Job Shadow Day

Isabella had a blast hanging out with Daddy during Job Shadow Day. The Squadron and Group did an awesome job putting together some great things for the students. She was able to see a C130J (Daddy’s plane), C37, C21, and go up to the Air Traffic Control Tower. Her favorite airplane was the C37, which is a DV airplane (the Generals airplane). She was amazed that there was even a couch on it. Now we'll have to answer all sorts of questions as to why we don't fly on airplanes like that. :) After seeing all the neat things she and Daddy headed to Chili's for lunch!

Isabella in the DV chair on the C37.

The ramp to Daddys plane.

The AC seat on the C37.

Lunch with Daddy!

Day Seven - Marseille

Our final port visit was to Marseille, France. We toured the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure, which overlooks the city and from where you can see the beautiful coastline and Château d'If (the famous prison in adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo), and we also visited the Fort Saint Nicolas. It was the shortest excursion time of any ports, so we just visited the very basics of the city. There is so much more to see and do.


The French coastline


Part of the port and Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure in the distance





Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure
















Château d'If




Fort Saint Nicholas


Charlotte was exhausted after a full week of adventures. She actually fell asleep at dinner!

Day Six - Valencia

On Day six we stopped in Valencia, Spain. If you ask Isabella and Jack which port was their favorite they will definitely say Valencia! I had heard mixed reviews on the city, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean the city was, and all the "beautification" that is going on around the port area. Our main stop in Valencia was to the City of Arts and Sciences, which is situated on the former Turia river-bed. The complex is composed of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (opera house and cultural center), Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (an interactive museum of science but resembling the skeleton of a whale) and the L'Oceanogràfic (the largest aquarium in Europe).

We spent several hours at the L'Oceanogràfic, where Jack was on the hunt to find Nemo. The park is divided into ten areas, reflecting the different water areas in the world. The kids favorite section was the tropical seas, where there were several tunnels of fish. Jack also liked the shark area...Isabella not so much. Charlotte stayed awake the whole time, totally enthralled with everything around her.










Jack LOVED being on the "school" bus, as he called it. I think it was his favorite part each time we got off the ship.






Yea! We found Nemo!

Day Five - Majorca

On day five we stopped in Palma de Majorca. We LOVED it there, and can't wait to go back! It was a super clean city and the people were so nice. The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, or 'La Seu’is a gorgeous church right on the coast. The cathedral was built on the sight of a former mosque, and was restored around 1901 under the direction of Antonio Gaudi. One place we did not get to see was the Castell de Bellver.


'La Seu'




















Castell de Bellver on the hill.

Day Four - At Sea

We spent day four at sea. It was a wonderfully relaxing day. Isabella, Jack and Daddy spent the morning at the pool (which turned into a wave pool when we hit some rough sea), while Charlotte and I watched and read. In the afternoon we all rested and spent some time on our balcony. The late afternoon got interesting when we had to make a detour towards Sardinia so that an ill passenger could be taken by helicopter to a hospital. In the evening we had our formal dinner.


One of the pool areas on the ship.


Isabella and Jack holding on tight when the waves started.


Jack and Isabella having an interesting conversation.


Charlotte watching.


And wondering why she couldn't get into the pool.


The coast of Sardinia.


Two handsome boys!

Day Three - Palermo, Sicily

On day three we stopped in the Port of Palermo. I had high expectations, and unfortunately it wasn't as nice as I had hoped. It was quite a dirty city and we felt a bit uneasy. I did find a great pottery shop, and Steve and the kids all enjoyed a yummy gelato. We went to the Palermo Cathedral where Jack and Isabella took care of the pigeon problem. As always, no bird is safe with Jack around.


The coast of Sicily.








Coming into the port.




Charlotte is the first of our children to ever take a nap in a stroller.


Palermo Cathedral




Jack stalking a pigeon.