Thanksgiving in Turkey! Yep, you read that right, I went back again. Just two months after I visited Victoria after of year of going without, my parents gave me their accrued airline miles, scoring me a FREE ticket to Turkey! I was able to spend time with my mom, dad and Victoria, all at once, for the first time since before I was working for Disney Cruise Line, beginning March of 2013. Not long for some, but I'm not embarrassed to say, long for me.
Playing games! One of our favorite past times!
A few of the many we shared our American tradition with.
Represented: USA, Turkey, Belgium, Syria.
An international Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is done, so now it's Christmastime!
Christmas movie night with Victoria's roommates, Julianna and Kaylee.
Istanbul! (Not Constantinople)
After a few days in Izmir at Victoria's, the four of us traveled to Istanbul! Only took four visits to Turkey, but thanks to my parents I finally made it! Istanbul is an enormous city, so of course I didn't see all the things on my list, but there's always next time. The most important part was the people I was there with.
I very much enjoyed learning little bits of the language while I was there. Languages, I have realized over the past few years, are something that fascinate me. Because I had just been two months earlier, I remembered this and that, and sometimes fooled people into thinking I was Turkish. For instance, I would be asked on the plane if I wanted something to drink. Obviously, they have a drink cart and are going down the aisle, so I know what they are asking even though I don't actually understand the words they are using. I told them I wanted, "Kahve." (coffee) They then rambled something else off and I responded, "süt," (milk) knowing that the next logical question was if I wanted milk and sugar. If they asked me anything else after that, I would respond, "Türkçe bilmiyorum," (I don't know Turkish) and leave them extremely confused. A for effort at least!
Can't even put into words how much I love this girl!
We're taking a trip back in time, once again, to summer 2013. To catch some of you up, I am hoping to touch on each city/port that I visited while working aboard the Disney Magic of Disney Cruise Line. We have a ways to go. Browse backwards if you'd like to see where we've visited so far!
The near future is shaping up to be pretty exciting and filled with more travel, so Disney Cruise Line posts may be a bit more mixed in with real life. For instance, my trip to Turkey a couple of months ago was worth interrupting the flow.
Piazza Del Plebiscito
During the time I lived in Italy from 2010-2011, I had visited and vacationed in Napoli more than once. I was very excited to return to the birthplace of pizza and the city of impeccable café (espresso). A trip to Gino Sorbillo was a must, even though it was quite a trek from the ship, especially in the summer heat of Southern Italy. Frankie, Kristine and Diego joined, and none of us were disappointed. We each ordered a whole pizza to ourselves, as is the Italian way. We didn't have any trouble consuming the whole thing either.
"Naples Day" was sometimes spent on the ship, merely because of the sweltering summer heat. I enjoyed getting off here, but everyone needs to take a day to sleep in the sun up on deck once in a while....with lots of sunscreen and a giant sunhat, of course.
I spy a flag for Mickey and a flag for Italy up on deck.
Galleria Umberto
Spanish Minnie ready for the Minnie, Oh Minnie! dinning enhancement
Never has so much time gone by in my entire life that I have not seen my other half. In fact, it was one year to date that I entered Turkey in 2013--during my "dry dock" break from the Disney Magic. Strange coincidence. I cannot really say more about my visit than that the time we spent together was wonderful. We, of course, had our "sister moments," where life's frustrations got in the way, but all in all, it was so refreshing to be us!
Bus ride to Foça
We caught the last of the summer beach days on the way to Foça (said fo-cha). It was a bit cold and windy, but Victoria, her roommates and I still enjoyed it! Falling asleep in the hay-like reeds may not have been the best choice for Victoria, who is allergic to hay. Lesson learned. We finished off the afternoon playing Spades at a local cafe. We were not out of place next to the table of old ladies who were playing their Turkish version of Bridge, or whatever it was.
Beach day with Kaylee and Julianna
EFES
Or as we call it, Ephesus. Victoria suggested we visit this famous city of ruins, full of Biblical history, since I had still never been after multiple trips to Izmir. It is definitely at the top of the charts with the ruins of the Roman Forum. There were so many breathtaking views and structures, the most prominent of these, the Library, which happens to be pictured in...every one of these photos. But I promise, there are so many amazing sites like the vast amphitheaters and detailed mosaic floors.
Pamukkale
One of the Unesco World Heritage Sites, this place was mind blowing! Pamukkale means "cotton palace," in Turkish. The reason is obvious when you see it. The source of all these cotton-looking rocks are natural hot springs that leave the white mineral deposits. These have built up over the years, creating a vision that is so confusing to the senses. It looks like snow and ice, but it is, in fact, hard rock and warm water.
Soaking in the hotsprings
In addition, this area is also the site of the ruins of Hierapolis. Once again, more breathtaking views, history and mysterious remains of a society who once inhabited the place. There simply was not enough time to see everything there was to offer.
A glimpse of the ruins of Hierapolis
Victoria and I took an extended bus ride--which Victoria was very excited for me to experience "for the first time"--and spent the night at a bed and breakfast, local hotel. The trip to Pamukkale was definitely the major highlight of my visit. I think a big part of it was that Victoria was away from home as well, so it really felt like a mini getaway for both of us.
Brick-o-chocolate
Although we had our excursions out of the city, we spent a good amount of time in Izmir as well. Lots of cafe time, dinner by the bay, shopping at the bazar, concerts, margarita and game nights at home, movies, crafts, and so many more things!
Turkish Breakfast
And a wonderful time was had by all!
A free local concert, complete with classical music and lots of dancing and, of course, sunflower seeds. Such a fun cultural event!
Rome is the real destination of the port of Civitavecchia. I ventured to Rome only on one occasion, having had my fill in the past. Please don't scold me. One of the things I love most about cities are their parks and the not-so-easy-to-get-to locations. I didn't have time to go to the places I enjoy most--Trastevere being one of them--so I often chose to rest up and stay close to the port instead. Thankfully I've been able to see Rome on multiple other occasions without a timeline. Tourist attractions are a bit of a "once and done" thing for me, especially in peak tourist season. I didn't feel compelled to do it again, especially in a sweaty time crunch.
Il Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia
So after an hour and-a-bit train ride, there were only a couple things that were new to me (not like I know all there is to know about Rome, obviously):
Pantheon, Fall 2011
1. The view of the Pantheon (not to be confused with the Parthenon in Athens, Greece) is so much better when it is not covered in scaffolding! The couple times that I visited during college, there was major restoration going on and the view was definitely a disappointment. However, I'm not kidding when I say I can't stand the crowds, so I didn't venture inside.
Summer 2013--A view without scaffolding.
2. Getting your butt grabbed by Italian men -- "The Myth of Italy"
Just because it doesn't happen to you for the entire year you live there, doesn't mean it will never happen. Apparently it is more than just a myth, and it is really quite unnerving and unsettling, especially when you turn around and have absolutely no idea who, in the throng of people, it was. My friend Kev was sure to have my back for the rest of the day.
3. If you have ever seen the Trevi Fountain before, it is not worth it in peak tourist season!! *wildly shakes head, "Hard pass." - Pitch Perfect, anyone?*
(Sorry if I lost you there. Don't worry about it.) But if you haven't seen it, just ignore me. It's not to be missed if you are visiting for a first time.
Fiocco di Neve. Delicious, non-tourist gelato.
4. No matter how fast you eat your cono di gelato, the August, Lazio sun will always win. Be sure to leave the gelateria with lots and lots of napkins for the impending mess.
The gelato of Fiocco di Neve definitely didn't disappoint. (I mean, it must not have if I took a picture in front of the place!) However, we found the place I'd been searching for all day...just after consuming our cones. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. Either way, we ate gelato (duh) and it was delicious.
You know, just some roadside ruins near the Colosseum. What? You mean they don't have that in New York?
Those are my brief words of wisdom from my quick trip to Rome.
Just like La Spezia was a port mainly for Florence, Civitavecchia is a port really just to get to Rome. Of our three Italian ports, this was probably my least favorite. It had it's little hidden gems, but I felt that they were much fewer and far between than others. Either way, I still enjoyed it, even if I did use this day to catch up on rest on board once in a while.
One of the great spots here I didn't discover until a little later on. It was a cute little pizzeria/trattoria overlooking the beach and boardwalk. The wifi (always a must for crew members) was not too shabby and the pizza was absolutely delicious. Kristine showed me this little spot before it began to be discovered and inundated by crew members.
My roommate, Carissa, and I enjoyed a day together in Civitavecchia with our cappuccini.
I felt like such a movie star in this pic (for no reason other than its candidness) so I had to include it.
Another fun photoshoot. This time with Joan Aguinaga, one of our ship photographers (a department we worked closely with). If you're gonna have a photoshoot, Europe is the place to do it. Everything is just so picturesque! But don't be fooled...I was melting in our not-so-ideal noon sun.
True emotion while trying to get this shot! A fun time was had by all.
The view from my front door. What a lovely year that was.
Firenze! I made it! Short and sweet is an understatement for the amount of time I was able to spend here, but I was so thankful none-the-less! I was the only one of the character cast to make it to Florence. My manager, David, knew how important it was to me after living here for a year and he made it happen for me. I hadn't been back since my senior year of college a few years prior.
So here's how it happened. We ported in a different spot in the La Spezia harbor where we weren't required to tender. David made sure that I was not scheduled to work that morning and I was off and running the moment crew were allowed on that gangway. I practically ran the 20 minute walk to the train station to make my train and with that, I was off to Florence.
The strada I called home
Two and a half hours later, when the train approached the station and announced, "Firenze, Santa Maria Novella," it felt and sounded so familiar that I truly felt like I was returning home in a way. I can't begin to express the joy I felt when I stepped foot back in my city after so long. I remembered which streets were too crowded, which spots to hold your breath for the smell, which spots I would be "charmed" by the market vendors, and 15 minutes later, I arrived at my front door, where Ilaria, my old roommate, was waiting for me.
Reunited with Ilaria!
It was all so familiar and so surreal all at the same time. But it was a joyful reunion with Ilaria and with the city. We ate a quick panino (my favorite spot was closed), caught up on all that we had time for, and then we began walking back to the train station one short hour later. We stopped for a gelato on the way and then one and a half hours after I had gotten off the train, I was on my way back to the ship once again.
Just in case I needed to be reminded that I really did indeed have a life here in Firenze, I ran into my contemporary teacher, Pietro, from Florence Dance Center. I rode with him and Valentina (his girlfriend, my classmate) a good portion of my two and a half hours back. What are the odds?!
By the time I got back to the La Spezia station, I was sweating it (literally and figuratively) to get back to the ship in time for my shift (which David also made graciously late). I made it with only 15 minutes to spare and I counted the day as a success. An hour and a half wasn't much time in Florence for two and a half hours on the train each way, but it was worth it to me.
After a few days in Izmir at Victoria's, the four of us traveled to Istanbul! Only took four visits to Turkey, but thanks to my parents I finally made it! Istanbul is an enormous city, so of course I didn't see all the things on my list, but there's always next time. The most important part was the people I was there with. 
I very much enjoyed learning little bits of the language while I was there. Languages, I have realized over the past few years, are something that fascinate me. Because I had just been two months earlier, I remembered this and that, and sometimes fooled people into thinking I was Turkish. For instance, I would be asked on the plane if I wanted something to drink. Obviously, they have a drink cart and are going down the aisle, so I know what they are asking even though I don't actually understand the words they are using. I told them I wanted, "Kahve." (coffee) They then rambled something else off and I responded, "süt," (milk) knowing that the next logical question was if I wanted milk and sugar. If they asked me anything else after that, I would respond, "Türkçe bilmiyorum," (I don't know Turkish) and leave them extremely confused. A for effort at least!
