I love it when people ask us how we met. "Well, we first met in jail..." We did actually meet at the Greenville County Detention Center. Sometime back in 2002 or 2003, I was a freshman in college and working as a Chinese food delivery driver on the weekends. Jay worked at the jail, and well, I guess he was really diggin' the pineapple fried rice. Chop Chop closed and we met back up later through a mutual friend. We were friends for several years, and now here we are. :)
I went on my first cruise with my mom and my aunt in February 2010 for my birthday. I came back raving about it and told Jay that he just HAD to go on a cruise with me. We went on our first cruise together in September 2010, leaving from Puerto Rico on the Carnival Victory. We enjoyed shopping in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, & Donimica, touring the Mt. Gay Rum Factory in Barbados, and zip-lining in St. Lucia. We had a blast and immediately started planning our second cruise aboard the Carnival Legend out of Tampa in September 2011. On this trip, we made sure to book shore excursions on every stop to see and experience as much as possible. We toured the Mayan ruins in Cozumel, went cave tubing in Belize, zip-lining in Roatan, and scuba diving at Grand Cayman. I think we realized on this cruise why cruising is so much better than any other kind of vacation: You go to sleep at night, and when you wake up the next day, adventures await you in a different country without even having to fool with any airports or long car rides. Of course, another cruise was planned. In October 2012, we left Miami on the Carnival Valor. (Little did I know this cruise had the biggest surprise of my life waiting for me.) The excursions on this trip were amazing - We went scuba diving in St. Thomas, zip-lining in Antigua, snorkling in Tortola, and toured the Ardastra Gardens in Nassau. On our day at sea, we attended a game called "The Marriage Show" in the Ivanhoe Theater. Jay won a raffle earlier in the cruise and got a bag of random Del Sol sun stuff, so I was pretty surprised when he got called up on stage again during The Marriage Show. The cruise director, Felipe, said our cabin number had been chosen at random. Jay went up on stage, and I was questioning what he had won this time. They asked me to come up on stage, too. I'm thinking, "Okay, maybe this prize will be good?" To my surprise, Jay hadn't won the prize - I had. He proposed infront of hundreds of people in that theater, on live TV that was aired throughout the ship for the other several thousand people who weren't in the theater. I don't think I've ever been so shocked in my life. As if the pictures don't absolutely say it all, we also have The Marriage Show on DVD. Who else has their proposal on DVD?!
Of course, it just makes sense that our honeymoon will also be a Carnival cuise! |
We're gettin' hitched on August 24th, 2013 at Viewpoint at Buckhorn Creek here in Greenville, SC. We're not exactly "traditional" people, so several elements of a traditional wedding quickly went out the window. Upon the first glance at our invitations, you'll note no "Mr. and Mrs., Jr., Esq.," etc. or named guests. Please bring someone! We just aren't going to assign that person for you. :) We want our friends and family to come and have a good time celebrating with us. We are not going to subject people to sit through a long, formal, boring, drawn-out ceremony and then put them into assigned seats and have over-dressed servers bring out food that most people cannot pronounce. If we wouldn't enjoy it, ourselves, we are not subjecting our guests to it, either. I don't want to take anything too seriously in life (if you can't laugh a little, what is the purpose?), and our wedding is no exception. In short, we want this to be as fun for our friends and family as it will be for us. |
August 28th - Leave from Greenville, SC. Fly to Detroit, MI; then to Amsterdam, Netherlands; then to Barcelona, Spain.
August 29th - We will arrive in Barcelona early in the morning, be touristy for a little while, then sleep ourselves back into feeling half-way human again.
August 30th - Barcelona, Spain. Board the Carnival Sunshine & set sail late that afternoon.
August 31st - Port: Marseilles, France
Excursion: Marseilles & Cassis - On this tour, we will ride through "Le Vieux Port" of Marseille, where the Greeks landed in 600BC, and continue past the French cafes to arrive at the striking Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde. This impressive 19th century landmark stands on a hilltop with a monumental statue of the Virgin Mary and Child atop the bell tower, watching over the city. We will climb the 120-steps to the top for a splendid view over the city and a chance to see the beautiful ex-votos on the walls and a stunning marble statue in the crypt. Our journey continues with a lovely coastal drive along the Corniche J.F. Kennedy to the quaint fishing town of Cassis, nestled in a cove at the base of a medieval castle. Upon arrival, we’ll board a small train and ride to the downtown area to explore at our leisure. We will stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the harbor where we may see local fisherman bringing in their catch of the day.
September 1st - Port: Livorno, Italy
Excursion: Florence & Pisa - We will experience a wonderful day visiting the magic of Florence and famous Pisa. During our tour of Florence, we will see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery and Campanile Bell Tower. We will continue to Piazza della Signoria overlooked by Palazzo Vecchio and enjoy the picturesque Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Santa Croce. After a typical Italian lunch, we will ride to Pisa for a visit of Miracle Square and an inside guided visit of the Cathedral and Baptistery before climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
September 2nd - Port: Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy
Excursion: The Vatican, Roman Colosseum, & St. Peter's Basilica - Once we arrive in Rome, we will visit the inside of the impressive Roman Colosseum. This masterpiece of classical architecture is an enormous amphitheatre where gladiators once battled to death in front of 50,000 spectators. A brief free time to take photographs will follow our visit before we re-board our coach. We will ride to the Vatican City where we’ll have some time on our own to have lunch or explore independently before meeting back up with our tour guide. We will walk to the Vatican Museums and admire the amazing treasures collected by the Popes throughout the centuries. Our tour continues with a visit to the Sistine Chapel, highlighted by Michelangelo's masterpieces and impressive frescos, including the "Last Judgment." After our tour of the Sistine Chapel, we will visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. Among the many fine pieces of art and mosaics on display are Michelangelo's "Pieta" and the beautifully carved Bernini Pulpit.
September 3rd - Port: Naples, Italy
Excursion: Mt. Vesuvius & Pompeii - We will experience Pompeii and it's ancient Rome history as well as Mt. Vesuvius that buried this town in 79 AD. After a journey via motorway and serpentine roads, we will reach Mount Vesuvius, the famous, still-active volcano. When at a height of about 3,000 feet, the mouth of the crater will be reached on foot by a narrow path zigzagging up for approximately 1,000 feet. Once on the rim of the crater walls, we will walk around the edge with an official alpine guide to enjoy this natural phenomenon and a panoramic view of Naples and the bay. Next, we will ride to a refreshment stop in a local bar just outside the Pompeii excavations, before entering for a guided tour. This archaeological site is considered to be the world’s finest example of a Roman town and its way of life. In 79 AD, the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the town under 20 feet of ash and pumice stone, preserving the entire city. During the walking tour of the ruins, we will admire the mansions and art of wealthy patricians who moved to Pompeii to escape the turmoil of Rome. We will see countless paintings and inscriptions, and the streets with raised pavements on either side. This prosperous Roman city had an extensive forum, temples and villas richly decorated with frescoes. We will visit a cameo factory where we will learn about the delicate art of cameo carving.
September 4th - Port: Messina/Sicily, Italy
Excursion: Taormina & Greek Theatre - This historical Sicilian city will not disappoint us with its wonderfully animated architecture, art and legendary sights. Our journey to Taormina will take us through Messina, passing the famous astronomical clock at the Piazzo Duomo and along Corso Cavour. Our walking tour begins upon arrival in Taormina. We will admire the Palazzo Corvaia with its classic double windows, as we make our way to the impressive Greek Theater, built by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C. and later restructured by the Romans. This theater is still used in the summer for open-air performances due to its unique acoustic effects and its amazing panoramic views. We will become enraptured with Taormina’s charming atmosphere as we enjoy some free time exploring the endless winding medieval streets and tiny passages, each holding its own secret. We will enjoy the cafes, ice cream parlors and small shops filled with art and souvenirs.
September 5th - Day at Sea. Hopefully, the European climate at that time will permit a lounge by the Serenity adults-only pool area. Jay has also contacted Carnival to make dinner reservations for the "Captain's Table" dinner. (I'm not quite sure what a 12-course meal consists of, but I am excited to find out!)
September 6th - Port: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Excursion: Best of Dubrovnik - We will see the beauty of Dubrovnik's countryside and its surrounding villages, then enjoy some free time within the beautiful medieval city. Our motor coach will stop for a panoramic view over Dubrovnik and its Riviera before continuing through the picturesque countryside of Zupa Dubrovacka (Parish of Dubrovnik) and the beautiful villages of Kupari, Srebreno, Mlini and Plat. We will move into Cavtat, the southernmost town of Croatia, situated in a bay encircled by two peninsulas making it a safe harbor frequented by numerous sailors and yacht enthusiasts. Few places offer such harmony of Mediterranean flora, emerald sea and architecture while cherishing a rich cultural and historical tradition. A stop will be made here for us to explore independently or to take a stroll along the lovely palmed-lined sea promenade. We will view the spectacular scenery that awaits us as we ride through picturesque villages of the verdant Konavle region to one of their local restaurants. We will enjoy a glass of wine and a snack before returning to our motor coach, then drive back to the Old City Of Dubrovnik for some further free time to explore this beautiful city.
September 7th - Port: Venice, Italy
Excursion: Verona - City of Romeo & Juliet - This walking tour in the heart of the ancient city of Verona introduces us to the setting for Shakespeare's tale of Romeo and Juliet. We will enter the town walls through the gate of Porta Palio where we will have our first sighting of the spectacular castle known as Castelvecchio, Gavi Arch and Porta Borsari. At Porta Nuova, our local guide will take us for a walk around the city center to view the most important masterpieces. We will walk through Piazza dei Signori where a statue of Dante gazes upon the 14th century Palace of Reason, Verona's law court. We will continue on to Piazza delle Erbe, Verona's medieval herb market, which is now lined with art galleries, upscale boutiques and inviting sidewalk cafes. We will see Juliet's balcony, which, according to the legend, inspired Shakespeare to the immortal tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Finally, we will walk along the busy Via Mazzini to the Arena, completed around 30 BC, and the third largest in the world after Rome's Colosseum and the amphitheater of Capua, near Naples. The Arena, once capable to hold almost the entire population of Roman Verona, was the scene of mock battles and gladiator combats. Before returning to the ship, we will enjoy some free time to shop or photograph our favorite sites. We’ll get to spend the rest of the evening exploring Venice before returning to the ship for the night.
September 8th - Fly out of Venice. Fly to Amsterdam, Netherlands; then to Atlanta, GA; then back home. |
