La Valletta, Malta

The first observation about Malta (from a port hole of the ship) is that it is so uniquely beautiful in such a rustic way!

The second comes when you hit the gangway-- it is hoooooottt.  The phrase "melting in Malta," was coined by some in the cast.

But what a unique place!  This was one of my very favorite ports.  

Reason #1 - Unlike anywhere I had ever been...European, but British, but something else all it's own... all at the same time.

Reason #2 - Who goes to Malta??
Reason #3 - I can't really explain why.  It just was.

We visited Malta quite a few times over the course of the summer.  The first visit, a large group of us took a trip to the Blue Grotto and took a quick boat ride through the turquoise water in the cliff side caverns.  The boat ride was actually extremely short and a bit anticlimactic, but the luminescence of the water and its clarity was truly amazing!  There were even places where the water seemed to glow purple from the coral underneath.

I could not get over how much this boat ride in the Blue Grotto reminded me of the movie, The Count of Monte Cristo. Admittedly, I was kind of obsessed with its likeness.  However...I was right!  The views near the port of the other Maltese islands across the way also had a striking resemblance to shots from the movie, The Gladiator.  Once again, it turns out that portions of this movie were also filmed here.  In researching these two in particular, I discovered that Malta is actually used as the set location for many movies.  In fact, while walking one day, we passed a blocked street that was being used as a movie set.  Straw was strewn on the streets old, medieval carts were ready and waiting for when the cast and crew would arrive for filming.

Every apartment here had a closed in balcony and they were usually painted a bold color that contrasted the sandy looking stone buildings.  I suppose it was because of the heat that they were enclosed, although, I don't see how that would make much of a difference when I think back to the heat in one of my past houses that had an enclosed glass room.

A sweltering day out with Carissa,...

...Márcio, and Rodolfo.

Everywhere you looked, old pillars and brand new buildings would both be "within spittin' distance," making the contrast so blatant and intriguing.  Is it obvious that I liked it here?  Maybe just a little?  I hope you enjoy the abundance of pictures that reiterate that fact.

Because, who knows Malta's history...

The whole city was ready for a festival of some sorts, one day.

"City Life"

Rustic charm

Venezia, Italia - The Floating City

Not much needs to be said about this city.  Pictures can speak for it.  So...there are many.  However, there were a couple of mentionable things that we did while porting in Venice.

Morgan, Emma, Kristine, Janelle, Devon, Juilia, Caroline

Disney often hosts "Voluntears" events that they and the hosting port city arrange.  I volunteered to greet for Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale at a Voluntears event at a local children's hospital.  My limited, but comprehensible Italian came in handy to be able to speak to both the children and then to our furry Disney friends.  Most if not all of them had never seen a Disney character in person.  And because many of them were more ill than was apparent, this was a first and possibly only encounter for some of the children.  It was a wonderfully rewarding experience.

Meeting Mickey and Minnie for the first time

So small to be so sick

The inside of the Children's Hospital

Juilia and Emma on the water taxi

Erica on the Grand Canal on the way to the Children's Hospital

Sangria with Rodolfo, Ivo, and Carissa

Overnights

We only ported in Venice twice all summer, but it was a special case, because both times were "overnights."  As a crew member, a night off the ship is, well, it just doesn't happen.  

Shimmering lights from the Rialto Bridge

Nights are always spent at sea.  So these two nights in port were rare and cherished by all!  One of the two overnights, I stayed out with a few friends through the night, walking the echoing, beautiful streets until sunrise.  We returned to the ship at 7:00am, watching the city come to life all around us.

Piazza San Marco, 5:00am. The sky was the most beautiful indigo blue.

The beginning of sunrise and a waking city.  The coldest time of night is just before sunrise.

Surprises are the Best!

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!

Reminiscing Italy with Disney Cruise Line

 Napoli, Italia

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

The Here and Now, A Visit to Turkey!

Riding bikes along the bay in Izmir

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!