Kusadasi, Turkey

Day at sea…

We had our first day at seal…I needed it. After traveling 36 hours straight and sleeping bits and pieces throughout the traveling and days in Venice, the easy going days in the Mediterranean Sea felt like heaven.

So far ive read 2 books, got to go to the beautiful workout facility, laid by the pool, watched movies and had my first of many 5 course meals. Our waiters name is Romeo and he’s from the Philippines…he always tells us what we want for dessert…. Even when we say, :I think ill try the cheesecake tonight…he’ll say something like, “no, tonight you feel like the soufflé.” And without another word he’ll walk away and bring us what he feels like we should eat. Haha its great…

We also are the youngest people on the ship by a good 26 years. We’ve actually had people come up to us and ask how on earth the 4 of us got here. I don’t mind the age gap by the way…we’ve met some really cool friends from Canada..Andy, Mark, Helen and Neil…they’re about 50 years old and the coolest friends I could have hoped for…they have children older than us but none of us care. We’ve also made friends with two girls from seattle…I think Corey and Sam were crushin on them at first cause they are the only ones even semi near close range to our age bracket. But after hanging out for a night I think its well known they’re just friends.

Oh and have you heard of Stacy S. form English Idol? I hadn’t but anyways She came in 3^rd on the latest English Idol (American Idol in London) …well she’s here as a passenger on the cruise too…. We met her in the hot tub and just started chatting away….she said she was bummed because she couldn’t stay the whole trip and when we asked why she had to leave early the whole story about her almost winning the show came out. She has a single in the works out and a record soon to follow. Cool, eh?

So far this trip has exceeded all my expectations and is exactly what the doctor has prescribed… leaving Zuri was more awful than I thought….I couldn’t stop crying and once I would get calmed down the thought of her would shoot tears to my eyes and I would start all over. I felt like ditching the trip all together. After we left the house I felt like I needed a blessing to cope with the separation anxiety and luckily Corey offered to give me one….I'm sooo thankful for it because I can honestly say that it really helped…ive been able to completely enjoy myself even though I miss her like crazy. I know I wouldn’t be even a fraction of as calm and relaxed as I am if it wasn’t for that blessing. To say im grateful for friends and family around me with the priesthood is an understatement. It’s more of a necessity and I feel safe and secure while im away from my baby girl. It’s a good feeling.

Kusadasi

We went to kusadasi Turkey this morning and saw the Ephesus ruins. Unreal. Everything there was from before Christ’s time on earth. The word ancient doesn’t even do it justice. Here are lots of pictures, so… you can see for yourself. And oh yes….the men here are gross and call you honey as they reach out to touch you. They also try to trade camels for women and sell you water in expensive perfume bottles. Jerks.