My SAS trips that I have planned

Ok so here are the semester at sea trips that I have planned so far. These don’t really include independent travel at all, but I will try and tell you what I was thinking about doing when not on a pre-planned trip!

Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz walking tour and Archaeology Museum (June 24th from 2:00-5:00pm) - So, I was told that it is a really good idea to do a walking tour in every country or at least try to if they have one since you get a better idea of the city with someone guiding you as opposed to trying to figure things out with a map and a friend! (which is also really fun, but to maximize my time, I’m definitely doing city tours!) Anyway, this should be great because I don’t really know much about this city and apparently it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe established by the Phoenicians way back when in the Iron Age in the BC’s. It has a very long and interesting history and I’m really excited to see the influences of the different nationalities and people that have called Cadiz their home since 900BCish.

The archeology museum also houses the fine arts museum of Cadiz and I love art, so that should really add to everything! The walking tour is brief, but should be enough to get my bearings on restaurants and internet cafes! (yeah, I should get on writing some articles!)

Flamenco In Depth ( June 25th from 11:00-4:00) – This is a field study for my ethnomusicology class. I’m really excited about it! And those that know me well, know I love music and dancing, so you understand my excitement  We’re taking a bus to Jerez de la Frontera (home of the boleria, a festival Flamenco song type). Here are going to the Andalcian Flamenco Center. After lunch, we’re going to have a flamenco class! Afterward, we are encouraged to go back to Cadiz and hang out at flamenco clubs that night and do “field research”.

After that, I don’t have anything else planned for the other 2 days in spain. I’ll probably be beaching it up and maybe traveling to somewhere close by? I’ve considered heading to Cordoba or Grenada, but the bus schedules don’t really work out that well since I have to be back on the boat at a certain time! Don’t want dock time!!!!

Civitavecchia, Italy

So, we are here for 3 days before sailing to Naples, Italy. I’m only doing one trip and it’s Rome on your Own on Wednesday July 1st. They are taking us into the city just outside of city center and dropping us off at 9:30 am. We then have the whole day to do whatever we want to in Rome before getting back on the bus at 7:30. It’s a lot of time, but I’m not sure if it’s enough! So Tim, my new friend, and I are thinking about stayin in a hostel that night and spending another day in rome before catching a bus or train back to the port. We would have to look into this more though, but I think it’s a great idea. Especially since I would love to see the Vatican and I know that the line is going to take forever! I would love to see Tuscany, but I’m not sure which city I would head to. That would have to be looked into. But I think I’m probably going to be spending 2 of these 3 days in rome. The other, I will most likely spend on the beach 

Naples, Italy

I only have one trip planned for the 2 days that I’m in Naples as well. I’m headed to Pompeii on Saturday july 4th. From 8:30am-12:30pm (noon), we are touring the main archeological site at the location of the city of Pompeii. I might take a train into Sorento upon returning back to Naples and hanging out there for a day. I’m not sure, we’ll have to see what the place holds! I have to check out the individual travel suggestions that students in the past have sent in for the area. Maybe Capri? That was suggested and I might go there. Or I might park myself on the beach and get some studying done… So many exams and so little time in port!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Osojnik Village and Folk Show (1:00 – 8:00pm July 7th) - This trip is for my ethnomusicology course and I’m really excited about it! My roommate is coming too, which is really exciting! This village is a typical Croatian country village in the mountains that has preserved it’s medieval appearance. We’re going to get to see/participate in a traditional folkshow/festival on traditional instruments and we’re going to learn some of the dances. (hopefully I remember some of them!) I’m really excited to hear the music and to see if I’m going to recognize any of the songs and dances. It’s going to be a great time. I’m really excited about Croatia.

Dubrovnik Marine Ecosystems – July 9th (9:00-3:00) – This trip is for my oceanography class. Even though I didn’t get into one of the groups with my professor, I still am going to really enjoy it! We’re going to explore the coast via kayak and then stop at certain locations to snorkel and check out the ecosystems in the area. This is going to be a blast! I’ve never been kayaking before, and I think I’m really going to enjoy it!!! I mean, who doesn’t want to take a class where snorkeling and kayaking are required!!!!

Athens, Greece

So I don’t really have anything planned for Athens. I have some friends that are flying to Santorini. I’m SO jealous. That is the ONE place in Greece I would love to go, BUT it’s really expensive, so I’m going to be spending my time on the beaches and maybe getting a ferry to one of the other islands. I think I’m just going to independently see all of the sites that Athens has to see since we are so close to them all. Should be a fun port! I might need to spend some of this time typing papers for classes! I think I have 2 more due right between here and Turkey. Hooray!

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul City Orientation July 18th (11:00-5:00) – During this we are going to see some of the most important historical and cultural sites of Istanbul. We’re basically just walking all over the city and seeing just about everything including the Blue Mosque, the St. Sophia museum, and the Byzantine Cistern.

Sufi Dervish Ceremony July 19th ( 6:45-9:30) – This is going to be amazing and once in a lifetime. We’re going to an actual whirling dervish ceremony. I’m going to need a head scarf and we’re supposed to be separate from the guys in the group. Afterward, we’re allowed to ask the performers questions and get a lecture from a wiseman/master of philosophy, symbolism, spiritual advancements, transformations, meanings, cosmology, and instruments. This is obviously for my ethnomusicology course and is going to be a fantastic time. I’m really looking forward to this.

Other than that, I don’t really have anything else planned for Turkey. A lot of people are going on this 8 hour hike, but all of the spots are full. I am going to try and look up some interesting things to do in Istanbul. I’m sure I’ll find something! I’ll be completely content with just sitting on the black sea coast all day!

Varna, Bulgaria

So this is the first time that SAS is going to Bulgaria! It’s great that we get to experience a port for the first time!!! The only trip I have planned for Bulgaria is the highlights of Varna tour. We’re going to be visiting attractions all over the city and getting a good idea of it’s layout. We’re visitin the Roman Thermae, Ethnographic Museum, an Orthodox Cathedral, and the Archeological Museum. This will be a great way to get an idea of Bulgarian culture! On Saturday, the next day, I THINK I’m going bungee jumping. Actually I’m pretty sure that I am. I mean, why not? We are getting a group together to go and my roommate and I are thinking about doing a tandem jump! There is no way I can do it by myself! But how many people can say they went bungee jumping in Bulgaria! I’m really excited about this trip! I think I’m going to have some studying and papers to write while here too since we have a few days between here and Egypt where we will be in class!

Alexandria Egypt

Just about EVERYONE is going on a 4 day trip here… Except me!

Overnight Cairo July 31st – August 1st – So we’re leaving from the ship on buses and heading through the desert to Cairo. We’re then going to the Sakkara – the oldest Eyptian Cemetary, the first monumental stone building – the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. After that we’re going to visit one of the mastabas, or tombs, then head back into the city to check into our hotel. Afterward, we’re headed to Tahrir Square, the heart of downtown Cairo, to visit the national archeological museum where King Tut’s exhibit is! At night we’re going to watch Son et Lumiere in English at the Giza Plateau. There is a sound and light performance as the sphinx and pyramids ‘dominate the backdrop’. Afterward we’re headed back to the hotel to get some sleep before getting up super early to…

Visit the pyramids at sunrise! After hanging out at the pyramids, we then head to the El Khalili Bazaar. After getting some stuff for people, we head to the banks of the Nile, River where another curise boat awaits us to sale us up the river. ON the boat, we’ll get a buffet lunch and a belly dance performance. Afterward, we head back to Alexandria.

This is the only trip I have planned in Egypt. As you can see, there are no camels involved… SO I’m going to have to see if I can get a group of independents together and take a camel trek! This has to be done before I leave Africa!!


Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca City Orientation August 9th ( 1:30-5:30) – SO I’m just taking another city tour for Casablanca. We’ll visit the Hassan II mosque (but won’t go inside), Then were going to drive through various neighborhoods in Casablanca. Then off to Mohamed V Square, Central Market, the Habous Quarter, The Mahkama (court), the cathedral Notre Dame du Lourdes, and the Royal Palace Mechouar. After that we are again oing to some bazaars around the royal palace. I’m excited to get a feel for the city. I have no idea what else I want to do in Casablanca. Originally I wanted to do the 4 day/3 night camel hike/camp in the desert, which I should have done, but it’s over $400. Oh well, hopefully I will get to do some desert visiting while here! I’m sure that there is something that I can get a group of people together to do.

Rabat Monday August 10th (1:00-6:00) – We basically are just going to Rabat for a few hours which is a town not far from Casablanca. It was something to do and was cheap.

I do want to make it to Marrakech, but we’ll see about that. I need to meet up with some people that want to head out and check out that city and maybe find some camels to ride in the desert!!!

Anyway, off to enjoy this beautiful sunshine!