Matt and I were very fortunate to get to take an Eastern Mediterranean Cruise with our awesome friends Jordan and Caleb. It started off a little rocky with our car getting a flat tire, but Cienski Fiat came to the rescue! We drove to Civitevecchia which is just an hour outside of Rome. The moment we boarded our ship the 8 day eating fest began. And it was AWESOME. All you can eat American food all day long. Yes, please!
DAY TWO- SICILY, ITALY (Day one was just getting on the boat)
The most ghetto taxi- Just a torn up handwritten paper sign in the window.
Sicily beach. The city was dirty and not very exciting, but the water was still beautiful!
Formal night #1 on the cruise.
Free champagne with Captain Tommy! Too bad the picture actually with him cost 20 bucks- no thanks!
DAY FOUR- ATHENS, GREECE (Day three was spent at sea)
In front of the Tomb of the Unknown Solier
The crazy silly looking guards. For the change, they did this high stepping, toe touching performance. It was awesome.
In front of what we thought was Mars hill where Paul preached.
In front of the real Mars Hill
Parthenon!
Rick Steves suggested getting a pair of shoes made in this old hippy store. Jordan and I gladly took his advice :)
Lots of different sandal options to choose from!
Adjusting the sandals to fit my feet perfectly.
Woo my first pair of Messina sandals. Should I go back to Athens, I will hastily be purchasing another pair. We found out after I picked these they had a really cute metallic leather. Still wishing I had gotten them too...
I bought this dress for our honeymoon but never got a chance to wear it- so I finally did! And Matt looks super classy in his Thailand suit!
DAY FIVE- EPHESUS, TURKEY
At the ruins. This area was the meeting hall of this city.
My cute hubby at the ruins.
More old rocks :)
In front of the main "street"
This was re-put together, and was originally the library.
They are also putting together old homes that they are finding. And as you can see it's tiny piece by tiny piece.
This was the theater. It is HUGE!
Next we went to a rug 'factory' of sorts, and they demonstrated how they made the silk threads.
Old school way of making silk.
A woman in training for making silk rugs. I had no idea that it was such a completely tedious job and that it can take up to 10 MONTHS for a regular size rug to be made.
They showed us a lot of rugs in hopes that we would buy one. Matt and I decided not to, but Jordan and Caleb came home with a little rug baby.
Awesome pottery store in Selcuk (spelling? who knows). The dishes were so colorful and were each completely unique!
According to the Catholic Church, this was the Virgin Mary's house.
This is where people would write their prayers and tie them to the wall.
DAY 6- CRETE (Pics to come. I have to steal them from Jordan)
DAY 7- AT SEA
Just hanging out in the sun
Eating at the amazing Johnny Rockets. All you can eat fries, onion rings, burgers, clubs and even a delicious oreo sundae for only $4.95!!
More pool time
The last day we went ice skating! The rink was super tiny, and really crowded with teenagers, but we had fun.
It got really windy.
The last dinner. The staff did a special song for everyone. I'm sure they just looooove doing that every week.
Sad to be on the last day. Cruising is AWESOME!
