Dreams Come True

This cruise I was able to do so much.  I think it is settling in that I only have 4 cruises left until my 7 month contract is over and that has inspired me to get out and do everything that I have always talked about, but had yet to do.  I haven’t been a Tour Escort a lot recently because I have done most of them and have been enjoying just hanging out with my friends in the ports, but one tour that I have signed up for multiple times and never was able to do is this tour called “Leisurely Tarquinia & Ice Cream Tasting”.  Ice cream tasting?!?  Yes, please!  So this cruise I decided to sign up for it one last chance and, guess what, I got it!  I had Lemon, Mint and Nutella gelato.  It was delicious ice cream and I am so glad I was able to finally go on the tour.

In Napoli, Matthew and I decided that we were going to go find this pizza place that is hailed as “the best pizza in Napoli”.  It was even featured in the book “Eat, Pray, Love”, if any of you read it.  So we went walking through Napoli with our map, only to find out that they were closed for the summer holiday!  Luckily, we found another delicious pizza place.  After all, you can’t go too wrong with pizza!

In Venice, I wandered around and got lost with Matthew and Maarten.  We took some beautiful pictures of Venice and had a wonderful day.  I also bought new watch bands for my watch.  There is this Italian company called Full Sport that makes convertible things.  They have bags that you can change the handles and pocket watches that you can change the color and tons of watch faces that you can change the color of the bands.  There are so many options for the watch face and a rainbow of colors for the bands.  I bought 5 different colored bands and a black watch face with numbers.  It will be a great souvenir to have from my contract…and it was made in Italy!

(Jessica and Matthew)

 

(Jessica and Maarten in Venice)

(My watch with 4 of the bands)

 

When we were in Dubrovnik I was finally able to do something that I have wanted to do for quite a few cruises.  Sanci and I saw an ad for sea kayaking months ago and decided that we wanted to do it!  However, the last few times we have been in Dubrovnik Boat Drill was scheduled so we weren’t able to have as much time off the ship.  This cruise the scheduled Boat Drill was rescheduled for a different port which meant that I GOT TO SEA KAYAK!  It was an amazing experience.  We kayaked over to an island and then to this small, private beach in a cave.  At the beach we were able to snorkel and swim.  We saw so many fish, the water was clear and the sun was hot.  It was an unforgettable day. 

(Jessica and Sanci ready to paddle)

(Sanci and Jessica - post snorkeling)

 

Later that day I was able to participate in another rare life experience.  Ringmasters, the barbershop group here on the Solstice, has a tradition of singing tags and drinking beer as we sail away from a port once a cruise.  The boys teach each person a vocal part and then we all put it together and it sounds awesome.  Sometimes we learn 8+ part tags, 8 people are each singing something different.  It is such a great experience and I really love it. 

(Jason, Jakob, Rasmus and Jessica)

 

 

And now on to my last 3 GREAT cruises! Homeward stretch!