Cruise to the Mediterranean - ROME

Port #2 was Rome. It was amazing. I think this was my favorite place! You can see a million pictures of the Colosseum and never know what it's truly like...there is this overwhelming feeling when you see it and walk in. The Sistine Chapel was another highlight. No words describe how beautiful and intricate it is - breathtaking. I wish we could have spent 2 port days here. We didn't get to see everything we wanted to, but I definately would LOVE to go back there some day.

Things we learned:

1. Never ask the guys dressed as centurions in front of the Colosseum if you can have a picture with them! They may charge you 20 euro to have a picture taken with YOUR OWN CAMERA.

2. While traveling in Europe, one must consider wearing a filtered mask as you may suffer serious second hand smoke.

3. When going on a cruise that ports in Rome, make sure to walk stairs for at least a month to get used to going up all of the stairs in the city.

4. If you are traveling to Rome, you must NEVER try to fit in every historical minument in one day. You will find that you cannot and you are so exhausted you think you can't make it to the only express train back to the port.

5. Drivers in Europe are very dangerous. If they look like they aren't going to stop, get out of the way because they won't.

6. Humidity stinks. Literally, The filtered mask may also help in this area because all of the people (both ugly and beautiful - skinny and large) smell seriously spicy.

7. Make sure to put sunscreen of your feet or you may find that you end up with an interesting sunburn.

8. When bartering for a price, say ten lower than their lowerst price. In the end, they will say 5 more than what you said, and you've got a deal.

9. Never plan the Sistine Chapel for last. It takes MILES to actually get to the chapel once you are in the Museum of the Vatican, PLUS it is 15 Euro per person to get into the museum. 

10. Nothing is cheap in Europe. Nothing.

Vatican City

First Glance of the Basilica

Sang and Played on the Metro

Joel and I happened upon this GORGEOUS graveyard on the south end of Rome. There were people there from the 1300s. There's one there that definately looks Roman, but we couldn't read the date (see below). We even saw some US Confederate Vets burried there (see below). It was Beautiful.

Roman Forum

The Colosseum was incredible. Nuff Said.

Tapestry..Amazing.

These guys are totally real!

Cruise to the Mediterranean - Monte Carlo

Joel and I both graduate this year, so we decided that we would take a big trip to celebrate! We took a 12-day cruise to the Mediterranean. I will do 1 post per place we went to so as to not OVERLOAD a post. Not that it is a surprise, but I took SO MANY PICTURES! I will try to limit the number I post...NOT. We all know how that would be - I would say I limited it and you would see 30 photos...but what you don't know is that I narrowed the # from 400 to 30. That's pretty awesome, I think. Well, the first port we went to was Monte Carlo, Monaco, France. GORGEOUS! We were particularly enthralled with this place because it was the first port. But, it is beautiful regardless. Here are some things that we experienced in Monaco.

1.  Never order pizza in a foreign country. You may or may not get cheese on it that tastes like vomit.

2. Everyone smokes. This is why they have a defibrillator every mile or so.

3. Go to the be bathroom before leaving the boat. You may get diarrhea and have to pay a Euro to use their bathroom.

4. Never order water to drink. They will charge you 3,50 Euro for a bottle of water.

5. One of the best things about not drinking is that you get to watch the 40-50 (sometimes 80) year old women trying to dance like hoochies at 1 am.

6. Don't ask the guard at the palace to take a picture of him. Just do it when he isn't looking.

The Opera House 

Never seen SO many expensive cars. The Ferrari's were cheap.

Gelato.

Darth Vader?

Japanese Gardens

Saint Nicholas Cathedral - Grace Kelly is burried here :)