Pic heavy, detailed Vision OTS review/recount of our 12nighter out of Barcelona!

[Hailzmick]

Thank you for your sharing your trip. Looking forward to seeing the rest. My husband & I are doing this cruise, in September. We're doing a back to back from Sept 13 to October 7, to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. I was also wondering if you could email me the cruise compass also.

Carol Ann

 

 

Sure can. What's your email address?

What are some of the ports you are doing? You'll love it!!!

[brandybrake]

We're doing Cannes, LaSpezia, Rome, Athens, Ephesus, Santorini, and Salerno on first and second cruise we do Nice, LaSpezia, Rome, Salerno, Venice. Kotor and Dubrovnik. I'm so looking forward to it. My email is brandybrake1@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip and seeing your pictures. Thanks.

[crusinpeg]

Loving your review! We are on the Sept 13th sailing and although we'll be having a new cruise director and possibly different entertainment... I would love if you could email me a copy of the compasses as well.... eplarue2@verizon.net

 

I was surprised by another review stating the limited hours of food service..is the Park Cafe only open til 9:00 for breakfast and then not again until late in the evening?

Breakfast only til 10:30 in the WJ?

[khank]

Loving your review! We are on the 9/13/15 sailing and reading this is just adding to my excitement! Thank you for taking the time to do this.

 

I would also love an email of the cruise compasses if you don't mind. My email is khank22222@aol.com.

 

Also, are the tender tickets picked up the morning of the tender port or the night before?

 

Thank you!

 

Karen

[Vision15]

Hey.

 

I would like to know if the menues i Mdr are any different than the ondes for Suites.

 

Just bacause I notised someone had postet the a menu for the suites .

 

Thanks i forward

 

Charlotte

[Clarea]

Hey.

 

I would like to know if the menues i Mdr are any different than the ondes for Suites.

 

Just bacause I notised someone had postet the a menu for the suites .

 

Thanks i forward

 

Charlotte

Suites can order room service off the same menu they have in the MDR. No difference in the dinner menu, except suites can also order items off the normal room service menu.

[Hailzmick]

We're doing Cannes, LaSpezia, Rome, Athens, Ephesus, Santorini, and Salerno on first and second cruise we do Nice, LaSpezia, Rome, Salerno, Venice. Kotor and Dubrovnik. I'm so looking forward to it. My email is brandybrake1@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip and seeing your pictures. Thanks.

In our two cruises, we pretty much did the same places. Make sure you follow my next review too... That will show you some of your stops too!

 

 

 

Loving your review! We are on the Sept 13th sailing and although we'll be having a new cruise director and possibly different entertainment... I would love if you could email me a copy of the compasses as well.... eplarue2@verizon.net

 

 

 

I was surprised by another review stating the limited hours of food service..is the Park Cafe only open til 9:00 for breakfast and then not again until late in the evening?

 

Breakfast only til 10:30 in the WJ?

 

 

Hi. I read that review too... I think maybe they had a bad experience for some reason and were left feeling sour. They also said there wasn't an egg station, when there is!

Most days, the Park Cafe was open 6.30am-10.30 for breakfast and the WJ from 7am-11am.

Room service is always available... Just breakfast is a certain time.

Park Cafe did have some weird times, but we never starved, let's just say that! Ha ha.

[Hailzmick]

Loving your review! We are on the 9/13/15 sailing and reading this is just adding to my excitement! Thank you for taking the time to do this.

 

 

 

I would also love an email of the cruise compasses if you don't mind. My email is khank22222@aol.com.

 

 

 

Also, are the tender tickets picked up the morning of the tender port or the night before?

 

 

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

Karen

 

 

Hi Karen!

Tender tickets are done the morning of the day. :-)

[Hailzmick]

OUR FIRST SEA DAY

Weather, 73F/ 23C

Dinner dress suggestion: casual

 

I'm not going to post the Cruise compasses anymore as you can't read them anyway! So if you'd like me to email them, please reply with your email address and I'll do my very best to get pics and send them!

 

So this was our first full day at sea. It was so nice to wake up at any time we wanted and we didn't have to meet anyone for anything.

Our view at 10am after a super sleep in.

 

 

We had a super yummy feed in the Windjammer. Mick always got a fresh omelette made and I got something different pretty much every day.

 

At 11am we had our official Cruise Critic Meet & Greet. It was held in the Viking Crown Lounge, on deck 11.

We got the lift to deck 11 & it seemed nearly everyone had a seat already. We were given a raffle ticket & a drink and went to find a seat.

D&J had snagged seats with LaMac & Mike already, so we found two seats with Cathy & another Mike... Also from the US.

We had chatted with Cathy & Mike at a bar for a short while, as well as a quick chat at our informal meet & greet, so I was thrilled that we were able to sit with them chatting for about 45 minutes.

Royal Caribbean put on drinks for us and they also had some AMAZING raffle prizes.

All up, I'd say there was 20 prizes to win. And they weren't RCI pens, they were all ripper prizes like dinner for two in Chops Grille, bottles of champagne and a bag of washing done by the laundry service. (Stay tuned for our story about THAT!)

We didn't win any prizes, but we were lucky enough to win some great new friendships... So I'm pretty sure we were all winners on the day. (Said in the true words of a loser who didn't win a bottle of champagne, lol).

After a few more drinks and a lot more talking, we decided to head back to the Windjammer for lunch.

On the way to the WJ, we saw they were doing World's Sexiest Legs competition. The man who won it was HILARIOUS!!! He was in his late 50s I'd guess and while he was showing us what he had, he did some frontal thrusts to one of the officers. Our Cruise Director, Mercedes, couldn't stop laughing and she was as shocked as we were. It was very funny.

As always, we found something nice to eat in the WJ. We then headed to just outside the Windjammer, on the smoker's side, where we found a few tables and set up a game of Skipbo. I looked out to sea and saw something... It looked like a volcano. I jokingly said that out loud and then RAN to get my camera and take some pics!

& as it turns out. It WAS a volcano. An active volcano called Mt Stromboli.

 

 

 

 

I stayed out on the balcony for about 10 minutes and I saw a gorgeous island, I imagine it was an Island off Greece or Italy. There was a person in a little boat, hang on, there were LOTS of people in little boats. Weird but very cool.

 

 

 

 

[Hailzmick]

I headed back to Skipbo & after a few drinks, we suddenly had taught about 10 people how to play Skipbo. It was amazing. (& so much fun!) & after about 10 more games, we decided to get some more drinks and sunbake. I sat with Annette and Julie in the sun & Mick had drinks with Mike for a couple of hours. That was all I needed... I honestly get sunburnt heading out to the letterbox to get the mail.

 

I've got to say, every time the band played, I rolled my eyes and held on tight. They were so terrible. It was embarrassing. The lead singer was a lady and always wore a hoodie over her head, & huge sun glasses, like she was nursing a hangover at the snow. The others in the band all had their hoods over their heads too- even when it was warm. It was so odd. I'm surprised Royal employed them... Each to their own, but not ONE person I spoke to, liked them. (& we spoke to everyone, ha ha!)

 

Another annoying thing on the ship was this spoilt little brat. He was on the cruise with his 70+ year old grandmother. Se had told Julie that no one else wanted to come with her, so she brought her eight year old grandson. I work with kids & I know they can get tired or sook, sometimes for no reason at all, but that kid was something else. Every time the RCI dancers came out on the pool deck to show us a new dance to learn, or play pool games, etc, this kid would run around in the middle of them, pull faces, grab the microphone and yell in to it and just be a total pain in the butt. We saw them at lunch in the WJ one day, where he was swearing at her, refusing to eat, because she put pepper on something.

After she got him new food, she FED HIM, as he still didn't want to talk to her. WHAT?! Yes, apparently spoon feeding an eight year old is the way to go. Anyway, this kid was rude, disrespectful, annoying... & the grandma did not care one bit.

 

While we were sun baking, the announcement for BINGO was called and before the announcement had finished the pool deck was clear. Every man and his dog had gone there... Woohoo. We got the drink server all to ourselves!

On our last cruise, we went to Bingo and although it was fun, it was super expensive and really busy... So we opted out of it for this trip.

 

Soon it was time to get ready for our dinner in the MDR. Dinner was delicious.

 

 

Annette & I

 

 

We celebrated our waiters, Rutchie and Maria. Rutchie got in to it and danced up a storm. He was so much fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner was done by 10pm, (early for us) so we headed to the casino, where we saw everyone!!! All of our new friends were there, so we spent about 90 minutes playing Roulette and Black Jack. And drinking, of course.

No one was really winning, but we all had so much fun. It was about 11.45pm when we all headed to the schooner bar for a drink to bring in May 21st... (mick's birthday). As midnight hit, the drinks were flowing and we sang Happy Birthday. It just so happened to be the birthday of a lady at the next table too, so Mick got in a photo with her.

 

 

Well it was super late when we all decided to retire to our rooms. It had been such an amazing day at sea. Another day at sea to come... But it couldn't be any better than today, could it?!?!

[achikins]

Wow!! Enjoying your review. We're doing the same itinerary in September and it would really be great if you can send me the cruise compasses too. My email address is acj0929@yahoo.com.

 

Thanks in advance!

[2travelcats]

LOVING your review. We are also doing this itinerary in September and would so appreciate the cruise compasses. My email address is: jscheibe@cox.net

 

Thanks so much - Johnnie

[Hailzmick]

AT SEA!!!. (Again!)

Weather, 74 F/ 23C

Tonight's dress suggestion: FORMAL!

 

WAKE UP MICK, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I absolutely LOVE birthdays. Everyone's except mine. When I was growing up, my mum was always really sick, (mostly either in hospital or in bed) & one year she woke me up for school and forgot that it was my birthday... (It was her illness, not her fault)- so since then, I don't get excited about my own birthday.

So, I woke Mick up, very excitedly. Presents... He already had the wrap around balcony, and tonight is a formal night, at the Chef's table, where he would wear his new shoes... What else was there... Oh that's right... I bought him a race horse! (Just a percentage of one!)

Mick absolutely loves the races and everything about horse racing... So it was fitting that he finally got one... (& she is soooo gorgeous!)

 

We had to put our clocks forward an hour, so it was already later than I had thought.

We met up with Annette & Julie and had brunch/lunch in the MDR.

I LOVE the salads in the MDR... As in I dream about them. If you've never eaten in the Main Dining Room for lunch, there's a salad bar in the middle where you can get so many different things to go in- I always have chicken, prawns, salmon, egg, lettuce and ranch dressing. I'm not sure how healthy it is, but it's delicious!

 

Annette and Julie had a present for Mick, a deck of cards, (they knew us already!!!!) & the cards had different cocktail recipes on them. Wow. Such super awesome people!!! Mick was thrilled.

 

We ordered our main meals, I ordered a steak sandwich.

After only about 15 minutes, we had our meals. Unfortunately, mine was disgusting. I literally couldn't eat it. The steak was soooooo dry, there was no sauce of any description, so I just left it. I was already full from the salad so it was okay.

After our main meal, the waiters brought over a slice of Chocolate cake with candles that Annette & Julie had organised!!! OMG sooooooo awesome!!! Mick was mega embarrassed, but it made us sing even louder & the whole dining room joined in with singing! Ha ha.

 

And I had ordered dessert... It was equally as yuk as the steak sandwich!

[Hailzmick]

Mick & I went back to our cabin where we saw our Chef's Table dinner invitation on our bed! Oh la la.

We relaxed on the balcony with a couple of drinks, really enjoying the atmosphere. I then ordered Honey stung chicken on the room service menu. Wow... I'm so glad I did. It came with sweet potato fries and was one of the nicest things I ate on the cruise. Deeeeeeelicious!!!

 

 

We had a few more drinks while we played a Skipbo championship, then got ready for our 6.15pm meeting before the Chef's table.

 

At 6.10pm, we met outside our cabin with LaMac & Mike & went to the R Bar, where we were meeting with Maxi, the Chef's Table main man.

There were 12 chairs all up & a glass of champagne to start. When the 12 of us were all there, Maxi took us to a secluded room at the very back of the Main Dining Room. (It was VERY cool- & very different compared to the Chef's table on Splendour, just two weeks later).

 

As it was formal night, and considering where we were, we expected everyone to wear formal clothes. There was a man who wore a loud Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses... Maybe he didn't get the memo. He was a super loud character & kept us entertained. The other couples were so very quiet. We thought after a few wines, most people would loosen up, but they didn't. Not to worry, the four of us had fun!!!

LaMac & Mike

 

 

Us

 

 

We were introduced to our chef, Dennis Logdat from the Philippines. He was really nice and informative.

 

Maxi & Dennis

 

 

 

Maxi brought out some delicious breads for us to eat as we finished off our bubbles. He also explained that he would talk about the wines we try as they serve up our courses. The chef would explain about the food too.

 

 

 

Maxi told us we had to get our cutlery from the chandelier. Us four were the only people to laugh... Awkward. We thought it was hilarious.

[Hailzmick]

And please read the following menu with a napkin in your hand to soak up the slobber! Everything was AH MAZING! Mick was in his eating element & I wasn't far behind!

 

 

 

Course one was confit of Atlantic salmon, with pea purée, poached lobster tail, fresh fennel, baby lettuce salad and snow pea pods.

We drank a glass of Bottega Vinaia, Pinot Grigio from Trentino.

 

 

 

Course two was Celeriac cream double duck consommé with toasted duck confit brioche sandwich.

We drank Spy Valley, Sav Blanc, New Zealand.

 

 

 

Course three was Seared diver scallops on brown butter hollandaise fried capers.

We drank Buena Vista Carneros, Chardonnay.

 

 

I had a quick bathroom break, and in my absence, Maxi left me a special shoe. Awwww. So cute. I thought it was hilarious!!!

 

 

Maxi explaining the next wine...

[Hailzmick]

Celebrate good times, come on!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Course four was slow roasted beef tenderloin with artichoke purée, mini fondant potatoes, baby vegetables, Shiraz and shallot reduction.

We drank Oberon Mondavi Winery, Napa, California.

 

 

 

Course five was caramelised pear over nougat montelimar parfait with biscotti syrup and forest berries.

We drank Ezzazuriz, Sav Blanc late harvest, Chile.

 

 

Then they brought out some other yummy treats for the table... Just in case we hadn't had enough...

 

 

Oh & then it was birthday cake time!!! Haha

 

 

We then thanked our amazing team!

 

 

Wow. Dinner was better than when we went to Heston's or any place we had ever been in the world. Yes, it was the best food we had ever eaten... (Apart from the amazing things that Mick cooks for me!!!)

It actually couldn't have been a better day!!!

We finished with a drink at the Schooner Bar with LaMac & Mike, then went to bed.

Athens was tomorrow... But why didn't we get off the ship?!

[Hailzmick]

Piraeus, (Athens) Greece

Weather, 75 F/ 24C

Ship's arrival: 6am

All aboard: 5.30pm

 

Mick & I had a huge sleep in and woke up around 10am... We had decided not to get off the ship. Not because we are party poopers, but because we were getting on another cruise after this one, that also went to Athens, and we were meeting up with friends and they didn't want us to experience anything without them. (More to that story later!)

 

This is what we woke up to...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So we took this day to pretend the ship was ours. I'd have to say that most people got off the ship to do excursions... So we really had the whole ship to ourselves.

After a late breakfast/early lunch, Mick & I hit up the bar, again and again and again. It was great, & no waiting!

[Hailzmick]

We played Skipbo in our favourite area outside of the Windjammer. We literally played about 50 games and laughed all day.

At about 4pm, most people had started getting back on the ship and LaMac and Mike caught up with us to tell them all about their day and to have some drinks and play Skipbo too.

 

The headline act that night was Hector is Magic. It was on at 7pm & 9pm. I absolutely LOVE magic. More than nearly everything.

 

At 5.30pm, we headed to the cabin to get ready, (Mick had a nap) & then we headed to see Hector! There was the six of us, LaMac, Mike, Annette and Julie & us.

It was also White Night party! So we made sure we wore some white... (White never looks good on someone who is as white as me to begin with, lol).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although it was show time, there weren't many people in the audience. Mercedes had come out to announce Hector. She was great. When Hector started his act, that ANNOYING LITTLE BRAT was yelling out things from his seat. Grrrrrrr. If I had popcorn, I would have thrown it at him.

 

 

[Hailzmick]

Hector had a young boy help him on stage. It was funny, as the boy was so cute & had no idea what to do.

 

 

Hector was quite good looking, so even if you didn't like magic, you would have liked watching him lol.

 

 

 

After the show, we still had 30 minutes before dinner, so we went out to the deck to get some pics of the amazing sunset.

 

 

 

 

Dinner was yummy. I had a noodle salad for a starter.

 

 

 

Annette had the steak for a main. Holy wow. It looked amazing!

 

 

 

I had pork for my main. It was amazing and full of flavour.

[sjn911]

Your review has just made me happy...congrats and thanks for sharing such a wonderful trip. I love all the tours and things you did pre and during and that you enjoyed the dining room and Buffet, Solarium, room service, upscale restaurants on ship and shore and that the Chef table was such a hit. A world class hit..you are good judges. I love all the tours you took and seeing as much as possible as well as enjoying those appt stays and self explorations...

 

 

I am so glad you enjoyed the good with any snags..

 

France is fabulous except for the crabs..ie crabby snooty people I know.....you have to make some special frtiends in France..they are hard to find but too cool and you are too cool to forever write it off you list but I licked out and had a weird and wonderful Parisan teacher introducer to doing Paris with behavior tricks and ropes before studies there at 20.. and a home stay family in Normandy..they can judge and get wrong impression and be so snotty i know...but if they like you and you find common ground with a few.....so worth it..the good ones are there,,,but i can not blame your candid expression..I had mean bad ones too..traveling alone a few hotels in southern France wer nightmares..i was budget and solo then....they are worth it though, for art, history, literature, amazing religious and Christian history, antiques, modern clothes, war allies and those that have gratitude for that...and the ones that enjoy beauty and food and joi d'vivre...Just exactly like you...they are there....

 

I mean you know..ones that say endive is a work of art and can cook you an 11 course meal and keep throwing crepes and you and sip cognac and joke all night with..just try in 20 years for the weird gal who posted here..LOL.

 

All like that plus like all the parks and achitecture you just loved especially 20'as stuff.....do not give up forever but i totally appreciate your opinion and what can happen and myself had better times elsewhere and other countries dying to repeat and with better people odds each time. But still met the good ones fought for it in France and have helped some exchange students here.....they are weird and wonderful..they used to be the top of the world and have not been a long time, this understanding helps..another bonus..women are not old there..in a certain way..you are always a mysterious beautiful woman to most French in mostly , usually a polite fantastic way..save this idea in 20 years.....ok end of my opinion..it is just that you are such cute wonderful people you deserve the good ones...please forgive me here lol. i know when the dirt and strkes and all can be too much...i was there 6 months....not each time..but returned once and French came back better than I could imagine... and next time i just know they will be great to me, the good ones i find.....at probably 60 LOL...I am 55 now. Belgium rocks too..

 

You got to so many places I have yet to see..thanks for sharing your love and wonderful, wonderful wonderful travels as a couple in your strength and prime.....it means a lot to us who so gratefully participate in your joy and zest for beautiful travel and food and art and architecture..good times and just everything..thank you...Sarah

Edited July 6, 2015 by sjn911

[Hailzmick]

Your review has just made me happy...congrats and thanks for sharing such a wonderful trip. I love all the tours and things you did pre and during and that you enjoyed the dining room and Buffet, Solarium, room service, upscale restaurants on ship and shore and that the Chef table was such a hit. A world class hit..you are good judges. I love all the tours you took and seeing as much as possible as well as enjoying those appt stays and self explorations...

 

 

I am so glad you enjoyed the good with any snags..

 

France is fabulous except for the crabs..ie crabby snooty people I know.....you have to make some special frtiends in France..they are hard to find but too cool and you are too cool to forever write it off you list but I licked out and had a weird and wonderful Parisan teacher introducer to doing Paris with behavior tricks and ropes before studies there at 20.. and a home stay family in Normandy..they can judge and get wrong impression and be so snotty i know...but if they like you and you find common ground with a few.....so worth it..the good ones are there,,,but i can not blame your candid expression..I had mean bad ones too..traveling alone a few hotels in southern France wer nightmares..i was budget and solo then....they are worth it though, for art, history, literature, amazing religious and Christian history, antiques, modern clothes, war allies and those that have gratitude for that...and the ones that enjoy beauty and food and joi d'vivre...Just exactly like you...they are there....

 

I mean you know..ones that say endive is a work of art and can cook you an 11 course meal and keep throwing crepes and you and sip cognac and joke all night with..just try in 20 years for the weird gal who posted here..LOL.

 

All like that plus like all the parks and achitecture you just loved especially 20'as stuff.....do not give up forever but i totally appreciate your opinion and what can happen and myself had better times elsewhere and other countries dying to repeat and with better people odds each time. But still met the good ones fought for it in France and have helped some exchange students here.....they are weird and wonderful..they used to be the top of the world and have not been a long time, this understanding helps..another bonus..women are not old there..in a certain way..you are always a mysterious beautiful woman to most French in mostly , usually a polite fantastic way..save this idea in 20 years.....ok end of my opinion..it is just that you are such cute wonderful people you deserve the good ones...please forgive me here lol. i know when the dirt and strkes and all can be too much...i was there 6 months....not each time..but returned once and French came back better than I could imagine... and next time i just know they will be great to me, the good ones i find.....at probably 60 LOL...I am 55 now. Belgium rocks too..

 

You got to so many places I have yet to see..thanks for sharing your love and wonderful, wonderful wonderful travels as a couple in your strength and prime.....it means a lot to us who so gratefully participate in your joy and zest for beautiful travel and food and art and architecture..good times and just everything..thank you...Sarah

 

 

Awwwwwwww that's beautiful Sarah! Thanks so much for taking the time to write that to me.

I'm sure the next time we go back to Europe, we will probably have at least one child, so it's safe to say we would go back to France, even just to show them some of the adventures of the world. I hope, if we are lucky enough to have kids, they are born with sea legs, as they'll be cruising from a very early age!

 

Thanks again for your words. Hope you keep reading! :-)

Hailey.

[Hailzmick]

Kusadasi, Turkey

Weather, 87 F/ 31C

Ship's arrival: 8am

All onboard: 5.30pm

Dress suggestion: Casual

 

We woke up early & had a light breakfast in the WJ. It was already really hot... (Once again, I have no idea how they are getting the weather, it was already over the top temp for today!)

Today We were joining someone else's tour... D & J. There was going to be a few of us, (17), so it would be okay.

At our formal meet & greet, D asked where would be the best place to meet. Um, that annoyed me that she hadn't even decided that. I said the Schooner Bar was always a great choice, so we met there around 8.15am, & all walked off the ship together.

As we walked off the ship, there were dancers doing a traditional Turkish dance. It was really cool.

 

 

 

We then walked past a sign, welcoming us. Awwww. Very cool. Thanks Turkey!

 

 

 

Our tour guide met us there, her name was Nec. (Said "Nesh"). She was absolutely lovely and full of life!!! She was so welcoming and kept apologising for her poor English... It was better than a lot of people I know who have English as their first language!!!

 

Nec explained a bit about her town of Kusadasi, (said "Koo sha dar see") & about her people. She was very upfront and said that they would accept any kind of money for payments of goods. We thought her straight up talking was awesome. She didn't beat around the bush and that's how we like it.

 

The port itself was absolutely stunning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hailzmick]

Our first stop was the house of Virgin Mary.

 

 

 

It was at the top of a winding road... I wasn't feeling great by the top we got to the top.

Our mini bus parked and we walked up to the house.

It is said that Mary died here at 64 years of age.

It would have been amazing to do a mass here.

 

 

 

I am catholic, but not practising & Mick isn't either, but I have to admit that there was an amazing peaceful feeling that came over us while we were here. It was weird but awesome!

 

 

 

You weren't allowed to take pics inside the house, which was tiny. It had an alter set up & candles that you could purchase to light up there.

 

 

 

[Hailzmick]

Around the corner there was a mineral natural spring that everyone was filling up their drink bottles. People were collecting it as Holy Water.

 

 

 

Next to it was a big wall where people were writing prayers & wishes on paper and tying them up.

It was amazing to see it all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had some free time to walk around & Nec said to meet us in the Taxi area, where we would all walk back to the bus together. She also told us to try the Turkish Tea.

We found a stall that made it, & it was only .50.

I didn't love it, but Mick sure did. He didn't have any sugar in it. (I'm more of a sweet tooth!) I say, why not try everything that you can!

 

 

 

When we all got back to the bus, Nec asked us all if anyone had tried the Turkish tea. Mick & I were the only ones to put our hands up. I felt disappointed for Nec, but it meant that she instantly liked us, & when we went to all the other places, she spent more time with us explaining lots of different things & just talking about random things too. It was great.

 

Back down the hill we go...

[Hailzmick]

We then went down to the ruins of Ephesus where we were told we would walk from the top to the bottom, get lots of info and it would take about two hours. Nec had asked everyone if anyone had brought an umbrella with them? BOOM, teacher's pet again! Ha ha. It's only because I'm so afraid of getting sunburnt, because it hurts so damn much!!!

 

 

 

There was a cool display, showing us what the town of Ephesus might have looked like when it was a bustling town. To this day, they have only dug up 15% of the town... And there's so much there.

 

 

 

Nec said the government doesn't want to spend more money excavating... I thought that was so weird, and Nec did too, because they would MAKE so much more money in tourism. Oh well.

 

 

 

The poppies were out. They are so amazing. Poppies are symbolic of Remembrance Day, but for us in Australia, they also represent a symbol for ANZAC day too, where our soldiers, (& soldiers from NZ), fought in Turkey.