**Sea Day**

Today is our day to relax. We are at sea. Heading across the Ionian sea to where we will land in Greece, tomorrow.

GREECE! Can you believe it? Part of me can't.
Part of me thinks I'm living in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Source: google.com via Kim on Pinterest

That is as far as my Greek knowledge goes. Hopefully the next three days will change that.

So, I hope you all are having a lovely weekend.
Enjoy your Saturday!!!


(A year ago today, I was exploring Russia for a second day - which I covered in yesterday's post...come back tomorrow for the next stop on the 2010 Adventure)

 

Source: fromeuropewithlove.tumblr.com via Kim on Pinterest

The Texas of Italy

Good Morning!
Hopefully you are just waking up - and I have just disembarked my ship - and am headed to the Texas of Italy.
SICILY.

I don't know if I am offending any Texans.
Or any Sicilians.

Let me know if I have. (Apologies in advance.)

I don't know much about Sicily. I thought it was its own country too - you know like the Vatican, and Monaco. But apparently, it is still Italy.

But I hear that Sicilians like to be known as SICILIANS. Not Italians.
Is that true?

They have serious Sicilian pride.
They could be their own country.

Like Texas.

They sell shirts here that say
"Don't mess with Sicily"
I wonder where they got that idea?
(Just kidding, they totally don't...at least I don't think they do...that would be weird, since they speak Italian here).

If Texas ever secedes, I bet they would totally form an alliance with Sicily. They get each other. Texas and Sicily are each other's boys. They've got each others 6's.

Okay moving on. I am talking WAY too much about a place I have never been. Will report back on the accuracy of my assumptions.

You know where else I had never been?
RUSSIA.

A year ago today I walked through the customs office of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Russian customs is very serious.
So you do what you are told.

And once in Russia. You don't really leave your guide.
We had two full days of tours.
And a night at the Ballet.

St. Petersburg was my mom's favorite part of Russia.
But mine was seeing Swan Lake.
Kind of awesome to see a real Russian Ballet.

I also loved the way my books described St. Petersburg - too far east to be considered real Europe, and too far west to be considered real Russia. It is a place of its own.

A huge grouping of islands full of crazy waterways and canals.
They call it the "Venice of the North" - I kinda believe it.  I will check out the real Venice in a few days, and confirm the comparison.
Every night between 2am and 5am they lift the bridges over all the canals so the big ships can get through.
If you aren't prepared, you get stuck on whatever island you are on. And you just have to WAIT. This doesn't really pause a problem for most people. But then there are the teenagers who are out at the clubs. With 2am curfews.
You miss the boat.
You have a lot of explaining to do to your Mammochka. (I googled that).

We visited the Hermitage.
Which, don't judge me, I had never heard of until we were there.
But apparently it is Russia's Lourve. You aren't supposed to go to St Petey's and not see it.
So we did.
I wasn't too impressed at first.

BUT THEN, I saw all of the ninja turtles.

I KID YOU NOT.
Michaelanglo, Donatello, Raphael, AND Leonardo were ALL THERE.
Seriously.
ALL OF THEM.
Not JUST Mike and Leo.

The 9 year old in me was way impressed.

Even freakier - was the way they had these pieces displayed. You could walk right up to them. Just not any closer than maybe a foot away.
There were guards.
But it was just you.
And the art.

And a lot of windows. I dont know if that is exactly the most effective way to preserve the masterpieces. But I wasn't about to question the Russians.

Thankfully - mine will be preserved forever on this here bloggity blog...
(like that segue? mad skills i tell you)




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Rome, If You Want To...

Roam around the world...

B-52's anyone?



So, Italy is great. So fabulous. I ran into George Clooney last night.

Just kidding, I didn't.

I don't even know where Lake Como is related to where I am.

Which is ROME.


Today is going to be a LONG DAY.
I have a lot to cram in for 12 hours in one of the most amazing cities in the world.
And a lot of gelato to consume.

My friend Angela went to Rome for a semester.
And all I remember was her telling me how much she LOVED the gelato.
So, gelato it will be.

And the Pope.
Did you know the Vatican City is it's own Country? Yeah, it's kinda like Monaco. A country within a country.
I am guessing that is like our equivalent of Washington, DC? Like, I don't get it. A city, that is really a state?
Yeah, I don't know.

So, I BETTER be tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain - or somebody is gonna get hurt.

I am also supposed to see the Sistine Chapel.
And the Colesseum.
Legit day.
We'll see how smoothly it runs.

Let's see what "A Year Ago Kim" was up to....

TALLINN, ESTONIA!
Yup!

After a nice relaxing day at sea, our ship docked in Tallinn. I'd have to say it was the friendliest port. They had a little open air market right as we walked off the ramps.
The town was only a few short blocks away. And was a-dor-a-ble.

The whole thing was made up of cobblestone streets.
Plenty of warning - WATCH where you walk. These cobblestones are pretty authentic.
And by authentic, I mean bumpy. Unsteady. Rocky. A lot of stones jutting out. I stumbled about 2 or 3 times. I even saw another cruise passenger fall.
Eyes open at all times.

Right in the heart of Tallinn is an old town. Ancient Tallinn. Including nooses hanging off the roof of the buildings. A torture chamber museum. Another open air market built into the stone walls. Women in historical costumes handing out gingerbread almonds.

Biggest Estonian regret? Not buying any of those almonds.
I don't like gingerbread. AT ALL.
But these almonds...I'm still talking about them. A year later.
If you are headed to Tallinn anytime soon, please pick me up a bag. Or twenty.

Mom, Dad and I explored the town. Tried to find a place to eat. Most of the menus offered translations in Swedish, Finnish, Russian, and English. But the food still sounded...interesting.

It was POURING rain. And most of the restaurants only offered outdoor seating.
Kind of a situation.
But eventually we found an adorable pastry shop, with a very friendly lady who helped me pick out some "traditional" Estonian treats.

I also had a Coca-Lite.

Tons of antique shops on every street. Selling both Russian and German military uniforms and wares. Estonia was once occupied by each of those countries.

It was also the first day of school. All of the schoolchildren were wearing their navy blue uniforms, and running through the streets with flower bouquets for their teachers.
Could you get any more quintessential Europe than that?
It was incredible.

We wandered all around Old Tallinn - and eventually back to the ship. I really do wish I had spent more time in Tallinn before reboarding. But, at least I have a ton of memories that I took home with me!

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Where do you think I'll be tomorrow?
Come back and find out!
Lot's of love from the Med-Sea.

Do you feel like you are playing Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
I kinda do...

I'll give you a hint, tomorrow I'm in Texas...

Sorta.