Venice, Italy November 9, 2010

     We arrived in Venice early because we were not able to stop in Debrovnik, Croatia.  It was very exciting because we were able to view the city as we arrived from the ship.  This city is built on marshes and consists of numerous canals and bridges as well as St. Mark's Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs which links the Palace of Doges with the prison (prisoners sighed as they saw their last view of freedom), The Bell Tower, and the Clock Tower. 
     Coming in on a ship was a spectacular way to see this beautiful city and the Princess had music playing as we arrived.  It was beyond words!   This was our only stop on this cruise where the weather was a little dreary but that was okay because we could see this magnificent city at high tide in the wet weather!  When we were arriving we heard the alarm which signaled to the residents that it was high tide.  As we deported, it was cold and rainy and water was rising and everywhere!  There were platforms placed throughout the city for people to walk on and those that were adventurous walked in the high water with rubber boots on.

The view of Venice as we approached on the ship.



The top of St. Mark's Basilica on the right and
the Clock Tower on the left




St. Mark's Basilica



People walking on the platforms over the water in the square

Water flows on the ground floor

     Most people would be disappointed at this weather but I was excited to see the city with high waters.  We were there until evening so we were able to see the tide go out at around three.  How very exciting!  As we toured St. Mark's Basilica, there was water flowing into the entrance area.  We were able to tour and stay for a Mass if we wished.  We viewed the square with one to two feet of water and then when the water receded we were walking on dry land!  Amazing!   The buildings in Venice are only four stories high and people do not live in the ground story due to flooding and the water.  They adapted to the water levels.  As we walked through the city we saw someone dropping down some boots through a shuttered window on a line to someone on the ground.    They were hollering down to the people below.  It was so unique.  I LOVED VENICE!

Standing on the tall Rialto Bridge

The narrow canals with the gondolas

     Most people would be disappointed at this weather but I was excited to see the city with high waters.  We were there until evening so we were able to see the tide go out at around three.  How very exciting!  As we toured St. Mark's Basilica, there was water flowing into the entrance area.  We were able to tour and stay for a Mass if we wished.  We viewed the square with one to two feet of water and then when the water receded we were walking on dry land!  Amazing!   The buildings in Venice are only four stories high and people do not live in the ground story due to flooding and the water.  They adapted to the water levels.  As we walked through the city we saw someone dropping down some boots through a shuttered window on a line to someone on the ground.    They were hollering down to the people below.  It was so unique.  I LOVED VENICE!
     We also were able to eat a quaint Italian restaurant.  We had wine, salad with oil and vinegar, and lasagna.  It was so delicious!  Then we enjoyed shopping and going to the The Rialto Bridge which overlooks the Grand Canal in the business district.   

Dubrovnik, Croatia November 8, 2010

     I was really looking forward to this historic stop because my grandparents were born here.  Also, it was suppose to be the most picturesque but as we approached our port the seas were very rough.  We were told by the captain after a delay that the seas were too dangerous and we would have to move on to Venice.  I was disappointed but understood that it was unavoidable.  I am thinking that I will have to return on this trip again just to see this stop.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Our view as we left with rough seas

     I did take a few photos from the ship as we left, thinking that this is where my grandparents were born.  How exciting and yet sad to be so close and yet not be able to visit so I will return!

Corfu, Greece November 7, 2010

     Corfu is a Greek Island that lies in the Ionian Sea, halfway between Greece and Italy.  It was the one Greek Island that had beautiful beaches.  All the others were spectacular but the beaches were not sandy.  This island is said to have the most beautiful coastal scenery and beaches in the entire Mediterranean.

View from above...BREATHTAKING!

This picture is one of my favorites!
Corfu was breathtaking.
Narrow streets through the villages and
SPECTACULAR VIEWS!

A donkey in Corfu

No need to describe this one!

Olive trees...only used for olive oil

We stopped at a cafe and this was the view!

    

Katakolon, Greece (where the original Olympic Games were held) November 6, 2010

     Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, the original site of the Olympic Games.  Of all the ruins we saw these were the most "rustic".  The Olympic Games were held every four years and started in 776 BC and ended in 393 AD.  What history!!  We were able to see where they Olympians competed.  They did this naked...just a little bit of history! 






Temple of Hera
Stadium Middle of the 5th Cenrury BC



The Temple of Zeus
470-457 BC

Notice that these are fallen columns
Look at the one standing in the distance.
They were built in segments...Amazing!

Our ship awaits us as we return

     Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, the original site of the Olympic Games.  Of all the ruins we saw these were the most "rustic".  The Olympic Games were held every four years and started in 776 BC and ended in 393 AD.  What history!!  We were able to see where they Olympians competed.  They did this naked...just a little bit of history! 

Athens, November 5, 2010

     This was the only stop that we arranged a tour with the ship so we were traveling with a large number of people with nametags (ewwww!) and ear buds so that we could hear the tour guide.  We did the "Best of Athens Tour" which was a day long journey that covered EVERYTHING!!  We were gone for the whole day and exhausted upon our return but not disappointed.  Although, I have to say I like the smaller tours better!!  Again, this trip involved a long walk to the acropolis and totally worth it.  We were able to see the sights, museums, enjoy a delicious Greek style dinner with wine, and shop!!  When we were able to  shop, it was crowded with tourists and locals because it was Friday.  This is the place where I should have bought some jewelry because one of our friends got a real bargain here.  So keep that in mind if you are here in the fall.  Also, there was a local shop for wine that we missed as well!!  It was always fun to pick up a local bottle of wine at each port to enjoy later in the room before dinner...or take home with us!!  I shopped for soaps and miscellaneous items.  It was so crowded and we did not have a lot of time.  Now I wish I had price shopped for jewelry!!  Next time!!!  We were told not to try to bargain as they did not do that but again a fellow traveler got a fabulous deal on a medallion with Athena surrounded by gold. 

On our way to the acropolis, the highest point

Not sure if this is the Temple of Athena-Nike or not.  This
building was across from the Parthenon

The Parthenon, our acropolis...finally!! 
Actually, we were use to all the climbing by now. 

Parthenon

The Theatre of Dionysos

Shopping in Athens
Prices are great here in the fall!!!

Loved the way the city shopping was.  It was
very crowded because we were there on Friday.

   

Mykonos, November 4, 2010

     Mykonos is dotted with stores and narrow streets.  It is a very quaint shopping area.  We did not arrange any tours on this stop.  We just explored and shopped which was a good choice.  We roamed the narrow streets of stores.  We even got lost and asked for directions ... narrow streets, many little shops swirling around back and forth and each street looked the same!  We tried to re-track our steps but thanks to a kind Mykonos shop keeper we were able to find our way back to our port.  We bought jewelry here and they were willing to bargain because this was the end of their tourist season.  Keep that in mind because not many places were willing to bargain on this trip.  Shop keepers were friendly and had so many great products and bargains.  I bought a silver and gold ring that had the Greek symbol.  I believe it means harmony.  It is classic and I love it and I loved Mykonos too...as I did each stop!!

Narrow streets and the shopping district

A quaint stop with a restaurant...beautiful!

View from the water

Windmills

Mykonos...dotted with shops and homes

     Mykonos was thought of as a place for the rich and had an exciting nightlife in the 1960's and 70's.  Historically, Mykonos is the neighboring island of Delos which in mythology was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, his twin sister.  On Delos one can see the vast ruins of three temples which were consecrated to the Sun God and the "famed Lions Walk".  We were only on Mykonos so I can't say what the other islands would be like.   BUT the shopping was fabulous and you could negotiate which was not the norm on this trip.  



  

Welcome to Kusadasi, (EPHESUS) Turkey November 3, 2010

     Next stop...Turkey!   The history in each port was beyond what we could imagine.  This is a very historical and religious stop.  The house where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her last days is here. 
St. Paul also addressed the Epehsians here at the Great Theater.  There is also a Basilica that marks the tomb of John , a disciple of Jesus.
     Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor.  The Library of Celsus was beyond description!  It was in the center of the city and our focal point as we walked down the main street.  This library is one of the best preserved of this time period.  It was finished approximately 125 A.D.  This to me is so amazing as it is still somewhat standing!!  Just to think as we walked on the steps and stepped inside that there was so much history here.  

 

Approaching the Celsus Library



Okay...little history here!!  Public toilets and who do you think warmed the seat?
Guess the slaves did...EWWWW!!

The Celsus Library up close.  It was beautiful beyond words!



As people arrived from port, this street lighted the path.



View of The Grand Theatre, one of the largest in the ancient world.  It
could seat 25,000 spectators. 

Later we drove to a location where we tasted wine
and saw carpet weaving and
spinning silk from silkworm cocoons. 
The hand woven carpets
were amazing!

 


Day five of our Mediterranean Cruise...Rhodes and Lindos, Greece

      On day five of our cruise (November 2, 2010) we toured the Island of Rhodes, Greece.  We were able to visit Lindos and the city of Rhodes.  Again, the views were so very breathtaking.  We walked to the acropolis (highest point) and were definitely getting in our exercise daily on each of these stops.  We also enjoyed more shops in Lindos, our first stop, and later Rhodes.  I did buy some jewelry here and a lovely handmade olive dish.   We saw numerous olive trees on our stops so I felt an olive dish was a good reminder of this trip.  Although, the olives that are harvested here are made into oil.  Nets are place under the trees and they simply shake the branches or wait for the olives to fall.  It is difficult to get to a lot of the trees since they are on such high cliffs, hence the nets.  I love black olives now and have always used olive oil but now I have a new appreciation for this wonderful oil.  They also sold bars of olive soap that is suppose to be wonderful for your skin.  I bought a lot for friends.  I can't really remember seeing as many olive trees on this particular stop but they had the soap, oil, and handmade dishes!!

View as we traveled to Lindos.

Homes dot the cliffs.

One of the fortresses built on the Island of Rhodes in the city of Lindos.





More spectacular views from acropolis.

Finally...the acropolis...highest point!  Whew!! 

Shops along the narrow streets of Lindos.

     After shopping in Lindos, we boarded our bus again to go to the city of Rhodes which is located at the northern tip of this fabulous island.  Rhodes is known for its fertile soil.  They produce many fruits, vegetables and red wine.  While we were in the city of Rhodes we did shop for some local wine to take back to the ship with us.  You are able to bring wine back on the ship.  We often enjoyed a glass or two before dinner.  You can also take it to dinner and pay a corking fee of about fifteen dollars.

Day three and four of our Mediterranean Cruise

     Day three was our only day at sea on the Princess.  It was nice to take it easy for one day and be a little lazy.  We slept in, enjoyed the pool, read, and relaxed.  It happened to be October 31st so there were special activities for Halloween.  One thing that I saved from our trip was our daily newsletter,
The Princess Patter.  It has so much information in it about the place you are to visit and any activities for the day.  *A good tip is to take a close-up photo of the daily paper and then your pictures immediately following are of that port.  Then don't delete any photos til you get home so they stay in order.  It is difficult to go back and identify some of the places when you are going to a different port each day. 
     Day four was Santorini and I will always remember the beautiful white and blue buildings dotting the mountainous landscape.  The town we visited was so quaint.  The pictures tell it all.

A view from above...breathtaking!

White washed buildings cling to the cliffs.

Our ship, The Princess

You just can't take a bad picture here!!

Our view from the ship of our first Greek Island, Santorini

Shopping in Santorini was so quaint.  I loved the narrow streets,
white washed buildings, and stone streets. 

We stopped at a winery and this was our view!
Ahhhh!  I want to go back and start all over again!

     A volcanic eruption occurred about 1600 BC here in Santorini and it is thought that it destroyed Crete's ancient Minoan civilization and as a result we have  the "myth of Atlantis, the lost continent".  Archaeologists have unearthed remains of the Bronze Age city in approximately 1967.  So let your imagination run wild.  To me this is what made everything so fascinating.  We were actually visiting places that I had read about and had seen in movies with so much history.  Just to think that people lived here so many years before and that we are so much alike with similar inventions, hobbies, likes, and dislikes.