Pompeii: See It Before It's Gone

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and took some time out of their busy schedules to enjoy the time with their family and friends.  I know that the holidays are a crazy time for everyone, so I also took a bit of a break. But now I'm back at it!  There are so many great sales going on right now, so make sure to check that post out later tonight! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I love the Almalfi Coast.  It is seriously breathtaking.  Since we were on a cruise, I spent a lot of time just sitting and looking at the towns we were passing.

The cruise was originally supposed to stop in Capri.  However, due to unseasonably high and rough waves, Azamara decided to change the port to Sorrento for the rest of the summer.  

My family and I took one of Azamara's excursions to Pompeii, which is about an hour bus ride away.  First off, I wasn't really looking forward to the bus ride.  I know it isn't that long, but being in a bus did not sound very fun.  Thankfully, the trip was very scenic.  We drove along the ocean side, so we had a great view of the water and the colorful towns. 

Pompeii was nothing like I thought it was going to be.  When I thought of Pompeii, I thought of how Mount Vesuvius covered the town in volcanic ash, destroying the town and killing thousands of people. I know that this happened almost 2000 years ago, but for some reason I thought things wouldn't look as "uncovered" as they did.  However, there are still parts of Pompeii that are still being excavated.  

It is an interesting part of history that people should see.  There are casts of bodies from 79 AD: lovers, pregnant women, children, men and women and even some animals.  The thousands of people died in an instant from the eruption.  

Walking down the "streets" of the town and into some of the homes was so interesting.  This is how people lived in the first century.  There are many similarities to today's life, however.  People still need to eat, sleep, and come together socially. 

Click here for the link to the official Pompeii visitor's guide.  Also, if you can't visit Pompeii, check out Google Maps to get a close up view of the ruins.  

  

Has anyone been to Pompeii before?  Would you recommend it?

MegaBus

It's been awhile since I posted... sorry! Blame finals.  But I'm taking a break from studying to write this post.

One of the great things about going to school in Chicago is that I can take the MegaBus to get home.  I know what you are thinking- who wants to spend 6 hours on a bus with a bunch of strangers?  However, from all of my experiences, it is pretty good.

The MegaBus offers low prices for travel and they take people to many places in the United States, Canada, and even Europe!  Fares start at $1 and go up from there based on demand.  

For students studying abroad or travelers who want to save some money, this is an easy way to travel around Europe.  I'm not sure how it compares to the trains (I assume those would be faster) but it is something to look into.  

Image from Google Images

I always use MegaBus to get home to Cincinnati, especially in the winter months, because I don't want to risk being stranded in an airport due to the weather.  Whenever I am using the bus, there are so many students traveling home for the holidays so I usually know at least 1 or 2 people on it with me.  

One of my favorite parts about the bus is the (Free!) wifi.  I can get all of my work done because of it.  Unfortunately, they do block streaming sites such as Netflix, so if you want to watch a movie, I would suggest renting/buying it on iTunes.  

In the long run, it is only about an hour to an hour and a half longer than it would be for me to fly. When you think about the time traveling to the airport, arriving early enough to get through security and then waiting for the plane to take off, to waiting for your luggage, it pretty much balances the time you are sitting on the bus.  

What have your experiences been with the MegaBus? 

Porto Cervo, Italy

I am so thankful for Thanksgiving and this time to rest.  There has been so much going on and the break was much needed to help me through the next 2 weeks.  

The next port of call was our first stop in Italy, which was Porto Cervo.   This port was more of a stop on our way to Sorrento.  We were only there for a few hours.  Once again, there really wasn’t much to do.  Lots of shopping and gelato (yummm) and there were nice beaches here.  Most people spent their day at the beach. 

In the morning we took a tour of the bridge.  It was really interesting to see! Two of the officers showed us around and told us what the different instruments did.  I was surprised with how small it was.  We did get to go out on the side, the part that they use to “park” the boat and then leave the port. 

Once we left the bridge tour, we grabbed lunch at the buffet and then headed out.  We were walking around the town at kind of a strange time.  Many of the stores were preparing to close for their afternoon siestas.  We walked to an archeology site and saw an ancient wall.  

Ancient wall

We got some gelato (of course) before heading back to the ship.

One of my favorite pictures my sister took

I always thought how interesting it was to watch the harbor pilots go from the cruise ship to their smaller boats. 

  That night there was a gorgeous sunset.  It couldn’t have been more beautiful while we were cruising to Sorrento. 

The next two stops on the cruise were my favorite ports, so until next time about Sorrento/Pompeii! 

Porto Vecchio, Corsica, France

One of the things I loved about Azamara is that they were always trying to go above and beyond with the relationships between the passengers and the staff.  They also want to provide a unique experience- longer stays and amazing nights.  

Honestly, Corsica was not my favorite place to be.  There was really not much to do in the ports besides the beach and shopping.  But if that is what you want, then you are set!  We walked around and shopped a bit, I found a really great dress, but other than that, not much to see.  

Thankfully that night, Azamara had the Azamazing night planned.  The Azamazing nights are "free" and only for guests on the ship,  For our Corsican adventure, they took us on buses from the ship to a private country clubish type venue.  The  greeted us with their music as we walked in and once inside the grounds, there were stations to try Corsican desserts, cheese fritters (which were delicious) and local wines.  

Making Cheese Fritters

 

After that, the Napoleonic Imperial Guard did their ceremonial march and then a famous Corsican band played for us.  I don't remember who they were but they sang in Corsican.  They were really good I just wish I could have understood them.  

Not a good picture, but you get the idea

Once the night was over, we were bussed back to the ship.  And of course, what was waiting for us there?  The cruise ship's band as well as more desserts!  The cruise really wanted to make you feel at home (and maybe help you gain a few pounds from all of the delicious food!).  

To be completely honest, I expected more out of the night from what they were telling us before we left.  However, I love the idea of having a special night in port for the guests,  Many of the crew members were also able to go to the event so it was cool talking to them and seeing them while they were not working. 

Overall, it was a fun experience and something I look forward to next time I cruise with Azamara.  Coming up is another special event Azamara has for its guests! Until next time.   

Saint-Tropez and Ajaccio

I'm not going to lie, it has been a draining week.  Thankfully tomorrow is Friday and Thanksgiving is next week! I don't have much to say about these ports so I am going to combine them. But they were fun cities to visit!

Saint-Tropez

It was fun to walk around, look at the yachts and go shopping.  There are so many great stores to stop at.  We also went to the beach.  Just FYI, whenever you are somewhere in public putting on spray sunscreen, be careful with how many people are around you...

Saint Tropez 

Saint Tropez

Ajaccio, Corsica, France

So Corsica is an island and is part of France.  However, they have their own language and culture.  My family and I did one of the excursions from the cruise and saw the Gorges of Prunelli. We were in a huge bus, the roads were very narrow, and most of the sides dropped off to a cliff... Kind of a scary experience for some of the turns!  Also, most of the roads were only made for one car so the drivers had to honk their horns going around the bend to warn other cars that we were coming.  

Once we arrived up the in the hills, there were great views of the island! There were so many views of the gorges.  We could even see the Mediterranean.  

Once we were back, we walked around the city,  There was a nice market, but I expected there to be local food.  It was a nice city to just explore! 

Ajaccio is also the birthplace of  Napoleon Bonaparte.  Once we (finally!) found the museum, we took some pictures, but did not go in.  The line was long and there was a fee.  Some people did go in and they told us how interesting it was. 

We walked around and found a place that sells macarons.  There are so many pastry shops in France.  I loved it! 

Yumm!

Until next time about Porto-Vecchio! 

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin or Instagram or comment below about what you think.

5 Things Never to Forget When Traveling

Since I have been traveling recently, I've noticed that there are 5 very important things never to forget when going on a trip.  Unfortunately, I do not have any more trips coming up, but that just means I'll be looking for more adventures to plan!  Stay tuned for my next post about Saint Tropez, France!

1.  Reusable Water bottle

How many times are you thirsty while traveling?  If you are like me, I always am looking for water to drink.  Unfortunately, full water bottles cannot be taken through airport security, but an empty reusable water bottle can!  I've been carrying my Eddy CamelBak everywhere with me.  Airports have many water fountains, and the Cincinnati airport even has a water bottle "fountain."  

Image Found Here

I've seen so many people in line for airport security, throw away their unopened bottles of water.  You can always pour them out and save the bottle for once you pass through security! When you carry your own water bottle around you will be saving money and saving the environment.  

2. Student ID/AAA /Senior Discounts

So many places offer student discounts. Almost anywhere with an admission fee is likely to offer a student discount.  My family has AAA, which offers discounts all across the United States.  It never hurts to ask if the place you are at offers a student discount/AAA discount or even a Senior rate.  You'll be surprised on how much money you can save this way! Stores also offer many discounts.  Kate Spade and J.Crew are 2 of my favorite places to shop with student discounts! 

3. Great Jacket

Temperatures in airplanes can be a plane.  It may be too hot or too cold, and if you are very lucky, you might be able to figure out the temperature so it is just right.  A great jacket can always fix those times when it is too cold!  You'll also want to look put together before, during, and after the airplane ride.  It is also so much easier to look put together with a jacket when you are walking around your destination!

My favorites right now are the J.Crew Puffer vest (post found here) and my Lauren by Ralph Lauren Jacket!  I always feel so put together when wearing these pieces.  When you look good, you feel good.

J.Crew

Image Found Here

4. Sunglasses and Watches

Sunglasses are one of my favorite accessories.  Such a fashion statement but also very practical!  I hate when I am walking around and I can't see because of the sun.  I am literally always wearing my sunglasses in the summer at the pool and I keep a pair in my backpack in case the sun comes out on my way to class.

Watches are also very important when trying to know what time it is!  If you are traveling it can be hard to know the time or ask someone what time it is if you don't speak the language.  When I was out shopping this weekend, I found the cutest watch at Francesca's!  After doing some research, I found the same one at Urban Outfitter's since Francesca's did not have it on their website.

Image Found Here

5. Scarf

Scarves can double as a fashion statement and as something to keep you warm!  Scarves can be used as wrap and keep your shoulders warm as well as your neck.  But the best part about having a scarf in Europe is that when you need to cover your shoulders, head or legs, a scarf works!  Always throw a scarf in your purse and if you need to cover yourself before heading into a religious place, you're set!

Image Found Here

One of my favorite scarves right now!


What is your must have when traveling?

A Few Hours in Monte Carlo, Monaco

And back to Europe!  Let me know what you think of the blog and what you want to see more of.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, we woke up pretty early and went to the other train station so we could travel to Monte Carlo, Monaco, the departure port for our cruise! 

The train from Paris to Nice and then to Monte Carlo was about 6.5 hours.  I slept most of the way on the train but we went through so much beautiful scenery.  There were a lot of open fields, but somewhere in the middle, we went through a gorgeous sunflower field!  I do not have pictures because I woke up towards the very end of it.  But there were so many flowers! 

The coast of Europe with the cities built right into the rocks are amazing.  I can't wait to go back and see more of the coast.  We arrived in Monte Carlo and headed to the cruise ship to drop all of our stuff off, change clothes, and get something to eat and drink.

Monte Carlo was honestly one of my favorite places on the entire vacation.  We only had a few hours and I would definitely like to go back and see more.

Top Places to See:

Prince's Palace:
 Prince Charles' Palace is open for visitors.  It was interesting to see but definitely was not as grand as Versailles or Buckingham Palace.  There is a fee for admission, but it wasn't too bad and they offer a student rate with your ID! This was the home of Prince Grace Kelly and there is a huge family portrait of them inside.

Even if you don't go inside the Place, there are great views of Monaco from the top of the hill. When we were there, the Prince was hosting a concert that night.  So after we toured the Palace, some of the guests were arriving.  These guests had some very nice cars and outfits!

The Streets Around the Palace:

Like any European city, the streets are narrow and the buildings are old.  But this adds so much character to the city!  I loved just walking through the streets and seeing how the people of Monaco live.

Depending on where you come from in Monaco, the walk can be quite challenging.  Thankfully, there are hidden escalators around the city!  You may think I'm joking, but I am not. Click here and find where the escalators in Monaco can take you.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco:

We did not go in the Aquarium but everyone says it is one of the coolest things!  Unfortunately due to our muster drill on the cruise ship we did not have much time for sightseeing.  We walked by and walked in the front door and it looked like a place my family would come back to!

If you go to the Prince's Palace and walk downhill by the water, this is one of the places you will pass.  Also, you can buy the Prince's Palace admission and the Aquarium tickets together and save even more money!

Monte Carlo Casino:

My family did not go to the casino because not everyone could get in, but some of our friends' on the cruise did and they said it was amazing to walk around.  The richest of the rich are there in their evening gowns and tuxes with the most expensive cars you can think of!

The Pier
How many times will you be able to see some many luxurious boats in one trip?  Well if you go to the French Riviera/Italian Mediterranean, it will be every stop!  (I really want a yacht now...)  All of the yachts are amazing so just walking around the pier is something not to be missed!

There are also many restaurants along the pier and along the way to the Palace.  We did not eat anywhere, but they all looked so cute and delicious!

There are many more places not to be missed in Monaco but I hope you enjoy these! Is there anywhere else in Monaco that isn't to be missed?

What Are You Waiting For?

How many places do you want to go?  If you are anything like me, I have the entire world on my bucket list.  I know realistically, that I will not be able to go everywhere.  But is that going to stop me from trying? Absolutely not.  

Recently I have been reminded that life is short.  What is that one thing that you would regret not doing? Why haven't you done it yet?  Stop making excuses and just do it.  We only have one life to live so we might as well live it to the fullest.  

Some things can be hard to accomplish.  But if you start with some of the simpler things, you are building up to the larger dreams.  Some times in life you just need to let go and live.  Stop worrying about everything that needs to be done and do something that excites you.  

You want to go to Spain?  Take a week off and just go!  Sure, finding airfare and a hotel might be challenging and expensive, but how many times will you have the chance to just go?  Not many.  Traveling alone or on a whim can be frightening, but it is definitely worth it.  

Image from Pinterest.  

The experiences you can have while traveling are infinite and life changing.  You don't even need to leave the country to get a different experience!  There are so many places to see in your own country, state, city, and neighborhood.  Take a flight, train or bus somewhere and just get the different experience.  

If we stay in our own little bubble our entire lives, how are we opening ourselves up for adventure and growth?  Sometimes the best things are the least expected.  

It can be hard, but sometimes you just need to go. Adventure is out there!  

Azamara Quest

Thankfully, my exams are over and they weren't too bad!  Sorry for not posting anything in the week! This weekend was so nice.  I went home for my cousin's wedding, which was so much fun.  It was great seeing all of my family!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been on a number of cruise ships in the past, but none of them compare to the Azamara Quest.  Even though it isn't the newest or biggest cruise ship or have that many activities for young adults on it (which isn't really necessary when you are at these ports), overall the cruise was one of my favorites.  

My family and I boarded the cruise in Monte Carlo, Monaco and spent 7 nights on the ship and disembarked in Civitavecchia (Rome).  I will admit, I was initially a little worried about how many younger people would be on the cruise.  Thankfully, my sisters and I made some great friends! There were probably no more than 30 people under the age of 25, and many of them did not hang out with us.  Our group, consisted of 12 people between the ages of 16-23. 

I'm going to break into categories so I stay on topic.  I can go on and on about this cruise, which I'm sure you'll see over my next couple of posts talking about the ports.  

Staterooms

I was thoroughly impressed with the size of the rooms.  I do not have any pictures showing how nice they were, but you can easily look those up!  Since there are five people in my family, we had to get two staterooms.  My mom and dad were in one and my sisters and I were in the other.  

There was plenty of space for us and everything we brought, and we didn't pack lightly! We also had a balcony which was nice to sit out on and take in the scenery.  The rooms did have both European and American electrical outlets for guests to plug their electronics into.  

Food

Let me tell ya, the food on this cruise was delicious.  Often times on a cruise ship, the food gets pretty old.  This was not the case on the cruise.  There were plenty of different options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Like most cruises, the dinner menu changes every night so you can make the most out of your trip.  If you didn't like the dinner at the main restaurant, you can always go to the specialty restaurants or the cafe.  

One night we went to Prime C, one of the specialty restaurants on the ship.  Let me tell ya, don't order every course unless you haven't eaten all day!  We ordered every course, and although it was all VERY delicious, we couldn't finish it all.  What did I order, you might ask, here is the list below.

Not ordered but served- Mushroom Truffle

Appetizer- Seafood Sampler- had one of the best scallops of all time

Salad- Caesar Salad

Main Course- Fillet Mignon with a twice baked potato (and many sides to share!)

Dessert- Warm Chocolate Lava Cake

And for everyone to try the Mini Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Naturally all desserts! 

Staff

This cruise ship has THE BEST staff.  Since there aren't as many passengers on board, they really take the time to get to know you and your names!  The captain would be walking around talking to the passengers and he even knew our names only a few days into the cruise.  Even though there was no assigned times for dining, they tried to seat you at the same table so you could have the same waiters- who were all great!  

The performers, when they didn't have a show that night, would be in the Looking Glass, which was the "club" dancing with the guests.  I was surprised to see so many middle-aged and older people on the dance floor.  They were certainly having fun! 

One of the other cool things the captain actually told us about was the Bridge tour.  We signed up at the Guest Relations Desk and the next day we got a note for when it would be.  It was so cool seeing the Bridge (where the cruise ship is controlled from).  We even got to go out on the side of the ship where they stand to dock the ship.  

Stay tuned for the rest of my posts about the ports! And they will be posted sooner.