What a LONG week...

Hello everyone, 

Once again, had another wonderful week aboard the ship. 

Here's what has happened…(a lot of stuff happened…quite a long blog)

We arrived in Barcelona on Friday of last week (Sept. 17th) and I was on IPM all day long. I was actually kinda happy that I was on IPM because I wasn't feeling very well, so I was nice to relax and take it easy. The next day, on Saturday, I went out by myself into Barcelona. It was a really big and busy city. It kinda looked like a mix of Boston and New York City, so it was nice to be "home". I walked up and down the famous road that is in the city, where all the street performers and costume makers are. On the way, I passed Burger King, McDonalds and Subway…wow. I can't believe that these restaurants are everywhere but in the next couple of days, I am SO fricken happy…you'll understand why. At the end of the street, the was a big protest going on and I didn't know what was happening but I thought..hmmm, maybe I shouldn't go near them, they might be angry. All in all, I had a lovely day in Barcelona.

On Sunday, we were in Palma de Mallorca…an island off the coast of Spain. Lesley, Johannah and I were together all day and we were really hoping to find a beach…that was our mission. We walked one direction (the wrong way) and found a little cafe to sit down and get a drink…it was really hot this day. While we were just sitting there, talking to each other….this woman walks by and I swear to you…she looked like a walking skeleton. I have never in my entire life, seen somebody so skinny. Her legs were about as wide of my arm, so we couldn't help but stare at her. She had more energy that I thought she would have too. She walked passed us like 3 times and she always seemed to be in a hurry. Well, after we drank our $3.50 cokes (essh) we walked the other direction to where we were told the beach was. It was quite a distance to walk but we finally got to the bus station that we had to catch the beach bus. (If you know the show The Comeback…I laughed when we had to catch the beach bus…if you don't know the Comeback..just ignore) Well, we are standing, waiting for the bus and wouldn't you know…the skeleton lady was back and passed us again. So then we thought, she is following us or something. Johannah was SO funny…she kept saying "Go to McDonalds…Go to McDonalds…Go to McDonalds" it was so funny. Once we got to the beach, it was so much fun. Lesley and I swam in the sea for a while and then decided to get out for a few mins and have some chips. It felt so great to be back in the water again and be in the sun. Let me say something…I have never in my life seen people so comfortable with themselves. I couldn't get over how comfortable the woman and even men were about sun bathing naked….NAKED!!!!! I just couldn't get over that…haha. So, I talked Lesley into swimming out to this little island that was out from the beach…about 1/4 of a mile or closer. We were doing just fine, just enjoying the water and swimming…then we get to a section of the water that was REALLY REALLY dark and we both stopped right in our tracks….both freaked out about what was down there…while trying to tread water. It took us a while, but we finally did cross into the "dark lagoon" to come to find out that it was only moss. Once we got to the island….we didn't want to stand up on the rocks or tough the moss cause we were nervous….so just imagine the two of us in like a foot or less of water..trying so hard not to touch anything. Eventually we had to and we stayed at the island for some time…just enjoying everything. Once we swam back, had a coke and dried off..it was time to go back to the ship. Had a great night that night…did Rocketman and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Monday was an interesting day in Valencia, Spain that started off really crappy because the city had NOTHING TO DO. Walking into restaurants and they had no menus…that wasn't good. Then it started to rain and all we wanted was something to eat. Finally we found a hotel and I said…they HAD to speak English there. Had an okay lunch there and walked a little further down to find out that there was a mall, with an american bar/grill…2 more blocks down the street. Good LORD! Walked around the mall, bought 2 shirts in Zara…which are very very nice. Had a very relaxed and nice evening for the rest of the day.

Tuesday we were at sea, which is the normal duties…table tennis, shuffleboard, water polo, etc. That night Lesley, Johannah and I were so bored and we didn't know what to do. Then Lesley suggested that we have a little James Bond mission to go get the Pictionary from the game room…rolling on the ground, checking behind each passage way for people. Very tricky mission. OH MY GOSH…it was the most fun that we have had in a long time. Just laughing and just running into the card room, getting the game and running back to the room. Played the game that night and enjoyed each others company. 

Wednesday, Lesley and I had a great time Kayaking in the Med. Getting there was a little rough, since our bus driver had to be new to driving…ANYTHING. He didn't understand the whole….keep your foot on the petal and make it a smooth ride (Mom…you know what trip I'm talking about)…needless to say, I got motion sick again. Once we got to the beach, we were instructed how to kayak and all that fun stuff. Lesley and I had the best time trying to keep up with everyone because we had to stay in the back of the pack to make sure no one got left behind. We got to this one part where you could go through this TINY TINY cave to get to the other side…you didn't have to do it but if you wanted to…you could. Lesley and I both looked at each other and said…Lets do it!!! I laughed so hard because we got stuck 3 times….and just to let you know how small is was, I had to lean to the side, just to get through it and put my hands on the rock above me, just to get through. The rest of the kayaking was a great time of waterfalls, beach time and just racing the other guests in the kayaks. What a fun day!

Thursday…the worst day I have had in a LONG time! I was very excited starting my 9 hour excursion this day because I was going to Seville, Spain which has a lot of musical theatre/opera history there with Sweeney Todd, Carmen, Don Giovanni and Barber of Seville. Getting on the bus was fine and the trip there was about 1.5 hours….so I took a nap. Talked with a few guests and they were so sweet. Found out that one of them was born in Dayton, OH. I will say, I have met more people from Ohio on this cruise than I ever imagined….just means a piece of home is always with me…made me feel good. Anyway, once we get to the city we got off the ship and thats when the day went downhill. I had to be in charge of 34 adults, make sure that everyone was happy and okay. The guide (I'm guessing) didn't care that I was there and was a little rude to me from the beginning. We first went to a bull fighting area, where I actually saw a bull getting loaded to the theatre. Come to find out that they actually will kill the bull during the fight and sell the remains in the market. I was VERY disturbed by finding this out and so were the guests. Next, we went to a palace that was famous for something..I couldn't understand the guide. First, he wasn't going to let me and my other escort guide go with the guests. I stood there and thought, no its my job to stay with the guests at all times. So, I walked up to the guide and said kindly, "Sir, it's my job to stay with the guests, so I have to go with them." To which he said in a extremely rude way, "I don't have money to pay for you. You either have to pay for yourself or wait 45 mins until we are done." "Well, just to let you know..I'm going in there with you guys, you have to pay for me. You know this ahead of time that we are coming with the guests and that you have to pay for us, so sorry but I'm coming" I said to him. Needless to say, I got to go in. After that, we went to the 3rd largest cathedral in the world (largest gothic cathedral in the world). What a cool place that was and the people really enjoyed that. The original painting of St. Anthony was there (you know the one that someone cut St. Anthony out of and took him to America?) and he showed us where the painting was restored. It was really cool and I always find something that touches me or says something to me everyday. My confirmation name, my brothers (I think) and my dad's is Anthony (taken from St. Anthony) so I thought it was cool. Also, saw the grave of Christopher Columbus and learned the history about him that I didn't know. Next was the time that he told everyone in the group that they could all split up in the city and eat where they want but be back at this fountain at 3:00pm. OMG…I think that I was going to have a heart attack because I was responsible for everyone. After lunch, I got to the fountain as quickly as possible to make sure I was there before other people. One by one people start coming back and it is looking like everyone has made it back. No no…there is a couple missing. HOLY CRAP…I'm missing two people in Seville…an hour from the ship. Lets just say for the next two hours…I was sweating, just nervous that I had lost people. We had to leave the city, still without those people and I felt like I was going to get in trouble. Getting back to the ship, I find out that the couple had walked around the city and decided to get a taxi back to the ship without us…and also not to tell us they were doing it. I wanted to run to the cabin and just scream at them. That night I had the show and right after skyped with my mom and went to bed…whoosh, what a long day. 

Friday, we were in Portimao, Spain and I was on IPM all day long. It was great to sleep in and stay in bed watching movies all day long. It's exciting to think that we have 4 more cruises in the Med. until we start our cross to the Caribbean…I can't wait. 

This week we start in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday (today) / Sunday and Monday we are in Cadiz, Spain / Malaga, Spain on Tuesday / At sea on Wednesday / Barcelona, Spain on Thursday / Marseille, France on Friday and ending our cruise this week in Nice, France next Saturday. I hope that this cruise will be an easier one than last weeks.

Until next time, 

Jason