Rat's Around-the-World Adventure on Semester at Sea: Rat

R.A.T. Your Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (a.k.a. Raz)

Hi, My name is R.A.T., which stands for Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (I like to think it stands for Rodent Adventure Traveler), but everyone here calls me Raz for short. I would love to share my adventures with you. I left my rat family in early January to seek adventure. Everyone said "head west young rat," so that is what I did. I headed west to San Diego, California where I ran out of land and had to hop on a ship to continue my journey. It turns out that the ship I found was going west around the world--a dream come true! The MV Explorer is home to the famous Semester at Sea study abroad program. My shipmates include 629 college students and about 150 faculty, staff, lifelong learners, and family members. Things are really busy here on the ship and even busier when we are in port. Come follow me vicariously as I take this incredible journey. Yours, R.A.T.

P.S. I had such a great time on the voyage that the adventure continues!!!!

Showing posts with label Rat. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Rat. Show all posts

Thursday, June 5, 2025

RAT in the World: Spain

On to Spain!

Making great progress on Gaudi's Sagrada Família

A visit to St. Caterina Market for some food. Cool canopy!

A visit to the site of the 1929 Barcelona Exposition

A quick stop at Mies's Barcelona Pavilion (rebuilt) from the 1929 Expo.

We also went to the Spanish Village from the 1929 Expo--still in operation!

A couple more pictures of the Spanish Village.

The Water Tower from Expo 2008 in Zaragoza.

A few more expo pavilions.

Zaha Hadid's bridge at the expo. Not in the greatest condition.

City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia by Calatrava.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

RAT in the World: Morocco

The beautiful Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II in Casablanca with the tallest religious tower in the world (210m).

And a retractable roof (which was closed when we were there.

We went to several other interesting cities.

Including Fez with its beautiful arch.

Saw leather production in Marrakesh.

A triumphal arch in the ancient Roman city of Volubilis.

Here's one of its wonderful mosaics.

The blue city of Chefchaouen is really blue!

Sunday, May 18, 2025

RAT in the World: 00.00.00

The center of the world, where the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian crosses the Equator!

Hey, there's a buoy to mark the spot!!!

Thursday, May 15, 2025

RAT in the World: Namibia

Made it to Namibia. Here I am in Swakopmund at the old prison known as Alte Gefängnis, designed in 1909 by architect Heinrich Bause.

This looks like I'm on another planet!

Cool--a Welwitschia! With just two continuously growing leaves, some of these plants can live for up to 2000 years!

Off to see a lot of orange sand!

Here I am at Sossusvlei, the largest sand dunes in the world. So pretty in the early morning light.

Time for an early morning hike up the dune.

Preparing to run down it!!!

At the bottom, Deadvlei with 500 year old camelthorn trees!

And a stop at the Tropic of Capricorn, the dividing line between the Southern Temperate Zone and the Tropics. Didn't see any line on the ground though.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

RAT in the World: South Africa

Made it to Cape Town! Don't I make a pretty picture.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical with Table Mountain in the background.

The cool Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa built in an old grain silo.

The kept parts of the machinery.

Really cool design!

And cool art . . .

Made up of gum wrappers.

Time for a picnic.

Bye-bye Mr. Rhodes.

Time to find some animals.

Roadblock!!!

An elephant friend.

Mr. Giraffe Friend.

Sleepy kitty.

A few friends in tuxedos on my way to the end of the continent.

The Cape of Good Hope!

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