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:

 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster




I'm going to have to agree with the General on this one. "Outfit" just doesn't sound right.

The Coliseum looks amazing. I can't imagine how spectacular it must have been in its heyday.

Great job as usual, Tammy. Keep it coming.

Alright, you and the General are probably right. No outfits! Uniforms! :)

I kept thinking of the movie Gladiator. It's a truly stunning thing to behold.

Thanks, mrerk! :)

Ok Tammy, I have some questions for ya! First, where's the picture that Stephen took IN The Sistine Chapel ? I'm all about "trying" to follow the rules, and I hate to say it I would be "that girl" even though I "saw" the no pic sign......I know bad girl!! LOL......but I'll be good! :D:devilish:

Second question.....did they let you bring your "stuff" inside the Sistine Chapel? I read that you had to leave your bags and camera with security.....is this true? I'm trying to plan out what I should take with me on that day. We are booked for an all day Rome excursion, and the Chapel is the only place I'm worried about! I know about covering your knees and shoulders already, but the no bag policy has me concerned! I am NOT gonna be happy if I have to leave my $$$$$$ camera!

Loving this trip report, and I really do hope you get it finished before the "Girls Cruise" since that's the same weekend I leave for Italy!! YAY!!!

Sucks your mom got sick.........I'm very worried about this on every vacation.
Thanks,
Leigh

Okay, I'll try not to disappoint you, Leigh! Two weeks from today! I must be done by then! :)

Good question about the picture! I wonder if it's still on his phone?

I don't know if your tour group will have different rules but we definitely had our backpacks and I had my giant camera. No problem at all!
 

Nero the dog

Well-Known Member
My son was in Rome at the same time as you, on a school trip. I keep expecting to see him in the background of one of your pictures

Those chairs in St Peters will have been for the audience with the pope that my son attended. He was one row back from the pope himself.
 

Mkmommy

Member
So glad you got Rome done.

How hectic was you day in Rome?

we are departing a cruise in Rome and will have a Day in Rome before we fly out, so in theory we should have more time than you and would love to do the Coloseeum and the Sistine chapel, but not sure if it will be too hectic
 

gsrjedi

Well-Known Member
On new trips I tend to read different websites whenever I have time. Whenever I see a good tip or directions that I think apply, I cut and paste them into a word doc about that trip. Then when the trip gets close, I go read the doc, delete whatever I don't think will apply, and create my own plan off of things that I think do. Then I print it! Which I forgot to do this time. :)

Google has a service called Google Drive that lets you create documents, spreadsheets, and others. You can access it from any PC by logging into your Google account, plus they have apps for smartphones that let you download your files so you can access them offline. This is what I'm using for our upcoming trip to keep track of restaurants and things of note when travelling abroad. In case you forget to print out your notes, you can access them.
 

S.I.R.

New Member
The ceilings are so pretty as you keep walking, you keep thinking you could already be in the Sistine Chapel!



This was one of my favorite rooms in the Vatican. The ceiling in the room is painted to look like 3D but its not. It's all a visual effect. If you could touch this ceiling you would feel that it's smooth. Great pictures! Brings back fond memories...Can't wait for the rest.
 

Tidbit

Active Member
Alright, you and the General are probably right. No outfits! Uniforms! :)

I kept thinking of the movie Gladiator. It's a truly stunning thing to behold.

Thanks, mrerk! :)



Okay, I'll try not to disappoint you, Leigh! Two weeks from today! I must be done by then! :)

Good question about the picture! I wonder if it's still on his phone?

I don't know if your tour group will have different rules but we definitely had our backpacks and I had my giant camera. No problem at all!


hehehehehe no rush getting it done! :D:p Just messing with ya!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My son was in Rome at the same time as you, on a school trip. I keep expecting to see him in the background of one of your pictures

Those chairs in St Peters will have been for the audience with the pope that my son attended. He was one row back from the pope himself.

Ah man! That would be so funny if you saw him!!
Yes! We thought it was probably for the Pope. That's cool for your son!

So glad you got Rome done.

How hectic was you day in Rome?

we are departing a cruise in Rome and will have a Day in Rome before we fly out, so in theory we should have more time than you and would love to do the Coloseeum and the Sistine chapel, but not sure if it will be too hectic

We did! It wasn't to hectic. We probably didn't spend quite as much time as we could have in the Vatican, but I was happy with how much we saw and did. I would LOVE to overnight in Rome or have two days there. I think the Colosseum on one day and the Vatican on another would be a very relaxing pace.

Google has a service called Google Drive that lets you create documents, spreadsheets, and others. You can access it from any PC by logging into your Google account, plus they have apps for smartphones that let you download your files so you can access them offline. This is what I'm using for our upcoming trip to keep track of restaurants and things of note when travelling abroad. In case you forget to print out your notes, you can access them.

That's a great idea for the next time gsrjedi. I could have emailed my notes to my iphone but I didn't want to pay for Wi-Fi on my laptop. I was afraid if I opened Outlook, 500+ messages would have started downloading and it would have taken forever to go out! Getting at them from my iPhone while on free Wi-fi would have been so much better.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This was one of my favorite rooms in the Vatican. The ceiling in the room is painted to look like 3D but its not. It's all a visual effect. If you could touch this ceiling you would feel that it's smooth. Great pictures! Brings back fond memories...Can't wait for the rest.

The room was gorgeous! It totally looks 3D!

Excellent photos, Tammy! Rome looks spectacular...

No Sistine Chapel toes, though...boo!:p

AH MAN!!! I never wanted Sistine Chapel toes until now!!!! @Tidbit. It's your mission to get Sistine Chapel toes for my blog. :)

hehehehehe no rush getting it done! :D:p Just messing with ya!

It's okay. See above.
 

Tidbit

Active Member
The room was gorgeous! It totally looks 3D!



AH MAN!!! I never wanted Sistine Chapel toes until now!!!! @Tidbit. It's your mission to get Sistine Chapel toes for my blog. :)



It's okay. See above.


Oh snap! I gotta get Sistine Chapel toes!! .........it's like a secret mission. Hehehehehe now you must finish your TR soon! LOL ...........I can see it now........me, my mom, my 2 aunt's, my cousin, and my great aunt getting yelled at for taking pictures in the Chapel! LOL..........crazy thing is this is something they would do ANYWAY! LOL

I'm on it! Putting it on the list of "must do's!" hehehehehehehe
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Oh snap! I gotta get Sistine Chapel toes!! .........it's like a secret mission. Hehehehehe now you must finish your TR soon! LOL ...........I can see it now........me, my mom, my 2 aunt's, my cousin, and my great aunt getting yelled at for taking pictures in the Chapel! LOL..........crazy thing is this is something they would do ANYWAY! LOL

I'm on it! Putting it on the list of "must do's!" hehehehehehehe

On second thought, that may be a really horrible idea. Lol! We should respect the rules! :) How about Vatican toes! I neglected to get them somehow.
 

Billy6

Well-Known Member
On second thought, that may be a really horrible idea. Lol! We should respect the rules! :) How about Vatican toes! I neglected to get them somehow.
I didn't mean to have ya cause an international crisis, just thought it was a bummer you weren't able to get that shot! ;)
 

Crush Dude!

Back from WDW!Counting down to DLP in November!
WOOOHOOO LOVE THE BONUS PICS!! 5 Days until ill be chillin on those comfy deck chairs by the adults only pool :D:D

And Tammy this may be the best TR ever, great read so far!!
 

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