Wow I hadn’t taken the time to post anything new since I returned from my trip. It’s more like I didn’t want to change anything because I loved the Europe theme I had up hahaha

We had a great time on our few day out at sea on the Carnival Magic, talk about relaxing on one amazing ship. I can’t wait for my next cruise. When we arrived in Spain we took advantage of spending some extra time in Barcelona.

This trip was awesome, being with my brother and his family was priceless. Visiting so many destinations in Europe was amazing, I wouldn’t of changed anything even if I could… thats right not even the getting lost parts! lol

Since I returned I also went on a traveling spree where I visiting several cities and family and friends. I’ll post some of those pictures later on.

What I never completed was my goal to post all my pictures on the site. I left off on 2003 but I have many more years to go. So I will note it here that this is my goal this year to finish updating my site until have added and album for every year from 2004 to 2011. My second goal for this blog this year is to add dozens of pictures my mom has scanned, these are old and very old family pictures.

So stay tuned for much more to come.

I will be out at Sea on August 23-25

I just left Venice, Italy and I am now sailing the Mediterranean Sea all the way around Italy until we arrive to Barcelona, Spain, where we will enjoy a few more day of our vacation as the end of it crepes on closer. Even though we still have a few more days out at sea and in Spain, I still have over a week of vacation left.

I will be sailing the following seas: Adrictic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea and Balearic Sea. All what are considered arms of the Mediterranean Sea.

I hope you have so fare enjoyed the pictures and videos I have posted. I might post a few Friday and by Monday everything I will post from Europe should be up. Once I return home I plan on making a video that I’m sure will be nice to see. So keep checking for updates.

Arrivederci!

I will be in Venice on August 22-23

Venice, need I say more? But I will… Vanice is a city in northern Italy and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of the whole Comune of about 270,660. The city historically was the capital of the Venetian Republic. Venice has been known as the “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”. The New York Times described it as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”.  Venice was also described by the Times Online as being one of Europe’s most romantic cities.

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. Transportation within the city remains, as it was in centuries past, entirely on water or on foot. Venice is Europe’s largest urban car-free area, unique in Europe in remaining a sizable functioning city in the 21^st century entirely without motorcars or trucks. The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although it is now mostly used for tourists, or for weddings, funerals, or other ceremonies.

Interesting Fact: The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland. Under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay. It is petrified as a result of the constant flow of mineral-rich water around and through it, so that it becomes a stone-like structure. The piles penetrate a softer layer of sand and mud until they reach the much harder layer of compressed clay.

Some recent studies have suggested that the city is no longer sinking, but this is not yet certain; therefore, a state of alert has not been revoked.

Check out the live streams for pictures and video from Venice.

I will be in the Adriatic Sea on August 21

Today is a Fun Day at Sea! Since my vacation started at the beginning of the month this is the first day were I can get some R&R. Today will be a day out at sea and we will be able to enjoy the fabulous Carnival Magic ship.

With the warn weather, we can lie out in the sun by the Waterworks water park or the pool and just relax. But that is not the only thing to do on the ship; it’s full of activities, places to be and things to do.

After a day of rest tomorrow we will be enjoying a full day in Venice, Italy. In other words we won’t be getting away from water that much.

Because we are out at see no photos or videos will be uploaded until tomorrow.

Carnival Magic Highlights

Gross Tonnage: 130,000 tons

Length: 1,004 feet

Cruising Speed: 20 knots

Guest Capacity: 3,690 (double occupancy)

Total Staff: 1,386

Some of the Carnival Magic areas:

SportSquare, RedFrog Pub, Cucina del Capitano Restaurant, WaterWorks, Serenity Retreat, Ocean Plaza, Cloud 9 Spa, Delectable Dining, Pools, Big Screen open air Theater, Camp Carnival and Casino.

I will be in Dubrovnik on August 20

Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its population was 43,770 in 2001,down from 49,728 in 1991. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The prosperity of the city of Dubrovnik has always been based on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages, as the Republic of Ragusa, also known as a Maritime Republic (together with Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, Venice and other Italian cities), it became the only eastern Adriaticcity-state to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. Although demilitarised in the 1970s with the intent of forever protecting it from war devastation, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by Serb-Montenegrin forces for 7 months and heavily damaged by shelling.

During my visit here I’m thinking of maybe taking an excursion to the delta of the Neretva River, one of the best preserved wetlands in Europe, home to numerous species of birds and fish. Cruising the river in a ladja (local wooden boat)… hmm Then returning and checking out the city shops of Dubrovnik.

Unfortunately because I will be in the country of Croatia and in a remote area I will not be able to live stream pictures. So I will have to upload them until I arrive in Venice, Italy.

Just left the port of Messina, Italy. I will be cruising the sea of Ionian tonight on my super Yacht. Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. Tomorrow I will be taking a break from Italy and dock in a new country.

Come back tomorrow to see what port I’m docked at.

I will be in Messina on August 19

Messina (Sicily) is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy. It has a population of about 250,000 inhabitants in the city proper and about 650,000 in the province. It is located near the northeast corner of Sicily.

Messina is known for its churches, fountains, museums and other landmarks like the San Ranieri lighthouse, Botanical Gardens etc.

Check out the Live Streams for pictures and video.

I will be in Naples on August 18

Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country’s west coast by the Gulf of Naples, lying between two notable volcanic regions. Naples is known internationally for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy and has played an important political and cultural role on the Italian peninsula and beyond throughout its 2,800 years of existence. Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The historic city centre of Naples is the largest in Europe, covering 1,700 hectares. Naples has been the capital of duchies, kingdoms and one Empire and has consistently been a major cultural center with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of the Naples are numerous sites of great cultural and historical significance, including the Palace of Caserta, Pompeii, and Herculaneum.

During my visit I will be visiting Pompeii. Pompeii is considered to be one of the world’s finest examples of an ancient roman town. The history of this town was buried by ash and pumice stone in 79 AD and it was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery. Twenty thousand people lived in this provincial town, of which 2,000 perished in the horrifying eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Much of the twenty feet of ash and pumice stone that covered Pompeii has been removed during the last 200 years to reveal all the details of everyday life that was frozen in time.

If you have never heard of Pompeii it’s an interesting story, so read up.

During my visit in Naples I want to visit Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri.

Don’t forget to check the live streams for pictures and videos.

I will be in Rome on August 17

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country’s largest and most populated city and commune, with over 2.7 million residents in 496 sq mi. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River.

Rome’s history spans two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, which was dominant power in Western Europe and the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea for over seven hundred years from the 1^st century BC until the 7^th century AD.

During our visit in Rome we will be in Rome all day and visit land marks like the different Piazza’s, monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Trevi Fountain and maybe the museum, basically sight seeing throughout the city.

It will be a long day but make sure to check out the live streams to see pictures and videos uploaded throughout the visit.

I just left Savona, Italy and I am currently out at Sea in the Ligurian Sea. Tomorrow I will wake up at the port of Civitavecchia, Italy were we will take the train to the capital of Rome and spend the day there.

So come back tomorrow  morning California time to go site seeing with me in… the capital of Italy.  I hope you know your geography hahaha.