Not quite as picturesque as others, but an excursion to
Ephesus was the real attraction.
Here I was in Turkey, just over an hour from my sister's home in İzmir, and where was she? Why, in the United States of course. As a matter of fact, she was home visiting the United States the entire summer that I was in the Mediterranean. When I returned to the other side of the world to sail the Caribbean, she had then flown back to Turkey. Ironic.
Just a little "In your face" moment in Kuşadası
We ported twice in Kuşadası, both times near the end of the summer. By August, I was already missing Victoria, so being in a place where I felt she should have been definitely made me very emotional. The first day, I got off in port alone and walked through the city just for the sake of being of the ship.
Mantıand çay--feeling authentic
Restaurant owners in tourist areas in the Mediterranean always try to incessantly coax passerby's into their restaurant, but I felt this even more so here in Kuşadası. It may have been because I was a woman alone, it may have been because I simply said "hello" in Turkish and that was a tourist novelty, but I finally sat down and had the meal I was looking for.
One owner was persistent on my eating at his restaurant despite their not having mantı, the meal I had my heart set on. When I told him this was why I wouldn't stay, he told me he would make the well known dish for me regardless. He had to go to his friend's neighboring restaurant to get the ingredients, but either way, he made sure to make what I asked for!
Well, I learned for my second port day, when you are already missing someone so severely, going off alone in a country you've only ever been to with them is probably not the best remedy for loneliness. Kristine helped with that and we explored the bazar together the second time in the port of Kuşadası. With Kristine's Mexican genes, we had a fun time confusing vendors as to where we were from...they think she's Mexican, they think I'm Turkish, and they would never speak to us the most obvious tourist language--English.
Picking up the pilot--view from Deck 4
Fun Fact: When coming in and out of ports, a local pilot is aboard to steer the ship out of port. Once safely into open waters, the pilot literally jumps from the moving ship back onto the moving pilot boat and they head back to port.
Mykonos was absolutely stunning and straight out of a post card or travel magazine. The water was bluer than ever and the little villages were as alluring as you'd imagine.
Just off the port, there weren't an abundance of options beyond browsing the quaint shops and sitting down to a meal.
--side note: You know, working on the sea and not being too keen on seafood has its difficulties.--
Cruisin with the top down!
During the first of our two ventures in the port of Mykonos, Kaila, Frankie, Erica and I all rented a car and decided to get outta town. Thank goodness we had Kaila, who knew how to drive a manual car! I'll learn someday.
Channa lounging like a princess at Paradise Beach
We drove the winding and steep country roads to Paradise Beach, on the other side of the island, and what a paradise it was! Maybe a bit overtaken by the young and the restless (aka, partying crew members from one ship or another), but the view was breathtaking. Our time was cut much too short, with work calling us back to the ship (some earlier than others), but it was definitely worth the adventure! This was the only time we rented a car while in Europe. Why does something so mundane seem so exotic when you are in another country??
Carissa and me, attempting to stay fair in the Mediterranean sun
Mykonos Port Day Number Two was spent with Carissa and Rodolfo. We walked the seaside port town and explored all of the beautiful and quite side streets.
Traveling "alone" in Europe does one of two things--You have the time of your life and live every moment up; or you ponder the things you have, the things you don't, and the things you dream to make a reality one day. I rotated between these feelings throughout my time with Disney Cruise Line.
Just look at that water!
Happy Independence Day from onboard the Disney Magic!
What to say about Athens? We came here twice and all the tourist attractions are a bit of a hike from the port. The first time in port, we, along with the rest of the ship, stuffed into a couple taxis and headed to the Acropolis. My, what a dusty, crowded, hoooottt, day we were in for! But what a sight!
The second Athens port day, a handful of us headed to a destination overlooking the entire city of Athens. What an expanse! To be honest, I don't really remember where it was, but I remember the view! We could see the olympic stadium, the Acropolis, and the Temple of Zeus. Another sweltering day, but...that's the Mediterranean for you in July and August!
A view of the Acropolis from a vista overlooking the city
The Temple of Zeus
Hey Diego and Emma! See you at the Acropolis!
Kaila: Worried about getting tan!
Emma: Worried about tan lines!
Frozen lemonade while waiting to get into the Acropolis!
Here it is! The Parthenon!
We got pretty snap happy when we arrived at the Parthenon. These are just a tiny fraction of all the photos we took. What can we say? Photos are our job--literally!
Kev, Frankie, Kaila, Emma, Kaleigh, Kristine, Caroline, Diego
We visited Dubrovnik twice over the course of the summer. The Old City was about a 20 minute bus ride from the port, if I remember correctly, so there was less time to spend here than in some of the other ports. Croatia is on a currency called the Kuna, where $1.00 = 6.50 kn. Confusing when it comes to currency exchange.
"Cold Drinks"
When Iven and I were in port exploring the first time, we came across the "Cold Drinks Place," as it came to be known, and saw people cliff jumping! It looked like so much fun and I knew what I'd be doing my second time in port in Dubrovnik!
Me and Iven just outside the Old City gate
Two times in port is simply not enough to get to know a city. With such limited time, you really have to pick and choose...I didn't walk the old city walls, which I would have liked to do, but it was just. so. hot. and I couldn't imagine being up there baking.
Instead, the first time, Iven and I explored all the little stone stairways, trying to avoid the crowds, and then sat down to try the local cuisine (mostly seafood).
On our way to cliff jump!
The second time, Kaleigh and I dried off after cliff jumping with our fellow crew memebers, had a traditional lemon beer, and headed back to the ship. Ah, shiplife.
Yep, it was high!
That's me!
So much happening in one photo!
Me, Sam, Emma and Kaila
The Adriatic Sea is so, so salty! Word of advise: Do not get it in your eyes.
A refreshing, Croatian, lemon beer after a day in the sun.
Well, I learned for my second port day, when you are already missing someone so severely, going off alone in a country you've only ever been to with them is probably not the best remedy for loneliness. Kristine helped with that and we explored the bazar together the second time in the port of Kuşadası. With Kristine's Mexican genes, we had a fun time confusing vendors as to where we were from...they think she's Mexican, they think I'm Turkish, and they would never speak to us the most obvious tourist language--English.
