2nd Day at Sea – Sept 2, 2011
This isn’t a long post as really, there’s not much trouble you can get into or sights to see, but still, it was a cool day at sea. Why? Because we were headed through the Sea of Marmara on our way to Istanbul and you could see land on both sides the entire way there. And that land was Europe on one side and Asia on the other. It was pretty cool. At one point, the captain of the ship announced that on the shore we were passing by was the original site of Troy. That’s pretty awesome. I couldn’t tell for sure what I was looking at but I can still claim that I’ve seen Troy….technically. Maybe I can’t identify it to save my life, but still.
During this day at sea, the cruise line wisely helped the passengers pass the time, offering lots of different activities. We had signed up for an international wine tasting, which is always a good way to get drunk. Especially when you can keep “sampling” wines repeatedly, and there are 12 to taste. It was a lot of fun, even when the one Riesling on offer, which was from France, was god-awful. It was terrible. But there were plenty of other good whites and reds, along with lots of cheese and crackers. Yum.
Basically though, it was a really nice day to relax, take in the scenery rolling by, and enjoy the wonderful temperature while on a gorgeous, luxurious, state-of-the-art cruise ship. Life was definitely good that day. And now, for the pics:

On days at sea, you just wander the ship and hang out
02-Sep-2011 11:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 320

Pool view again
02-Sep-2011 11:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

We were on the 11th floor and you can't quite see all the way down
02-Sep-2011 11:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 400

In another region of the ship, where you can see multiple decks. That's the Martini bar.
02-Sep-2011 12:41, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.2, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200

And you can see dancing lessons too. And hot dance instructors.
02-Sep-2011 12:42, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200

On this day, we also signed up for a worldwide wine tasting.
02-Sep-2011 14:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

The Captain told us that we could see Ancient Troy out there...
02-Sep-2011 14:57, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

Not sure what to look for
02-Sep-2011 14:57, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

The assorted crowd who had paid $20 to taste a lot of decent and some crappy wine
02-Sep-2011 15:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200

02-Sep-2011 15:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 250

Smelling the bouquet
02-Sep-2011 15:07, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Bottoms up
02-Sep-2011 15:08, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

We were at the back of the ship in the Tuscan Grill Italian specialty restaurant
02-Sep-2011 15:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

A very delicious restaurant, by the way
02-Sep-2011 15:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

02-Sep-2011 15:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 320

02-Sep-2011 15:36, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

After the tasting, went up top to the rear of the ship to take in the view
02-Sep-2011 15:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160

We were traveling through the Bosphorous I believe towards Istanbul
02-Sep-2011 15:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160

02-Sep-2011 15:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

It still is crazy to see there was a lawn up there
02-Sep-2011 15:45, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

Ah, Turkey!
02-Sep-2011 15:46, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

02-Sep-2011 15:46, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

02-Sep-2011 15:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160

02-Sep-2011 15:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

02-Sep-2011 15:48, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160

02-Sep-2011 15:49, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 6.271mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

02-Sep-2011 15:51, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250

On board, Larry fell in love with the Acapella group, Full Tilt
02-Sep-2011 16:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 320

02-Sep-2011 16:08, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200

We then went to the front of the ship too
02-Sep-2011 16:17, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160

And someone nicely offered to take our pic up there too
02-Sep-2011 16:26, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200

02-Sep-2011 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125
2011 Mediterranean Trip Pics Index
- Rome: Flying there, Day 1 – Colosseum, Ancient City
- Rome: Day 2 – Vatican City, Trastevere, Nighttime Walk
- Rome: Day 3 – Castel Angelo, Pantheon, Misc Rome
- Mediterranean: Day 1 – Leaving Civitivecchia
- Mediterranean: Day 2 – First Day at Sea
- Mediterranean: Day 3 – Santorini, Greece
- Mediterranean: Day 4 – Athens, Greece
- Mediterranean: Day 5 – Second Day at Sea
- Mediterranean: Day 6 – Istanbul, Turkey Day 1
- Mediterranean: Day 7 – Istanbul, Turkey Day 2
- Mediterranean: Day 8 – Ephesus & Kusadasi, Turkey
- Mediterranean: Day 9 – Mykonos, Greece
- Mediterranean: Day 10 – Third Day at Sea
- Mediterranean: Day 11 – Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii