Hello everyone,
Well, I've finally made it…to the first 2 week cruise to take us to the Caribbean…HOOORAY!!! This is what has happened this crazy week:
On Sunday, we made the first of 2 stops in Morocco (which is in the continent of Africa…weird) in the city of Tangier. I went on a tour because I was told that you shouldn't go out in Morocco by yourself…do it on a tour. So Lesley and I got up early in the morning and made our way to our bus, packed the guests in there and headed off. That morning before we left, we asked our guide how to say a few words in Arabic but I already forget…haha, whoops. We had a lovely 30 min. drive to the top of the mountain right where the Atlantic ocean meets the Med…that was so pretty sights. Met two donkeys up there…a mom and her baby and the baby was 26 days old…so cute. Something that I notice up on that mountain (and in my whole time in Morocco) is how pushy they are with you to try and buy something…you pretty much have to threaten to (excuse my language) "kick their ass" to get them away from you. Once we stayed up there for a little bit, we made our way to this strange cave thing that was interesting. The thing that I didn't quite understand were the guests that took this tour when it clearly stated how it was a walking tour. We had people with canes and blind people coming on the tour….I didn't understand that. Anyway, after the cave we headed into the main part of the city. It was SO strange walking down the street in this city…just very "Slumdog Millionaire"…it was strange, but cool to experience. Walking down the side streets there was music playing and people just dancing in the street…it was SO cool to be apart of. Then we headed to a cafe, where I swear I had the BEST tea that I have ever had in my life…it was GREAT!!! I played the drums with a little band that was in there and video taped it…it was fun. We continued to walk the town and pretty much get molested by the street vendors…gosh, they were annoying. You would say NO THANKS…or I DONT HAVE ANY MONEY…and they wouldn't listen and bring down the price or point out that I had a nametag on and say, "You from America? You from America? OBAMA! OBAMA!!" I didn't know what to do, so I kept walking…haha. After the tour, we were all EXHAUSTED so we had a quite night in our cabins.
On Monday, we made our second stop in Morocco in the city of Casablanca. Again, Lesley and I were on a tour together and we had to wake up VERY early for this tour. We got on the bus, made sure everyone was ready and we were off. Our tour guides name made me and Lesley laugh so hard that we knew that the day was good…his name was, "AHH" (when I wrote it down, I didn't know how to write it, so I wrote A-H-H-choke…because he made that noise after the second H…whoops haha) and afterwards Lesley and I discussed how he reminded us of Jafar from Aladdin due to the way he spoke…very very funny morning. We headed off to the 3 biggest Mosques in the world and it was actually very pretty. When we walked into the mosque we were asked to take off our shoes and so we carried our shoes in this shopping bags, the rest of the tour in the mosque…that was something else…haha. Then we headed to the "baths" there were under the mosque and he showed us how they wash themselves before prayer and then explained how sacred the mosque was while literally lighting up a cigarette…Lesley and I were stunned. Then we headed off to see some of Casablanca, which I'm happy to say that I was there and experienced but it is defiantly one of those places that you only want to experience once. Headed to some food markets where I saw more fish hanging around than I care to think about and then went to a hotel to have a few drinks and snacks and then we headed back to the ship. It was kinda a pointless tour because our tour guide wasn't very good but again, we were told not to go to the city unless on a tour, so I guess if I wanted to experience Casablanca…I needed to be on the tour.
Tuesday was our first sea day of the cruise where we had our normal duties and just enjoying the nicer weather for the first time…it was nice to feel heat again..haha.
Wednesday was spent in Arrecife, Spain (the canary island off the coast of Africa) where I again, was on tour this time with Keeva. We had a LOVELY bus ride to Fire Mountains where we heard some of the history of the island and the Fire Mountains. I would say by far, this was one of the coolest excursions for the past 2 months…I really enjoyed myself. We started by going through the national park and just seeing a few of the mountains…they were absolutely beautiful. While driving we saw walls that were blocking little holes…I found this to be strange. One of the guests asked what they were and our tour guide explained that because during most of the year it is EXTREMELY windy on the island and they need to be able to grow crops…they have learned how to dig deeper holes in the ground a build walls where the winds blow…but still be able to grow their crops…I found this to be very very smart. Then we headed to our first stop….camel rides. OH MY GOSH, it was the funniest and strangest thing that I have ever done. I laughed almost the entire time because I found it to be so strange to be riding a camel first off but mostly because the camel behind me (who I named Raymond) would not leave me alone. The ENTIRE time, he was next to my left arm (like a little too close) and I was like, "uhhhh okay Raymond…haha…you can go away now…haha…uhhhh Raymond…". It was so much fun. The best part is when the camels set you down and our camel (John) had to problem giving us the best experience. When they bring you to the ground…they DROP to the floor and quick. I thought I was on the Demon Drop from Cedar Point…I'm not joking it was that fast. I LAUGHED so hard and thank gosh I taped the entire thing. WHOOSH. After wards we went up to this restaurant that was on the top of a volcano. It was so cool as they were showing us how it was still an active volcano by digging into the sand and putting the HOT rocks in our hand and then you would pick others up that were on the top for a while and they weren't hot…so strange. They by putting wood on the top of an opening of the volcano and showing you how quickly it would set fire. But what I think that coolest thing was that in the restaurant, instead of them using stoves for cooking the food…they use this huge opening in the earth to cook the food…I thought that it was so cool. The rest of the tour was spent going through the first mountains, getting to know some of the guests and ending our tour in a winery in the middle of the national park. It was an awesome day.
Thursday, we were in Tenerrife, Spain where I was on IPM all day long. It was nice and warm that day so it was beautiful to sit outside and enjoy the sun. It was crazy to think that this was the last stop on this side of the world until my birthday next year (May 5th) because that night we started our sail to the Caribbean. I made sure to watch the sail away and I sat there thinking about the wonderful experiences that I have had in the past 2 months and I can't believe what all I have seen and the places that I have been to….this experience is just too cool.
Friday and Saturday were the first 2 sea days out of 6 that we have. Something that I have found (as well as the rest of the company) is that some of the guests on this cruise are quite strange, especially this one woman who came on the ship to do nothing but DANCE!!! She is a rude, older lady with Orange hair that I avoid at all costs. I see her in one of the lounges or bars and I head for the nearest exit because I don't want to dance with her…haha. She has come up to me in the dance classes (that I have to attend…there are no Gentleman Hosts aboard this cruise…ehh) and said to me, "when you see me in the bar, you need to ask me to dance." To which I respond, "alright, if I see you, I'll try to remember to ask you to dance" "NO…you need to dance with me, thats why I'm hear". "Ehhhhh…okay" is what I say…I didn't know what else to say. This cruise has been something else and I have actually been having a great time. These sea days have been going quite fast and I have been enjoying getting a tan. I have tanned so quickly that people can't believe how dark I have gotten, so fast. I love that we are getting to warm weather again…YAY!!! We have some great guests on the cruise and they enjoy playing the games that we have during the day…especially water volleyball. Its crazy to say, that after these 6 days at sea…I'll have cross the Atlantic by sea and sky…strange and the next time I cross the Atlantic will be next year when I come home from my contract. This is a crazy experience but I've loving every minute of it but of course missing people from back home.
Well, tonight (which is Saturday night) I have to go socialize / avoid the Orange haired lady and then I have been invited to dinner (which in a way makes me feel pimped out to the guests but at least I get a good meal…haha).
I hope that everyone's week has been great and make sure that you take every moment in….no matter how small or large the moment is….
Until Next Time,
Jason
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