Turkish Delight

Hello everyone! Well it has sure been such a treat to come to Turkey this summer. Our owner, Mr. Khan, along with family and friends will be on board for the next 3 weeks, taking us up along the Turkish coastline, island hoping around Greece, a stop in Athens (fingers crossed to get a few hours off!) then curving around the tip of Italy to finish in Rome. Pretty fun itinerary to some new spots for me! We spent the last few days in Bodrum, Turkey which is like the St. Tropez of Turkey they say. Lots of water front bars and cafes, winding pedestrian shopping areas through out the old town and the wonderful Turkish touch of old relics, blaring middle eastern music, cool copper tea pots and chai and the call to prayer sporadically heard through out the day. Currently we are anchored in a beautiful little bay surrounds by cliffs, green trees and bright blue water. Yesterday we lucky enough to get the afternoon free to swim while the guests were off the ship. Floating in the Aegean Sea surrounded by so much beauty, I just couldn't be happier....until I had to hop out to go back to work! =) Joking aside, I'd love to explore this part of the world some day on my own leisurely pace. Lots of gems to discover. Enjoy the pics. love to you all!! xo

Sardinian Road Trip

Today I had the most incredible day! Being that it was our only free day here in Olbia, Sardinia before our busy charter this week, we all really wanted to take advantage of it. Already knowing what I really wanted to do, I secretly planted the ideas in everyone’s heads and rallied a group of 4 boys and myself from the crew to hire a car and explore the breathtaking Italian island. We had so much fun zipping along the winding Italian coastal roads as we blasted Italian pop, discovering hidden beaches that we'd spotted from cliffs then chased down dirt roads to find, swimming in the clear cool water, eating fresh mozzarella on crispy pizzas with a bubbly bottle of Prosecco in classy Porto Rotondo, homemade gelato in a sunshine filled patio in Porto Cervo. The views were spectacular dotted with tons of distant islands and dramatic cliffs, huge rock figures and century old farm house ruins. Today was one of those days where I pinched myself and said, “I can’t believe that I’m here!” I loved it and sprinkle it with a bit of newly acquired Italian phrases and yes, I’m beaming!

Atlantic Sea Crossing

Days are starting to blur together as I hold on tight feeling the roller coaster ride sensation as motor yacht Kismet bounces and dives with the never-ending swell of the Atlantic Ocean, trying my best not to get queasy. I can feel my insides stay put while my body hovers and fall and gives way to the ship's movements. Giving up the desire for control, I stop resisting and let myself be flung weightlessly to the ocean’s demise, walking sideways and zig-zag down the corridor, jumping then running down the stairs, grasping strongly to the hand rail knowing that it's the only thing that we keep me in one spot. The small port-hole window next to my top bunk bed switches from dark ocean, to bright sky, to white sea spray in matters of seconds and then continually repeats with an occasional POW of a pounding crash of water against the hull. Although the Kismet has been across the Atlantic many times now I still fantasize that the water impact will come bursting into Cabin #8 and I've formed a little emergency plan in my head: First grab the radio next to my door and my life jacket in the closet, then run quickly down the hallway, alerting all in path. Yet, luckily, warm in my cabin, I continue to stare out my port-hole and wait to see fish as the live aquarium passes by. We have seen a few dolphins and turtles, still waiting on the whale though.

Trying to keep occupied really hasn’t been too hard since I’m the type of girl that can’t get enough free time and have LOVED this perfect prison to keep me focused on things I’ve been wanting to do for a while like learn Italian and read as many books as I can in these short 17 days. Sadly, coming from the generation of ADD, cell phones, facebook and many more distractions I find it hard to concentrate on one task most of the time and I end up running around to meet people, pick up odds and ends and never really stop during any of my leisure time. The physical act of travel, however, has this amazing ability to freeze time and as I’m sitting on an airplane, a bus or train or now, on a journey across the ocean by boat, there is positively no other place that I could be or thing I could do and finally I allow myself to breath, to sit back, relax and indulge in some of the simplest pleasures…like daydreaming, reading, writing and yes, italiano.

Yet, with this amazing amount of time for self-reflection and sharpening of my intellect, muscle atrophy is quickly setting in! We, our stewardess crew of 3 girls, only have to do a measly 4-hours of work a day cleaning up the main crew areas, laundry, etc. (aka. cleaning up after the boys!) I’m not complaining, it’s great and easy, but other than that it’s bed, deck (if it’s sunny), bed, deck (for sunset), bed and then the day begins again. This could be recipe for a large derrière but luckily I’m taking precautions by forbidding myself to eat chocolate, to not snack between meals, and yes, there is a exercise bike on board but that task still sounds a bit daunting as we tumble and rumble across the Atlantic. I might just wait to take a stroll down Las Ramblas or a nice jog along the beach once we arrive in Barcelona. Street wandering through Gaudi’s living masterpiece sounds like a much more appealing form of self-preservation.

Until then, I will continue to cherish the sunsets and the sheer enormity of nothing but endless ocean for as far as the eye can see. I wish you all could be with me