Day 10: May 9, 2015 - A Gondola Ride, Shopping, and the Dreaded Night Train

We got up pretty early to have breakfast before we had to be out of our rooms at 9:00am. Once we got off the ship with all our luggage, we found a bus that would take us to the train station in Venice. We had to lug all of our luggage across this steep bridge. These guys with little dollies kept coming up to us asking if we wanted help. Mom was a little freaked out giving them our luggage because she thought they would just take off with it haha we finally made it across and into the train station. Our night train didn’t leave until 9:00 that night so we found a place to store our luggage at the train station, bought our train tickets, and went out exploring the city. 

Dad bought a selfie stick! There are guys everywhere selling them so Dad bought a red one haha he kept getting nervous that his phone would fall out of it into the water though. 

The first selfie with the selfie stick.

Me taking a picture of the first selfie with the selfie stick. 

We found a guy to take us on a gondola ride. He had the striped shirt on and the little hat haha Al and I didn’t have any spaghetti to share on our romantic gondola ride but it was still super cool. We had like a 45 minute ride around the city, out into the main part and throughout all the little alley ways. 

Al and I had a very romantic gondola ride. We were missing our shared bowl of spaghetti. Next time, I guess. 

We then started walking and shopping. We did a lot of shopping, like a ridiculous amount haha we bought Italia jackets, including one for baby girl! And we found a Disney store which is a must for the Kemp family. We stopped for gelato several times on our way throughout the city - it was our goal to get gelato 10 times that day. We all got masks and Dad and Cory found some cool quills and notebooks and stuff. WE LOVE VENICE!

We found a place to eat inside where it was a little cooler. We were the only people there. The ceiling was covered in bras (???) and the walls had records and old concert posters and stuff on it, it was a cool and interesting place. We got pizza (obviously) and water. Dad had a hard time with the no ice thing haha and the gas/no gas water (gas means club soda, no gas means just regular water). 

We did some more shopping then headed over to the main square. Mom and Jess hung out on the steps with all of our shopping bags while Dad, Cory, Al, and I ventured into St. Mark’s Basilica. It was under construction so you could only go into parts of it but it was super cool and pretty. 

We made our way back to the train station. We hung out under a bridge for a while. Cory and I were laughing at the boats that drove by that said, “Stops where emotion start” - obviously they used google translate and just decided to trust it blindly and put it on their boats rather than getting a second opinion on the translation haha Mom, Dad, and Jess ventured out to find some snacks and water for the train ride. Al and I played some cards on the disgusting Venice ground. We laughed at pigeons while Cory commented, “I love mocking lesser intelligence.” When Mom, Dad, and Jess returned, we started to head back to the train station which was a good thing because the weather started to get bad - it started to rain when we were in the train station. We got our bags from the storage place and just hung out. We found some wifi and some chocolate - all you need while hanging out in a train station in Venice. 

I have the coolest dad ever. 

Our night train pulled in around 8:15. We found our car and loaded all of our luggage and crap into it. The car was supposed to sleep six people. However, with all of the crap we brought with us and acquired in Venice, there was no way we were going to sleep all six of us. The worker guy on the train came by and offered us another car so we could all sleep which was super nice of him. We spent the first few hours together. 

We were able to get a few hours of sleep. It was at least better than my last night train experience - I was able to lay down and not have the stupid latter smacking my head every two minutes. 

Day 9: May 8, 2015 - The Last Day at Sea and Bingo!

We slept in until around 11:00, we were a little tired I guess. I put my cruise leisure outfit on and we headed out to the top deck to do some reading and sunbathing. I even painted my nails.

I got a little sunburnt again. Jess thought it was funny. 

We just had a chill, relaxing day at sea. Around 4:30, we headed to the Spinnaker Lounge for Bingo! We got six cards, two for each round. It was fun but we didn't win anything. I guess we used up all our luck on Deal or No Deal. 

We then tried to pack up all of our new stuff so we could be up and off the boat at a good time in the morning. I didn't realize how much we had bought until I tried to repack my suitcase. Thankfully, somehow, I got it all to fit. 

Try to focus on all the stuff I bought versus how attractive I look in this picture please. 

As the cruise is coming to a close, I have truly enjoyed it! I wasn't sure about a cruise at first but it ended up being awesome! The water was super smooth and I couldn't feel the boat moving at all. The food was good, I wish they had Dr. Pepper haha some of the entertainment and stuff was a little strange but it was entertaining. My little bunk bed didn't collapse and kill Al so that's good. I think we will definitely be doing another cruise. 

Day 8: May 7, 2015 - The Birthplace of the Olympics and a Greek Genie

We arrived at port at 9:00. We had to meet up with our Shore Excursions Tour at 9:30 and then headed up to Olympia. Once we got there, the tour guide got the tickets and we headed in. It was really hot and my legs were on fire! We went through the ruins and she told us all about the different activities that they used to do. We learned about the huge statue of Zeus that used to be in the temple. We learned that they used to have a separate olympics for women to compete in which I thought was interesting. We saw where they used to keep the torch and the archway where the athletes would enter the amphitheater. We saw the ruins of the gym they would train in. They were a bunch of bugs everywhere that were gross. 

It is a must to race on the ancient olympic track. However, it was way too hot haha so we just pretended and got a few pictures. We had a while to ourselves to look around so we took a few pictures. 

We pretended to box in the gym ruins. Alex had snuck the Gollum bobblehead in to give to Cory and we were taking pictures with it and apparently that is offensive to the Greeks because some worker guy came over and told us to put it away. 

We got some gelato from the little stand and then walked down into the city a little bit. Dad got this super cool chess set - it is circular! 

We got back on the bus and headed back down to the city of Katakolon. There was a street right by the port with lots of shops. We did a bunch of shopping. I convinced Mom that leisure pants are the best things ever and she got a pair. We found a jewelry shop with super cute rings with blue opals and the four girls each got one. 

I found a shop that had Greek dresses but they also had like a Greek jumper and it was the last one. I wanted one ever since I saw a little kid one in Santorini. So I totally bought it, and it is epic! It’s really itchy but it’s hilarious. I like to call it my Genie onesie. 

We shopped for a long time then headed back to the ship. As we were heading back to the ship, this salesman guy on the street asked us where we were from. We said Utah. His response was "I have the Utah bible! Stop by my shop!" Uh thanks? 

We went out on the back deck of the ship and had some snacks. Jess used her Deal or No Deal winnings to buy us all Pina Coladas which were super yummy. We then just chilled and read, took a little nap. I am digging the cruise life! I could get used to this. 

BRAIN FREEZE!

Tomorrow is our last day at sea as we sail back to Venice! Then it's onto Austria!

Day 7: May 6, 2015 - Mykonos and My Legs are on Fire!

The ship pulled into port at 8:00am. We got up, got ready, had breakfast, and headed off the ship around 10:00. The port was a little ways away from the city so we took a little shuttle into the city. The water was amazing! It was so clear and beautiful! We played in the water for a bit then did some shopping. The city was kind of in a u-shape so we made our way around.

It was super cute - while we were in one of the shops, Cory felt baby girl for the first time! It was a special little moment in Mykonos. 

We checked out one of the white chapels with the blue roofs that Mykonos is so famous for.

We then found a spot of beach and hung out for a while. Dad had to change into his swimming suit on the beach AGAIN. Cory fell asleep for a while, we had to cover his knees so they wouldn't get burnt. Like I said before, the water was absolutely beautiful! It was really cold though haha

After a while, Al and I went up to the shops for a bit. I got Mom and I matching Greek dresses, mine in blue, hers in Coral for Mother's Day. We packed up our stuff and headed to a little seaside cafe for lunch. Dad and Cory decided to be adventurous and get something Greek - they got chicken and pork souvlaki. Mom, Al, Jess, and I stuck with cheese pizza haha the waiter was super cute and funny. He even told Mom to enjoy Mykonos and have sex on the beach haha I was able to get a little bit of wifi while we were at the cafe.

After we finished eating, we played in the water a little more then headed back to the shuttle that took us back to the ship. Once we were on the ship and in indoor lighting, I realized my legs were very sunburnt! Haha and they hurt really bad... so Mom and I went to the cruise gift shop and found some aloe which helped.

We decided to eat dinner at the Tucanos-like restaurant. The meat was yummy and they had these really yummy garlic mashed potatoes. The maitre d' found out that Mom was allergic to pork so he kept bringing her out special meat, it was really sweet of him. While we were about to leave the table, Dad said, "Just a second, I'm having a meat orgasm". Sometimes he really surprises me haha we decided to have another hot tub night. I seemed to think that getting in a hot tub with hot water would help my sunburn... ya it killed haha but the pool felt really nice. I absolutely loved Santorini and Mykonos. They were the epitome of Greece for me. They were beautiful and full of fun places and shopping. It was a wonderful day (minus the sunburn)!