Day 18

I just realized that I didn't blog last night. This is because I was writing for my travel writing class and was getting really deep. I was thinking about why people travel, why people choose the places that they go to. Paris is one of the most coveted vacation spots. I don't think I have ever talked to a person that didn't want to go to Paris. But why? What draws us to the places that we want to go? 

I want to go to Paris because its one of the most romantic cities in the world, as well having some of the most delicious food and architecture. Maybe its because I have heard about the place my entire life and would like to see it for my self. Or maybe I just want to go there so that I can tell people that I have. Isn't that why most of us go places and do things? So that we can brag about them to people? So that we can impress people? 

I brought up this notion in my class when I read my journal out loud and another student, Byron, told a story about when he went to the Taj Mahal. He asked the other people on the tour with him if they still would have taken the tour if they hadn't been able to bring a camera and they weren't given a picture of them there. Basically, they would have walked away with no proof that they had been there. He said that it was split about 50/50. That half of the people would not have gone if they wouldn't have been able to show people. 

We determined that it is a generational thing. We have all grown up with social media and so we have always strived to have the most likes or follows or views. I think we have definitely stopped doing things for ourselves. 

I don't think I am any different. I definitely am going to ride a camel so that I can say I can ride a camel. Not necessarily so that I can brag but so that I can add it to the list of things that I have done. 

There are a few things I want to do for myself. I have a bucket list, most things just float on it, like writing a book or having a family. But I only have one thing that is on there permanently, that I will actively work to achieve. I want to go to every Disney park that exists. All 6 of them. Sounds weird, I know, and you can feel free to judge me for it. I have been to two, both of the ones in the U.S but am adding a third on Sunday when I go to Disneyland Paris. I'm not looking forward to anything more at this point. 

This I am doing for myself.

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Belgium is tomorrow, I have a field lab for my Psych class that I hope will be interesting. 

It's weird that we have been sitting in port for almost 24 hours and haven't been able to get off the ship. We can see the world around us and it is making this ship seem much smaller, like we are trapped. 

I only have one day in Belgium until I go to Paris and my two priorities are to find chocolate and find stamps. Who wants chocolate as a present? Hopefully I don't eat it all first. 

NOON BRIDGE REPORT FOR HAMBURG, GERMANY 09 Sept

Miles Made Good Since Hamburg

92 Nautical Miles

Average speed of ship 15.9 knots

Sea Depth 22 Meters / 72 Feet

Air Temperature 14°C or 57°F

Water Temperature 15°C or 59°F

Sunset: 19:52      Sunrise: 06:47