From Venice to Barcelona: Part 1
Venice, Italy

Being a Peace Corps Volunteer means living without a lot of basic conveniences; like running water, a toilet, or reliable electricity. So, when my parents asked me where I wanted to go for a vacation, I said I didn’t really care as long as I had those “luxuries.” When they mentioned a Mediterranean cruise that would include 5 different countries (6 counting the Vatican)…I was sold!

We began our journey in Venice and stayed in a hotel on the Grand Canal for a few days. Since I would be flying in from Ethiopia and my mom and dad would be arriving jet-lagged from the States, it was nice to start our trip very relaxed. Venice was simply charming. Sitting by the canal while eating pasta and listening to Italian music floating through the air, what’s not to love? The entire time I was there I kept pinching myself because I felt like I was in a movie. I had just arrived from Ethiopia, so I was having a bit of culture shock. I had literally hopped off of a plane from a third world and was escorted onto a boat to shuttle me to the hotel, riding through the Grand Canal. It was completely surreal, and this was just the beginning!

Our trip was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Each port had something new and exciting to offer. Ethiopia was the first overseas travel I had experienced, so I was so excited to see so new countries, works and arts, ruins, and meet so many people. Since we were on an international cruise, some of the coolest experiences were actually meeting people on the cruise ship from all over the world. There were so many countries and languages represented on our ship, carrying 2,018 guests and 962 amazing crew members. We were on the Norwegian Spirit and it was an exceptional experience from the very moment we stepped aboard. From start to finish, the crew constantly reminded us that we were on vacation and that it was their job to take care of us. It made it a truly relaxing time away from the stress of my Peace Corps life.

Our Itinerary (future blog posts to follow):
Venice, Italy
Athens, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Istanbul, Turkey
Ephesus, Turkey
Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, Italy
Pisa and Florence, Italy
Rome, Italy
Toulon, France
Barcelona, Spain

—-ALL photographs, designs, and text, are licensed by Cundiff Creative Photography and Graphic Design and are not to be used for commercial use or modified. License permits others to copy and distribute my work provided you give Cundiff Creative full credit and follow the above specifications.