Spain

So right now I am in Spain and it has been pretty awesome considering the fact I had to scrap Barcelona because they cut a day out of Spain so it would have too risky. So I have been in Cadiz for two days. The first day I hung out with various groups of people and it was really fun I saw the cathedral walked around the entire city.

I also ate A LOT of food. First I had churros con chocolate and it was amazing I had some sangria too and it was very nice. Then I had some cheese and salami which was very nice and bread. I also tried some paella and garlic shrimp. Then I had a chicherrone sandwich which was very nice.

Then I slept in the next morning and I walked around by my self during bright daylight. It was very nice people kept speaking Spanish to me which was flattering. Also a note about the Spanish people have been nice and patient with our broken Spanish except for one waiter who was a total jerk but I am going to give benefit of doubt to him since I am sure my fellows have been quite obnoxious.

Tommorow I am going to Sevilla for the day so that should be fun!

The Ship

So the ship is pretty cool, they clean our rooms :D But it has been fun I have made some friends and we play pretty crazy cards. Also all of the orientations and classes everyday have been pretty rough but the classes have been interesting.

Global Studies is an experience the teacher is an aging teacher but we had an AWESOME guest lecturer his name was David Guisse and he was the Spanish teacher at the University of Virginia and he was even nighted by the King of Spain! But he was hilarious and I learned a lot from him, I think he might be one of my favorite professors but unfortunately he is only with us till Spain.

Also the food was alright at first but it gets pretty tiresome all carbs and questionable protein, but it's better than what I eat at college. Also they have some really good dishes like mac and cheese and french fries and the desserts!

So those are the most interesting points while I was sea!

Short Note about the Bahamas

I had written a wonderful post but it refuses to copy so a boiled down version, Bahamas was a lot of fun and the beaches were BEAUTIFUL and the rest was nice in a run down way and we went to really good restaurants and it was fun.

MY EMAIL

fmliddell@semsteratsea.com

sorry i haven't been updating but i am trying to save my internet but i will try to do better!

Bahama Mama

For everybody who is following my blog I will give you a quick update...So I arrived in the Bahamas yesterday since my family is making a mini vacation of the Bahamas until I leave. You would think that since it is the Bahamas that it would sunny and warm and perfect.

However we manage to get like the one rainy week in the sunny season ironically enough so it has been gray and muggy but at least it is warm. A travel note for whoever is interested: There is not a whole lot to do in the Bahamas beside the beach but when is gray you have to be more creative, but the people have been nice and the food good.

So tomorrow my sister is coming, so that should be fun or interesting...only 4 more days!

Some Trip Notes

I just thought that it would be interesting to write down my thoughts about
the voyage before and after and to see how I changed.

But first, let me explain the new itinerary. My original voyage was Spain,
Italy, Turkey, Egypt, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Hawaii, and
Guatemala. I was very excited because we would go through both the Suez and
Panama Canal. But also because it included my ultimate country: Egypt.
However as you can now see we had to do an overhaul on my journey because of
the threat of pirates. It may sound funny that I had to change course
because of Pirates but I was not amused. But I came to terms with the
changes and now I am going to go with the flow and plus it probably wouldn't
be good for me to achieve my entire life goal at once. I have to have
something to look forward too.

But here are some of my pre-thoughts about the countries that I am visiting.

Spain: I am very excited because I am going to Barcelona with a group of
other SAS kids. So I'm pretty stoked. I am looking forward the most to the
architecture of Gaudi which I have always wanted to seen and the food!
Especially after watching Anthony Bourdain's take on it.

Morocco: I don't know very much about Morocco but I am going to try to do
the camel ride trip which sounds pretty cool. Pretty much no expectations or
ideas except for idealized Saharan life style? Tiles? Arabian nights?

Namibia: I will admit that my parents and me have made fun of Namimbia, but
reading previous voyage's blogs it sounds nice...as well as
random..birthplace of Brangelina baby...

South Africa: I heard its pretty and also I think the Lion King was kind of
set there with the table mountain. I was just planning to poke around cape
town, safari maybe? Great White Shark diving sounds very interesting...like
living in Shark Week.

Mauritius: My dad told me that the island is known for being the last place
a live Dodo bird was seen which is exciting. Otherwise just an island in the
Indian Ocean.

India: Alright I will admit to freaking out a bit (or more) about India
because I have heard such horror stories. But I am doing a trip through the
boat to the Taj Mahal so I should be fine, hopefully I won't die of food
poisoning...or malaria..

Thailand: I am very excited about Thailand because it always looked very
beautiful on the travel channel and Top Model. I am going to try to snorkel,
see the elephants, and hopefully hold baby tigers!

Vietnam: It looks very pretty and I am very excited about how cheap the DVDS
are apparently, also I think it would be fun to make a dress there. But the
majority of the time I am going to be in Cambodia seeing Angkor Wat!! My
history channel fanatsy coming alive...

China: I am very excited about China because I am going to see everything
that I have wanted to see since I was very young and China sparked my
interest in history and Asian art and culture. I am doing a college
sponsered trip so I will see the Great Wall, Forbidden Palace, Summer
Palace, Tiannonmen Square, and an acrobat show! (I would have tried to do
China Indy but my parents were convinced I would get lead or mercury
poisoning by myself)

Japan: SUPER STOKED I have too many things I want to do in Japan and not
enough time! I am going to buy a railpass so I can go wherever I want in
Japan and I am going to eat so much food and buy so much stuff! YAY!

Hawaii: I have been there before on the Big Island, and I was stranded in
Oahu when my airplane was delayed. I think I just might chill on Waikiki and
go to the Bishop Museum.

Guatemala: I don't know a lot about it but it looks very interesting it
would be a lot of fun to see some ruins, lets see how much money I have
left..

So those are my thoughts about my trip and destinations, we will see what
happens on my adventures (or misadventures)

First Post!

I am just testing my blog right now but Happy New Year to everyone! I usually don't like to make resolutions for myself since I don't like to add the unnecessary guilt to my life since I already have enough.

BUT I will try to update my blog as much as can chronically my adventures on Semester at Sea so that everyone can live vicariously through me. So if this is my only post or I only do like 2 throughout my entire voyage I will allow you to berate me, since that is one of my biggest peeves. However I do procrastinate so forgive my tardiness in advance.

I hope everyone will enjoy my blog! (or what i bring myself to post...)