Trip Report Our 19-Day Mediterranean Adventure – Greece, Turkey and the Search for Free Wifi

Finally, right? It seems like I’ve been waiting forever to start this, but really we’ve only been back three weeks! And in that time I’ve lived in a hotel for two weeks and driven across the country from Washington DC to our new home in...wait for it...Las Vegas! For some reason I have chosen now, surrounded by boxes that need to be unpacked, as the time to start my trip report. Stalling maybe? :D So here it goes!

What: A massive 19 day (13 days on the cruise with 6 more including travel time and extra days in Europe) trip extravaganza. A 12 night Mediterranean cruise with a day in London beforehand and a few days in London and Barcelona afterwards. So yes. This is going to be a long stinking trip report. Oh, and I took 5239 pictures. On my camera! That doesn’t even count the Instagram/iphone photos you’ll see scattered throughout the report.

Great day in the morning.

Why: Because cruises are awesome mostly. But also because I was able to do a last-minute 11 night Med cruise back in April of 2010 with my daughter and some other family and friends, so this was a makeup cruise for my son and husband. It worked nicely as a graduation trip/present. :)

When: June 13-July 1, 2013

I booked this cruise the day it came out, back in January of 2012.

As time got closer we realized it was going to get crazy. My daughter was going to have to miss the last day of school, my son was graduating from high school the Saturday before the trip, we had a house full of family that whole weekend and a big graduation party on Sunday, he then left and was coming home one day early from his senior trip to make it on time, and we were moving across the country to Las Vegas so our household goods were all moved the day before we left. Then the kids were traveling with their youth group to Scotland 3 days after the cruise ended, so it really didn’t make sense for us to come all the way back home and we needed to stay in Europe for three more days before we dropped them off in London Heathrow. Got all that? Yes. Like I said, a little crazy.

Totally worth it though. :)

Who: Us! Here we are a few days before we left! This picture is a celebration of the whole Whiting family – but mostly Chase. The high school graduate. Also appearing in this photo are myself-Tammy, hubby-Stephen, and daughter – Ally.



My parents! My parents were on our last Med cruise, and have been in several of my trip reports. They had quite the trip in store for them. Here they are in Monaco:



My in-laws! My in-laws were also on my last Med cruise, as well as a few other cruises with us, so they may look familiar if you've ever read one of my reports. Here they are in Palo:



My brother-in-law! Scott has appeared in a few trip cruise trip reports as well. He’s the oldest of three boys with my hubby falling in the middle. Here he is in Mykonos:

 

Tidbit

Active Member


OMG!! I will be here in like 43 days!!! "I" will be doing "the" picture for sure!!!

Things I learned for my trip so far FROM your TR!
1) Free WiFi AND McDonalds! IN Italy!! Suuuuuweeeet!
2) Market next to the "Square" WITH pizza AND COKE...in a neat can! Must collect one for my Coke-Kitchen!
3) Only 3 Euros for my favorite meal!!

Did you not have a chance to climb all 296 steps UP the Tower? We have an excursion for the day that includes tickets to go UP, but I'm the only one that is crazy enough to climb 592 steps while ON VACATION!! LOL

Can't wait to read more! And you must stop with all the sadness with your son going to college......you're killin' me! LOL He looks like such a sweet boy too! Now, Ally on the other hand .....she totally has the "evil" look about her! LOL
 

Crush Dude!

Back from WDW!Counting down to DLP in November!
This Report may be even better than your last DL reprt Tammy!

Gettin me very excited for my cruise in 12 days :D

So sorry bwt ur mom such a shame to be sick on an amazing trip like this

And hey mucho respect on the food pics in this report ;)
 

Billy6

Well-Known Member
Excellent as always, Tammy!

I asked Heather if we could go to Europe while I was reading your report...

No answer yet....o_O
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Poor Mom.

Ally cracked me up with "the look". How did she like her appointment? What service did she get????

The pics of Chase, start photoshopping him holding signs that say "Kayak Instructor". Then maybe you won't be quite as wistful. LOL! That's awful! I'm sorry. ;) I have been thinking of you, Tammy, hoping you're managing okay. I would so make you a cookie smash right now! Cookie smash makes all things better!

Poor Mom. :(
The look was killer! Haha! She loved it. She got a scalp and foot massage. She was very "zen" when she came to dinner. :)
Yes! Are there kayak instructors in Vegas near us? He can do that! Lol! We're doing okay! I miss him sooooo much, but I am soooo excited for him too.
Cookie smash?! Well that sounds like it would make everything better!



OMG!! I will be here in like 43 days!!! "I" will be doing "the" picture for sure!!!

Things I learned for my trip so far FROM your TR!
1) Free WiFi AND McDonalds! IN Italy!! Suuuuuweeeet!
2) Market next to the "Square" WITH pizza AND COKE...in a neat can! Must collect one for my Coke-Kitchen!
3) Only 3 Euros for my favorite meal!!

Did you not have a chance to climb all 296 steps UP the Tower? We have an excursion for the day that includes tickets to go UP, but I'm the only one that is crazy enough to climb 592 steps while ON VACATION!! LOL

Can't wait to read more! And you must stop with all the sadness with your son going to college......you're killin' me! LOL He looks like such a sweet boy too! Now, Ally on the other hand .....she totally has the "evil" look about her! LOL

Yay, Tidbit! Do the picture!
Free Wi-Fi AND McDonalds!! Haha! Now I'll warn you that some McDonalds gave us a number to text and they would send us back a code. That didn't work for us at all. Starbucks in Turkey was the same way. We tried, but we could never get the text. I'm sure it was something with the international calling codes.
Yes, the market was very cute! The stand was diagonal to the market!
We didn't book the climb. I thought about it, but that sounded a little crazy! And on vacation!
I'm sad but happy! I'm mostly happy for him! :)
Ally totally had that evil look going in her picture. Haha!

Great update and awesome pictures of Pisa! I'm glad that Ally got in her spa treatment! The meals look wonderful.

Thank you, Chris! The food was wonderful!

This Report may be even better than your last DL reprt Tammy!

Gettin me very excited for my cruise in 12 days :D

So sorry bwt ur mom such a shame to be sick on an amazing trip like this

And hey mucho respect on the food pics in this report ;)

Ahh, thanks, Crush!
My word you are so close! 12 days!!
More food pics to come of course!

Excellent as always, Tammy!

I asked Heather if we could go to Europe while I was reading your report...

No answer yet....o_O

Thank you, Bill!
Haha! Keep working on her...:)
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
That pizza looked so good! Can't beat pizza in Italy! I was going to asked if they still let people climb the tower. I guess they do! Stress, stress, stress getting back to the boat in time for the spa treatment! So glad she made it! So sorry for your poor mom. Being sick on vacation is the pits, especially a vacation like yours!
 

Tidbit

Active Member
That pizza looked so good! Can't beat pizza in Italy! I was going to asked if they still let people climb the tower. I guess they do! Stress, stress, stress getting back to the boat in time for the spa treatment! So glad she made it! So sorry for your poor mom. Being sick on vacation is the pits, especially a vacation like yours!

Yeah Kristia, I was a little worried that they were still NOT letting tourist go UP the Tower, but I read online that they started letting people in a few years ago after being closed for 10 years!!! I'm sure I am going to regret climbing all those stairs, but I can't wait to see the view from up top!!!
 

gsrjedi

Well-Known Member
Yeah Kristia, I was a little worried that they were still NOT letting tourist go UP the Tower, but I read online that they started letting people in a few years ago after being closed for 10 years!!! I'm sure I am going to regret climbing all those stairs, but I can't wait to see the view from up top!!!


Depending on where else you go, the climbing actually does get easier. When I visited London & Paris a few years ago, we visited St. Paul's Cathedral in London on the day we arrived. I went up the ~257 steps and could hardly breathe. Fast forward to Paris after a week of walking, Iwalked 1/2 a mile on the Champs-Elysees, then I went up the 284 steps of the Arc de Triomphe and while it was still hard, it was much easier than St. Paul's had been earlier.

When you reach the top of the Arc de Triomphe there is a long bench for people to rest. When you get there it feels like everybody sitting there turns and looks at you and is silently saying "Come join us weary traveler of the spiral stairs. We feel your pain. Sit and rest a while." Sit you will, and when the next person comes up the stairs you look at them with an understanding.
 

FlaggNL

Well-Known Member
Wow again a report to love! As an European guy I recognize a lot pics, but hey you are there in one trip!! AND on the Cruise... I am so jealous!!
 

PolynesianPrincess

Well-Known Member
Love the pics of Pisa! I was debating with Ashley as to if I would actually climb and she said she would definitely climb the tower! How many times will you visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in your life? Good point!! lol

Glad Ally made it to her appointment!! Side note, your daughter and my step sister are the only people I know who spell their name Ally (my step sister is Alicia but I also have a cousin named Alison and she spells it Ali)

Sorry your Mom got sick :( I think one of my biggest fears is being sick on a vacation. You spend all that money to do things and you can't :( It's sad
 

lbrad

Well-Known Member
PHEW!! Tammy, I am all caught up :) I have been sooo busy with work - haven't been on for awhile!!
Your family is beautiful :inlove: Your pictures are all gorgeous!! What an AWESOME TRIP!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all of your ports/pictures. Wish my DH would travel more *sigh.
Congrats on your son graduating & going off to college - tis bittersweet indeed!!
Dislike hearing your mom is not well :( Unfortunately I've "been there, done that" ... sure hope she recuperated quickly !!!
Can't wait to read/ see more :) Looks like a blast!!!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That pizza looked so good! Can't beat pizza in Italy! I was going to asked if they still let people climb the tower. I guess they do! Stress, stress, stress getting back to the boat in time for the spa treatment! So glad she made it! So sorry for your poor mom. Being sick on vacation is the pits, especially a vacation like yours!

You have to do pizza in Italy, right? :)
It's okay, all was well and we made it!
It is the pits.

Yeah Kristia, I was a little worried that they were still NOT letting tourist go UP the Tower, but I read online that they started letting people in a few years ago after being closed for 10 years!!! I'm sure I am going to regret climbing all those stairs, but I can't wait to see the view from up top!!!

They did start letting people go up! The views must be amazing up there!

Depending on where else you go, the climbing actually does get easier. When I visited London & Paris a few years ago, we visited St. Paul's Cathedral in London on the day we arrived. I went up the ~257 steps and could hardly breathe. Fast forward to Paris after a week of walking, Iwalked 1/2 a mile on the Champs-Elysees, then I went up the 284 steps of the Arc de Triomphe and while it was still hard, it was much easier than St. Paul's had been earlier.

When you reach the top of the Arc de Triomphe there is a long bench for people to rest. When you get there it feels like everybody sitting there turns and looks at you and is silently saying "Come join us weary traveler of the spiral stairs. We feel your pain. Sit and rest a while." Sit you will, and when the next person comes up the stairs you look at them with an understanding.

I was fine with walking for hours and hours, but stairs? That's hard! Although we did take stairs a lot on the ship!
That's a hilarious description of the bench. Lol!

Wow again a report to love! As an European guy I recognize a lot pics, but hey you are there in one trip!! AND on the Cruise... I am so jealous!!

Thanks for reading, FlaggNL! I can't wait to dig into your trip report! :)
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Love the pics of Pisa! I was debating with Ashley as to if I would actually climb and she said she would definitely climb the tower! How many times will you visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in your life? Good point!! lol

Glad Ally made it to her appointment!! Side note, your daughter and my step sister are the only people I know who spell their name Ally (my step sister is Alicia but I also have a cousin named Alison and she spells it Ali)

Sorry your Mom got sick :( I think one of my biggest fears is being sick on a vacation. You spend all that money to do things and you can't :( It's sad

It's true! It's something you probably should do!

Ally does not like the spelling of her name! Haha! She says we should have spelled it Allie! :)

It is sad! She still had a great time overall at least.

PHEW!! Tammy, I am all caught up :) I have been sooo busy with work - haven't been on for awhile!!
Your family is beautiful :inlove: Your pictures are all gorgeous!! What an AWESOME TRIP!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all of your ports/pictures. Wish my DH would travel more *sigh.
Congrats on your son graduating & going off to college - tis bittersweet indeed!!
Dislike hearing your mom is not well :( Unfortunately I've "been there, done that" ... sure hope she recuperated quickly !!!
Can't wait to read/ see more :) Looks like a blast!!!

We've missed you, lbrad! :)
Thank you so much!
It was definitely bittersweet. He is absolutely loving college so far though! That's a good thing.
Her recuperation wasn't quick, but thankfully it was a long trip! :)

Love the pictures from Pisa! Can't wait to hear about Rome

Thank you, Joanna! I'm trying to get Rome done! Life keeps getting in the way! :)
 

plaz10

Well-Known Member
Sorry your Mom got sick :( I think one of my biggest fears is being sick on a vacation. You spend all that money to do things and you can't :( It's sad

It actually scares me quite a bit to get sick on vacation. It's happened in Disney a few times before...but you better believe I pushed myself to go to the parks each day! Hahaha. At least on the cruise - you can sit on your verandah and somewhat enjoy the sea. I'm extremely prone to motion sickness - but I've got some Bonine packed for each day of the cruise! LETS GOOOOO!

Tammy I really love this TR and it's so cute how much you miss Chase! Can't wait to read more
 

ChuckElias

Well-Known Member
I was debating with Ashley as to if I would actually climb and she said she would definitely climb the tower! How many times will you visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in your life?
This is a phenomenal point. When we went, there was an excursion that went up the Tower and one that didn't. The one that went up was maybe $30 more? I can't remember exactly, but I cheaped out and we didn't go up. And it's the biggest regret of that entire vacation for me. We should've gone up, without question.
 

PolynesianPrincess

Well-Known Member
This is a phenomenal point. When we went, there was an excursion that went up the Tower and one that didn't. The one that went up was maybe $30 more? I can't remember exactly, but I cheaped out and we didn't go up. And it's the biggest regret of that entire vacation for me. We should've gone up, without question.

People always say "there's always next time, there's always next time..." but sometimes, there isn't a next time! We're a little strapped for cash on the girls cruise so we were going to skip the dolphin swim but my mother was like no way, I'll pay and you can pay me back. We may never have a chance like this again! So we agreed!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It actually scares me quite a bit to get sick on vacation. It's happened in Disney a few times before...but you better believe I pushed myself to go to the parks each day! Hahaha. At least on the cruise - you can sit on your verandah and somewhat enjoy the sea. I'm extremely prone to motion sickness - but I've got some Bonine packed for each day of the cruise! LETS GOOOOO!

Tammy I really love this TR and it's so cute how much you miss Chase! Can't wait to read more

I was sick at Disneyland once. I was beyond miserable. I kept telling myself one more step, then I'll stop. Oh so miserable. Sitting on a verandah would have been wonderful! :)

Thank you, Jess! I miss him sooooo much!!

This is a phenomenal point. When we went, there was an excursion that went up the Tower and one that didn't. The one that went up was maybe $30 more? I can't remember exactly, but I cheaped out and we didn't go up. And it's the biggest regret of that entire vacation for me. We should've gone up, without question.

Ah man! Now y'all are making me think I should have gone up!

People always say "there's always next time, there's always next time..." but sometimes, there isn't a next time! We're a little strapped for cash on the girls cruise so we were going to skip the dolphin swim but my mother was like no way, I'll pay and you can pay me back. We may never have a chance like this again! So we agreed!

Good call on the dolphin excursion. We splurged once and it was worth every penny.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Sorry this report is taking so long!! But I am determined to finish before I leave on the Girls’ Cruise Extravaganza in two weeks! That is my goal!

Day 6: Rome

Rome baby!

Today we were on our own again, and taking the train into Rome. I checked on Mom and she wasn’t well yet. We wondered what on earth she had! Well we would find out soon…:(

Rome was about an hour away and our time in port wasn’t that long. We didn’t want to waste any time so we were ready to get off as soon as they gave the all clear.

Side Note- One of the things I ran out of time to do before the cruise was print all of my notes and directions for this cruise. The last two days I had just sat down before bed and jotted down some important stuff to remember in port. Well my notes for Rome were about 2 pages long! Blech!

I was about to start writing when Chase asked why I didn’t just take a picture of the notes with my phone.

Hmmm. Why indeed?

Such a smart teenager! :D Lookie here. Screen capture of my phone:



We’re off!



The ship docks a good ways from the entrance to the port, so they run free shuttles back and forth. It was a short, 5 minute ride to the front, but it would have been a long walk! Take the shuttle!

After we got off the shuttle, we took a right and walked the mile or so to the train station.

 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We were amused by this giant, and very American (!), statue:



Looking back where we came from:



Lots of cruisers!



The tickets for Rome are a real bargain. Transfers from Disney were $99 a person. Our tickets? 12 euros a person! And our tickets included all busses and metros for the day too. Our tickets were called BIRG tickets. If you go to Rome, get BIRG tickets!

My biggest tip for the train station in Civitavecchia is – don’t go to the ticket window! Since everyone walking off the ship is going to the same place, big groups of people tend to arrive at the same time and the majority of them head right for the ticket windows. Don’t!

Pass the windows and go to the right. There’s a small newsstand there. There is usually no line and they sell BIRG tickets. It’s great!
 

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