I'm writing this introduction right after I just finished writing the post about both vacations. By now you guys know that some of my posts can be rather long, but this post turned out to be unbearably long, I guess sometimes I go a little overboard with the details. Ha! Get it? ... cruise ship ... overboard ... Well, I thought it was funny. Hey, I'm tired and it's really late, I also didn't bother to proofread it, so if you come across any typos just ignore themm. <----- Uh, I said ignore that. Anyway, I've divided it into a short and long version, you can choose which, if any, you want to read.
The short version.
IT WAS AMAZING!
The long version.
We went to Florida on Sat. the 14th, and that week we visited Universal and Disney a few times, and did some shopping as well. We finally got to meet Karoleen, and she is so cute and precious! My mother cried when she held her first great grandchild, it was a very touching moment. It was also nice to watch her getting along with my older sister, as they usually don't talk to each other much. It was now June 20th, the day had arrived, my grandaunt Millie's hundredth birthday! It's hard to put into words how much she means to me. I didn't really know any of my grandmothers well, so Millie was always like a grandmother to me, and I have always loved her. We were at my aunt and uncle's house where she lives, and we got up early that morning to get everytbody ready. Some family members got there earlier in the week like us, and some of them showed up that day at the house, while others decided to meet up at the venue for the celebration.
I had previously mentioned that they had booked a outdoor venue for the event, but it was raining that morning so they moved it inside to the banquet hall. Some of the family was complaining about the rain, and Millie called them a bunch of... uh, well, I can't type that here, but I'm sure you can guess the word she used. She said that the rain is a blessing from the Lord, and that it rained the day that she was born, so she thought it was perfect weather for this day, and that she hopes it rains like Hell at her funeral, because then we will know she is at peace. It's funny that she said that because it was raining hard the day we buried my grandfather.
As everybody started to arrive it was nice to reconnect with relatives that we haven't seen in years. I saw cousins there that moved out of the country when we were kids, and it was great talking with them and getting to introduce our kids to each other for the first time. I honestly don't know exactly how many of us were there, but there were still some family members that couldn't attend, and the place was almost full. There was a small stage where Millie was sitting, and some of the family were cheering for her to give a speech, my aunt handed her the microphone, and with her typical dark sense of humor she said... Why can't you people just let me die? Some people laughed, others seemed upset or confused, I just smiled. Then she said that this is what Heaven must be like because being there with her whole family together made her feel like she was already watching over us. Then she yelled out ... now where's my damn cake?
I guess it was a slow news day because the local news station showed up to do a story on her birthday. The woman interviewing her asked her what life was like a hundred years ago, and Millie, being the quick witted person that she is said... I don't know, I was a baby a hundred years ago, so I don't remember it. Then she asked the reporter, Do you remember being a baby? The reporter laughed, and so did everybody else. The celebration lasted only a few hours there before they decided to wrap up. Some family members went straight back home after the event, while the rest of us went back to Millie's place to continue the celebration. By the time we got there the rain had stopped and everybody wanted to have the party in the front and backyard and grill some meat, so we were out there celebrating with Millie for awhile. To be honest, I didn't know how she still had so much energy, she got up at 5am before most of us, and it was now 5pm and she was still going.
Around 7pm I saw Millie go inside, I waited a few minutes and then went in to check on her, she was sitting in the living room staring out the window and watching everybody outside, but she looked sad, so I asked her if she was alright, she patted the seat beside her inviting me to sit with her. She then leaned against me and told me that she was very happy to have everybody here for this day, but that she was thinking about the people that weren't there, the people that she has buried in her life, including her parents, siblings, her husband, and her kids. She said she isn't sure why she's still here and they aren't, or even what the good Lord's plan for her is, but she is grateful that she has been here for the rest of her family, to watch us grow and start our own families, and that she loves us all more than we will ever know.
I sat there for almost a hour talking with her about life and other things, and I am thankful that I got do that. I guess everybody was enjoying the party, because nobody else came inside the whole time. She said that she is glad that I found a decent woman, and how much she loves my kids, and that we are doing great with them, how Sam is growing into a bright young woman, and she said that Phoebe reminds her of her mother, a take no BS kind of girl. She said the world belongs to them, and that I should make sure that they always know that, I told her that I will. Then she told me she was going to sleep so I got up and gave her a kiss, she then reached up and pulled my cheeks just like she used to do when I was younger, and I'll tell you, for a woman that is a hundred years old, she still has one Hell of a grip.
Most of the family headed back home that night, but we were still there until Sun. The next morning I got up early around 6am and was surprised when I saw Sam up at the kitchen table by herself. She said that Millie woke her up early to talk with her, and some things she said to her were kind of scary, and then she asked me if Millie was going to die soon? I told her that inevitably, one day she would, and that's why we should appreciate the time we have with her. Then she told me that Millie gave her some things, we went to the living room and she showed me a small container, I looked inside and I couldn't believe what I saw, there was some of Millie's favorite things that she had her whole life. I didn't know what to say, I knew how important they were to her, and for a moment I thought about giving them back to her, but I wouldn't dare insult her that way. I also knew that she could have picked any one of her relatives to give them to, and I was honored that she chose to give them to Sam. We went out later to do some more shopping, and that night we had a nice family dinner with everybody that was still there, and the next morning we got ready to go back home.
I don't know if it's just me, maybe I'm just more sensitive than other people, but I seem to notice the things in life that others don't, maybe it's because I can remember almost everything I've ever experienced, but sometimes I swear that if you pay attention to the little details that certain things will reveal themselves to you. That morning we were leaving it was very windy outside, and Millie said to me "Always listen to the wind in the trees, it always has something to say". When I heard that I immediately flashed back to when I was 8 years old and I remembered that was one of the last things that my grandfather, her brother, said to me before he died. A chill ran over me, and I started to think was this a message from my grandfather? It's possible that it's something they grew up with together since it's her brother, though in the whole time I've known my grandaunt I haven't ever heard her say that before now. Was this her subtle way of telling me that this was the last time that we would meet in this world? I have no idea, but I drove away that day with a unusually peaceful feeling around me, as if she was telling me not to worry about her.
Then we were back here for a week to wrap up things before leaving for the other vacation. When we got back there was a message from the school waiting for us, apparently they were upset that we took the kids out of school for a whole week so close to the end of the school year, even though we informed them before leaving that we would be doing so. I told the woman on the phone to check with the principal because she was already aware of it, she put me on hold and then came back and said she was sorry for the misunderstanding, but then she said that next time it would be better if the kids wait until summer holidays to go on vacation. I told her that we were visiting my grandaunt for her hundredth birthday and if that isn't a good reason for skipping a week of school then I don't know what is. I said that I don't know why it's such a issue, it's a week of grade school and it isn't going to affect their grades, I mean it's not like it's high school. The moron stuttered and then hung up. Oh well, I guess you can't teach common sense to stupid people.
The cat is looking at me in a unusual way right now, I think that she's angry because we didn't bring her with us.
On the morning of July 1st I got up at 4am and took care of the last few details before I gave everybody their wake up call at 5am. We agreed that we would all be at the airport by 6am, but of course, some of them showed up late like usual, but thankfully we somehow managed to get the 16 of us boarded in time for the 9am departure. It took just over 8 hours to get from here to Italy, we landed in Milan at 11pm local time and by the time we got out of the airport and checked into the hotel it was 2am there. The next morning everybody was up at 9am and ready to explore. This is where I'm probably going to start sounding like a broken record, but I will try not to repeat the same words over and over to describe every single place that we visited, that is to say that while each place offered it's own unique experience, they each left you in absolute admiration of their beauty.
The first place we visited was the Duomo, this is the most famous, and in my opinion, most beautiful Cathedral I've ever been in. Then we went to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, again, another example of some impressive architecture. This place was filled with some expensive shops and cafes. Then we went to Santa Maria delle Grazie, this was another church, but this is where they have the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, and the feeling you have standing in front of it is something that is almost impossible to put into words. The last place we went to in Milan was the Castello Sforzesco, this was a large castle that has some of the most beautiful art in the region.
The next day we headed to Venice, unfortunately we didn't get to spend too much time there because we had to travel to Rome to board the ship in 2 days, but we did get to visit the Teatro La Fenice, this is one of Europe's most famous opera houses, we went on a tour and I can say that this place was gorgeous. We also went to Rialto Bridge,
this is the oldest bridge across the Grand Canal, it's surrounded by some beautiful views and a busy market, we also got to take a gondola ride along the canals. It's just a shame that we only had a few hours there.
Are you bored yet?
We then travelled to Rome, and I don't even know how to describe this place, I think that to simply call it beautiful would almost be insulting, I think the word majestic is more suitable, though I'm sure there is still a better word to describe it, but I can't think of it right now. First we visited the Colosseum, probably the most iconic symbol of ancient Rome, it was absolutely overwhelming to be standing there. We then went to Vatican City, where we saw St. Peter's Basilica, they told us that it was one of the largest churches in the world, and from what I saw, I don't think you can argue with that. The last stop in Rome was the Sistine Chapel, this is where Michelangelo's frescoes are, including the iconic ceiling, which is considered to be one of the greatest works of art in history. We were in Rome for a day and a half, and again, that wasn't enough time to experience everything the way it was meant to be. I could tell that Sam was enchanted by being there and she didn't want to leave, so I promised her that I will bring her back there when she's older.
Then on the 5th we travelled from Rome to the port in Civitavecchia to board the cruise ship. When we saw the rooms that the rest of the family would be in we were blown away by how glamorous they were. But then my wife and I saw the suite that we were in and it was so luxurious that it made the other rooms look like a crappy motel. The ship sat there for a few hours while everybody boarded, then when it was time to set sail, the people on the port waved at the passengers on deck and there was a huge celebration with confetti just like in the movies. Shortly after that, everybody was required to meet in the main hall for orientation, where they went over the safety regulations, as well as what passengers should expect on the trip. We were certainly impressed by how entertaining the presentation was, and how well the crew was treating everybody on board. We went back to our rooms and got settled in, and then we got ready for the dinner party.
As I mentioned, the day we boarded the ship was also Phoebe's birthday. That night at dinner we had informed the staff that it was her birthday and they went out of their way to make it a unbelievable experience for her. She was wearing a pink gown and a shiny tiara, she was absolutely stunning. They had announced that it was her birthday, and everybody in the dining room sang happy birthday to her. I swear to you that it felt like I had stepped out of my body in that moment, as if I was watching a movie, I saw how happy she was as she was blowing out the candles, and it felt like time stood still, and it is something that I will remember forever.
People came up to her the whole night and they were so sweet to her, they started calling her Princess Phoebe, and everybody called her that for the rest of the cruise. My annoying niece, the one I told you about that judges people by what they wear, was probably jealous of the attention that Phoebe was getting, and she started making snarky comments towards her, Phoebe just laughed at her and shot back with perfect sarcastic insults and she didn't let it bother her, but my niece was so angry she looked like she was about to start a fight, but my brother pulled his kid aside and said something to her and she behaved for the rest of the trip.
That same evening at dinner we met a very sweet older couple in their 70s, Harold and Mary. They are from the Boston area, and they told us that they don't have any kids. They spent most of the cruise hanging out with my mother and my mother-in-law, and we will definitely be staying in touch with them. They came over and introduced themselves while Phoebe was celebrating and said that they wanted to meet the birthday girl, a few minutes later they excused themselves and said that they would be back shortly. It was unknown to us at the time, but they wemt to the jewelry store on the ship to get a present for Phoebe, they soon returned and gave her a small package. When she opened it everybody gasped at what we saw, it was a beautiful gold necklace with a large ruby in the center. Normally, we wouldn't accept such a extravagant and expensive gift, but when we saw the way Phoebe lit up when she saw it, we didn't want to ruin the moment for her, so we didn't say anything and decided to let her keep it.
We later approached the couple and offered to pay them for it, but they wouldn't hear anything of it. They said it was a gift for her and they want her to enjoy it, and they absolutely refused to accept any payment for it. Out of curiosity, I went to the jewelry store to ask how much it was... let's just say that her first car will probably be cheaper than the necklace was. We told her that she had to leave it in the safe in the room for the rest of the cruise, and we joked with her that she couldn't wear it again until she gets married, and THAT was just the first day of the cruise.
Over the duration of the cruise we enjoyed the attractions offered on the ship, most of the younger family members spent their time by the pool, at the arcade, and singing karaoke in the lounge. While us adults saw some performances and did a little gambling. The ship also stopped at a few ports on the way to Greece, we would only stop for a few hours in some places, and up to 8 hours in other places to give guests some time to explore the different cultures in the region.
On the 8th we arrived in Greece. I don't care what anybody says, no matter how many pictures and videos you have seen, they can't do justice to the beauty that you will witness when you're there. The Parthenon in Athens is a absolutely unbelievable work of architectural art that has to be experienced in person. As I mentioned before, my wife is part Greek, and this was the first time that she, and some of her family members have ever visited their ancestral home, and it was very emotional for them. The country had so much to offer, from their culture, to their cuisine, and the people there were so friendly to visitors. The ship was only docked there for a day, and that honestly wasn't enough time there. So it was back on the ship, and we were going to Turkey, with a few more stops along the way.
The 11th was my mother's 70th birthday, and again it was a celebration in the main dining room, one of the staff joked with us and asked how many more family members have a birthday this month? When I told her that I knew of at least 20 family members born in July, including both my kids, she thought I was joking at first, but I told her that I was serious, and she said that we should contact Guinness World Records.
I danced with my mother in the ballroom that evening, and then we went for a walk on the deck. We stood at the back of the ship and watched the trail of ripples in the water slowly fade as the ship moved ahead. We didn't say anything to each other for a few minutes, and then she started to cry, and she began apologizing for what we went through when we were younger. I told her that it wasn't her fault, and that we don't blame her for the way it went. Then she said that she must have done something right because I became a better man than she could have ever hoped for. Hearing that got me emotional as well, and I gave her a kiss and a long hug, and we went back inside to the party.
Man, I've been typing for awhile ... I'm hungry.
The next day we arrived in Turkey at the port in Kusadasi, the final stop on the cruise. We had to wait for 2 hours after the ship docked before they would let the passengers leave, I guess it's to give everybody time to make sure they have everything before they leave the ship. After that we went to the hotel to check in, and then we went out for dinner. I'm going to be honest with you, I didn't know what to expect from this country, and I thought it would be the least interesting place of the trip because they ended the cruise there, but I was certainly wrong about that, and I think that people often underestimate the beauty of the region there. We had 3 days there before we had to leave, and I know that I've already said this, but it wasn't enough time to explore everything there.
We traveled to Ephesus first, this is a beautiful ancient city with ruins representing both Roman and Greek history. Then we went to Troy, the legendary city from Homer's poems. The most interesting place we went to was Gobekli Tepe, this is considered to be the world's oldest ancient structure dating back to the Neolithic period. Then we went to Istanbul to visit Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, a nice marketplace to experience the local culture. I think that the country was absolutely beautiful and their ancient historical destinations were simply unbelievable to experience in person, each place we visited was more impressive than the last, and we wanted to stay longer but it was the 15th, and it was time to fly home.
So here I am writing this, and I can say that I will forever be grateful that we got to have this experience, and we will always cherish the memories we made during our adventures this summer. I'm also thankful that I got to spend more time with my kids, I'm watching them shape their own individuality and personalities into the people that they will eventually become, and that is something that I treasure more than any words can express.
I truly loved the cruise ship and everything they had to offer guests, the staff treated everybody great, and they made sure that we enjoyed our time onboard. The only thing I would do different next time is travel to each of these destinations individually, as the itinerary of the cruise limited the time we had to explore everything these beautiful countries had to offer visitors. I can honestly say that the people in every place we visited were so friendly to us, and the hotels we stayed at in both countries were like palaces. By the way, they say that vacation s-e-x is the best s-e-x ... it's true! I just thought that I'd mention that.
We left here with 16 people and 22 pieces of luggage, but between us we got so many souvenirs that we had to get another 8 suitcases just to hold them. I also got a pair of beautiful statues that I had to ship back here by courier, they should be here soon.
I only wish that Millie could have joined us on the cruise, but it wouldn't be worth it to risk her safety, we have already called her since we got back to tell her about the whole experience, and we will be sending them the pictures and videos soon. I'm also thankful for the cloud, we shot so much footage and pictures that we were always running out of space on our devices. I can't even imagine what it would have been like back in the old days with a camcorder and a regular camera, you would have had countless tapes and rolls of film.
Oh yeah, the family pets are fine, we left them with one of our employees, she's a animal lover and she took excellent care of them, we are definitely going to be giving her something extra for that. The only complaint I have about the trips is the airports, I know those measures are in place to make sure that everybody is safe, and they are necessary in the world we live in today, but they suck. Well, that's everything I could remember for now, I hope the Google bots enjoyed reading this.
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