Hey everyone-
Just wanted to say thank you for putting up with my emails throughout the summer. I probably went on plenty of rants and endless tangents, but it certainly kept me busy while at sea. I had the time of my life, and coming home has been an interesting transition.
So, thats it.
Love you all
Mark
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
GOLDENEYE
When we left Dubrovnik a few days ago, I was fully content that my summer adventure had come to an end. I was exhausted from travel, and my wallet has never been thinner. The restless spirit that I once possessed in the beginning of the voyage was certainly ready for down time. So I boarded the MV Explorer that evening and watched the Dalmatian Coast fade away. "Mission accomplished," or whatever euphemism fits best.
Right now we are refueling just 50 yards from the coast of Gibraltar. A little history lesson:
My restlessness is back, with an urge to explore that has never been greater. With only 5-6 hours to spend refueling, the Explorer's company was not allowed to leave the boat. Instead, I sat with my iPod on the lower deck and ate my newly purchased tortilla chips, wondering how great it would be to swim to shore. Although the coast is largely populated with refueling tankers and industry, the Explorer is floating in front of a little beach town. The occasion sea-doo passed in front of me, and I wanted to throw my bag of chips at each one of them.
I am spoiled, but come on! A day to wander the coastal mountains of Gibraltar? I'll have to stop by next time.
-Mark
Right now we are refueling just 50 yards from the coast of Gibraltar. A little history lesson:
a British dependency near the southern tip of the Iberian penninsula, at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; pop. 28,000. Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and a military base at the foot of a rocky headland called the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defense, external affairs, and internal security.
My restlessness is back, with an urge to explore that has never been greater. With only 5-6 hours to spend refueling, the Explorer's company was not allowed to leave the boat. Instead, I sat with my iPod on the lower deck and ate my newly purchased tortilla chips, wondering how great it would be to swim to shore. Although the coast is largely populated with refueling tankers and industry, the Explorer is floating in front of a little beach town. The occasion sea-doo passed in front of me, and I wanted to throw my bag of chips at each one of them.
I am spoiled, but come on! A day to wander the coastal mountains of Gibraltar? I'll have to stop by next time.
-Mark
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Mark at Sea
Full days at sea: 2
Days left before USA: 10
Over the course of the summer, the MV Explorer has docked in Norway, Russia, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Egypt, Greece, and Croatia. We arrived in each port around 6am, which means that I would wake up to breakfast with a view of a foreign country. So strange to think that Virginia is the next port of call. It's easy to grow comfortable with this lifestyle, but the return home is well needed.
I am pooped and nearly penniless (the two seem to go hand-in-hand). I spent my last 200 Kuna (Croatian currency - about 40 dollars) on cereal, granola, MILK!, orange juice, and tortilla chips for the 12 day journey home. There are so many little things I look forward to back home, but until then, I plan on enjoying the last of my time with friends onboard.
We are still in the Med, and the weather is great. Seas are calm (but for how long?), sun is shining, classes are almost over, and I have vowed to start getting back into shape. Two months of Euro-travel have certainly taken a toll on Mark's body.
I get home on the 22nd of August, and classes do not start until Sep 25. What to do? Tom Petty at the Verizon, and Styx at the Taste of Newport ("All the women in the fac-tor-E). Of course, I must get money first. Then find a place to live in Westwood. Then figure out UCLA. Yeahhh...
Can't wait to see everybody!
Cheers
Mark
Days left before USA: 10
Over the course of the summer, the MV Explorer has docked in Norway, Russia, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Egypt, Greece, and Croatia. We arrived in each port around 6am, which means that I would wake up to breakfast with a view of a foreign country. So strange to think that Virginia is the next port of call. It's easy to grow comfortable with this lifestyle, but the return home is well needed.
I am pooped and nearly penniless (the two seem to go hand-in-hand). I spent my last 200 Kuna (Croatian currency - about 40 dollars) on cereal, granola, MILK!, orange juice, and tortilla chips for the 12 day journey home. There are so many little things I look forward to back home, but until then, I plan on enjoying the last of my time with friends onboard.
We are still in the Med, and the weather is great. Seas are calm (but for how long?), sun is shining, classes are almost over, and I have vowed to start getting back into shape. Two months of Euro-travel have certainly taken a toll on Mark's body.
I get home on the 22nd of August, and classes do not start until Sep 25. What to do? Tom Petty at the Verizon, and Styx at the Taste of Newport ("All the women in the fac-tor-E). Of course, I must get money first. Then find a place to live in Westwood. Then figure out UCLA. Yeahhh...
Can't wait to see everybody!
Cheers
Mark
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
In Cairo, In Cairo
TURN OF EVENTS
Two nights ago, a bomb exploded in a busy shopping street in Istanbul, killing at least 15 and injuring over 100 others. This occurred while the ship was already well on her way to Turkey, and immediate concern swept all passengers. Personally I did not feel safe going to Istanbul anymore - it was the largest attack they've witnessed in five years. Long story short, ISE has deemed the port to be too dangerous and the MV Explorer has turned around. But where do we go now?
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
In less than 24 hours, I will be in Africa. Sure I'm a bit bummed on not seeing Istanbul (former Constantinople), but hey, I have a feeling this will make up for it. Traveling to Egypt has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I am already signed up for a day trip in which I will be riding camels through a desert resort, taking a jeep safari through the pyramids of Giza, and waltzing through Cairo. Cairo! I promise to bring you all Egyptian trinkets from the bazaar. Can't express how excited I am!
Love
Mark
(ps - recap of Italy will be too long for blog. Look for email)
Two nights ago, a bomb exploded in a busy shopping street in Istanbul, killing at least 15 and injuring over 100 others. This occurred while the ship was already well on her way to Turkey, and immediate concern swept all passengers. Personally I did not feel safe going to Istanbul anymore - it was the largest attack they've witnessed in five years. Long story short, ISE has deemed the port to be too dangerous and the MV Explorer has turned around. But where do we go now?
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
In less than 24 hours, I will be in Africa. Sure I'm a bit bummed on not seeing Istanbul (former Constantinople), but hey, I have a feeling this will make up for it. Traveling to Egypt has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I am already signed up for a day trip in which I will be riding camels through a desert resort, taking a jeep safari through the pyramids of Giza, and waltzing through Cairo. Cairo! I promise to bring you all Egyptian trinkets from the bazaar. Can't express how excited I am!
Love
Mark
(ps - recap of Italy will be too long for blog. Look for email)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Found
There are few times in my life where stop to think "can it really get better than this?" Its nearing midnight, and I asked myself this very question a few hours ago. Choosing Semester at Sea was quite possibly the best decision of my life, and I think everyone deserves a shot at traveling with the MV Explorer sometime in their lives. I cannot wait to see you all in a month!
Look for a great summary of Italy in a few days. I am still trying to digest it all, and it tastes good. Damn good. Like fresh cheese and fine wine.
Love
Mark
Look for a great summary of Italy in a few days. I am still trying to digest it all, and it tastes good. Damn good. Like fresh cheese and fine wine.
Love
Mark
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Lost at Sea
Right now I have never wanted to see California more - its been more than a month on the ship, and my brain has been going 1000 mph since we started. Right now I'm just physically and mentally exhausted, and would love a change in pace. I'm in this "funk" most likely because we have midterms on the ship right now, and nothin' puts me in a funk like school in summatime. Fat Albert & The Gang know what I'm talkin' about. Anyway - I have no reason for such thoughts because I will have a full month at home once this is all over. I will be sleeping the entire time!
We have been trailing down the coast of Portugal for the past day - no sight of land, but in approximately 1 hour we will pass through the Straight of Gibraltar, thus squeezing through Spain and Morocco and entering the Med! I have been dreaming about this for some time now, and I can't wait until we arrive in Italy.
It's incredibly difficult to cram Italy down to 4 days, for obvious reasons. You have Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast to the south of our port, and to the north lies Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and dozens of world-famous coastline (not to mention the picaresque islands off the coast). So far I plan on spending the first 2 days in Rome (because... you have to go to Rome, right?), then the 2nd half of my stay is uncertain. Who knows. Maybe Florence, maybe some coastal stuff, but in any case I aim to have a good time.
Lat 53.7N
Long 3.2W
Speed 23.2 knots
update from later in the night -
We passed through Gibraltar, and it was perhaps one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Stood on the back deck and saw Africa on one side (Morocco) and Europe on the other (Spain). I could taste the salt blowing from the Mediterranean - we have finally made it!
We have been trailing down the coast of Portugal for the past day - no sight of land, but in approximately 1 hour we will pass through the Straight of Gibraltar, thus squeezing through Spain and Morocco and entering the Med! I have been dreaming about this for some time now, and I can't wait until we arrive in Italy.
It's incredibly difficult to cram Italy down to 4 days, for obvious reasons. You have Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast to the south of our port, and to the north lies Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and dozens of world-famous coastline (not to mention the picaresque islands off the coast). So far I plan on spending the first 2 days in Rome (because... you have to go to Rome, right?), then the 2nd half of my stay is uncertain. Who knows. Maybe Florence, maybe some coastal stuff, but in any case I aim to have a good time.
Lat 53.7N
Long 3.2W
Speed 23.2 knots
update from later in the night -
We passed through Gibraltar, and it was perhaps one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Stood on the back deck and saw Africa on one side (Morocco) and Europe on the other (Spain). I could taste the salt blowing from the Mediterranean - we have finally made it!
Friday, July 18, 2008
I AMsterdam
I took the above pictures using the crappy Photobooth camera on my computer - they were taken on the 2 days of crossing through the Kiel Canal, which separates Denmark and Germany. I was able to sit in class and watch the German countryside roll by outside - absolutely breathtaking. The inter-port journey continued along the coast of Holland until we reached...BELGIUM
* Shortly after watching the Colin Farrell movie, In Bruges (which sucked hard and convinced me to stay away from Bruges at all costs), the MV Explorer arrived in Antwerp rather early. I could have left the ship at midnight, but we had to wait around until the ship was cleared by customs at 8am. The sleep proved to be well necessary for the 3 nights that followed, where I slept for a combined total of four hours (maybe).
* Antwerp the first day: beautiful, smaller-scale city that boasts of diamonds, chocolates, beer, and french fries with mayo. I ate and drank my way around the city, and spent a good portion of the day riding a tandem bike with Jeff and my roommate. I'm truly surprised that we didnt cause any car accidents during our reckless tour de antwerp while riding tandem. It was hilarious.
* Following morning: hopped on a train to Amsterdam. For weeks I had been convinced that my travels would stay within Belgium, but Holland called out my name so I answered. Amsterdam is incredible; canals divide up the city into difficult-to-navigate little streets, the architecture is beautiful, the bars are so old, and there is so much history and diversity. After a long day of touring the city, getting lost, meeting random Dutch girls who showed me around, crashing a fancy SAS dinner, and eating sandwiches with peanut sauce, something incredible happened: Mr Max Ukropina himself arrived at Central Station. We stayed awake almost all night (considering he arrived at 12:30am, we had some things to accomplish), and we managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep
* Day three: Max and I hopped on a train to Brussels. Amsterdam was fun, but it was ready to move on to something different. We checked into our hostel (which was nicer than most hotels I have stayed in thus far), and then began the journey that I have been dreaming about for months: retracing the steps of Zane Lamphry during his infamous Three Sheets episode of Belgium. Watch that video if you have the time and you will pretty much see exactly what I did in that night, which included: eating Mussels in Brussels, meeting the angry bartender at Le Mort Subite, drinking several beers at Delirium Cafe (which boasts 2600 in total - the world record), and eating waffles topped with chocolate, bananas and ice cream.
* Day four: woke up feeling like I had been tackled by a football team, one by one. Max and I managed to squeeze in a few hours of Brussels sightseeing during the midday and early afternoon, then it was time to go out separate ways. He then headed off to Paris for an extended holiday, and I returned to Antwerp to meet up with my favorite Belgian girl named Kissy. She works as a bartender and graciously treated me to my final Belgian beer of the trip (wish I remember the name... but it was delicious and thought provoking). The bar played "Hey Jude" and the Beatles never sounded so good. We then walked back to the ship together, and I said my goodbye with a deteriorated voice (its currently non-existant).
In summary, those 4 days in port felt like 1 really, really long day. After nearly 12 hours of sleep, I am still ready for a nap or two. Enjoyed myself to the fullest and I cannot wait until Italy!
love
mark
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