Life in the Mediterranean

Have you ever wondered what life is like on the Mediterranean? SeaLandAir Travel Inc. gave me that opportunity! It is full of colorful houses, delicious cafes, and beautiful mountains. Cruising along the Mediterranean coast was an unforgettable experience. We got to explore the shores of Spain, France, Italy, and Malta, and get a little taste of each culture. We chose MSC as our cruise line and were not disappointed. We boarded the boat in Barcelona and it was out of this world. Fancy chandeliers, shiny floors, and a beautiful view from our balcony. We spent our first night sipping drinks and listening to live music in an Irish Pub on board.

Our first stop was Marseille, France. It reminded me of a village, with so many cute alleyways, colorful shops and cafes, and lots of artwork. The first thing we did was go into Marseille Cathedral, right on the coast. The cathedral was so beautiful, I was overcome with tears. We spent the rest of the day strolling the lively streets and soaking up the local culture, which included eating the most delicious crepes. We shopped in a second hand store, took in the artwork along the streets, and explored the old port with hundreds of docked sailboats.

After leaving Marseille, we cruised to Genoa, Italy. The entire city was a mix of ancient architecture and modern stores. I had a real appreciation for this place because of how they were able to blend the two together in order to preserve their history. The streets were full of big colorful houses, with carvings and statues everywhere we looked. We did some shopping, sightseeing, and of course some eating. After all the walking we filled up on delicious carbonara and gelato, some Italian staples!

The next day we got up extra early in order to make an hour trip from port in Civitavecchia to Rome. It sure was an adventure! We only had a few hours, so we made the most of it, with a hop-on-hop-off bus. I highly recommend these if you want to try and see everything in a short amount of time. We were able to see the Santa Maria Basilica, the Colosseum, Victor Emmanuel Monument, Circus Maximus, and Castel Sant'Angelo. Everything was so intricately made, it blew me away everywhere I looked. The amount of history one city can hold is amazing.

Our last stop in Italy was Messina, Sicily. We ate delicious Nutella croissants at a spot overlooking the port and listened to a guy in a suit and a fedora play the guitar and sing to us. We stopped by Messina Cathedral, which had an astronomical clock and bell tower. After a rainy day of sightseeing, we sat down in an adorable restaurant and stuffed ourselves with bruschetta, pesto pasta, and amazing margarita pizza.

Our last stop before heading back to Barcelona was a little island south of Sicily, called Malta. This was my favorite stop with the most breathtaking views. We hired a taxi driver to drive us around the island to some of the best stops. He was the sweetest person ever and even bought us drinks and pastries to try. I highly recommend hiring a taxi driver if you want a more private tour. Do not be afraid to negotiate pricing with them either! We explored the fishing village, with a little town square, colorful fishing boats, and a cute market. Then we drove to the Blue Grotto where we put on little orange life jackets, and got in a tiny boat out on the sea. We saw the most beautiful water caves with purple rocks, and glowing turquoise water. Our last stop before heading back to the Capitol was the ancient city, Mdina. Nicknamed the Silent City, and built with all limestone, it was full of museums, shops, and cafes.

After a day at sea of sipping drinks by the pool, we arrived in Barcelona. Our first stop on the hop-on-hop-off bus was the City Center which had an arena turned into a shopping mall. After grabbing a snack, and doing a little shopping, we walked around the roof where we had a 360 degree view of the city. Then we went to a smaller square in front of the Barcelona Cathedral. We ate patatas bravas, ribs, tacos, and burgers with the giant church looming right over us. We explored the inside of the church, as well as the rooftop which offered close up views of the beautifully built towers and the surrounding city. Once we got down, we shopped in the cutest little vintage market in the middle of the square, where I bought two beautiful rings. We spent the rest of our night exploring different alleyways and shops. The next day we got an amazing brunch at a little cafe right by Sagrada Familia. We explored more of the city before settling down for a delicious steakhouse meal. Sangrias and sirloin steaks were the best way to celebrate our last night!

Overall I had an amazing travel experience, even with how exhausting it could be. The best thing to do is just stay calm and travel on because it's all part of the adventure. I highly recommend this cruise if you want to get a little taste of the Mediterranean coast! My favorite part was getting to experience different cultures and taste their different foods. Getting to live a little bit of the Mediterranean life, even if it was only for ten days, was the best thing I thing I have ever done, and I highly encourage everyone to do it at least once in their life!