We have arrived back in the city that we boarded the ship on July 17th…its been a crazy few weeks but we've made it back.
Now back to exploring Venice…
Our second day in Venice was a full day of embarkation duties for everyone and not being able to go out and explore. Luckily we are there for 3 days and we get to see a lot of this town. While we were sitting in the terminal, Zach and I decided to stay off the ship for the night and get a hotel room because sometimes its smart to stay away from the ship occasionally..to clear your head. After working embarkation, we found a great hotel near St. Marks Square and we gathered our things together for our night off. Jemma, Bri and Sara went with us to St. Marks Square to see the hotel, which was absolutely beautiful. We then all decided to have a nice meal together and celebrate our night off the ship. We went to this wonderful restaurant and had way too much food. It was awesome!! After dinner, the girls walked us back to the hotel and they made their way back to the ship because they wanted to go rest. Zach and I sat in our hotel room and just sighed relief for being off the ship for the night…it had been a stressful few days and it was nice to be away for a little bit. We then decided to go downstairs to the hotels "bar" and have a drink. Of course getting to the bar was quite the event because they had a lining throughout the stairs so that guests shoes wouldn't dirty the floor, which I totally understand. Unfortunately for me, my feet didn't like or understand that concept and when I had almost made it down the stairs to the lobby…I went a tumbling. GREAT! I had fallen on my butt down about 9 or 10 steps and landed at the bottom of the steps in the lobby. Zach couldn't stop laughing at me and I'll admit, it was pretty funny. Luckily, I have the "Slattery bubble butt" as my mom says, so I was actually fine and didn't hurt myself haha. When we finally made it to the "bar" we realized it was like an ice cream / malt shop and had crazy seats with strange paintings on the wall. Zach and I continued to laugh because it felt like we were drinking in a clowns dinning room. WEIRD. After our ONE drink because it was too strange, we went up to the room, looked out the window to see the canals throughout Venice and experience our first rain that we've had in 2 months and went to bed…what a great night off.
Our third and final day in Venice, Zach and I got up to try and have the continental breakfast that they offered at the hotel…to no avail. It was very difficult to get a seat and we would have had to wait in line for 30 mins…we weren't having that. We then got our stuff together and walked down closer to St. Marks Square and had a great lunch. Zach's calzone that he ordered was the size of his head, which was pretty hilarious to watch him eat. Zach and I then spent the next few hours just walking around Venice, getting lost in the side streets and just enjoying this beautiful city together. We shopped for a little while trying to find Zach a jacket that he needed but couldn't find anything he liked. We then started looking for Venetian masks because I think they are beautiful and I wanted to get a few of them. Finally found the store that I wanted to buy from but wanted to see their collection first as the next time we're in Venice, I'll buy them and ship them home. After our last venetian mask shop, Zach and I decided to head back to the ship and get ready for his cabaret that night. Before we got to the terminal though, we stopped by the grocery store and bought the essentials and then headed back to the ship. That night, we met a wonderful couple from Dallas, Texas named Sue and Jim. They were very nice and interesting to talk to and we looked forward to seeing them throughout the voyage.
Pula, Croatia was the first port of call for this voyage and it was, unfortunately a rainy day. Zach was on IPM today but I went on tour in the morning throughout Pula. When we got to the port (by tender) we walked to the 6 largest roman coliseum which was very random in this town. Had a lovely time hearing the history about this place and all the cool buildings that are still standing today that date back hundred of years. While walking through the town, however, it started to pour down rain and guess what…didn't have an umbrella. Just my luck. One of the guest, semi joking but semi being serious asked me to run back to the ship and get everyone umbrellas. UMMMM, thats not happening because by the time I get back to the ship, get them and come back, the tour would be over. I was getting wet just like everyone else. Needless to say, it wasn't a fun afternoon spent in Pula. After the tour ended and of course, the raining decided to stop as well…ehh…I walked back to the tender to get back on board, take a warm shower and enjoy a relaxing day on board.
The next day, we were in Zadar, Croatia and Zach and I got off the ship and wanted to have lunch at the same restaurant we did the first week on board. We had to walk fairly quickly because we could see in the distance HUGE black clouds coming right for the city. GREAT another storm coming my way. I mean, I know I said we haven't had rain in 2 months, but this is for the birds. Anyway, we finally got to the restaurant, just in enough time before the DOWN POUR of rain. It was really nice being outside and enjoying our meal, with this refreshing rain storm happening around us. Then all of a sudden, BOOOOM!! Holy crap, its lightening. Scared the crap out of everyone sitting in the outdoor patio of this restaurant. Now what scared me though, was the fact that I was sitting underneath a TV in this outdoor patio…a little nerve racking to say the least. After a little while, the raining calmed down and the sun came out for it to actually be a beautiful day. When it was time to pay, we had forgotten that they don't' accept credit cards, so I had to go get cash out to pay for my portion of the meal. Getting to the ATM was the issue though because marble streets, the rain and flip flops, don't mix very well. I was slipping and sliding and I'm actually very lucky I didn't fall down, AGAIN, like in Venice. Carefully, I got back to the restaurant, paid and then we walked around the city to just waste some time before heading back to the ship area. When we made it back to the ship, we could hear a lot of music being played and when we got even closer, we could hear a mens choir singing. There was a group from a Portuguese music school vacationing in the area and decided to promote / have an impromptu concert right there on the port, in their swimsuits. They were very good and it was fun to see them sing a song and then all jump in the water, having fun and then begin their next song singing in the water without even missing a beat…it was great. After we listened to them for a while, it was time to head back to the ship because we were leaving for our next port, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Zach and I spent the day in Dubrovnik, Croatia on separate tours because there were some interesting ones offered this time around. Zach spent the morning on the walking tour seeing a lot of the medieval oil paintings and famous buildings throughout the city….right up his ally. I, however, spent my excursion with some great couples on a snorkeling tour. It was an awesome experience to go around to these caves and snorkel right inside. It's a little scary cause you have to swim into the caves underwater but then once you're inside, you are floating in a darkish cave with the only light coming from where you entered. On second thought, yeah it was more than a little scary haha. After we swam around in the caves, it was time to journey over to an island and enjoy the beaches and sun for about an hour before we had a nice meal on top of a cliff. All in all, it was a great day and I had a great time with the 6 passengers that went along on the journey. We had another great BBQ night with these passengers getting up and having a great time with us. I always enjoy doing BBQ (even though its a bit tiring) because of the casual and chill atmosphere that the night gives off.
Kotor, Montenegro was our next port and unfortunately, I had to be on IPM so I couldn't go out and climb the fortress. Zach and Jemma had the chance to do it and even though it was a VERY hot day, he told me that it was a great climb and they really enjoyed themselves. I had the great time to catch up with Mickki Brown, who was the Stars lounge singer on the Spirit with me 2 years ago. I always call her Mama, so it was wonderful to catch up with her and chat…with my mama. I've really missed her. We were docked with the Spirit that day, so she came over to the ship and we had a great lunch together on the pool deck. After spending a few hours talking, off she went back to the spirit. I hope to go visit her in Vegas someday!! When Zach returned he told me all about his day and how hard the climb was. He finally bought a coffee mug…whoosh, that boy was searching for one for such a long time. Later that night, we had the beautiful sail away from Kotor. Zach and I always enjoy the sail away…as its the southern most fiord in the northern hemisphere, so already that sounds like an amazing natural beauty and it never disappoints.
A day at sea was up next, which is nice to have once in a while because its a great day to relax and enjoy the sun. Its been really chilly on the ship lately, so its nice that we have an area to go and get some sun and warmth. Its also great to prepare yourself for the next day, if you have an early tour schedule like Zach and I did.
Messina, Sicily was our next port of call and Zach and I had scheduled to be on the same tour…but come to find out…different buses…darn. We were both going to Taormina, a Italian city thats up on a mountain near Mt. Edna. Its where I spent my 24 birthday a few years ago and I was looking forward to going back…its a beautiful place and I know that Zach was going to enjoy. Walking throughout the town was nice and finally seeing things that I hadn't before and learning the history of those places. Its nice to be able to go on these tours and see sights that you never thought that you'd get to see in life…only read about it in books and thats the extent of it. Thats awesome for someone like me, that really enjoys history. Both tours eventually met up in the Greek-Roman Theatre and it always has a beautiful view. I was happy that Zach finally got to see this place that I had talked about with him many times before. After our visit to the theatre, we had some free time so Zach and I made it to this little cafe for some gelato and some people watching. Thats something that is so funny about his job, the random people you'll meet or see throughout your day…means you'll never have a dull moment haha. After our time to wonder around, we headed back to the bus for the hour drive back to the ship. I was really lucky to have a great group of people with me on tour. Its nice when people are interested in what you do and what your background is. Its always really sweet of them to ask and share stories about themselves as well. I've met some incredible people on the cruise ships so far and I look forward to meeting others as well.
My favorite port, Sorrento, Italy was our last destination for this voyage and luckily we arrived later for us to be able to sleep in…which is alway nice. Zach and I eventually got off the ship and went into town. We had a great meal at a different restaurant in the main square and was able to connect to wifi…you know thats essential working on the ship. After our great meal, we walked around the city for a little while, just trying to waste time and possibly buy some clothes if interested. We stopped in a nice store and Zach bought two more bow ties….that kid and his ties haha. Afterwards, we tried to go into a few other stores but they have a time called siesta where for a few hours throughout the day, they close shop and go to the beach or relax. I think America should do this…it would make people less stress out everyday. The only unfortunate part about the siesta is that there is nothing else to do so Zach and I just walked down a little further and luckily, found a grocery store and was able to get a few items that we needed. When we were checking out, this lady in front of us kept staring at me and it was very odd, with Zach commented to me how awkward it was. Eventually she asked me if I was from the States and I said yes and she said…"WEIRD, I'm from California". Come to find out, she was a nice lady and she told us that she was staying in Sorrento for a few weeks on business and then is heading back to California afterwards. She then said, "Sorry that I was staring at you while you were in line. You spoke English so well that I didn't know if you were an American or Italian…so I was trying to figure it out". I said no big deal but I think its so funny that no one can tell if I'm Italian or not. Its like the story I always tell about this couple that came up to me in Livorno, Italy and said very slowly, "Do you know where the McDonald's is?" I then said, "Yes, its down this street and when you get to the main square, it will be on your left". They replied, "Oh thank you so much and by the way, your english is very good"...I then said, "Thanks, I'm from Ohio!! Enjoy McDonalds!!". Love that story..haha.
We ended our cruise in Civitavecchia, Italy with the normal cruise embarkation duties and preparing for our next 7 day cruise in the Med. I am very much looking forward to the dry dock vacation thats coming in a few weeks and then our time in South Africa in the second part of this contract. Crazy that I'm traveling to places I never thought I'd visit!! Love my job!!
Well, until next time,
Jason
