Namibia – better than expected. At first I was unsure to as how much excitement it could offer, but it was unreal. A group of us rented out a beach house and had an awesome view of the sunset every night. During the first day I headed into the sand dunes and listened to a performance where music was made with the sand….yeahhh it was very interesting. But it was cool because I got to see the largest sand dune in the world named Dune 7 and I also got to climb to the top of a few others and take some incredible pictures.
During another day me and few other broskis went 4 wheeling in the desert. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever done. We would be going full speed 6th gear up these dunes and then fishtalling up at the top and fly back down. We were legit 4 wheeling out in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t see anything for miles and miles. Some chick flipped her 4 wheeler over, and I laughed in her face because she deserved it, she was screwing around and almost got hurt like a complete moron.
At night there was a cool local bar scene where a lot of the semester at sea kids went to and we also ate at some great restaurants. I would say that Namibia was overall better than I expected but my next post about Cape Town straight up blew every other country out of the water.
Cape Town
Our boat was parked right in the heart of Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront. This place has everything, restaurants, pubs, a mall, tourist agencies..the whole 9 yards. This place was so sick that everyone stayed on the boat at the end of every night because it was like our boat was a 5 star hotel in the best part of the town.
First day we got to the top of Table Mountain, which is highest mountain in South Africa, it was overcast so we were like in the clouds, but it was still cool. Then at the top we absailed down, this is basically repelling down this shear rock cliff on the outside edge of the mountain. It is the longest absail in the world. I was legit scared at one point when the mountain in front of you is all of a sudden gone and you are just repelling with the rope, no rock in front of you, it was a very unnatural feeling for sure.
Next day I spent the on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Clifton Beach. It was a great day because it gave me and my 2 buddies that I was with, Mark from UNH and Matt from Penn State, time to reflect and really appreciate what we were doing on this trip. We had a great day not worrying about time or an agenda. I really took a step back that day and it hit me for the first time that home is not a train ride away anymore, but I am legit across the Atlantic, not close to home.
Third day was animal day. I went to a Nature Reserve and saw the “Big Five”, elephants, lions, water buffalo, leopard, and rhino. I didn’t get to see a leopard, but instead cheetahs and giraffes. It was great and I got awesome pictures, but animals do not really intrigue me all that much, they just don’t hit the spot that physical excursions do for me. I guess I am more of a do-er than a watcher. Most people loved it and I can see why, but ehhh I wouldn’t have cried if I didn’t see animals. Oh but there was a hilarious part when we saw the rhinos, one turned its butt right to us and laid a huge fart, that was hilarious.
Fourth day was the wine tour day in a town nearby to Cape Town, Stellenbosch. What a town this was, it was gorgeous. The university there was unreal also, I think I would like to do my graduate school there, even though its in a different language haha. A group of us got a wine tour that took us to 2 vineyards with wine tasting and cheese. We also got to see the making of the wine which was cool. I think owning a vineyard would be a saweeeet thing to own one day. How could that not be cool?? I have definitely have this new appreciation for a fine wine…and cheese, the cheese in South Africa was awesome. Naturally we all got a little “loose” with all of that wine in us, so on the ride home I had to do a little comedy in the van we were in. Our driver had a microphone to give us a tour and we could all hear him. I decided to get the microphone and do a little standup/beatbox/rap. I had the van laughing as I would poke fun at our inside jokes we have developed. Everyone found it pretty funny, and I always enjoy making my friends laugh and have a good time. It was a good end to the day before we hit up dinner. We had dinner in this place inside of the trees. You could eat in a treehouse, but our group was too large. I ate some water buffalo, zebra, and I think maybe some ostrich? Zebra was very good, water buffalo ehhhh.
Last day I had to see Cape Point, which is where the Atlantic ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. I got some great pictures from there and we hiked to the lighthouse there for the unreal view. I got a great nicks roast beef bumper sticker picture there, along with Anthony’s teddy bear.
The night life in Cape Town was awesome. There was a club on the top of one of their tall business buildings with a great view, it was called Hemisphere. There was entire streets with bars and clubs so all of the students were there every night, making mornings really tough haha! But you gotta do it, cant waste a minute on this trip, plus having fun at night/bonding with the other kids is just as important as the day trips, Remember that Mom! Haha
Alright well 3 days I think until Mauritus, I also have my first test tomorrow in Global Studies. Every time I am in port I forget about school, then it hits you like a ton of bricks when you get back on the boat haha. Life is tough…..pause……nahhht
Peace and Love
Dean
Thank you Mom and Dad for this, I can’t say thank you enough. This trip of a lifetime just keeps proving itself over and over
Pictures soon to come, there is a lot, so updating might be taking a while. Leave your email to get them or email me, dtzortzis@gmail.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Neptune Day....yeah it exists
We passed the equator the other day. In celebration of our achievement we had “Neptune Day”. This was a day where all of the students got initiated into the ship life basically, I guess this is because crossing the equator is a big deal haha. So our initiation was so get this green goo dumped on our heads, it kind of reminded me of Nickelodeon slime, then we had to kiss a dead fish, then we had to kiss the captain of the ships ring and jump into the pool. The Captain was dressed like Poseidon, he was all in green paint and a hoolah type skirt thing, it was hilarious.
But the best part of the day was that classes were cancelled haha. They also had a BBQ for all of the students along with dance music. It was sick. I honestly feel like I am taking a semester off from school, which sounds bad, but true haha. This trip is the best trip offered in the world. Show me one better, please feel free to look. Basically I spent the day laying out by the pool and playing volleyball all day long in the beautiful equator sun.
Namibia in a few days, I am pretty sure we are going to be taking that country over. The town where everyone is renting houses averages 2.5 people per every 7 miles. We are going to triple that easily. Basically the entire boat is heading to this beach town and renting beachside houses and all of the bars are walking distance. We also have planned sand-boarding, 4-wheeling in the sand dunes, and maybe camel riding if I have time. Topping it all off with seeing flamingos and an oyster farm on the last day for class. Tough life I know haha
A new blog post and pictures will be up shortly after Namibia or South Africa.
Keeping it real always
Dean
But the best part of the day was that classes were cancelled haha. They also had a BBQ for all of the students along with dance music. It was sick. I honestly feel like I am taking a semester off from school, which sounds bad, but true haha. This trip is the best trip offered in the world. Show me one better, please feel free to look. Basically I spent the day laying out by the pool and playing volleyball all day long in the beautiful equator sun.
Namibia in a few days, I am pretty sure we are going to be taking that country over. The town where everyone is renting houses averages 2.5 people per every 7 miles. We are going to triple that easily. Basically the entire boat is heading to this beach town and renting beachside houses and all of the bars are walking distance. We also have planned sand-boarding, 4-wheeling in the sand dunes, and maybe camel riding if I have time. Topping it all off with seeing flamingos and an oyster farm on the last day for class. Tough life I know haha
A new blog post and pictures will be up shortly after Namibia or South Africa.
Keeping it real always
Dean
Saturday, February 7, 2009
On Ze Boat
Currently in the Atlantic Ocean, on the way to Namibia. The boat life is interesting to say the least. Class takes place for about 2 hours at most a day, life is good. The rest of the day is spent drinking fruit coolatas and relaxin on the deck in the sun.Life is so hard on this boat haha.
I have started playing so much soccer on the boat to keep the skillllzzzz fresh haha. We have a solid group that plays 3v3 on the basketball court and yes I brag about my bros and our NCAA tournament status haha...I gotta do it.
Pub night is basically what everyone looks forward to, we have it every night at sea. Its a good place to meet people and have a few brewskis. We are allowed 2 drinks beer or wine at dinner, then 4 at pub night.Everyone gets a little loose and converses. We all know everyone comes out of the shell with a few drinks in them. However, I have yet to get all 6 drinks in one night. I feel like I can chat without it, totally different than real college life. I guess the boat is instilling social drinking and its really starting to work on everyone. I personally love it. I feel more mature and grown up I guess, its weird.
What can I say about the people on this boat. My friends that I have made are amazing, its like we have known each other for years. ITs funny how people with the same interests come together so easily. I have frequent talks about stocks, investing, the real estate market and much more. I have learned more talking to my buddies than I have in all my years in school. My buddy Jack is a stock genius...to put it into perspective he read an entire book just on Options. I have learned a bunch from him because he knows how to explain it to a 20 year old kid because he is one too. Its great.
To my family reading this, send your kids on this trip. They will grow in ways that you cant teach them. I have learned so much already and its just starting. I have seen kids beg in the streets, it really puts your life into perspective. The classroom is such a small part of life here its refreshing. Its not about the grades you get, but what you get from the ports we stop in. I have learned to learn every day, and that is the most important thing.
Peace and Love
Dean
I have started playing so much soccer on the boat to keep the skillllzzzz fresh haha. We have a solid group that plays 3v3 on the basketball court and yes I brag about my bros and our NCAA tournament status haha...I gotta do it.
Pub night is basically what everyone looks forward to, we have it every night at sea. Its a good place to meet people and have a few brewskis. We are allowed 2 drinks beer or wine at dinner, then 4 at pub night.Everyone gets a little loose and converses. We all know everyone comes out of the shell with a few drinks in them. However, I have yet to get all 6 drinks in one night. I feel like I can chat without it, totally different than real college life. I guess the boat is instilling social drinking and its really starting to work on everyone. I personally love it. I feel more mature and grown up I guess, its weird.
What can I say about the people on this boat. My friends that I have made are amazing, its like we have known each other for years. ITs funny how people with the same interests come together so easily. I have frequent talks about stocks, investing, the real estate market and much more. I have learned more talking to my buddies than I have in all my years in school. My buddy Jack is a stock genius...to put it into perspective he read an entire book just on Options. I have learned a bunch from him because he knows how to explain it to a 20 year old kid because he is one too. Its great.
To my family reading this, send your kids on this trip. They will grow in ways that you cant teach them. I have learned so much already and its just starting. I have seen kids beg in the streets, it really puts your life into perspective. The classroom is such a small part of life here its refreshing. Its not about the grades you get, but what you get from the ports we stop in. I have learned to learn every day, and that is the most important thing.
Peace and Love
Dean
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Pictures
Next stop Namibia, gonna do a safari. Ill will post again once it gets closer.
Excellenttttttt
Morocco Flavaaaaa
Worddddd uppppppp - first thing, Its hard for me to put up my pictures directly to my blog, but if you give me your email I can invite you to see my albums through my gmail account so easy. dtzortzis@gmail.com so get at me
Back from Morocco what a place! Not what I expected at all, so much more life in Africa than I thought. Stayed in Merekesh for the majority of the time with 3 other great people, Jack, Kirstin, and Meghan. We hit up the open market the first day, the most wild place I have ever been. Snake charmers, monkeys, singers, dancers...anything that could be done to make a dollar they were doing and they totally wanted your dollar haha. It was like they say dollar signs when we rolled in, they just wanted our cash. At first we kinda got taken for some, but we smartened up and gave them that good ol American attitude haha.
We stayed at this placed called a Riad. It is like a converted house to a bed and breakfast. We were actually the only people in there so we got all the service. The place was a sickkkkk, I should be puttin the pics up soon. At night we had dinner overlooking the market, it had a Greek Festival feel, but with small shops were bartering was the name of the game. I got another soccer jersey for 100 durma, which is like 10 us dollaaaaas. They also had sick Nikes for like 20 us dollars, def bootleg but sick non-the-less. At night we hit up the bar scene and did the whole local thing.
Special note for Rosie right here - We went to a hookah bar son, I took mad pics for you, you would have loved it. During our hookah sesh belly dancers came out to intense techno music and danced all around our table. So sick, I was stuffin 20's into the panties...no big deal haha. It was your place man for sure.
Phil Ive been to two countries and still havent seen one person that parties anywhere close to as hard as you do haha. I think you have a world record, Id be a good judge to that. And your jokes work out here too haha
So Morocco, Great place and I think I would want to go back to see more, I would recommend it for a good off the grid trip, but you have to have wits of steal or you will get worked for every penny you own.
Jammin out to the Drought 3 right now, Justin Knowles whats up, read your 25 thoughts thing, miss you too buddy
LAterrrrr
Dean
Back from Morocco what a place! Not what I expected at all, so much more life in Africa than I thought. Stayed in Merekesh for the majority of the time with 3 other great people, Jack, Kirstin, and Meghan. We hit up the open market the first day, the most wild place I have ever been. Snake charmers, monkeys, singers, dancers...anything that could be done to make a dollar they were doing and they totally wanted your dollar haha. It was like they say dollar signs when we rolled in, they just wanted our cash. At first we kinda got taken for some, but we smartened up and gave them that good ol American attitude haha.
We stayed at this placed called a Riad. It is like a converted house to a bed and breakfast. We were actually the only people in there so we got all the service. The place was a sickkkkk, I should be puttin the pics up soon. At night we had dinner overlooking the market, it had a Greek Festival feel, but with small shops were bartering was the name of the game. I got another soccer jersey for 100 durma, which is like 10 us dollaaaaas. They also had sick Nikes for like 20 us dollars, def bootleg but sick non-the-less. At night we hit up the bar scene and did the whole local thing.
Special note for Rosie right here - We went to a hookah bar son, I took mad pics for you, you would have loved it. During our hookah sesh belly dancers came out to intense techno music and danced all around our table. So sick, I was stuffin 20's into the panties...no big deal haha. It was your place man for sure.
Phil Ive been to two countries and still havent seen one person that parties anywhere close to as hard as you do haha. I think you have a world record, Id be a good judge to that. And your jokes work out here too haha
So Morocco, Great place and I think I would want to go back to see more, I would recommend it for a good off the grid trip, but you have to have wits of steal or you will get worked for every penny you own.
Jammin out to the Drought 3 right now, Justin Knowles whats up, read your 25 thoughts thing, miss you too buddy
LAterrrrr
Dean
Sunday, February 1, 2009
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