Greece 2011

Day 1, Athens

Well after twelve hours at the airport I was finally able to meet up with Leah for the rest of the flight. The flight was smooth and had a great lunch, which include Lamb Biryani and Apricot Crumble. Once we arrived in Athens we caught a cab and headed to my hotel. I got settled in and then we headed out to wander. We were on the lookout for an internet café since the hotel didn’t have any. I also found some great shops to revisit at a later date. We ended our walk at a little café and sat for a while enjoying the weather and a nice drink. Once back at the hotel I was able to realize my amazing view of the Acropolis. Leah ended up being picked up by her friends and I settled in for the night.

Day 2, Athens

So started the day with a small breakfast and a walk around the area, which was so quiet and peaceful. I than caught the bus for my day trip around Athens. We started the tour at the Olympic Center where the first modern Olympics took place. We head then to the New Greek Museum. It was so amazing to see all the items that were found and uncovered at the Acropolis.  After that we walked to the Acropolis, were I met my first new friends two where from Australia and on there honeymoon, the other was from Sri Lanka. The Acropolis was amazing to see so amazing, you can see the history there and how people could have lived when this thrived. After the visit to the Acropolis we walked down to the Old Plaka. We stopped for lunch at a small side café and then I decide to walk back to my hotel. After I wondered around for about an hour I finally broke down and hailed a cab. I was very glad I did, since I seemed to have been walking in the wrong direction. I then decided to head out and start my shopping in town and then back to the hotel for a nap.  

After my nap I went out for another walk, this time I broke down and bought a sweatshirt, since I was cold in Greece. On my walk this time I realized that on almost every street there is either an orange tree or olive tree. I walked and wondered if people can just pick these or if there was a government had some picked them. I ended up in the square to connect to the internet for a while and just sit and watch people and the way they are. Things seem so relaxed and slowed down while I was sitting there, as if people just didn’t have a care in the world. As I sat there I was just thinking about how I could live there and it was a great feeling to just not really be in a rush or worried about things. I then headed back to the hotel for the night and to get ready to head for the boat.                                    

Day 3, Mykonos

Well first day on the cruise, I had decided that I was going to write everything down by day so that I didn’t forget anything. So far no sea sickness, so hopefully I won’t get any, and I didn’t. So what has happened today so far is the all aboard tour. We saw our cabins, check in our cards, and then had the safety drill. I did end up running into another travel that had been on the tour with me the day before. We decided that we would set dinner together for Wednesday night the Gala night. We left port at 11:00 am on time with smooth, beautiful waters to Mykonos.

I decided that I was going to treat myself a little more, so I got a massage and a facial (well needed). I met a lot of people so far on the cruise, most of them interested in the henna I had done before I left. People seem to be drawn to it and wonder where I got it. It actually helped me meet a teacher from Canada, who was there with 40 of her students. I then met three retired teacher at the fashion show, she seemed to be really interested in my story about where I am living and came from. We arrive at Mykonos early and where able to dock. I decided to not get off the boat and take the time to relax and just get used to everything.

Day 4, Kusadasi (Ephesus) & Patmos

So it was an early start to the day, I was up at 6:00 am to make it to breakfast and then started for the mainland at 7:15 am. Ephesus was such a great and breath taking place to see, the old homes and streets and the history that is found in them. I met another teacher from Abu Dhabi that was on the cruise with me, it just shows how small of a world is really is. It was great to get to walk through the street of a town that Cleopatra once walked down. After the visit to Ephesus the tour returned to the city of Kusadasi, where we were all able to walk in the market for a while. I decided to skip watching the Turkish rug being made, since most people just wanted the free drinks. So I walked around the market for a while and then headed to back to the ship. After lunch I went and watch a group of middle school students from Jacksonville, FL perform. It was such a great opportunity for them, and they did an amazing job.

We ported in at Patmos early and where able to dock, so I decided to get off the boat. Glad that I did, I found a lot of great things for people back home. The little village that was right off the boat had tons of neat little shops that I was able to get some great bargains. The trick is that here you have to haggle, which I have been getting better at. I shopped and walked around for about three hours in Patmos.  On my way back to the boat I decide to stop and get some gelato, so I just sat and watched the water. On the boat for the night was Greek Night, so everything had to do with Greece: Greek food, colors, cloths, and a Greek dance show.

Day 5, Rhodes

Again we arrived early, so were able to board the tour bus early. The tour started by heading to the city of Philerimos and the  restore Byzantine church of our Lady of Philerimos, a chapel with 15th century frescoes. It was amazing to see the Byzantine church, there were tons of peacocks all around the church and the sights were just amazing, after the tour headed to the walled city or the Old City. The tour took us into the ruined Castle of the Knights, which was full of mosaic floors and beautiful artworks. After the tour I walked around the city some on my own and did some more shopping. I headed back to the ship after that to relax before Captain’s Dinner.

I have become addicted to the non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiris and reading in my free time. I have been able to finish two books in my free time on the boat. Captain’s dinner was so much fun, it started with a cocktail hour and then to dinner. I didn’t need to dress up as much as I did, but it was still fun too. While we were at dinner, we finally hit some rough sea. So for the first time the boat was rocking back and forth. Lucky for my cabin is lower so I won’t get it as much as the people higher up.

Day 6, Heraklion & Santorini

Today is my free day; we arrived at Crete at 7:00 am again. It was nice since I was able to just get off and walk around. It was a nice little city; I walked with a family that I met the night before. We took a self-walking tour, seeing the chapels and the open air market of the city. We ended the tour at the Museums of Archaeology. It was a small museum, but it was interesting to see how they had rebuilt some of the items that they had found. After that we headed back to the boat and I was able to just relax for a while.

Finally we arrive in the town we had all been waiting for, unfortunately it was cloudy so the view coming into the town wasn’t as good as it could have been. However it was still great to see it all. I went out with two people I met. We tendered over to the island and then took the cable car up to the town. We were not about to take the donkeys up. We walked around the town for a while; it was so interesting to see how this town was just built into the mountain. After returning to the boat, we ate dinner and settled down to watch the talent show. Then it was time to head back to my cabin to pack and be ready to disembark for the morning.

Random Update

Well I was told that it has been long enough and that I needed to update my blog, so here goes. Things here have been just normal everyday life stuff going to school, coming home and doing school work. I did end up having to get rid of the bird; I ended up having a chronic sinus infection that lead to me getting walking pneumonia. I did find him a good home, he moved into another LT’s apartment.

We have had two great get together since I last wrote. The first party was on the sixteen of the month, which was held at Carmela’s. It was great fun we had an Italian valentine day party. We didn’t really think about it good enough, because we all brought some kind pasta and no one brought any bread. It was still a lot of fun, we had dancing and games. It was a great turn out; we are talking about our next one that will happen on the 17^th of March. The second party for the month was last night. It was a surprise birthday party for Ryan down in Liwa. It was a great time we had singing and dancing and just great company.

Well I know it is short but there is my update for what is going on with everything around here. The next one will come after mine time in Greece, yes the countdown has begun T-4 weeks and counting. I am looking forward to the time getting away again and see some more of the world. Until then….

Al Ain

Well I know it has been a while since I have written, but nothing was really going on until I took off for the weekend. School has been challenging for the first part of this term, but it was because of the changes made in the school. My students where moved from one class to another and the hours changed. We sent home the first report cards and parents were not happy. I had several parents in my room, but I think I helped all of them understand the new system.

Well so my fun weekend away, I decided that with everything going on I would take a weekend and head out and see my friend Tonda in Al Ain. Sadly I forgot my camera at home, so the few pictures that I have I stole from her. I left shortly after school on Thursday; it took me about three hours to get there. Once I got there we went to Tea with some other teachers from there. It was nice to hear that we there are similar problems all over the country with the schools and students. However we chatted and just talked about the different things going on in the two areas. After the tea, we headed to a great Moroccan restaurant (yes I ate it and loved it).  After that we headed back to her house and to bed.

On Friday she took me shopping, yes does not sound too exciting, but I was so happy, I got a lot of things that I can’t find in my area. I was also lucky enough to get pizza hut for lunch, again something that excites me. Later that night she took me to Jebel hafeet. It was so neat we drove up to the top of the mountain and was able to see the city lights from up there. Once we came down we stopped at the Hot Springs. It was so neat to see how the locals just pulled out blankets and had night picnics there.

On Saturday again she took me shopping to Spinney’s yeah for stores that aren’t in Madinat Zayed. After that I head back to the real world of teaching. I am looking forward to getting out there again and maybe going to the Zoo. She was going to take me, but real food sounded better, LOL. So my next big adventure will be Greece, so until then I am off.

Egypt

So the great adventure began with us waiting in the airport for twelve hours, yes we were worried about driving somewhere we had never been in the dark, but it ended up okay we all got some sleep and we all had fun joking around.

Once we got to Egypt we had to take a bus ride to Cairo it was three hours, which most of us slept. We then went to the Sphinx light and history show that night. We started the tour on Wednesday, it started with seeing the Cairo Museum, which was nice, but really crowded, after the museum we headed to the to the Papyrus museum where we were taught how to make papyrus paper. We then head to the Pyramids of Giza, they were so beautiful. I was so excited when we got there. I actually was able to walk on the Pyramid of Giza and get my picture taken on it. The pictures I got of it do not do it justice. We wrapped up our day heading to the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. We were all so excited to be able to walk around and shop in the open air market. We were waked around with an armed guard; it kind of felt like being herded like cattle, but it was so much fun.

The next day we had off in Cairo so all of us went back to the bazaar, which was fun, this was the place where I was able to get all my souvenirs. After a long day of shopping where headed back to the Hotel to have some dinner and get cleaned up. After that we headed to the ballet to see the Nutcracker. It was so great to have great friends and to get to see something that reminded me of home.

On Christmas Eve we headed to Alexandria were we toured all day. The drive took us four hours because of the fog, but we were happy with the drive since we saw over nine car accidents on the way, but we were lucky to not have one. Once in Alexandria we headed to the catacomb, then to the roman theater, after that to see the a few more land marks. The day was long so all of us were pretty happy to be back at the hotel once we got there.

On Christmas Day the small group of us headed to the Alexandria Library the Largest Library in the world. It was a great time we walked the whole way there, after visiting we went to a show at the planetarium. After the show we walked back to the hotel, did a little more shopping on the way, once at the hotel we again freshen up and then headed to dinner. We were lucky to find a place that was having a special Christmas dinner. So we ended up having a four course dinner that night with Cream of Mushroom soup, pastier with chicken sauce, roasted turkey and a chocolate Yule log for dessert. After dinner we head back stuffed and packed to head back home.

We headed home on the 26^th of December, I was lucky and got back to my house by 11:00 pm. I was able to unpack and then shower before I headed to bed. I have posted a slide show of some of the pictures from Egypt I hope you all enjoy.

 

Dubai

Wow what a day. I wasn’t expecting to get up and head to Dubai today. I was actually thinking that I would end up here sitting all day watching tv. However that is not the case. At about 11:00 am, my neighbor decided that we needed to go to Dubai. Well we were off.

We started the day at the Dubai Mall largest mall in the world, but a great mall. I got to see the Aquarium, where there were divers and a shark, and I also got some Garrets popcorn.  I finally got to see Christmas decorations up at stores; it was kind of like being home but without the snow. We did a little shopping and tried to get to see the fountains, but they were not running the normal times due to it being a holy day. I was able to see the tallest building in the world. It was such a sight to see, I was amazed at the architecture and the sight of it. We then walked around the mall a while longer and head out.

This is where my fun of the day really started. Thanks to my neighbor we stopped at a pet store to look at a cat that she was hopping was there. Well we got in there and I was looking around and I ended up falling in love with an animal myself. So I bought all the things that I need and we headed home. It was an interesting car ride with her in a box, but we made it the two hours and she was safe. When I got home I was able to set up her cage and let her out of the box. She got away from me and took flight for a little while, however she is now safely in her cage and I can welcome Mac to my family over here.

I think that she is finally calming down and welcoming her new home. She is singing to me at this time and it is great to have. 

The Quick update

Well just a quick update for those who don’t have facebook. This week came and went really fast and with it came some great hassles. We had tons of testing to do in the classroom, I love testing. Well it wasn’t as bad as I thought, however when it came to the mapping we had to do with the testing it was a pain.

Outside of school well that was a different story; things were going well until someone decided to back into my car. Yeah I was at a complete stop, parked in a parking stall and someone backs up and hits me. There was damage to the light, trunk and bumper. I ended up having to wait an hour for the cops to come so that I wouldn’t end up paying for it.

On the upside I got my first Christmas card this week too. I was so excited to see one, thank you Aunt Marilyn. I also broke down and bought the Digital Satellite box, so I now have TV. I am kind of happy I did, it is nice to watch something I don’t own or haven’t seen in a while.

We headed to Morune Dune for something to do, while my house was cleaned today. I got some great pictures and had an amazing time. The four of us packed a lunch and headed out to see the dune. It was laughing and fun the whole time.

National Day Celebration and Parade

So this week has been a week of fun and events. School was only normal for one day, which was Sunday. On Monday we started the week of activities with our National Day Celebration. Let me explain that National Day here is like the Fourth of July for us, except they didn’t win a war. National Day is the day the UAE was founded 39 years ago, yeah the country is that young. Anyways back to the events of the week, our national day celebration was a long one for the kids. We didn’t teach classes that morning since we knew the celebration was going to start at about 9:00. So at about 8:30 they gathered all the students and made sure that they were ready to line up and sit down. It would have been great had the celebration started on time, however it didn’t so we just went with the flow. The celebration finally started at about 11:00, at this time we watch the student demonstrate traditional dance, games, and rituals. They also then went on to show what the UAE is doing today to become more modern. It was great fun.

Yesterday we came to school being told that there would be no teaching for the next two days. We were like okay let’s have fun. So Gayle and I cleaned our rooms and worked on paperwork finally. The students just played in the courtyard. At about 8:30 they lined the students up and put them on the bus. We where head to the parade, which the students were walking in. We were told we could walk with the students if we would like. However we decided to walk in front and see more of the parade. I was quite a sight to see. The Emirates had painted their cars, horse where brought out, and the finest cloths on the girls, after the parade back to school to get the students on the bus to go home.

Today is not much different only about twenty students showed up at school, I am sitting here working on lesson plans which I have finished and not typing this. The students were sent home only 30 minutes after they got here. I just have to wait to be told I can head home. Tomorrow I am having a BBQ party at my house, which should be fun and then we are going to head to the roof of the building to watch the firework and the festivities in town.