First stop on the cruise is the island nation of Malta. It’s a tiny brown speck on the map located between Sicily and north Africa. The island had a lot of British flavor to it, but the culture is a melting pot of Arabic, Greek, Italian, British, Spanish - and no doubt others. Apparently none of these cultures or conquerors brought traffic signs with them. We did not see a stop sign or a traffic light, and were later told that the island had none. None. No stop signs, no traffic lights. Driving (and therefore crossing the street) was an absolute free for all. We’re working on uploading pics to the blog, but Internet access on the ship is pay-per-minute, so we’ll have to wait until we’re on terra firma again before we can post pics. ... read more

Hey, it's Ellie: After 8 straight hours on the plane, we are finally on solid ground! Sadly, it is raining outside, so we can't go to Las Ramblas as planned. That is why I am writing this entry in the airport. We are stuck here until noon(I think!), which is when we can first get on the cruise ship. The ear drops I used for the pressure are now stuck in my ear! Whenever I talk, it sounds to me like I am underwater. Ugh! Peace Out!!!!!... read more

Two days until departure. This is the point in the travel planning process where we are overwhelmed with that "what in the hell were we thinking?" feeling. 25 days together as a family, practically joined at the hip, playing Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Ships) in countries where we don't speak the language? And with the value of the US dollar being at a historic low? Despite all that, we can't help being excited. The girls finished the school year today and seem like they are ready for an adventure. Ready or not, here it comes. While we are generally pretty laid back travelers that shy away from any kind of rigid itinerary or schedule, this trip has required a bit more planning and forethought than usual for us. It now has become a series of ... read more