By Victoria Dominic
A lot can happen in 2 weeks at 6 different ports (7 if you include Barcelona.) This being my first cruise, there was a lot of anticipation and excitement on top of the overwhelming feelings of seeing my family for the first time in a year. It’s hard to put into words, especially words that an audience will hang onto, what we experienced and the sights we were lucky enough to see. Do I write a blurb of all my favorite things about the trip or do I write a novel going into specific detail of the beauty of a small mountain city outside of Sicily, Italy? Don’t worry. I’m a huge advocate for lists- To do lists, grocery lists, things I want to be when I grow up list…and so I think this is another great opportunity for a list. A photo list!
Top 7 Most Memorable Moments on (and off) the Serenade of the Seas:
“Borrowing” cruise hallway decorations to make Christmas morning as christmasy as possible.
Top 7 Most Memorable Moments on (and off) the Serenade of the Seas:
“Borrowing” cruise hallway decorations to make Christmas morning as christmasy as possible.
Bruce really did a great job decorating!
The perfect family photo in front of the leaning tower of Pisa.
Ryan did it.
What a lovely day to drink wine (and break wine glasses)with an incredible view of the Pantheon.
Pompeii. NO words can describe what it’s like to walk around Pompeii. I won’t even try, but I had to include a picture, as it was a memorable experience.
New Years on a cruise ship. Tons of balloons, champagne raining down on you, and dancing your way into the new year? 2013 is going to be a good one.
“Milkshakes” in Malta. “You shake the milk, like this.”
Said the gorgeous waitress below, to Vince when he asked for a milk shake
at an outdoor cafe in Malta. Heehee
Last but not least, family karaoke.
I’m sad to have to say goodbye, but thankful for the memories made on this vacation. Until the next family vacay
I’m sad to have to say goodbye, but thankful for the memories made on this vacation. Until the next family vacay
Thank you Tori for sharing your favorite moments of the cruise with us. Next up is her boyfriend Ryan. I asked him what his favorite part of the cruise was and these are his thoughts.
By Ryan Oliveria
What was my favorite part about Italy? That's an excellent question and I'm glad you asked. Looking back on it, I remember Italy as a wonderland full of mozzarella mountains, espresso springs, and cascading waterfalls of wine. Rather than rain, the clouds drizzled olive oil over lakes of limoncello as cappuccino kittens frolicked through a gelato… jungle?
Yes it was a magical place full of alliteration and fantastic foods. You may have been to Italy before, and if that's not how you remember it, then you probably did it wrong. For those of you who haven't been, it was exactly how I described it.
But besides all of that, my favorite part had to have been the ancient ruins of Pompeii. We walked through the streets of a city that, a gajillion years ago, was completely destroyed by a volcano. And because it was completely destroyed and buried, it remained almost completely preserved. Every street, alley, and pothole was there almost exactly as it was a gajillion years past. Grooves remained in the roads where carts hard worn down the stone. There was a restaurant that still had its ovens and serving dishes in tact. There were beautifully carved ceilings and paintings on the walls in deep red tones. Walking down these streets, it was easy to imagine what life was like in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, at least before all the burning and screaming and ash… It was unreal.
The whole trip was amazing, but if I had to pick a favorite part, this would be it. My only regret is not thinking of a better part of nature to be made out of gelato.
Thank you Ryan. Pompeii was indeed fascinating and again, a day wasn't enough time to spend and think on all that was.
I'm going to add my favorite pics of Pompeii here.
The first set of pics I like to call the "What's your pleasure series?" It's amazing to me that a brothel and it's pleasure rooms remained incredibly intact and the paintings above the pleasure rooms depicting the services rendered in each survived
in such fantastic shape and didn't leave much to the imagination of what went on in those rooms. Believe it or not, the beds in the pleasure rooms were slabs of stone, I imagine they used blankets for padding, but I wonder at how in the world that could have been comfortable. And yes, yours truly did try out one of the beds. For science. It was truly fascinating.
Warning! These pics are not rated PG, there are depictions of spankings and nudity. Oh my!
By Ryan Oliveria
What was my favorite part about Italy? That's an excellent question and I'm glad you asked. Looking back on it, I remember Italy as a wonderland full of mozzarella mountains, espresso springs, and cascading waterfalls of wine. Rather than rain, the clouds drizzled olive oil over lakes of limoncello as cappuccino kittens frolicked through a gelato… jungle?
Yes it was a magical place full of alliteration and fantastic foods. You may have been to Italy before, and if that's not how you remember it, then you probably did it wrong. For those of you who haven't been, it was exactly how I described it.
But besides all of that, my favorite part had to have been the ancient ruins of Pompeii. We walked through the streets of a city that, a gajillion years ago, was completely destroyed by a volcano. And because it was completely destroyed and buried, it remained almost completely preserved. Every street, alley, and pothole was there almost exactly as it was a gajillion years past. Grooves remained in the roads where carts hard worn down the stone. There was a restaurant that still had its ovens and serving dishes in tact. There were beautifully carved ceilings and paintings on the walls in deep red tones. Walking down these streets, it was easy to imagine what life was like in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, at least before all the burning and screaming and ash… It was unreal.
The whole trip was amazing, but if I had to pick a favorite part, this would be it. My only regret is not thinking of a better part of nature to be made out of gelato.
Thank you Ryan. Pompeii was indeed fascinating and again, a day wasn't enough time to spend and think on all that was.
I'm going to add my favorite pics of Pompeii here.
The first set of pics I like to call the "What's your pleasure series?" It's amazing to me that a brothel and it's pleasure rooms remained incredibly intact and the paintings above the pleasure rooms depicting the services rendered in each survived
in such fantastic shape and didn't leave much to the imagination of what went on in those rooms. Believe it or not, the beds in the pleasure rooms were slabs of stone, I imagine they used blankets for padding, but I wonder at how in the world that could have been comfortable. And yes, yours truly did try out one of the beds. For science. It was truly fascinating.
Warning! These pics are not rated PG, there are depictions of spankings and nudity. Oh my!
So many buildings, structures, paintings on walls, furniture, dishes, etc survived and you were able to almost glimpse daily Roman life rituals, traditions, livelihood. As was mentioned above, can't describe adequately how amazing Pompeii was to visit, but will leave you with pics that hopefully will inspire those who have not visited Pompeii to do so someday.
That's it for tonight folks. Hope y'all enjoyed Pompeii as much as we did. Going to try to wrap this vacation up this week and go back to November and our visit to the Taj. Man...I am so behind. Or not.
Have a wonderful evening.
Siempre me
Have a wonderful evening.
Siempre me
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