing around.

So fun

When we returned the kayaks, one of the other girls dropped her phone in the water. Without a moment of hesitation, one of the boys stripped down to his underwear and jumped in to get it. The phone, luckily, was in a waterproof case, so it was fine. The guy, however, was just as cold and wet as I was (if not more). We decided to get back on-board, shower, change clothes, and then go back out for a walk and a beer.

Wandering

After a bit of souvenir shopping, we found a nice bar to sit in. I tried a house brewed amber ale that was pretty fantastic. We had a nice, relaxing afternoon out, before returning home. In spite of all the drama and accidents, it was a lovely day.

Final view

Walking in a Dream

Posted on September 17, 2014 by CaseyT

In Akureyri, we had a morning crew drill. From my emergency station, I was able to see waterfalls in the lush mountains across the water. When we were given shore leave, I set off on a walk with a group of skaters and musicians. It was slightly overcast and the temperature was cool, but the town was still amazing.

Akureyri

We walked along the water until we hit a major crossroad. We turned left onto the road and headed towards the mountains. We crossed a bridge, then took another left on a small highway. Eventually, we ended up across the water from the back of the ship. If I had binoculars, I probably would’ve been able to see friends on the back deck.

There she is!

We stopped at a lookout point and tried to decide where to go next. The road was very slowly winding upwards, so making it to the top of the mountain seemed impossible. We’d already walked for 3 miles, so we decided to take a shortcut. We climbed straight up, through the shrubs, to the top of the next hill.

Waterfall on the way

At the top, we were surprised to find a farm. There were some beautiful Icelandic horses grazing in a field. When they noticed us, they came running towards the fence. I was a little frightened, so I moved back from the fence, but many of my friends stayed close by to pet the horses.

Horses!

Walking back down through the shrubs was slightly more difficult. The grass and rocks were slippery, so I ended up surfing part of the way down. We followed the road back into the main town and set off in search of food. We ended up at a small café advertising free wifi.

Beautiful walk back

I was pleasantly surprised by my meal. My Danish friends had mentioned that open faced smoked fish sandwiches were traditional in Scandinavia, so I took advantage of the smoked salmon open faced sandwich. When asked if I wanted salad with it, I said yes, expecting some mixed greens. I was actually able to pick 3 specialty salads. The beetroot and apple salad, watermelon with coconut, and bulgur salad were delicious! I finished the meal with a beer, and was a very happy girl!

Statue by the water

To end the day, we stopped in a highly recommended bakery for some donuts that I snuck back on the ship with me. They were fantastic. All in all, it was a great day. Good walk, good views, good friends, and good food… Who could ask for anything more?

Riveting Reykjavik

Posted on September 15, 2014 by CaseyT

Blue Lagoon

For years, I’ve wanted to go to Iceland. Particularly, to Reykjavik. My ex-boyfriend went there for New Years two years in a row, and raved about the city and the sights. Last cruise, I was finally able to go and see it for myself.

I signed up for a crew tour to the Blue Lagoon. We boarded a bus right outside the cruise terminal and were on our way! The bus ride was beautiful. There were mountains, rainbows, lakes, and a surprising number of American chain restaurants. KFC advertisements are much more amusing in Icelandic!

Welcome!

When we arrived, we quickly went in to get changed. We had to shower before going into the lagoon, and were warned to keep our hair out of the water. Apparently, the sulfur in the water leaves hair straw like. There was a bar in the lagoon, so I enjoyed a strawberry champagne while floating about. The water was warm, so it was like wading in a milky blue hot tub. I can’t remember a time I felt so relaxed!

After returning to the ship, we got cleaned up to go back out and enjoyed the night. It’s rare to be on land at night, so we were taking full advantage!

Sunset

We took a cab to the Laundromat Cafe, a bar/restaurant suggested by a local friend. We tried a local beer, Borg Brio, and had a shot of Brennivin. The bartender suggested the shot since it is Iceland’s signature distilled beverage. It is similar to vodka, but I found it slightly easier to drink.

Brennivin

ur next stop was The English Pub right across the street. Half the crew was there! The bar had live music, good beer, and tons of people. We stayed until closing time, and then slowly made our way back home to the ship. It was an incredible day and crazy night. Reykjavik certainly did not disappoint!

Spectacular Stonehenge

Posted on September 12, 2014 by CaseyT

Front view

On our last turnaround day in Southampton, I joined a group of friends for a drive out to Stonehenge. We rented three cars, met early in the morning, and hit the road! My driver was a New Yorker. We lived through the drive, but there were a few scary moments while he was getting used to driving on the other side of the road! About an hour after we left, Stonehenge was in view. It took another 30 minutes to get through the traffic to the parking lot and visitor center.

Tada!

We only had about an hour until we needed to head back towards the ship. The mastermind behind the outing pre-booked our tickets, so we were able to get in the line for the shuttle right away. Luckily, a shuttle arrived almost immediately, so we were able to quickly get to the site.

Back view

There was a short walk from the shuttle stop to the rocks. The sight was amazing. The rocks are huge! It is baffling to think how the original builders were able to lift the stones to the top. It is also a mystery where they found the rocks. It is in the middle of a field. If you turn your back to the monument, there are cows!

Facing away

We had to run back to the cars, and had just enough time to grab a bite to eat at McDonald’s before getting back on the ship. It was a rushed day, but was totally worth the effort! I’ve now seen two of the Seven Wonders of the World. I wonder which one is next!

Stonehenge

The City of Love

Posted on September 8, 2014 by CaseyT

We had a two-day cruise to Le Havre and back to Southampton last week. At the last minute, I was able to join a crew tour to Paris. The bus ride was long, nearly two and a half hours, leaving us with just two and a half hours in Paris before we needed to return to the ship. Although my time there was brief, I had a fantastic day! I can’t wait to return to Paris.

Eiffel Tower

One of the other dancers and I tagged along with the sound tech from the theater. He was meeting a friend from high school that has been living in Paris for 7 years. It was great to have a local show us around!

Drop off point

We were dropped off near Invalides, and walked straight to the Eiffel Tower. The walk took only about 15 minutes. Although we were walking quickly, we were able to enjoy the sights along the way. In my travels, I’ve sometimes felt that certain landmarks and cities aren’t worth the hype. The Eiffel Tower, however, was even better than I expected!

Casual arabesque

We met our guide under the tower. She led us across the street to get better photos, and then we jumped in a cab to go to Notre Dame. While we were driving, she pointed out other important buildings and told us more about the city. We even drove through the tunnel where Princess Diana had her fatal accident.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame was beautiful, but seeing it made me wish I had my notes from Art History so I could fully appreciate all of the architectural details. We were already running out of time, so after taking a few pictures, we walked around to find lunch.

Near the cafe

We stopped at a café called Le Sainsev on a side street that our guide had been to before. My meal was delicious! I got 3 courses for just 12 euros. To start, I had mussels in a white wine sauce. My entrée was fish with a cream sauce. My dessert of chocolate mousse was too rich for me to finish! It was on of the best meals I’ve had in months.

Paris

By the time we paid our bill, we had to take another taxi to get back to our bus on time. It started raining as we were driving back to the ship, so the ride was longer than expected. After a busy day out, I napped the entire ride!

Invalides

My few hours in Paris were fantastic. I can’t wait to go back!

Lazy Days in Spain

Posted on September 1, 2014 by CaseyT

This cruise has been exhausting! Half of my lethargy was self-induced, due to excessive birthday celebrations, and half was caused by a busy schedule. Since I’ve been sleep deprived, I rested during many port days. I did, however, enjoy two … Continue reading →

waltzing on water

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