Espana y Italia

It's difficult keeping a blog without consistent, reliable WiFi. I feel like I'm writing novels of what I consider adventures when it could be ramblings of shenanigans by the blog reader. But oh well, here goes. :-)

Spain


Barcelona was GORGEOUS! I loved the city and can see myself living there. Because it's a developed country at times it didn't feel like being in another country. It was more like traveling through Chicago. But that's exactly why I do not like being in the touristy spots when I travel to other countries. It removes the the authenticity, the excitement that comes from finding your way around, attempting the language, and interacting with the people that actually live there. So side street exploring I went. And it was AWESOME!

I toured Barcelona by bike. Best idea ever. I was able to see so much without having to actually walk! Lol - But in all seriousness I highly recommend it. It's a great way to see parts of the city you may not normally be able to see. We ended up at a beach....half nude half not. The surprising part was not the topless women...but who actually chose to be topless. Boobies at the knees was the theme. Personally I admire folks that can let it all out without caring what other folks think. We're often so consumed with body image and being in "perfect" shape that we don't take the time to live. BUT I kept my clothes on. :)

So much history in Spain. Walking through the streets imagining the architecture hundreds of years ago. Seeing the old castles of the kings and queens of ancient Spain. The US doesn't have this kind of history in the same context. It's pretty amazing, and I'm not a history buff. I was able to view structures and art created by Gaudi - a man insane in his own right, but I guess you would have to be to create the architecture that he did.

I will say I'm not a huge fan of Spanish food. It's just not my cup of tea. I'm learning I'm not a big seafood buff (as I thought I once was) so I stayed clear of the paella, and I don't eat a lot of meat in general, especially pork (which is a stable meat of their diet). Because of this options were somewhat limited. I do enjoy Croquettas. The best way to describe it is it's like a potato ball at Porto's Bakery. They can be filled with a number of different things.

Overnight....ITALY


Italy sprang up on me quicker than I expected. We were in Spain for 4 days, one of those in which I was confined to the ship due to a bronchial infection (which I'm still on antibiotics for). We left on the 30th of June and arrived in Italy on July 2. Insanely crazy and an indication how the rest of the voyage is going to go.

Today I spent the day in Rome. Rome, Italy. Wow, I cannot believe I'm here and I can say that. The unfortunate part was it was 104 degrees today, so walking the streets this morning was close to unbearable. Literally dripping sweat waiting in lines to see historical sites was not amusing. But it was worth it. Today I went to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, multiple plazas, the Spanish Stairs, and walked through old neighborhoods.

Rome is gorgeous! I admittedly wasn't impressed before. Rows and rows of tourist-filled streets lined with street peddlers selling the latest Prada knock-offs. But then you get lost in the architectural-filled alleys with locals sipping on wine as they converse away about the daily happenings. Oh how I loved it!

Rome is a pretty big city, so I definitely could not see myself living there, but I am hoping to go again before I leave. Our port is in Civitavechiaa, which is a good 1.5 hours by train to Rome. I'm on call tomorrow, meaning I cannot leave the ship for 24 hours. I still have yet to see the Colosseum. It's on my "must see before leaving Rome" list, along with St. Peter's Basilica...although I'm not sure if that will happen. I hope to go back on Day 3 before we head to Naples, Italy.


One thing is quite clear. 

No matter how old I am or how many times I have traveled it's always the same. You learn SO much of yourself when you're removed from your comfort zone, "isolated" from your friends and family, and out of the country. I've had so much time to think, and not because I'm not busy, but because I'm actually in a space where I'm not connected to my phone, I'm away from the stress of my job, and I am by myself (not negating the friends I have here but you know what I mean). Things start becoming clear. People that you once thought had precedence in your life you realize you've been wasting your time on. Missing the people that actually matter and wishing they were here to share these experiences. Thinking about life's next steps and setting up new goals. My mind has been going a mile a minute, yet at a pace that has allowed me to really think about what I want. I was admittedly taken a back by it at first. I never really have time to think and I kind of like it that way. But then you realize you don't really deal with anything and it gets pushed to the bottom of the "to-do" pile. Overall this trip has proven so far (in the short time I've been gone) to be great for my personal and professional development. And it's only just beginning........