Cinque Terre: Disney Cruise Line Excursion 2013

Cinque Terre: or the “five lands” is made of five villages in Italy just near La Spezia. The villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Cars cannot reach these towns from the outside, so the villages are not like anything you would experience in a more built up area, it is common for people to go hiking between the villages to visit them all and there also is a train.

On our excursion we took our own little boat and visited a few out of the five cities and we sailed past all but one of the villages I believe.

We opted to go on this excursion instead of into Florence because the day we were in port the museums were all closed and since we had already been to Florence before we opted to explore somewhere new. This is one of my top five places I’ve ever visited and I would love to spend a few weeks here enjoying the beautiful landscapes and the cities carved into the terraces.

Our tour guides took our DCL group from village to village by boat and in the villages we disembarked the boat for we were given a general idea of where to go and what there was to see and we had a bit of an overview of the history of the village and then were given free time to roam around the village and explore a bit for ourselves. I was taking senior photos for my sister since she was graduating high school that next year and what more picturesque place to take photos than in Europe, so we stopped in some picture perfect areas first while my parents went to go try some local cuisine.

Cinque Terre wine and sandwich

The first town we visited (I cannot remember the order in which we visited the villages but they are all so beautiful I’m not sure it matters), we saw a little cafe with some locals eating in it so we dove into the tiny little place to sample their local food. The make a special kind of wine from the terrace grapes in Cinque Terre so we tried the wine there (we completely forgot that you can bring alcohol on board otherwise we would have bought a bottle or two). This was the cafe that our tour guide stopped in to get a snack so we figured there must be good food there, and there was!

Not pictured is the FANTASTIC pizza we got in Cinque Terre as well. Fair warning, pizza will never be the same to you after you try REAL Italian pizza…

A menu on the side of one of the cafes in the Cinque Terre

Don’t forget to try the gelato, again, so many foods you love in America will be forever diminished once you taste the “real” thing in Italy, but it is SO worth it.

Lots of our fellow cruisers just went shopping, there were quite a few little market like areas and pretty much everyone was sampling the food and grabbing a souvenir or two!

The Cinque Terre is quite possibly one of the best places to experience the culture while you are on the cruise. Even though you are still on a whirlwind tour of the villages, you have time to walk down the side streets and stroll into the local cafes, just like you would do if you were a local or had a few days to visit. There is plenty of time to poke into shops, sample the food in a few different places, or sit down and have a proper meal.

The beautiful patterns and vibrant colors of the Cinque Terre make it a photographer’s playground.

Around every corner is a quaint little home, a bike propped up with flowers growing out of a basket in the front. Everything that comes to mind when you think of a little Italian seaside village. You can walk into the local church to get a break from the hot sun, taste some of the delicious meats and cheeses, stroll down the side streets and just look up and marvel at the beauty of the town.

The beautiful, packed into a tiny little village, buildings that just filled you with awe every time you looked up. I couldn’t stop being amazed at how cool this place was the entire time I was there.

I’m an avid photographer and I was just stunned by the beauty of it all and I thought it couldn’t get much better than this (until I got to Greece, and then I was stunned all over again at the beauty of some of these little seaside villages).

A view of one of the villages from our little boat, we slowed down to allow us to take some fantastic images of the town.

An ancient building graces the tip of the peninsula that this village sits on, and is made of stone. Makes for a great photo opportunity. I’d love to get off and visit this village someday as well.

I spent this entire day just basking in the glory of these seaside villages and marveling at how beautiful they were and thinking about when I could manage to get back and visit this wonderful place. I knew that just a few hours here was not going to cut it here, I was taking mental note of where it was I would like to book a hotel for in the coming years.

All in all, if you’ve seen Florence, or perhaps just want to see something a bit off the beaten path, this is the place for you! Plenty of opportunity to sample Italian cuisine, stroll around and soak in the culture, step away from the tourist spots and just relax and enjoy the sea breeze and soak in the warm Mediterranean sun.

Here is the link to the shore excursion! I plan on trying to visit this wonderful place soon,  if my schedule allows!

*all photography is copyright Julianna Zieno Photography and can be purchased*

Omaha Food: The Flatiron Cafe

The most recent menu at The Flatiron Cafe in Downtown Omaha.

Looking for a New York style, high class, splurge night out in Omaha? Look no further than the classy Flatiron Cafe in downtown Omaha just steps away from the Orpheum Theater in a copycat Flatiron building. Natural light fills the dining area and the staff is all very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu.  An extensive wine list is available as well as a full bar, we always just ask our waiter/waitress for whatever kind of cocktail we are feeling like and our drink comes out a delicious surprise every time.

Fresh french bread with butter and olive oil.

Included with your meal is a plate of delicious, soft french bread. Served with a lemony olive oil as well as creamy butter, it is an excellent way to begin an amazing dinner- but be careful not to fill up on this delicious bread, it is extremely easy to do!

My “fruity cocktail” that I asked for, it was made with passion fruit vodka and had plenty of zing to it!

When it comes to a salad or starter I chose to upgrade my salad to the Caesar salad with delicious smoked bacon bits and large flakes of Parmesan cheese tossed in creamy Caesar dressing. It is considered an “upgraded” salad but it is worth the upgrade!

Caesar Salad

The menu is pretty solid and doesn’t change all that much from visit to visit, but the specials are often interesting. The special when we visited recently was swordfish which my dad tried and said was delicious. My favorite dishes there are the beef dishes, since this is Nebraska the beef is always excellent. This time I chose the Grilled Ribeye of Beef, served with fingerling potatoes, shitake mushroom, asparagus, veal demi-glaze, and topped with a maytag blue cheese butter. The ribeye is a very generous portion, so come hungry if you want to have a chance to try to finish it! I would recommend ordering it medium or medium rare, but of course it is always personal preference.

Grilled Ribeye of Beef

Lobster- my mom ordered this dish and thought it was to die for, especially raved over the cauliflower underneath the lobster.

Finally, be sure to save room for some desert. Chocolate Mousse, Creme Brulee, Lithuanian tart from the Lithuanian bakery are almost always on the menu along with some other options. I almost always get the Chocolate mousse served in a chocolate bowl with fresh berries and caramel and chocolate sauce, it is an excellent way to top off a classy dinner out on the town.

Chocolate Mousse

Whatever you choose, I’m sure that you will be impressed with the quality and service of this high class restaurant that you would think would be sitting in New York City, not in downtown Omaha. Again, this is a splurge night or someplace to go for a special occasion, not a bargain night out, but worth every penny!

Take a look at their website to learn more and make reservations:  http://www.theflatironcafe.com/

Book Review: The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth is the kind of book you should read when you are younger and then pick it up again later down the road and you get so much more out of it. I was cleaning my room out a few weeks ago and came across this book and I couldn’t quite remember what it was about so I decided that I might as well read something for fun while I still can (I’m going to law school in the fall so I gotta read for fun while I still can).

At first glance this little book looks like a children’s novel, something that kids use as a stepping stone to longer chapter books. There are drawings scattered throughout the book and the plot initially seems silly. However once you get past the first few pages the words really start to hit home, this little book was exactly what I needed to read at this stage in my life.

Milo starts his journey

Just like Milo, I tend to focus on the little things instead of the big picture. I often forget to stop and enjoy the world around me. My favorite part of this book is when the author describes the symphony of the sun and how if not directed properly nothing goes correctly. This little scene I’m sure when I read it as a child I just read as part of the scene, this time I thought more carefully about everything.

The map of the world that Milo has his adventures through in the Phantom Tollbooth.

In the novel there is a world where numbers are the most important and a second world in where only words reign supreme. Milo ventures through a land where sound has been taken away because no one was using it wisely or enjoying the sounds anymore. Every “land” in the book reminds the reader how easily we skip over the finer little things in life. We stop listening to the beautiful noises of brooks babbling and the wind blowing through the trees and instead rather hear ourselves talk. We tend to get caught up in our careers or hobbies and sometimes become one sided individuals (like those in the land of numbers or the land of words choose to only use one or the other and not both).

Milo meets the Spelling Bee

The whole mission of this book is that Milo is brought into this backwards sounding and very literal world of Wisdom to bring Rhyme and Reason back from the floating castle in the mountains. The task is impossible Milo learns in the end, but because he thought it was able to be done and he hadn’t been told it was an impossible task, in the end is is able to complete his task and learn from his journey through the land of Wisdom.

Milo and the Humbug

To help Milo on his journey to return Rhyme and Reason to Wisdom there are two important characters we must talk about. Tock, a dog with a clock that ticks instead of tocks and the Humbug. These two help Milo throughout his journey and become his much needed friends in the land of Wisdom.

Rhyme and Reason

In the end, Milo is successful and learns so much more about life on his trip to rescue Rhyme and Reason. Milo finds that he has only been missing for an hour and that his life is forever changed from his little journey that the Phantom Tollbooth took him on. He learns so much on his little adventure that we too can take into account in our own lives.

Without a doubt, even if reading books for fun isn’t something you would normally do, I would suggest that any young adult or adult read or re-read this book- especially if you are going through some sort of transitional period or a confusing time. This book really grounds you and brings to life what really is important, it is a very important reminder of how easily we get caught up in the unimportant things and forget the most important things of all.

Happy reading!

Milo, Tock, and the Humbug venture through Wisdom

The International Omaha 2015

The International Omaha horse show is paving the way to the World Cup Finals 2017 that will be hosted in Omaha in 2017. There truly is something for everyone who loves horses at this event. This year there was a horse expo area including a “Gallery of Breeds” that displayed horses of every different type for the public to learn about. Volunteers hosted demonstrations showing how to groom a horse or tack up a horse among other things. Vendors were there selling everything from horse equipment to toys and clothing. During the day there were lower height classes that both juniors, amateurs and professionals participated in and at night there were big night classes that truly showcased what showjumping is all about.

The winner of the Local Day 2’9″ Jumper class. The first event of the International Omaha.

Local Day kicked off the event with local  junior and amateur riders having the opportunity to  show in a big time ring for the price of selling tickets to the International. 16 pairs of horse/rider combinations got up bright and early to show at 8:30 in the morning, it was great to see all the up and coming riders get to participate in such a fun event!

Local Day riders walk the course before the class begins.

The winner of the class got to sit in the sponsor’s box for the Grand Prix night class on Saturday and also got some fun prizes and of course a blue ribbon!

2015 was the first year that Dressage was at the International in preparation for the World Cup in 2017.

Thursday night was also the first time that the International Omaha saw a Dressage competition. Each rider completed a test based on their level so the crowd was able to see a few different levels of competition and it was a great introduction to Dressage for the Omaha area crowd. In addition to Thursday night, Dressage classes were held Friday and Saturday mornings before the Show Jumping portion of the competition.

Chloe Heng pilots her horse around a course during the show jumping classes at the International Omaha.

The final element of this show and the most focused on part of the event was the show jumping. The event saw a great number of horse/rider combinations competing at different levels throughout the day, culminating with the Speed Derby on Friday night and the Grand Prix on Saturday night. The day classes were a great time to see both local and international talents performing on a big stage. The International Omaha seemed to be another big success this year and I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for what will lead up to what will be an amazing event in the World Cup for 2017!

Disneyland: What can’t I ride if…

We’ve all been to a Disney park with a member of our party who is either too small or young for some rides, someone who is expecting, or perhaps someone with a fear of thrill rides. Luckily Disney thought ahead in most respects and a vast majority of the rides are friendly for families with a few exceptions. I’ll be traveling with someone who is expecting so I was wondering what rides she couldn’t do with the rest of us, and then I got to thinking about those families traveling with younger kids or adults who cannot handle some rides. I’ve compiled a list of rides that people in certain situations should NOT ride, later I’ll discuss more family friendly options. Remember that you are not trapped outside the ride waiting for everyone to get through the line, you can wait in line with your family and then inform a cast member that you are not riding and they will take you to the exit and you can meet your family after they’ve finished the ride. Or if you prefer you can go exploring on your own while you wait for the rest of the group to ride whatever ride you cannot partake in.

Mickey’s Fun Wheel in California Adventure Park

Rides expectant mothers should avoid

• Autopia (Tomorrowland)
• California Screamin’ (Paradise Pier)
• Gadget’s Go-coaster (Toontown)
• Goofy’s Sky School (Paradise Pier)
• Grizzly River Run (Grizzly Peak)
• Indiana Jones Adventure (Adventureland)
• Radiator Springs Racers (Cars Land)
• Space Mountain (Tomorrowland)
• Splash Mountain (Critter Country)
• Star Tours (Adventure Land)
• Tuck and Roll’s Drive Em Buggies (A Bug’s Land)
• The Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror (Hollywood Land)
• The Matterhorn Bobsleds (Fantasayland)

Those with a health advisory should avoid

• Autopia (Tomorrowland)
• California Screamin’ (Paradise Pier)
• Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland)
• Goofy’s Sky School (Paradise Pier)
• Grizzly River Run (Grizzly Peak)
• Indiana Jones Adventure (Adventureland)
• Radiator Springs Racers (Cars Land)
• Space Mountain (Tomorrowland)
• Splash Mountain (Critter Country)
• Star Tours (Adventure Land)
• Tuck and Roll’s Drive Em Buggies (A Bug’s Land)
• The Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror (Hollywood Land)
• The Matterhorn Bobsleds (Fantasayland)

Rides with Height Requirements

• California Screamin’ – 48 inches
• Space Mountain- 40 inches
• Splash Mountain – 40 inches
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 40 inches
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- 40 inches
• Gadget’s Go-Coaster- 35 inches
• Goofy’s Sky School- 42 inches
• Grizzly’s River Run- 42 inches
• Indiana Jones Adventure- 46 inches
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish- 40 inches
• Radiator Springs Racers- 40 inches
• Star Tours- 40 inches
• Matterhorn Bobsleds- 42 inches
• Soarin’ Over California- 40 inches
• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree- 32 inches
• Silly Symphony Swings- 40 inches
• Autopia- 32 inches

There are more restrictions for anyone needing other assistance such as wheelchair transfers and service animals, I’m sure cast members will be happy to accommodate you. Don’t worry that because one person in your group can’t do things that there is nothing to do! There is so much to do, and if some people want to ride the bigger rides than they can go on ahead and you can always meet up later!

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Resort.

I’ve next compiled a list of rides that most families should be able to do together! (this list is not all inclusive but includes what I would do in a day perhaps)

Fountain in Toontown

Family friendly rides

• It’s A Small World
• Animation Academy
• Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters
• Disneyland Railroad
• Disneyland Monorail
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Games of the Boardwalk
• Jungle Cruise
• The Little Mermaid
• Main Street Vehicles
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Mickey’s Fun Wheel
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• The Haunted Mansion
• Big Thunder Ranch
• Casey Junior Circus Train
• Mickey and Minnie’s Houses
• Storybrook Land Canal Boats

Whatever you choose to do remember that there is something for everyone and don’t be afraid to split up if you need to. There are so many little things to take in at Disney that no matter your condition or age you will be sure to have a great time no matter what! Remember that the parades and the shows at night are great family entertainment and there are lots of great dining experiences and character experiences that the whole group is sure to enjoy!

How to get on the path to fitness

I never feel like I’m ever beach ready, but I hope this year, I will be.

I am in no way, shape or form a health care professional or a fitness coach of any type. I’m just hoping to share my experiences with others who may be going through a similar experience or who are interested in my experiences. I’ve never needed to lose weight for health reasons, I just have a new and growing desire to be healthy and fit for myself.

I found when I was in high school I just didn’t make time for fitness and I ate whatever was available, and depended on the sports I played for fun as my only form of exercise. It wasn’t until I started college and had a fitness facility only steps away from me that I started to make a change and it wasn’t until very recently that I made fitness part of my life.

I took a weight training class while I was a sophomore in college and this really gave me an idea on how I should be working out and training. I ride horses for a hobby and I’ve found that if I am in better shape it makes everything much easier and I am a much happier person in general.

I’ve decided to compile a list on how I’ve made going to the gym a part of my every day routine. I hope this helps at least one person get on the path to fitness!

• Choose the amount of time you want to stay at the gym and commit to it.
• Make a routine and plan what days you will be going to the gym or doing other exercise activities
• Try to get to the gym to do cardio AND weights at least 3x a week
• Plan your days around your gym time
• Reward yourself- set goals (i.e. running a mile or certain number of interval runs completed) and then give yourself a pat on the back what ever way motivates you best- I usually buy myself some new fun workout clothes, try not to reward yourself with food
• Buy amazing workout clothes you can’t wait to wear
• Do intervals, it really helps you build up and make progress!
• Walk at least 10,000 steps per day
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water
• Cut out soda completely
• Get a work out buddy!
• Make a killer workout playlist
• Snack wisely
• Cut out fast food, it’s not worth it and it’s not good enough to splurge on, just cut it out- I promise you won’t miss it

I know lots of people just are unsure where to start when they first start working out and how to move forward. I’ll go through a sample schedule type deal next- I would recommend trying to fit in 3 days of gym days a week, once you get into the swing of things I know you’ll want to add more and start to figure out what exercises you need to do more of.

Day one

Cardio (Interval Day)- be sure to include at LEAST 30 minutes of cardio, make sure it is strenuous enough that you aren’t just cruising along, so push yourself beyond your comfort level but not to the point of pain. To start with do 30 minutes on the elliptical, starting on whatever level you are comfortable with for a “base” level (it can be zero), do intervals starting with a 5 minute warmup period at your base level (let’s use 0), move on to 5 minutes at 1, 5 minutes at 2, 5 minutes at 3, 5 minutes at 2, 5 minutes at 1, and finally 5 minutes at 0 (for a warm down period- this can be skipped or shortened to meet the 30 minute goal, but go the extra 5 minutes!). This is just somewhere to start as you get more comfortable with your workouts move the numbers up and spend less time at your base level, whatever you do make sure you are pushing yourself, your workout should NOT be easy- you want to get off that elliptical dripping with sweat!

Your workout is half over, don’t stop here, resist the urge to just go back to the locker room and head home. This is the biggest mistake most people new to working out make (I made it myself and was wondering why nothing was changing even though I was running more).

Weight room (Arm Day)-

Grab a pair of dumbbells at least 5 lbs or more and get started! I do 3 sets of 12 of each exercise and go through in a circuit of 3 exercises.

Don’t forget to stretch after you finish!

Day two

Cardio (Stamina Day)- Pick a cardio machine and do another 30 minutes, this time you will be working on consistency. Do a 5 minute warmup and 5 minute warmdown at your base level, in between pick a level you would be comfortable doing for  20 minutes and then get going!

Weight Room( Ab Day)-

Grab a heavier dumbbell for ab work, if you used 5 lbs for arm day grab 7lb or 10lbs. Do the same thing of 3 sets of 12 in circuits of 3. If you can’t do 12 do at least 10 sets.

Day 3

Cardio (Interval Day)- Do the same as you did on day 1, try to up your levels and finish your workout week strong!

Weight Room (Leg day)-

Again do 3 sets of 12 (or 10 if you can’t do 12), be sure to do both legs if necessary (12 on each side for a full set- this is the same for the arm exercises too). For the dead lift use at least two 5lb weights at the very lightest.

For all the other days be sure you are walking 10,000 steps (download a step app for your smartphone or by a pedometer either digital or regular). Also be sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Make sure you do these “days” every week, anyone has time for 3 days at the gym, fit it in! Cardio takes about 30 minutes and the weights take anywhere from 10-20 minutes and you can add more or less if you’d like.

Congrats! You’ve done it! This is your frame work- just an idea for where to get started, if you have questions about any of the exercises, google the name of the exercise and you should be able to find a video somewhere demonstrating it.

I cannot thank Popsugar Fitness enough for their wonderful website, it is truly a life saver when I get bored of the same old workouts. I hope this little article helped out some!

Disneyland vs Disney World

Disney has two amazingly different theme parks on each side of America. The traditional, almost old fashioned Disneyland Resort in California and the ahead of the curve technologically advanced Walt Disney World in Florida. Many people wonder what the differences between the two parks are, and although most of what causes people to choose one park over the other is the distance from where they are traveling. I however live in the middle of the country and it is the same airfare to fly to both parks, so how do I decide? The easy (or cheat) answer is that I don’t have to , with the joys of Disney Vacation Club I can alternate from year to year what theme park I’d like to see and some years I’ll even have the pleasure of going to both! Many people swear that Walt Disney World is the only way to do Disney and others are the complete opposite. In my honest opinion they both have their upsides and their downsides, and make each visit unique in their own special way.

Disneyland park in California

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Resort.

Let’s start with the first resort, where imagination first went to go play. Disneyland Resort in California. A beautiful theme park nestled in the heart of southern California with multiple themed areas of the park- Disneyland is the equivalent to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Florida, but this is the original version. There are quite a few rides completely unique to Disneyland that are not found in it’s Florida counterpart. Toontown is still intact in Disneyland California as well, a sight that is sure to delight kids of all ages when they get to see Mickey’s “house”.

Along with Disneyland Park there is a second newer park, California Adventure Park, which features a thrilling roller coaster that is also unique to the California park. The World of Color show that is in the lagoon in California Adventure is another stunning show that can only be seen in the California park,

Another great feature of this park is that everything is situated right together, to go to California Adventure you literally walk across some pavement from Disneyland Park and you can enter California Adventure. No bus, no waiting for the bus, just walking to your next park for the day- how amazing is that?!?  Downtown Disney is also just steps away, although the district is no where near as large as in Walt Disney World it still has everything necessary for a fun evening. A few places to grab a bite to eat, some excellent shopping choices and ample Disney themed entertainment. On most of our trips there has been live music at night in the Downtown Disney district, all very enjoyable and we’ve stopped to listen and be entertained most times.

There still is a monorail that takes you from Disneyland Park to the Disneyland Hotel. This is a magic band free area, the magic bands have not taken over yet and regular fastpasses still are how you “cut” line at this resort. The original “It’s A Small World” ride lives in this park and once you’ve sailed on this happy cruise, the ride in Florida will seem not quite as fun. Horse drawn carriage and street cars still exist here, unlike in Florida. Although the park is still quite crowded, it is no where near the amount of walking you do in Disney World since the land area is much smaller.

Places to stay that are run by Disney are fewer than at Disney World. The Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel, and Paradise Pier Hotel are the only Disney themed hotels there, but since the park is situated in an urban area there are lots of regular hotels within walking and taxi distance from the park, giving you more options for outside resorts than at Disney World.

I personally think Disneyland California is better for shorter stays, you can feasibly do everything you’d like to do in 3 days and you don’t have to waste time waiting for a bus or a monorail, you can just use your feet!

If you have Disney Vacation Club, the Grand Californian is a beautiful hotel with amazing accommodations and has a special entrance into California Adventure as well as park view rooms.

There are also a lot more options for airports to fly into, we’ve flown into LAX, Orange County and Ontario. We’ve found Orange County to be the most convenient and often just take a taxi from the airport for the same or less money as the mears shuttle service Disney offers.

Walt Disney world resort Florida

Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World

Welcome to the happiest place on earth. Walt Disney World Resort. An overwhelmingly large resort with everything you could possibly imagine within it. More resorts than you can name varying in price from reasonable to exorbitant. A world class spa, golf resorts, camping. sports complexes, mini golf, fire station, pet care, fishing, horse back riding, boating, water parks, theme parks, fireworks, light shows, a tour of the world in one park, and more.

The Magic Kingdom resort is the center point of it all with three world class resorts connected to it by monorail and walking path, all with a lagoon in the middle with boats that also serve as a form of transportation. Animal Kingdom Park, Epcot World Showcase, and Hollywood Studios serve as supplements to the Magic Kingdom, all offering their own unique flavor. There are also two water parks that offer relief from the heat in Florida’s hottest summer months.

The monorail goes to Epcot but that is the furthest it extends to, if you want to go anywhere else you must use the bus system or drive. This might not seem like a big deal, but in peak season and depending on the resort you stay at you may spend a lot of your time waiting for and sitting on a bus.

The downtown Disney district in Florida is outstanding. It currently is being remodeled to have a new area to feature some more outstanding entertainment options. There is a huge Lego shop, a shop where you can design your own t-shirt or other keepsake, a gluten-free bakery, and so much more! A hot air balloon also graces the district and I’ve found it one of my favorite things to photograph. There are also a variety of Disney Vacation Club resorts to choose from and you can spend hundreds of points a night to only a handful if you’d like! The options are endless.

If you are looking for a week long get-away or more I would recommend Disney World. There is so much to do and if you don’t leave yourself enough time you may not be able to see all that you want to!

Overview

In conclusion, if you have a younger family and are looking for a shorter stay, I would recommend Disneyland Resort. It is more family friendly, easier to get back to the hotel room if you need to go back and forth quickly and the distance between things is so much smaller it is easier to fit a lot of activities into a smaller amount of time.

If you are looking for more variety of things to do and thinking of a longer Vacation, go to the magic band world of Walt Disney World. There is something for everyone and so much to do there is no way you can exhaust all the activities in one trip.

Both parks are unique and have their own special qualities and I enjoy both parks in different ways and I hope you learn to as well!

Feel free to add any information you’d like me to add in the comments area and the photos used are my property so please ask if you’d like to purchase one to use or print! As always feel free to share my blog and please look around my site for more Disney related posts as well as other posts completely unrelated to Disney travel!

Disney Cruise Line: Mediterranean Cruise Overview

Have you ever wanted to explore the Mediterranean from the comfort of your favorite cruise line? Have you dreamed of walking in Ephesus or longed to see the unique architecture in Barcelona? Do you have kids or young teens wanting to explore the world but are unsure of where to start? Do you want a safe way to tour Europe without unpacking your bags more than once? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a Disney Cruise to Europe is for you!

The above itinerary was what we had for our cruise when we went in the summer of 2013. If you’ve never been to any of the locations on the cruise, or just want to get a taste of what the location is all about, there is no better way to discover Europe than on a cruise!

I’m sure looking at the huge price tag for the Europe cruises has a lot of people wondering if the cruise is actually worth all that money, my response to you would be in multiple parts. The first being- can you afford to go on this cruise? If it will be a huge financial burden,  move on and look for perhaps a single destination you would be comfortable with on your own, or perhaps even a different cruise line (Princess, Royal Caribbean, Costa all have similar itinerary for sometimes a much smaller price tag). Second, if you want to spend more than a few hours in any given location, the cruise is not for you. Say you want to explore a lot of different places in a short amount of time, you are comfortable with the price tag and everyone in your group is willing to spend 12 days on a cruise- this is for you!

Positives and Negatives of this cruise

We went on the Magic before it was refurbished, but the ship was you could tell in very rough condition, still beautiful but very beat up. I’m sure after the refurbishment the ship is as good as new and the staterooms are back to their glorious selves.

The food started out very poor quality, but after they restocked food in Rome and we complained about the food not being up to par, our meals went from drab to fab overnight and our dining staff was very helpful in being sure we got amazing meals from there on out.

I wanted to spend days on end in some of these locations. Cinque Terra, Italy is my new dream home location. Instead of going to Florence where all the museums were going to be closed that day, we ventured over to the picturesque towns of Cinque Terra. I had never even heard of these cities and we were informed that you could hike or take a train between these cities and many people spent a week or so just traveling from town to town discovering what each had to offer. I wish we could have spent the full 12 days in those towns, but instead we had to get back on the ship and move forward on our journey. The one thing I don’t like about cruising is that you cannot be spontaneous and change your itinerary because you found something wonderful, you have to keep going with the ship- but on the positive side I now know of a place I am dying to go back to when I can afford to.

A beach in Cinque Terra, Italy

The shore excursions are all quite expensive and it is a gamble to go with outside tour companies at most of these ports since the main city is far away from the port in most cases. However, the excursions were well done and we thought well valued, although I can guarantee that you can expect to spend at least $100 per person per excursion if you want to actually do something for more than an hour while in port. So be sure to add in the added cost of excursions to whatever itinerary you are planning to do.

A Disney let excursion through a beautiful walled city in Malta.

Safety Concerns

With places like Greece and Turkey on the itinerary I’m sure some of you have safety concerns, but when we visited in summer 2013 I never felt unsafe in either of these locations. The only place I ever felt uncertain was in Rome but we had an excellent tour guide that quickly steered us away from any possibly bad situation. Be aware that this is Europe and summer is tourist season, carry a bag in front of you and never let your important possessions out of your site and do not separate from your tour group- this is dangerous to you and also puts your group behind of schedule and may prevent everyone from getting everything out of the tour that they should have.

Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey

Things to be aware of

In many of the different places different currency is used besides the Euro, be sure to change money on the ship when needed so you have some emergency money in case anyone might need a drink of water or a trip to the bathroom. (Most places charge for bathroom use)

Babysitting is available during the day in ports- don’t worry about dragging your small kids around places they don’t want to see. This is Disney, they have the best childcare available, use it!

The ship might not dock right in the heart of an interesting place to go explore, sometimes the ship docks far away from any tourist friendly areas and there is sometimes a shuttle back and forth from places of interest to the ship. Be aware when this last shuttle is and be sure not to miss it- also do not plan as if the ship docks in the middle of Athens or right in Rome, because it doesn’t, extensive transportation is needed for most of the places the ship docks with some exceptions. Mykonos is easy to get off and explore on your own and where you dock in Turkey also has some tourist areas right off the ship.

Mykonos, Greece

Bargain with vendors when you can, most can be talked down in price for little gift objects, and many cafes and places to eat right on the path will be more expensive than if you wander down a side street to where there are more locals.

All in all, if you use your time in port wisely and think long and hard about what you want to see on your excursions you can easily get your money’s worth of these amazing cruises! I hope you enjoyed this post and I will soon be posting individual port reviews of what all you should see when you visit a few of these places. Also be sure to check out my other blogs on Disney Cruises for more information about other sailings. Feel free to share this post and leave comments on what should be added!

*All photos are my property and can be purchased, please leave a comment and I will work with you if you’d like to purchase a photo from anywhere on my site*

Omaha Food: Salt 88

Salt 88 is a relatively new branch of the “88” owned restaurants in Omaha. Located off of Maple street near the west Omaha branch of Hiro 88, this eatery is likely to surprise your taste buds and delight your senses.

Pictured above is the dinner menu for Salt 88, you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose but I will highlight some of our favorite choices from the menu. There also is a very reasonably priced happy hour menu that is sometimes available for some different choices.

The dining area has a very modern chic feel with sleek furnishings and large feature photos and an accent wall. There is a modern bar with televisions playing mostly sports games, so virtually mixing almost a sports bar type feel along with an upscale dining experience. The only problem I had at all was that when the dining area is completely full there is quite a lot of noise and it can be a little difficult to hear table mates, but only in maybe one of our visits to this restaurant has this been a problem, so don’t be too concerned.

Warm, fresh mozzarella. What could be better? If you are trying to cut some calories they will do a gluten free version with cucumbers instead of bread. The mozzarella is obtained locally and then warmed fresh just for you! The fresh bread that comes along with the cheese is to die for and if you’d like some more you can ask, but the cheese is fine alone as well, so if you run out of bread don’t fret! The best way to eat this cheese is to flip the bowl and then cut slices, otherwise you might need some scissors to serve this ooey-gooey and delicious buffalo mozzarella.

White sangria, possibly my favorite sangria in town. Very sweet and refreshing and perfect for a warm summer night or even a way to bring warmth to your taste buds even on the coldest of Omaha winter days.

Another fun drink we’ve tried is the Pink Elephant, a martini style drink that is also very tropical and refreshing. Worth a taste if you like a sweet drink!

Green salad (comes with the entree dishes). This is very similar to the salad you will have at the Hiro 88 restaurants. Great fresh greens, cucumbers and tomatoes garnish this salad. There are a variety of dressings available but I prefer to combine for the “party in a bowl dressing” of carrot and ginger and sesame dressing.

Another great way to start the meal, salted edamame (soy beans). Reasonably healthy and not very filling is a great way to snack before the main dish, could be instead of a salad or in addition to. A very reasonably shareable portion is given.

This dish pictured above is for sure the main event here at Salt 88. Plank fired Scottish salmon, melt in your mouth salmon with a woody taste. Served with grilled veggies and served on a wood board that the salmon was cooked on. This is their signature dish, but they do not brag a lot about it but if you ask about it your server should know a lot about the dish! The fish is fresh from a local market and the freshest you can get in Omaha, if you even kind of like salmon you should definitely give it a try.

Penne Asparago. An excellent pasta dish with asparagus, peas, chicken, and mushrooms all tossed in a light cream sauce. A new favorite of mine, very light and easy to eat even though it is a heaping portion I found myself almost cleaning my plate. This is a dish you could share if you’d like, but also not big enough that you could never eat it alone.

Lo Mein & Spicy Fish. My dad got this, it’s got muscles, shrimp, and swai all in a marinara sauce. If you like seafood and a bit of flavor this is the dish for you. Also a huge portion and comes gluten free! (There is a gluten free menu if you request).

Warm chocolate cake, basically a huge chocolate lava cake. Served warm and with a great chocolate sauce poured over the top, this is a great finish for the chocolate lover in the group, and this for sure is a great dessert to share.

Salted caramel gelato- there is a bit of something for everyone here and if you’d like something a bit less than a giant chocolate cake there is always a choice of gelato flavors to choose from.

There are also a few other choices, mostly cheese cakes, they all sounded delicious, I’m sure you can’t go wrong!

 

To top off the meal everyone is given free cotton candy! The flavor changes from time to time and it is always fresh and delicious!

To learn more about Salt 88 and what they offer please visit their website at: http://salt88.com/ 

I hope you enjoyed my latest edition of my Omaha food blog, can’t wait to see where I eat next that is just too good not to share with the interwebs!

Disney Cruise Line’s Private Island: Castaway Cay

The cherry on top of an excellent Disney vacation is most definitely Disney’s private island in the Caribbean, Castaway Cay. Situated in the Bahamas this picturesque island is sure to be the highlight of your Caribbean vacation.

The only way you can get to this little piece of paradise is by taking sail on a Disney cruise ship, there is no resort on this island and very few cast members permanently stay on the island, many of  the extra cast members come in by boat every day to maintain the island and help with recreational activities on the island.

While docked at Castaway Cay almost all of the staff aboard transfers to the Island. The best place to  get lunch on Castaway Cay day is on the island. There is however one buffet station open if you insist on staying aboard.  The food is traditional cook-out style bbq! Plenty of options for everyone and of course free ice cream!

If you look at the above map you will find there are an array of options for you and your family while docked at Castaway Cay! We prefer to just take the tram to the adult section of the island and stay there til either we get tired of the weather conditions or til we are ready to go in and change for dinner. Serenity Bay is just pure bliss. There is ample room to go snorkeling and searching for tropical fish, you can snooze the day away in one of the hammocks along the shoreline, you can relax in paradise with your toes in the water or you can go for a bike ride around the island if you wish! Also, just like the pools cast members will gladly bring you a tropical drink or a drink of the day to you to sip on.

There are tons of kids activities going on while on the island also- lots of fun beach activities, I remember seeing hermit crab races one time while we were walking by the family area and thinking how cute that was!

Everything on the island is relatively easy to find and if it is further away the tram takes you there (like Serenity Bay since it is on the other side of the island). There are fun things to rent like kayaks, paddle boats, big wheels for the water, or even a jetski!

Other Castaway Cay activities range from renting a cabana for your family for the day (extra charge), feeding stingrays (extra charge), beach spa treatments (extra charge), shopping for special Castaway Cay merchandise, character encounters, snorkeling (extra charge or bring your own gear),  extreme water activities like para-sailing (for a fee), Castaway Cay 5k, bike rentals, activity areas for kids, swimming, playing in the sand, or just plain relaxing and enjoying the beautiful island.

Cute little Disney touches surround the island, lots of photo opportunities and where else can you go to a beach and randomly see Captain Jack Sparrow wander down the beach wondering where his rum might have gone? Or pose with Mickey and Minnie in front of Mount Rustmore- a cute little tribute to four Disney favorites.

Shells can be found along the shore, but if you’d like to pick up a shell or two for a souvenir beware that if the crew finds them they will be thrown back into the ocean.

Buy the Seashore has some great keepsakes that cannot be found on the boat and are specific only to Castaway Cay, expect to find some Finding Nemo themed gear and some special Castaway Cay branded Disney Cruise Line gear. Of course things you might need while ashore for the day can also be found there- things like beach towels and sunscreen and water bottles.

Expect to leave the island either very relaxed and perhaps a tad bit sunburned or exhausted in the best way possible.

My recommendations for a day at Castaway Cay would be as follows:

Adults or Adult only parties- Go to Serenity Bay (adults beach) and stay there all day. They are very strict about no kids allowed, perhaps I’ve seen an infant once or twice but it sure wasn’t running around splashing water so I had no qualms. Drinks are available (both alcoholic and non) all day, there are hammocks, beach chairs and beach loungers and umbrellas to get out of the sun. There is a second eating area for adults right by the beach area and we usually keep our towels and stuff at the beach chairs while we eat lunch, then return to swim or sun bathe the rest of the day. It is the best beach day you can imagine! If you want a little more activity, rent bikes and go for a ride around the beautiful island!

If you have kids, I’m sorry, I can’t really relate to you what to do, but I can imagine that they would love spending the day doing kids club activities if you’d like to go off to the adult area. Or renting a cabana so you don’t have to fight over the closest beach chairs would probably be a good way to go if you are staying at the family beach. Also the stingray encounter looks great and a fun way to introduce kids to ocean wildlife in a safe environment- also could be used as an educational activity. I also remember that teens had their own set of activities too and special teens only activities- unsure what they are but I’m sure they are bound to be a blast!

No matter what you choose to do, I’m sure Castaway Cay will be a great way to cap off your magical Disney Cruise. Be sure to check the Cruise Line website for any new activities that might be offered since I have not visited the island super recently, I don’t want you all to miss out on any fun new things! Happy sailing!