Disney Cruise Part 1

This has been declared the summer of Jones family fun and so we started it by going on a Disney cruise to the Mediterranean.

School let out on June 3rd and June 5th we were off. We left early Sunday morning. Barcelona, Spain was our first destination. We arrived early Monday morning and our hotel check in wasn't until 2:00 pm. We were all so tired but we needed to stay awake. Our goal was at least 7:00 pm. First thing we noticed was that everyone and their dog smoked. Also, no one followed any traffic rules. It was crazy!!! We walked around for awhile but since we were so tired that we decided to jump on a tourist bus and ride around the city. It was so fun. The problem was a few minutes into it the kids fell asleep. They missed seeing Columbus statue, were the Olympic games were held, some castles, an amazing looking mall, were Barcelona's soccer team plays and some amazing buildings. We got off the bus right at 2:00 so we went to our hotel room and thought we would take a nap. All of us fell right to sleep. We woke up at 10:00 pm Barcelona time and ate dinner and then back tot he hotel for more sleep. The next day we got up and walked around. We saw a few things that made us realize we were not in our bubble anymore. We then ate at Hard Rock Cafe. That was fun, it was my only hope for a Mt. Dew because they sold pepsi but nope. After, we got on the buses again and went on a different tour. Once again the kids fell asleep. This tour was by the beaches and all the cool architectures there.

The next morning was the day we got on the ship. As we drove up to the Ship, the kids couldn't believe how big it was. Their eyes were way big!!! We finally got onto the boat and it was amazing. We went to our room and then went and found food. The first night we spent thinking we had to hurry and do everything.

The next day we were out to sea all day so we hung out on the ship and relaxed.

Our first stop was Malta!! What a pretty island. Everything was nice and clean. They plant flowers everywhere. We decided to swim with dolphins since we thought this is something we normally wouldn't do. Me and the kids got ready while Timo decided to be the camera man. We changed into our wet suites and then went to the pools were the dolphins played. I couldn't believe what they felt like. It was kind of like rubber. We got to feed them and they pushed us around a little. It was pretty cool!!! After we got to see a sea lion show and then we got to see the dolphins show off. That night on the ship Timo and I got a couples massage while Adam went dancing. Yes, dancing!!! There was a dance party and he went by himself and they actual had him go up on stage and throw pizzas with goofy!!! I wish I could have seen it. He called the other kids to come and watch but we missed it. The massage was worth it!

Our second stop was Palermo Sicily. YUKKY!!! I have never seen such a dirty, graffiti, pick pocket capital of the world. We first stop was a summer castle, that was eventually turned into a poor home back to a castle and now just nothing. The grounds were not kept up ad it was just weird. After the castle we went to the catacombs. When we signed up for this excursion I thought this would be cool and in a weird, sick and morbid way it was. Nothing like 8,000 dead bodies hanging around and walking down narrow paths between them. It was weird. Some of the bodies were hundreds of years old. There was monks and nuns, babies and children, soldiers and don't forget the virgins. All of them still dressed in their very own clothes. Some still had hair and skin. It was weird. Their was also a two year old girl who died in 1920 of the Spanish fever. Her dad was so sad when she died that he had her basically taxidermy so he could always have her with him. She looks like she sleeping. Well, that was fun. The BEST part of Palermo is that they say it is were ice cream was first made so we went and got some real Italian Gelato. Oh my goodness was it ever the best ice cream I have ever had. I loved it and I don't really like ice cream.

The next day at our third stop was Naples and off to Pompeii. Adam saw a Scoobie Doo show on Pompeii so it was his personal goal to go there. Well, it was simply amazing!!! It is a city the was buried by ash in 79 AD. Mount Vesuvius erupted and the whole city was covered in ash and killed the ones that didn't get out in time. It was amazing how modern they were so many thousands of years ago. They had lead pipes that went into their homes, they said they found eye glasses and there were bakeries and think even fast food restaurants. They also found grape seeds and they planted them and they grew. Also, the people that didn't get out their bodies eventually disintegrated but it left a mold in the ash so the were able to pour plaster in them and they got to see what the people were like and what they were doing when they died. It was just amazing. Adam was not disappointed and now wants to live there. Also, Naples is were pizza was first made so of course we tried it and it was good!!!!