The Charismatic Mediterranean voyage blew our expectations out of the water! The Flying Jayhawks were comprised of several couples, friends, and one large family. Our group was made up of Class of 1956 grads to Class of 1986 grads. As expected, the Jayhawks may have been the ship’s brightest, friendliest and most fun bunch. We sure enjoyed our time together!
Our trip began in beautiful Barcelona, Spain, as we traveled from the airport to the port where we would board our spectacular cruise ship, the Oceania Marina. With 1,200 passengers and 10+ alumni travel groups, we set out to meet our fellow Jayhawks, who would be embarking on this adventure with us. As we set sail on our first evening aboard the ship, we hosted a reception where 30 Flying Jayhawks gathered to make connections, reminisce about college days andcelebrate our commonality – our Jayhawk spirit. Our group was united from states as far as California to Georgia, Texas to Ohio and many from right here in Kansas.
The first destination we ported at was Palamós, Spain. Palamós is a charming seaside town nestled on the Costa Brava. We began our day by strolling through the narrow, cobbled streets past the picturesque harbor and the lovely old town. We admired the Santa Maria Church, just one piece of the town’s well-preserved medieval architecture. We enjoyed fresh seafood for lunch as we took in the crystal-clear waters and golden sands at a beachside restaurant. As the sun set, we embarked on the ship and headed to dinner in the Grand Dining Room with fellow Jayhawk travelers. We topped off the night with pistachio soufflé and retired to our rooms as the ship set sail for Monaco.
The following day, we arrived in stunning Monte Carlo, Monaco, a jewel of the French Riviera. While most of what we knew about Monte Carlo came from the 2011 film “Monte Carlo,” we quickly learned that Monte Carlo hosts the Formula One Grand Prix on the Circuit de Monaco, and the country is one of the richest in the world. We had no idea just how much we would love this stop. We admired the gleaming yachts and elegant cityscape as we ascended the hills of Monte Carlo toward the Hotel de Paris and the iconic Casino de Monte Carlo. The Hotel de Paris was littered with police officers and guards, which could later be explained by our knowledge that the Prince of Monaco was visiting on this day.
As we stepped foot in the Casino, we were immediately captivated by ostentatious architecture and interiors encapsulating the rich history. We took an excessive number of pictures throughout the day, many of which captured the luxury automobiles and designer shops on every street corner. Before boarding the ship, we were sure to check out the museum housing the Prince of Monaco’s car collection, the Oceanographic Museum, and the Prince’s Palace. You don’t even have to love cars to be in awe of the Prince’s car collection, ranging from a 1903 De Dion Bouton to the 2013 Lotus F1 alongside Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Maseratis and Rolls Royces. Finally, we stopped at a waterfront café with some Jayhawk friends for local fare and to take in the beauty of Monaco.
On day four, we woke up in Italy! We docked at the Civitavecchia port, a one-hour train ride from Rome. Our travelers all took different methods of transportation into the city to explore. Upon arrival in the Eternal City, we walked straight to the Trevi Fountain to toss a coin in and ensure our return to Rome one day. We continued our journey across the culture-filled city, marveling at sights such as the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Castel Sant’ Angelo, Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica; we were transported back to the days of the Roman Empire. We appreciated the opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of Roman civilization as we learned about the historic sites scattered across Rome. We stopped in a couple quaint trattorias where we enjoyed the most delicious supplì, bruschetta, gelato, chocolate croissants and a Hugo spritz. With full stomachs and blisters from over nine miles of walking, we returned to the ship and found a quiet place to relax and grab a glass of wine with KU alumni to recharge for the next day.
Amalfi
The coastal town of Amalfi, Italy, was enchanting. Our day began as our ship anchored along the Amalfi Coast, and we tendered into town. We were greeted by colorful houses cascading down the cliffs toward the beautiful turquoise waters. The narrow, winding streets of town led us to little shops selling quintessential Amalfitan goods like handmade paper, local ceramics and bottled limoncello. We shopped for souvenirs and gifts for a short while. After climbing the grand staircase to the Amalfi Cathedral, we purchased a ticket and hopped on the next ferry to Positano. We admired the breathtaking views of villages and lemon groves along the coast on our voyage. We topped off our day with a gelato-filled giant lemon and returned to the ship. Like most days, our first stop upon re-boarding the ship was Baristas, a quiet and cozy coffee bar. We enjoyed cappuccinos while discussing our favorite aspects of Amalfi and Positano.
That night, we hosted another reception in Horizons, the ship’s rooftop lounge, where we had the opportunity to hear all about our fellow Jayhawks’ adventures thus far. Since we were such a big group aboard a large ship, we couldn’t catch up with some of the Jayhawks daily, as we took different excursions at each port. It was wonderful to gather with all the Jayhawks at these Go Next sponsored receptions to get to know each other better and make lasting connections. Additionally, we were pleased to mingle with alumni and hosts from other schools like Nebraska, OU, Texas, UCLA, and many others, swapping stories from our respective college experiences.
Italy and Greece
The next day, we ported in Taormina, Sicily and went on an excursion that led us up to a delightful hilltop town. Our guide, Floriana, was fantastic. She pointed out the stunning views of the Ionian Sea and the majestic Mount Etna. We learned that Taormina is home to an ancient Greek Theatre that we got to tour, providing us with a glimpse of Sicilian history as we surveyed preserved stone seats and a large stage. Standing atop the theatre, we had a moment to admire the amazing panoramic views of the region. Next, we strolled Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street of Taormina, stopping in local artisans’ shops filled with unique Sicilian mementos. We would be remiss to leave the Sicily region without tasting a traditional ricotta-filled cannoli or granita, an ice cream dessert similar to gelato but made with sugar and water. Both treats were delicious! The highlight of our day was when we got invited to the back of a cannoli shop to watch the pastry chef fill our cannolis on the spot.
After sailing away from Italy, we headed southeast to Greece. Our first stop was Argostoli, Greece. We meandered into the city center of the capital of Kefalonia before reporting for our excursion. In the afternoon, we drove past robola grape vineyards to the Melissani Cave where we rode in traditional wooden boats across the turquoise waters of an underground lake illuminated by the sun’s rays peeking through the roof of the cave. This experience was truly magical. For lunch, we visited the coastal town of Sami, just 24 km from Argostoli, where we sat down at a local café to indulge in traditional Greek food and drink such as ouzo, tzatziki, falafel, Greek salad and spanakopita.
The final stop in Greece was at the Igoumenitsa port. In Igoumenitsa, we saw the mythical starting point for the journey to Hades, the Greek underworld. We also enjoyed Greek snacks in the seaside village of Parga. Our eighth night on the ship was our most cherished because we took our KU Alumni group picture on the grand staircase and ate dinner together in the Grand Dining Room. We told stories from previous Flying Jayhawk trips and made personal connections. We chatted and laughed until the show began in the theater. Sammi, our cruise director, was singing, and we couldn’t miss it!
Montenegro and Croatia
Once we departed from Greece, we set sail to Kotor, Montenegro. We stepped off the ship, engrossed in the beautiful views of rugged peaks mirrored in the bay. Along with our Jayhawk friends, we were whisked away on tuk tuks to explore the town along the Adriatic. We noticed fortified walls we later stepped through to be warped into Kotor’s Old Town. Our young tour guide navigated us along curvy roads past striking views as he entertained us with stories about Kotor’s deep history. We learned about the three sisters who were in love with the same young sailor and saw our guide’s home. Interacting with a local in this capacity was so enjoyable because we got a glimpse of what life looks like in Kotor. We arrived at Porto Montenegro, a secluded portside filled with luxury boutiques, waterside cafes and superyachts. After 30 minutes of speed shopping, we got back on the tuk tuk and took an alternate way back to the ship so that we couldexperience the most sought-after lookout point in Kotor. We followed our tour with a stroll through Old Town, past medieval buildings and charming squares with a freshly baked pastry in hand. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon took the cake of our time in Kotor!
Our final destination before disembarkation of our ship in Venice was Split, Croatia. As the morning subsided, Split was bustling with energy. Split showed elements of both modern life and Roman ruins. The Riva Promenade couldn’t be missed as we ventured further into the city. The lines of palm trees and benches to rest on and admire the views of the port while savoring Krofnes, fluffy-filled Croatian donuts, were just what we needed after an adventure-filled week. Our favorite details of Split were the hidden courtyards and lively markets.
Overall, it was an extraordinary trip characterized by new friendships, an expanded palate, a heightened appreciation for history and memories that will last a lifetime! I recommend the Charismatic Mediterranean trip over and over again! There’s truly nothing better than traveling with Jayhawks!
The Flying Jayhawks “Charismatic Mediterranean” trip took place April 18-29, 2024. The trip was hosted by Jodi Nachtigal, the Alumni Association’s assistant VP of finance.
Find more information about Flying Jayhawks trips, including a schedule, or sign up for travel emails, on our Flying Jayhawks webpage.
