Day 3: Athens, Greece

After a lot of talk aboard the ship about whether or not we would dock in Athens we finally arrived. Because of the current economic crisis that has now ravaged the country of Greece, the citizens have been in outrage because of the way the government has been handling the current recession. According to the locals we talked to, government officials have been siphoning of millions of dollars to their personal accounts. On top of this problem they say, some of the wealthiest citizens in the country, such as doctors and lawyers, get such high tax benefits they are hardly taxed at all.
Other sources outside the country claim even more reasons for their current economic situation. Amid many other reasons, government benefits such as healthcare and retirement has been poorly managed, leaving the country bankrupt and unable to pay for its debt (a similar fear that is gripping Americans).
As we drove through the city, signs of current protesting were everywhere. I could see windows that had be broken in, every single building had been covered in graffiti, and the police force was everywhere. It was a sad sight to see when you think of the great influence Greece has had on the entire world. Producing some of the most influential people the world has known, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Although the current state of the country is in shambles, there was a day when they when they were the most respected country in the world.
Our first stop was the Panathinion Stadium. It was originally built in solid marble, meaning every seat, staircase, and wall was all marble. After centuries of not being used, it was reconstructed in 1896 for the first modern Olympiad and can hold up to 70,000 spectators.
We then visited the symbol of Athens, the Acropolis. On the Acropolis is famous Parthenon, built at the height of the Greeks Golden Age in the 5th century BC, was at one time a religious center, a palace, and in the end a military fortress. On September 26, 1687 , during a Venetian bombardment, a cannon ball struck the Parthenon and ignited the firearms stored inside. What we see today is what is left of the Parthenon after years of restoration.
Although the people were angered at the treatment of the government they were still extremely welcoming and friendly. I think the saddest part about being in Athens was that the people had all been through so much during the current recession and unlike many countries throughout the world, they still had so far to go. Several of the locals expressed little hope in the countries circumstance and new times would be tough for a long long time to come.

Day 2: Day at Sea

Day two was spent traveling to our next destination, Athens Greece. This day was finally my day to kick back and relax. After spending the several weeks studying for finals, getting settled in my new job, and juggling time with my family and close friends, I was begging for a day to myself.
Determined to have a day exactly the way I wanted, I woke up naturally in our stateroom where sun was forbidden. Not sure what time it was I reached out blindly into the darkness searching for my ipod and gym shorts.
Making my way to the gym, I found a treadmill waiting just for me. As I began jogging it didn't take long to realize I was at sea level and I would be able to faster and further than I ever had before. After 2.5 miles in 16 min I wasn't short of breath. Exercising is so much easier at sea level, I think it's beaconing me.
The rest of the day was spent sunbathing and exploring the 12-story 1020’ long ship. The ship was amazing. The huge exercise room on deck 12 was in the front of the ship, so as I was running I could keep my eye on espn live while gazing out over the open ocean in front of me. In the middle of the room sat a Jacuzzi for those who preferred relaxing indoors. The spa was on deck 11 and although I never took advantage of it, it was there.
On the back of the boat was the sports deck. There you could find the 9-hole mini golf course as well as the golf simulator where you can play all the best golf courses from around the world. Just outside was the sports court and rock-climbing wall.
Deck 11 was wide open and had three pools and 6 Jacuzzis with tons of area for sunbathing. I also found a movie theatre on deck 2 and ice skating rink on deck 4.
Deck 5 had mini Main Street with shops and restaurants, deck 4 had an all out casino and several clubs and bars for the night scene. The theatre took up most of decks 3,4, and 5 and was where they hosted performances, comedians, and even bingo. I saw incredible dance performances and stand up comedians.
Unlike other trips my family has been on, my parents spared no expense to make sure we had an unforgettable vacation. I’ve always wondered what it was like in the suites on the back of the boat. Well this trip my parents answered all those questions for me. We were VIP guests on the ship, which gave us private areas on the very top of the boat to sunbath, read, and just chill.
Being a VIP also gave us access to the concierge lounge, the room was reserved only for VIPs, they had very tasty desserts and small fingers foods, waiters to entertain, get you drinks, and the lounge manager made sure all of our cruising needs were met. In the end nothing could replace a 3-course meal with my family on our balcony as we sailed away from the sunset. Simply unforgettable.
Although it was the time of my life, I’m not using this opportunity to boost about my experiences; it was simply to inform the uninformed. Many have asked what it is like aboard a ship so big. My attempt was simply to navigate your imagination through the experiences I had aboard the ship and hopefully let you see what I saw.

Day 1: Napoli, Italy

Eager to enter the city of Napoli we exited the port into the parking lot where dozens of tour guides and drivers were standing outside their Mercedes vans holding up different family names. Searching in excitement we found a slender, clean cut, middle aged man wearing a light grey suit holding a sign that said “Holbrook”, after a brief introduction we piled into a new Mercedes van and we were off to our first destination. As we were driving the driver quickly began explaining about the local economy and how it thrived on tourism and olive juice. When my brother asked him a simple question about football (soccer), he got really excited and went ranting about how important football is to everyone in Europe (we then shared our condolences for Italian team not doing so well). Shortly thereafter we pulled into our first stop, the ancient city of Pompeii.

In the year 62 AD an earthquake shook the city of Pompeii collapsing buildings and destroying much of the city. For 17 years they focused on rebuilding and repairing damages caused by the quake. Then in 79 AD the nearby volcano of Mt. Vesuvius eruptedsending thick ash and rocks into the air that would bury the city of Pompeii under nearly 30 feet of debris from the eruption. Those that were not killed by the falling buildings and debris fled the city then upon returning to assess the damage of the city were killed by the deadly vapors left in the air. Although this event was a huge tragedy, many archeologists are grateful the thick layer of ash from the volcano preserved the city to be seen today. The intricate layout of the city along with proof of running water shows us that even thousands of years ago they were very advanced in their abilities. Today the city of Pompeii is the most visited cite by archeologists in Europe and still today many parts of the city are being unearthed and restored.

We then left and began seeing the local city Sorrento and then to the magnificent island of Capri. The island of Capri was a favorite get-a-way for many of the Roman emperors, including a villa for Augustus Caesar. After taking advantage of the islands panoramic views of Sorrento and Napoli we indulged in genuine Gelato ( the best ice cream in the world).

I loved spending time with the people and I thought it was so great how friendly all of locals were. It seemed like everyone was a friend. The people were so kind and considerate it almost felt as if we were old friends. After leaving the city of Napoli I realized that life is beautiful, sometimes it is not as exciting and easy going as we would like it to be, but that doesn't mean I can't smile and be a kind and considerate friend to those I come in contact with. The great people of Napoli just seemed too good to be true.

Although my time in Napoli was unforgettable, I was excited to head off to my next experience in Athens, Greece.

Where I've been

I recently returned from a cruise that took me through the Eastern Mediterranean starting in Civitavecchia, Italy about an hour away from Rome, Italy. The first stop on my journey was in Napoli, Italy and the amazing scenery of Sorrento and Capri. My second stop in Athens, Greece was tense with rioting and disgruntled citizens but nonetheless a historically rich experience. My third stop was Kusadasi, turkey as well as the nearby city of Ephesus found in the Bible. My fourth stop was Rhodes Island, Greece, an island full of history from cultures throughout the Mediterranean. Next was the port of Alexandria in Egypt where we made the three-hour trek to Cairo to learn about a history that dates back 5,000 years. The last stop was the city of Messina in Sicily, Italy, where I had breathtaking views of magnificent castles and architecture that littered the Island. After disembarking the ship we spent two days touring the magnificent Rome, Italy where are many of the treasures of the ancient world can be admired.

At every stop my family had a personal tour guide and driver that gave us a first hand introduction to the local culture. The insights they gave us finally gave me the vision I needed to see the world in the all its glory. I finally saw what so many people throughout the world have the ability to see, but my upbringing had made it nearly impossible for me to grasp. Stuck inside the media sea of the United States it is hard to see the rest of the world. I always dreaded the idea of living in China because of all the media restrictions the government enforces on the citizens of China, but after spending weeks watching only BBC channels I was able to see that Americans face similar restrictions, I don’t want this to turn this a political blog, I just want to acknowledge the fact that America has media restrictions that are surprisingly similar to the ridiculed Chinese restrictions.

I love the world. I have yet to find a country that has not left a permanent mark on my heart. I love the discovery of priceless wonders found within each culture. My attempt over the next few weeks will be to describe in detail how each country I’ve visited has affected me, the discoveries I have made, and the wonders each culture has to offer. My discussion is intended to describe the people and the culture and refrain from politics since that could be entirely different discussion. The world is a mystifying place that is an adventure to explore and understand and this is where I will begin my own process of learning about the cultures that surround us.