Last Days in Europe

Posted on November 21, 2014 by CaseyT

Toboggan ride in Madeira

We just completed a 14-day cruise beginning in Southampton, England and ending in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship stopped in two European ports before sailing for 6 straight days en route to the Caribbean. Knowing a week at sea lay ahead, I tried to enjoy the first two days on land as much as possible!

View from the slopes

The last time I was in Maderia, Portugal, I joined a large group of crewmembers for steak on a stone. It was so delicious, many of us decided to go back. The owner of the restaurant recognized us and greeted us with hugs and kisses on the cheek when we arrived.

Lunch, consisting of sangria, garlic bread, steak, and french fries, was just as good as I remembered! I could’ve sat there for hours, but I had plans with a fellow dancer to ride a toboggan down a mountain. We left the restaurant and went searching for a cab. We were able to haggle with the driver, and get him down to a reasonable price for a ride up the mountain and from the bottom of the toboggan ride to the ship.

Driver #2

Our toboggan was guided down a steep, winding pavement road by two old men. Considering the weight of the basket and the speed at which we were moving, I was a bit nervous. They guided us safely down the road, even though a light rain was making it extra slippery. We slid past a few cars, which was both scary and exhilarating. The views on the way down were fantastic. The ride was short, but completely worth the price!

Slippery streets

In Tenerife, I joined my roommate and her boyfriend for a beach day. We took a city bus to the beach, and promptly claimed 3 beach chairs. A waiter from a bar on the beach delivered beers and fried chicken to us.

Beach in Tenerife

Black volcanic rock and green plants surrounded the beach. My friends said it seemed like a beach in “Jurassic Park”! Shortly after we arrived, clouds started rolling in. It started to rain, so we sought cover at the bar. We ended up sitting there for hours, chatting with the staff and local guests. It felt like we were there for days! I got a much-needed does of “normal” to prepare me for the upcoming days at sea!

Bartender at the beach

I had a fantastic time during the European season. Although I’ll miss the beautiful European ports, I’m excited for the adventures that lie in store in the Caribbean!

Ready for sea days!

Perfection in Paris

Posted on November 19, 2014 by CaseyT

Paris

My aunt had never been to Paris, so we decided to maximize our time there by hiring a car to drive us from the port in Le Havre to the “city of love”. We met our driver outside the port terminal at 8:30am, and embarked on the two and a half hour drive. I had spent the night before at a crew Halloween party, so I napped for most of the ride.

Arc du Triumph

Upon reaching Paris, our driver (I can’t remember his name, so I’ll call him Francoise) started taking us around the city to see some of the famous monuments. Our first stop was the Arc du Triumph. I’ve seen similar arches in New York, Lisbon, and Bucharest, but this one is the largest and most impressive. People were able to go up to the top of the arch, but we decided we’d rather see more than wait in line.

Madeleine Church

Our next stop was the Church of Madeleine. The exterior columns stretching down the side of the building were beautiful, as was the carving on the front of the building. If I remembered any of my vocabulary from art history, I’d be able to describe the church in much more detail. As it is, I’m not doing it justice! It seems I’m suffering from early memory loss…

Academie Nationale de Musique

We continued on to the Academie Nationale de Musique. The gigantic building had carved stone on all sides and gold angels on top. Pink, blue, and gold details popped out against the stone.

The Louvre

We moved on to the Louvre. Francoise pointed out the difference in the color of the walls outside the plaza versus inside. The inside walls have been cleaned, but the outside ones have not. We were able to spend some time walking around and taking photos at the museum. I’ve seen the Louvre in so many movies and photos, so it was exciting to see it in real life! I need to go back to Paris and spend a good four days exploring all the art inside. Francoise confessed that he’s never been inside, as he more of a contemporary art fan.

More at the Louvre

The last stop on our driving tour was the Notre Dame Cathedral. We stopped just long enough for photos before getting back in the car. Francoise got a bit lost on the way to our drop off point, so by the time we got out of the car again, I was starving! We were dropped off on the Champs Elysses for 3 hours of free time. My mom, aunt, and I headed straight for food!

Notre Dame Cathedral

After a glass of white wine and a delicious piece of quiche lorraine, I was ready for more exploring! We set off for the Eiffel Tower. It was about a 20-minute walk from the restaurant to the tower. My aunt, seeing it for the first time, was ecstatic. We took plenty of photos, and she even took a few selfies!

Eiffel Tower

We walked back towards Champs Elysses, and had just enough time to stop for some wine before meeting Francoise again. I was unable to sleep on the ride back to the ship, but enjoyed talking with my mom and looking at the idyllic French countryside. Francoise pointed out his hometown as we got closer to Le Havre.

When we got back to the ship, I had to get ready for a farewell performance. I was sad to be saying goodbye to my family the next day, but was happy after a great week with them, and a practically perfect day in Paris!

Somwhere in Spain

Posted on November 17, 2014 by CaseyT

Cider bottle sculpture

I had never been to Gijon, so I asked my Spanish friend to take my family and me somewhere fun. We went to an old bar known for cider. They pour the cider from high up so it gets air and tell you to drink it quickly. It was an interesting experience, but not to my taste. I am normally a fan of cider, but this tasted somewhat bitter and harsh.

Pouring cider

My friend ordered us local specialties to eat. We had pulpo that was so tender it melted in your mouth. My favorite dish was called fabada. It was a stew with white beans and chunks of bacon and sausage. I’ve never been so satisfied by a stew!

Pulpo

After eating, we broke off from the group and took a walk. We watched some surfers riding the waves on the beach before continuing on. We came to a large, pretty park before heading back to the ship.

Beach

View from the park

The following day was the ship’s first time porting in Bilbao. I had no idea what to expect, but was surprised by how cosmopolitan the city was. Chic women and men in suits roamed the streets, and the shopping looked fantastic.

Docks in Gijon

We went straight to the Guggenheim Museum. I’ve been to the Guggenheim in New York, but wasn’t aware that there were others. In front of the museum was a giant puppy covered with flowers. The building was almost more impressive than the art inside! The architect, Gehri, designed the museum with intersecting curved and slanted walls. Audio tours, included with the ticket price, explained the inspiration behind the design, and also mentioned the challenges of constructing the waving walls of stone.

Outside the Guggenheim

My favorite gallery was full of copper structures by Frank Stella. My favorite museum back home, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, has a piece by Stella out front. Seeing more of his work was fun, and reminded me of home.

After quickly exploring some of the other galleries, we hit the road in search of food. We ended up at a small café for tapas and wine. I left the city wishing we ported there again!

Walking Around Vigo

Posted on November 15, 2014 by CaseyT

View of the ship in Vigo

My last day in Vigo was extra special, because it was the first port I got to enjoy with my mom! She came to cruise for seven days with my aunt. After a rocky day at sea, we were looking forward to taking a walk on dry land.

Mama and me planning

We grabbed a map at the terminal and walked to a small park. We stopped at a café overlooking the park for some espresso and took a moment to map out our route for the day.

Walking up to the Castro

We went into a few shops to look for souvenirs on our way to the Castro, a fortified settlement in the center of the city. The Castro was at the top of a large hill. We were able to look out from all sides as we wove our way up to the top. At a lookout point, we read that there are 25 castros in Vigo. The city is much larger than I had realized!

City views

After enjoying the views, we wandered through the streets in search of the oyster market. Along the way, we came across a large merman statue and a number of plazas. The market was lined with restaurants. You could purchase oysters at one of the many stands and take them to a restaurant with you.

Merman statue

We ordered a seafood platter and intended to also buy oysters, but the platter was too large for us to need any more food! We had various crabs and shrimp, pulpo (octopus) served with potatoes, delicious bread, and some refreshing white wine. The seafood was so fresh! It was my first time to eat proper crab legs. It took me awhile to get used to breaking the shell to get the meat inside, but it was well worth the effort.

Seafood platter

With full bellies and smiling faces, we returned to the ship, excited for what the next few days would bring.

Streets of Vigo

Last Day in Lisbon

Posted on November 2, 2014 by CaseyT

Overlooking Lisbon

Most of my days in Lisbon were spent shopping and dining downtown. Although I’ve enjoyed those easy afternoons, my last day in Lisbon, I wanted to take the opportunity to see the sights.

Outside the castle

I set off with my roommate and her boyfriend in search of the Military Museum, the oldest museum in the city. The museum houses guns, swords, cannons, and medals from different eras. The boyfriend was like a kid in a candy shop looking at all the gadgets. For me, the highlight of the visit was seeing the building. There were murals painted on the walls and ceilings, gold carved wooden molding, sculptures, and the signature Portuguese tiles.

First room at the museum

Next, we stopped for a bite to eat and discussed our options for the rest of the day. I had heard good things about the tuk tuk tours in Lisbon, and luckily, I was able to convince both my friends to join me for a tour.

Tuk tuk

We started walking towards the cathedral to find a tuk tuk. The cathedral was beautiful, and as we hoped, there was a tuk tuk driver ready to take us around. The driver was a handsome young man. He told us that he started doing tours one month ago to supplement his usual job teaching physical education. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French, so he’s well suited for dealing with tourists.

Cathedral

The first stop on our tour was the Castel St. Jorge. We just saw the outside since tickets were expensive, but it was still lovely. Our tour guide explained that half the walls had been rebuilt. The larger stones were part of the historic section, and the older looking walls with more variety in stone size and shape were actually part of the renovated area that had intentionally been built to look old. We also learned how to spot the difference between old and new homes around the castle. Old homes have very short doors, and you often have to step down when entering.

Outside the castle

Inside the gates

Before getting back in the tuk tuk, we stopped for 1-euro shots of port at a nearby shop. If I had been allowed to, I would’ve bought a bottle to bring back to the ship with me!

Port tasting

When we hit the road again, our driver learned that we were sort of thrill seekers, so he started racing down the hills en route to our next destination. On the way, we stopped to see an old villa built in 1890. It used to house factory workers. The owner of the factory lived in the penthouse, and there was a central courtyard for the employees to socialize in.

Villa

Our next two stops were lookout points at the two highest parts of the city. The views were fantastic! We were able to see the difference between the parts of town built recently and those built before the earthquake. The architecture and layout of the four main areas were markedly different. There was a beautiful cathedral at the first lookout point. The streets between the two spots were full of locals. Our tour guide said that many of them never leave that neighborhood. The second, higher lookout point was his favorite place in the city. Looking out, shaded by an old tree, I could see why!

View point

We then drove past another old church and then stopped in front of the Pantheon. The Pantheon took a total of 270 years to build! Due to financial constraints, construction was not continuous, but it still is a remarkable period of time to spend on one building. It houses the remains of many Portuguese figures. The most recent body added was an opera singer 3 years ago.

Pantheon

Next, we drove through Alfama, the oldest neighborhood in the city. Doors were much smaller than other parts of the city, and streets were very narrow. Only residents were allowed to have cars there. Since our driver knew we enjoyed alcohol, he stopped at a small shop to get us free samples of Ginjinha, a local cherry based drink. It was sweet, but very enjoyable. While driving around, we learned that the locals had mixed feelings about the tuk tuks coming through. They liked the money brought in by tourists, but didn’t appreciate the noise and pollution from the vehicles.

Alley in Alfama

Ginjinha samples

The tour ended at the Rua Augusta Arch. We stopped at a nearby wine bar to enjoy our last hour on land. All in all, it was a pretty perfect day! The tour and the museum made me appreciate the beauty and history of Lisbon on a whole new level.

Lots more to see!

Old and New

Posted on October 23, 2014 by CaseyT

Valencia

Before going to Valencia, Spain, I emailed one of my sisters for suggestions on what to do. She spent a summer studying there, so I knew she’d have some good ideas. Based on her suggestions, I knew what I wanted to do. However, my plans weren’t very solid, since I had no idea where the shuttle bus from the ship would drop us off!

Views of the city

I set out once again with my dance captain and her boyfriend. We were dropped near a tourist information shop, so I popped in to ask a few questions and map out our route.

Historic area

We walked a few blocks to the historic area of the city. At the Plaza de la Reina, we searched for a paella restaurant recommended by the man at the tourist shop. After searching the entire square without luck, we asked a shop owner for directions. We learned, sadly, that the restaurant had closed.

Cathedral

We wanted to get away from some of the crowds, so we started walking down some alleys in search of a new restaurant to suit our needs. While we were walking, a couple that recognized me from Mystery Theater stopped us. The waiters at their restaurant eagerly put menus in our hands, and we decided to stay for the 10-euro deal of 2 courses and a drink.

Paella Valenciana

The food wasn’t the best I’ve had in Spain, though for 10 euros, I didn’t expect it to be. We were surprised to learn that the couple we’d been speaking to secretly picked up the tab for our meal. Since we didn’t have a way to thank them, Sam suggested we just “pay it forward”.

Alley we ate in

Next, we started walking towards the City of Arts and Sciences. The walk took around 40 minutes, and took us through parts of the city that we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. We spent much of the walk on a tree-covered sidewalk in the median of a large road. The final 10 minutes were along a park. Although it was hot, it was beautiful.

First view of the City of Arts and Sciences

Upon reaching the City of Arts and Sciences, we were wowed by the architecture. Most of the city had been quite traditional, but these buildings were very modern. They had curved shapes and mosaicked exteriors. My friend said the “city” looked like the set for a Sci-Fi film.

Amazing architecture

Great landscaping

We were running short on time, so we weren’t able to go inside the museum. We were tempted to rent a kayak on the water, but in the end, decided not to. As we walked farther along, we noticed the crowd growing and noise getting louder. As it turns out, one of the buildings in the back was holding the Valencia Open. There were DJs, stalls selling products, small tennis courts for kids to play in, and bar buses.

Nutella court

My friend was craving ice cream, so we ended up stopping at the Ben and Jerry’s stall for a snack. We sat down to people watch as ticket holders passed by. After that, we had just enough time to find a cab and head back to the ship.

Site of the Valencia Open

It was so nice to see the old and new side of Valencia. I’d love to return and explore the city more!

Adios, Valencia!

Captivated by Cannes

Posted on October 19, 2014 by CaseyT

One of the first ports of this cruise was Cannes, France. We’ve had some extra work for the past 2 weeks, so my friend and I were excited to get out and relax. She was craving some sunshine, and I was in need of good food. We were both satisfied by the end of the day!

Brilliant beach

We had to take a tender boat from the ship to shore. On the boat, we spoke with a guest that recognized us from our show the night before. She is a singer at clubs back home, so she had a real appreciation for the arts. It was nice to talk to a fan!

Once on land, we started perusing the menus at restaurants near the beach. We settled on a small restaurant with a covered patio. I ordered mussels, which ended up being large enough to feed a family of 5, and my friend had a pizza. The food was great, as was the house rose we both ordered.

Giant pot of mussels

While we were eating, we spoke with a couple that is cruising on our ship. They were very friendly, and upon learning that we were dancers, asked if they can get a photo with us after tonight’s performance. It was very flattering.

We’re famous

After lunch, we went looking for a good wi-fi spot. We found a small cafe that fit the bill, so we ordered some beers, sat outside, and took some time to connect with the outside world. Once we were satisfied, we bought 2 beers to go, then headed to the beach.

Walking on sunshine

The beach was absolutely beautiful. I could have stayed there for hours! The temperature was perfect, the sun was shining, a light breeze was blowing, and waves were crashing in. I took off my shoes to enjoy feeling the sand between my toes. I didn’t want to leave!

Perfect way to end the day

It was a simple day out in a fantastic city. Cannes has joined the list of places I must return to!

Living It Up in Lanzarote

Posted on October 13, 2014 by CaseyT

Camels in Lanzarote

The week before we went to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, the HR team started advertising a crew tour to ride camels at Fire Mountain. Intrigued by both camels and Fire Mountain, I signed up.

So excited

The tour actually included much more! We started with a 20 minute camel ride in a national park. The whole island of Lanzarote was formed by volcanic activity, and many of the mountains we were riding beneath are still active volcanoes. The views were stunning, with shades of red, black, and green coloring the landscape.

Loved the view

The camel ride was bumpy, but fun. The animals had a lot of character. Some followed directions better than others, but all managed to stay in line and follow the leader. The men guiding them used an interesting series of commands and noises, and though they had sticks, never struck the animals. Some people felt bad for the camels for carrying heavy loads of people, but we learned before tourism came to the island, they used camels for much more demanding labor.

Strange animals!

After the ride, we went to a restaurant and viewpoint at a higher altitude. We saw demonstrations of how hot the volcano was at different depths. At 20-30 meters, a bush caught fire in seconds. At another station, an employee dug up some red sand for us to feel. Just a few meters beneath our feet, the sand and rocks were hot to the touch, maintaining their heat for minutes. Deeper, if cold water was poured down a hole, it shot up in 2 seconds like a geyser.

Fire from the heat

Geysers from pouring water

The restaurant cooked meat and potatoes on a geothermal grill. They built a hole, covered the top with metal rods, and used the natural heat for food. It was really interesting! Before getting back in the bus, we had 10 minutes to wander around, grab a bite if necessary, and take photos.

Geothermal grill

Symbol of the island on the restaurant window

Once back on the bus, we drove around Fire Mountain. There was an audio tour informing us about the craters, old volcano eruptions, and still active volcanoes. We also learned about the animals and organisms that live in the national park.

Incredible mountains

Volcanoes aren’t always scary

Our next stop was along the water. There were cliffs of black volcanic rock against which waves crashed. The blue water was stunning against the black rock. We had just a few minutes to enjoy the ocean air before setting off again.

Waves crashing against volcanic black rock

Our final stop was a vineyard. Someone discovered that digging holes for each grapevine and protecting it from the wind with rocks created a great environment in which the grapes could grow. I’ve been to many vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, but have never seen any like this! I was pleased to find that the resulting wine was actually very good! I only tried one red wine and a moscato, but would’ve loved to sample more.

Enjoying my wine

Interesting vines!

The whole day was full of new and interesting experiences. Although we don’t return to Lanzarote, I feel like I was able to take advantage of all the island has to offer.

Mountains and grapevines

Coasting Through the Canaries

Posted on October 11, 2014 by CaseyT

Flowers at SIam Park in Tenerife

This voyage, we stopped in the Canary Islands for the first time. Our first stop was in Tenerife. I signed up for a crew tour going to Siam Park, a water park that some of my English friends had raved about.

Entrance of the Park

I’ve been to water parks before, but this one was unlike any other. Near the entrance, there was a tank of sea lions swimming about. The entire park was beautifully landscaped, with lush trees, and large, colorful flowers. The beauty of the park was intensified by the perfect weather. There was not a cloud in the sky!

Sea lion

The Beach by the Wave Pool

I spent most of the day with two skaters and a trumpet player. We started in the Mai Tai River, also known as the Lazy River, hoping to get a good view of the rides throughout the park. We were in two double tubes, and ended up racing through much of the river. At the end of the loop, we went up a ramp and ended up on a slide. The slide let us out in a tunnel beneath a tank of fish and small sharks. It was so cool!

Lazy River

Outside view of the tank. See the tube inside?

Next, we went to find the biggest slide in the park. It was about 3 stories tall, and also ended going through the shark tank. I’m a bit of a daredevil, but I still had butterflies in my stomach before I slid down.

The slide!

We made our way through almost all the rides in the park. Some of my favorites were 4 person tube rides. I laughed and screamed on every ride. We spent some time in the wave pool, with bigger waves than I’ve seen at Hurricane Harbor, and then took a break at a restaurant by the “beach”. The food was nothing special, but they had wine, beer, and cider available.

Waves starting

One of the best rides

Lounging

I wish I could’ve stayed for another hour, so I could have gone on the last ride and taken another turn on The Dragon. I hope to someday return and enjoy more time splashing around, having fun in the sun!

The Dragon

Two days later, we were in Gran Canaria. I joined my dance captain and her boyfriend again for lunch and lounging on the beach. Her boyfriend had been to Gran Canaria before, and suggested eating at the mall next to the port. There was an all you can eat Asian buffet and wok for just 12 euros. It seemed like half the crew was there! Once we had sufficiently stuffed our faces, we walked to the beach.

Beach in Gran Canaria

The walk took less than 10 minutes. We found a spot away from the crowd, and laid down for about an hour and a half. I briefly went in the water, but as it was quite cold, I only got wet up to my knees. Once we’d had our fill on the sun, we went to the boardwalk to get some sangria.

Art in the sand

We sat outside enjoying our drinks for about half an hour before walking back to the ship for rehearsal. It was a simple, but enjoyable day out. I look forward to returning to the Canaries before we cross over to the Caribbean.

Walking around

Local Flavors

Posted on October 9, 2014 by CaseyT

One of my favorite things about traveling is trying local foods. My last day in Malaga, Spain, I went out with a few members of the art team for lunch. I’d spent time with them in a work setting when I help with registration for art auctions on board, but I hadn’t spent much time with them socially. Although we were a diverse group, consisting of 2 Americans, a Kiwi, a South African, and a Hungarian, we all were in the mood for the same thing… tapas!

Tapas in Malaga

We walked to a strip of restaurants and shops along a marina about halfway between the cruise terminal and the city center. The restaurants all had outdoor seating shaded by white umbrellas. It was a beautiful area! We stopped at a Spanish restaurant advertising free Wi-Fi. Three of us ordered a pitcher of sangria to share, and took a chance by ordering a tapas sampler. There wasn’t as much variety in the sampler as I would’ve liked, but it was very tasty. I had sardines, tortilla de patata, an octopus salad, tuna salad, and a potato and olive salad.

In Madeira

A week later, in Madeira, Portugal, I was told I had to try steak on a stone. I set out with a large group of friends to find a good restaurant. We chose a restaurant on the water about 10 minutes from the port. They served steak, steak with bacon, chicken, pork, tuna, or prawns on the stone, as well as a full menu.

On the Stone Menu

Our servers, upon learning we worked on the ship, brought us all shot sized samples of their signature cocktail. I’m not actually sure what was in it, but it tasted so good, I ordered a full sized drink. Since “steak on a stone” was what people had been raving about, I ordered just that.

Special cocktail

Our meal came with baskets of garlic bread, that may be the best bread I’ve ever tasted, and plates of fries, or “chips” as my English friends call them. The highlight of the meal, however, was the steak itself.

I was brought a platter with a hot stone and 3 pieces of raw steak. On the side, there was a sauce of garlic and olive oil, a bacon aioli, and a creamy tomato sauce. The steak was seasoned with raw sea salt. It cooked almost instantly on the hot stone, and melted in my mouth! I ate every bite I was served, because it all tasted so good!

Steak on a stone

The restaurant became the crew spot. By the time we left, there were 6 tables of people from the cruise division. We all agreed that although lunch was expensive, we’d be back next time we stop in Madeira!

Great little restaurant

I’m looking forward to trying more exciting foods in the remaining month and a half of this contract!

waltzing on water

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