Soooo yesterday both of our alarms went off early at 7:45 for our last
excursion in Portugal. I barely remember waking up and then the next
time we looked at the clock it was 11:30. Safe to say we missed the 9am
bus to our bike tour. I don't know if we could have done it anyway. So
exhausted and I think I broke my toe at some point in Portugal. It is
not swollen or bruised but damn does it hurt to put pressure on. Maybe a
sprained toe, that's how you prove you did exploring right?!
We made our way out to the city with some friends by 2 and wandered. We
found a McDonald's for WiFi and I finally got to say hi and make use of
What's App. We basically wandered and walked and wandered more, but we
actually knew where we were going. We stopped in cool shops that weren't
touristy. We actually got some really pretty tiles. Mine is all orange.
After that we stopped at a little bakery for the biggest croissants ever
... filled with chocolate. Then we re-found our friends and got drinks.
More green wine. We wandered some more and walked to Alfama, which is
the oldest quarter of the city and is filled with decorated streets,
hills, and cool little shops. After walking for a while we stopped for
dinner in the main square and I can't remember the name of the place.
The food was pretty good, but we got some more drinks. I had a mojito
and I definitely felt it. I really loved Portugal but we had to be on
board by 10pm.
Right now it is 7:50am and I have class starting at 8. Not sure what is
going on because we still haven't left port for Spain. It should take
two days to get there though!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Props to Magellan
High five to Magellan and Columbus because exploring the world is hard.
It is only our second country and we are exhausted, like beyond finals
week exhausted, after 3 days of programs in a row. Last night I
basically face planted into my bed and did not move all night because
when I woke up I was still laying the same. It was so hard to move.
So backing up, yesterday we had a tour to the village Sintra to see the
Pena palace. And we were tired for it because we were hanging out on the
deck until after 12 with a group of friends the night before. The day
was so nice until we got up the mountain, right when we got off the bus
it was chilly and started pouring. Luckily we had our umbrellas. The
palace was on a mountain and the bus could only take us so far. We
walked up a steep hill the rest of the way and it was so hard and so
steep. It was even more difficult because it was so wet. We made it up
and the palace was so amazing. The rooms were all decorated and still
had the original furnishings inside. It was so huge and elaborate. The
best part of Pena was the walls and ceilings. The tiles and designs on
the ceilings were so pretty. After Pena we took the bus to lunch and
were served wine, rice, and pork. And then we went to the beach in an
area called Cascais. It was a really cool little square and town along
the beach. We had free time to roam and the weather got really nice
again. We stopped at an ice cream stand and got alcoholic ice pops.
JoEllen had an ice cream bar with champagne swirled in it and I had a
Mojito ice pop with rum in the middle. It was a very good choice. Later
that night we walked to the big screen in a square where they were
showing the USA v. Portugal World Cup game. It was such a cool
experience and we also shared (and finished) a bottle of green wine.
Portugal and their green wine, it is so good! And then when we got back
we flopped and didn't move until this morning.
Today we woke up to the rain and were on our way to tile painting. I was
not that impressed with this tour as I was with the others. We took a
tour of an art museum and different crafting workshops. Besides the
tiles on the wall, the museum and workshops did not involve any tile
history or making. At the end we got to paint tiles finally and it was
OK, nothing really special but a cool souvenir. We made it back to the
ship and passed out. Now it is quarter to 7 and we are deciding what to
do for some of the night. Tomorrow is our last day in Portugal.
It is only our second country and we are exhausted, like beyond finals
week exhausted, after 3 days of programs in a row. Last night I
basically face planted into my bed and did not move all night because
when I woke up I was still laying the same. It was so hard to move.
So backing up, yesterday we had a tour to the village Sintra to see the
Pena palace. And we were tired for it because we were hanging out on the
deck until after 12 with a group of friends the night before. The day
was so nice until we got up the mountain, right when we got off the bus
it was chilly and started pouring. Luckily we had our umbrellas. The
palace was on a mountain and the bus could only take us so far. We
walked up a steep hill the rest of the way and it was so hard and so
steep. It was even more difficult because it was so wet. We made it up
and the palace was so amazing. The rooms were all decorated and still
had the original furnishings inside. It was so huge and elaborate. The
best part of Pena was the walls and ceilings. The tiles and designs on
the ceilings were so pretty. After Pena we took the bus to lunch and
were served wine, rice, and pork. And then we went to the beach in an
area called Cascais. It was a really cool little square and town along
the beach. We had free time to roam and the weather got really nice
again. We stopped at an ice cream stand and got alcoholic ice pops.
JoEllen had an ice cream bar with champagne swirled in it and I had a
Mojito ice pop with rum in the middle. It was a very good choice. Later
that night we walked to the big screen in a square where they were
showing the USA v. Portugal World Cup game. It was such a cool
experience and we also shared (and finished) a bottle of green wine.
Portugal and their green wine, it is so good! And then when we got back
we flopped and didn't move until this morning.
Today we woke up to the rain and were on our way to tile painting. I was
not that impressed with this tour as I was with the others. We took a
tour of an art museum and different crafting workshops. Besides the
tiles on the wall, the museum and workshops did not involve any tile
history or making. At the end we got to paint tiles finally and it was
OK, nothing really special but a cool souvenir. We made it back to the
ship and passed out. Now it is quarter to 7 and we are deciding what to
do for some of the night. Tomorrow is our last day in Portugal.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
"The World is Our Campus"
"The World Is Our Campus" is printed on all of the maps that were given
away at the study abroad fair and the large map hung on all the cabin
walls. Today it was really true. This is one of the weirdest (in a good
way) school experiences ever and it is so insane that it is actually
happening and I am here. After class everyday we head up to the top deck
to read our homework and tan poolside. That's the best kind of school I
can think of. If it doesn't get anymore out of the ordinary from there,
we have our professors dining and tanning by the pool with us. How many
people can say that they tan with professors?! All of my professors are
really nice and relaxed. They care most about connecting the class with
the countries we will see. Like in my Northern History class we are
learning about the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 and today I got to explore
Lisbon.
So that brings me back to the "World Is Our Campus". Usually at school
we have labs in separate rooms with beakers, test tubes, and dissection
kits (science major problems), but today I had a lab class in the
streets of Lisbon for about 8 hours. We were finally back on land after
a week at 9am and made our way to the bus which took us to a museum. It
was called the Meseu de Cidade (hopefully that is spelled right). We
saw old maps of the city and pictures form before and after the quake.
We saw different things that were uncovered from the wreck and how the
city was reconstructed after. We then had free time so we took off with
other students and walked around the city and got some euros.
After the museum we made it to lunch, which was so good. We had an
appetizer which they seem to bring out to everyone with the bread. I
don't remember the name though and it was basically beef in the
consistency of mashed potatoes and was fried, it kind of looked like a
mozzarella stick. For the actual meal we had steak called bife in a
butter and beer sauce. The beer made it not very greasy or buttery
tasting. It was really good. After that we walked the streets and alleys
and windy routes with a guide. We learned about the new city
construction after the quake. The best part was going underground in
museums to see uncovered walls and ruins of the original city dating
back to the 13th century that they just built on top of. I even got to
see a skeleton in the ruins. And I am in love with all of the blue tiles
and tile work here it's so amazing. Right now we are back in the room
and doing homework and relaxing!
away at the study abroad fair and the large map hung on all the cabin
walls. Today it was really true. This is one of the weirdest (in a good
way) school experiences ever and it is so insane that it is actually
happening and I am here. After class everyday we head up to the top deck
to read our homework and tan poolside. That's the best kind of school I
can think of. If it doesn't get anymore out of the ordinary from there,
we have our professors dining and tanning by the pool with us. How many
people can say that they tan with professors?! All of my professors are
really nice and relaxed. They care most about connecting the class with
the countries we will see. Like in my Northern History class we are
learning about the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 and today I got to explore
Lisbon.
So that brings me back to the "World Is Our Campus". Usually at school
we have labs in separate rooms with beakers, test tubes, and dissection
kits (science major problems), but today I had a lab class in the
streets of Lisbon for about 8 hours. We were finally back on land after
a week at 9am and made our way to the bus which took us to a museum. It
was called the Meseu de Cidade (hopefully that is spelled right). We
saw old maps of the city and pictures form before and after the quake.
We saw different things that were uncovered from the wreck and how the
city was reconstructed after. We then had free time so we took off with
other students and walked around the city and got some euros.
After the museum we made it to lunch, which was so good. We had an
appetizer which they seem to bring out to everyone with the bread. I
don't remember the name though and it was basically beef in the
consistency of mashed potatoes and was fried, it kind of looked like a
mozzarella stick. For the actual meal we had steak called bife in a
butter and beer sauce. The beer made it not very greasy or buttery
tasting. It was really good. After that we walked the streets and alleys
and windy routes with a guide. We learned about the new city
construction after the quake. The best part was going underground in
museums to see uncovered walls and ruins of the original city dating
back to the 13th century that they just built on top of. I even got to
see a skeleton in the ruins. And I am in love with all of the blue tiles
and tile work here it's so amazing. Right now we are back in the room
and doing homework and relaxing!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Dropping Anchor in Portugal
Today we had classes and whatever that's not important. The important
thing is that it is beautiful out! Beautiful, sunny, and warm . We made
it right to the top deck after classes to tan and sit by the pool. We
are doing homework at the same time too. I wasn't going to blog until we
made it to Portugal on Saturday, but guess what its 2 on Thursday and we
are here! We can see land and this trip finally feels real. The second
country (besides flying into London) is visible! The town is so packed,
like buildings packed in next to each other. Now it is 2:20 and I am
starting again because we left to go watch the boat dock from the side.
Now we are officially docked in Lisbon, Portugal. We won't be getting of
the ship until Saturday still and then we will have a first field
program. For the rest of the day we have homework, sitting outside,
dinner, a pre-port meeting, and finally sleep!
thing is that it is beautiful out! Beautiful, sunny, and warm . We made
it right to the top deck after classes to tan and sit by the pool. We
are doing homework at the same time too. I wasn't going to blog until we
made it to Portugal on Saturday, but guess what its 2 on Thursday and we
are here! We can see land and this trip finally feels real. The second
country (besides flying into London) is visible! The town is so packed,
like buildings packed in next to each other. Now it is 2:20 and I am
starting again because we left to go watch the boat dock from the side.
Now we are officially docked in Lisbon, Portugal. We won't be getting of
the ship until Saturday still and then we will have a first field
program. For the rest of the day we have homework, sitting outside,
dinner, a pre-port meeting, and finally sleep!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Poppin' A Drammy
Yesterday we had orientation and it was basically all day and boring,
not going to lie. The food here is not really improving as it is
potatoes and pasta basically for lunch and dinner every day. It's not
bad, but there isn't much variety and a lot of carbs. So I'm hungry a
lot because I'm just burning through carbs. I did eat some chicken
finally for lunch though. It got pretty windy and rocky so we were all
walking around like drunks through the halls. JoEllen and I did not feel
so hot near dinner time and through 8. We did make a new friend though,
Mary. She is also from New Jersey and started talking because she saw my
Stockton sweatshirt. We hung out with her all day and plan to meet up
today too. We have met a few other nice people that we talk to and sit
with in classes or the halls.
The reason for the name of this post is because we went to bed around 9
and by 12 we were still up and hyper and laughing and dizzy. So we split
a Dramamine in half and very classy like said cheers. That's when I had
my first quotable moment (around the time of over tiredness) "I don't
want to wake up tomorrow because I am scared of breakfast." Yea most of
our talk included how we wanted more food and something other than pasta.
Today is our first day of classes and we woke up being rocked like
crazy, but we slept like babies because of the Dramamine. Our first
class was Anthropology of Food and it started at 8. We were exhausted. I
think i will really like it because it is science(y) and about
nutrition and cannibalism, which seems interesting. The other classes
seem alright. The teachers are nice, although I am not looking forward
to the economics class. Even though we were tired I was glad to be
finished with classes at 12. We do have a lot of reading to do and it is
going to be hard to get used to going to class every day until ports. It
is a lot nicer today and the waters calmed down around 3. I'm happy to
be going South and having warmer weather, so I'm of course out in my
bathing suit trying to tan. It's weird because if I were at home I would
be so dark already. Without the beach and hot humid weather, I am still
Casper looking. We are west of Spain and still North of Portugal but a
lot closer and may be there a day early. We went to the "campus" store
and I got the shirt that I think everyone will buy that has all the
countries were going to on the back. I also got a sweatshirt because it
is colder than expected and I only brought one. I always get blue or
grey or black, so I got tie dye to mix it up and because I couldn't pick
a color. And i FINALLY got a water bottle (orange of course) because you
can't take cups out of the dining hall so I've been only able to drink
during meals. Right now we are reading our books for classes (even
though we are having trouble figuring out what page we are on and
JoEllen is having wifi troubles and her books are stuck in the archive)
#KindleProbs.
not going to lie. The food here is not really improving as it is
potatoes and pasta basically for lunch and dinner every day. It's not
bad, but there isn't much variety and a lot of carbs. So I'm hungry a
lot because I'm just burning through carbs. I did eat some chicken
finally for lunch though. It got pretty windy and rocky so we were all
walking around like drunks through the halls. JoEllen and I did not feel
so hot near dinner time and through 8. We did make a new friend though,
Mary. She is also from New Jersey and started talking because she saw my
Stockton sweatshirt. We hung out with her all day and plan to meet up
today too. We have met a few other nice people that we talk to and sit
with in classes or the halls.
The reason for the name of this post is because we went to bed around 9
and by 12 we were still up and hyper and laughing and dizzy. So we split
a Dramamine in half and very classy like said cheers. That's when I had
my first quotable moment (around the time of over tiredness) "I don't
want to wake up tomorrow because I am scared of breakfast." Yea most of
our talk included how we wanted more food and something other than pasta.
Today is our first day of classes and we woke up being rocked like
crazy, but we slept like babies because of the Dramamine. Our first
class was Anthropology of Food and it started at 8. We were exhausted. I
think i will really like it because it is science(y) and about
nutrition and cannibalism, which seems interesting. The other classes
seem alright. The teachers are nice, although I am not looking forward
to the economics class. Even though we were tired I was glad to be
finished with classes at 12. We do have a lot of reading to do and it is
going to be hard to get used to going to class every day until ports. It
is a lot nicer today and the waters calmed down around 3. I'm happy to
be going South and having warmer weather, so I'm of course out in my
bathing suit trying to tan. It's weird because if I were at home I would
be so dark already. Without the beach and hot humid weather, I am still
Casper looking. We are west of Spain and still North of Portugal but a
lot closer and may be there a day early. We went to the "campus" store
and I got the shirt that I think everyone will buy that has all the
countries were going to on the back. I also got a sweatshirt because it
is colder than expected and I only brought one. I always get blue or
grey or black, so I got tie dye to mix it up and because I couldn't pick
a color. And i FINALLY got a water bottle (orange of course) because you
can't take cups out of the dining hall so I've been only able to drink
during meals. Right now we are reading our books for classes (even
though we are having trouble figuring out what page we are on and
JoEllen is having wifi troubles and her books are stuck in the archive)
#KindleProbs.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Stalkin' the Ship
It took me a little while to get my email figured out. I have come to realize that it does not work in our cabin, which is why I am sitting in the hallway outside our door doing this. Anyway we have orientation today and not much going on. I wanted to share a link that my dad emailed to me. Of course he would find this. Basically you can follow the ship and see where we are! http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/home?mmsi=311705000¢erx=-71.0297¢ery=42.3433&zoom=10&type_color=6
Monday, June 16, 2014
Suite Life on Deck
Today we woke up and packed everything up to go down to catch our
shuttle outside of the hotel. We got our name tags and boarded the
shuttle around 8:45. It honestly looked like driving through New Jersey
for the hour and a half ride, lot of farms and cows. It wasn't a very
exciting ride until we got a first sight of the ship. We made it to the
docks around 10:15 and we were through security and were on the ship by
11. We went through check-in and then made it up to our room. We are all
the way at the end of the hall. The only room past us is an emergency
exit. The room is small, but not extremely, it is a nice size to live in
for 2 and a half months. Our luggage got here super fast so we were able
to unpack. No more living out of a suitcase for us. We met our neighbors
to the other side and they seem really nice. We had lunch and got our
email fixed and of course took a nap. Around 5 we had to gather in our
muster stations to practice an emergency drill. Those life jackets are
so attractive, at least they are my favorite color; orange. There we met
a lot more people. It is now 7:20 and we just finished dinner. The food
is buffet style, not that great but not terrible either. At 8 we have an
introduction meeting and the ship leaves at 9 tonight! Tomorrow we have
an orientation before classes start the next day. Once we leave tonight
we are on our way to our first port; Lisbon, Portugal!!
shuttle outside of the hotel. We got our name tags and boarded the
shuttle around 8:45. It honestly looked like driving through New Jersey
for the hour and a half ride, lot of farms and cows. It wasn't a very
exciting ride until we got a first sight of the ship. We made it to the
docks around 10:15 and we were through security and were on the ship by
11. We went through check-in and then made it up to our room. We are all
the way at the end of the hall. The only room past us is an emergency
exit. The room is small, but not extremely, it is a nice size to live in
for 2 and a half months. Our luggage got here super fast so we were able
to unpack. No more living out of a suitcase for us. We met our neighbors
to the other side and they seem really nice. We had lunch and got our
email fixed and of course took a nap. Around 5 we had to gather in our
muster stations to practice an emergency drill. Those life jackets are
so attractive, at least they are my favorite color; orange. There we met
a lot more people. It is now 7:20 and we just finished dinner. The food
is buffet style, not that great but not terrible either. At 8 we have an
introduction meeting and the ship leaves at 9 tonight! Tomorrow we have
an orientation before classes start the next day. Once we leave tonight
we are on our way to our first port; Lisbon, Portugal!!
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