Finally, a day when we have both the time and the Internet access to tell you all about our wonderful vacation! But, after posting one photograph, Blogger wouldn't post any others. I'll try again later. In the meantime, we send you a few words and promises of more pictures soon.
When we are home early next week we'll post more pictures at our Facebook site. Look for us there!
We are sorry that accessing the Internet wasn't easier and that our "postcards" weren't sent earlier. Tomorrow we go to Delphi Greece, the place the ancients considered to be the "belly button" of the world. Following a sea day on Wednesday, we'll enjoy two days in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. On Saturday we'll leave the ship very early and then have one last day in Rome before heading for home with bags full of treasures.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
At the World's Belly-Button -- Delphi Greece
We made another stop in Greece, at a modern small port city named Itea so we could visit one of the ancient world's most important sites, Delphi, home of the Oracle of Delphi. The Greeks called this center of the universe the "world's navel." We all took a ship's excursion 3000 feet up the mountain overlooking our ship to the location of the pilgrimage site that dates from 800 BC. There's an excellent museum there of artifacts unearthed by archaeologists over the past 100+ years which we toured. Then we walked up to the actual site where the Oracle prophesied the future for anyone who climbed the mountain to ask questions.
The isle of Corfu in Greece
Our next destination was Corfu, an island that is part of Greece. Again the day began with rain, but soon became quite sunny and pleasant. We've encountered more tourist shops filled with jewelry and junk than in any other small port. Corfu town has been a tourist destination for a long time -- many ships call here and large jets are passing over us, en route to the airport. It's an unattractive town, very poor looking. Most of the buildings are decrepit. There are many blocks of stores and restaurants. Tourism from the U.K. and continental Europe is the mainstay of the econonomy and many cruise ships dock here. It's possible to tour the island, but not cheaply, and most of us just meandered through the shops and had lunch.
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
On Sunday morning we docked in Kotor Montenegro, a small city none of us had ever heard of prior to this cruise. We first sailed into a bay surrounded by mountains -- actually Europe's most southerly fjord. We came into port early in the morning, while the lights were still on in the villages we passed and along part of the walls built on the mountains that surround the town of Kotor. Those walls were 1000 years in the making! We met our guide and boarded a bus for a 15 mile ride to a village named Perast that dates from 300 BC. There we boarded a small boat to sail a few hundred yards off-shore to a man-made island. On the island there is a lovely small church called Our Lady of the Rocks, built by the local people to house an icon they believe has miraculous powers.
Throughout our trip we have enjoyed gorgeous weather. Each day the sun has shown on us, and the temperature has been in the 70s. On Sunday morning our weather-luck ran out. The skies opened with torrential rain. As we scooted back to the mainland on a little boat lightening flashed and thunder crashed around us. Soaked, cold and weary, we voted to scuttle the rest of the tour. The rain continued through much of the rest of the day, and only as we sailed away did we see a few minutes of sunlight.
Most of us did wander in the afternoon into the village of Kotor, where the ship was docked. Taking cover under large umbrellas provided by the ship, we were able to continue our tour for an hour, and to enjoy wandering through in Kotor, our guide assured us there are none in the entire country of Montenegro. We're glad! There were many outdoor cafes under large umbrellas which were more in keeping with the atmosphere of the ancient village.
Throughout our trip we have enjoyed gorgeous weather. Each day the sun has shown on us, and the temperature has been in the 70s. On Sunday morning our weather-luck ran out. The skies opened with torrential rain. As we scooted back to the mainland on a little boat lightening flashed and thunder crashed around us. Soaked, cold and weary, we voted to scuttle the rest of the tour. The rain continued through much of the rest of the day, and only as we sailed away did we see a few minutes of sunlight.
Most of us did wander in the afternoon into the village of Kotor, where the ship was docked. Taking cover under large umbrellas provided by the ship, we were able to continue our tour for an hour, and to enjoy wandering through in Kotor, our guide assured us there are none in the entire country of Montenegro. We're glad! There were many outdoor cafes under large umbrellas which were more in keeping with the atmosphere of the ancient village.
Split, Croatia
Saturday we docked in a new country, Croatia, across the Adriatic Sea from Ravenna. We went to the city called Split, where a tour guide, Helena, met us. We began our day visiting a ruin of a Roman city, Solan, which was interesting. Then we went on to a very medieval town named Trogir. We enjoyed wandering the very narrow streets, and finding old churches and lots of views for picture-taking. All our guides have been very knowledgable and entertaining, but we particularly enjoyed the time we spent with Helena, our very well-spoken, attractive guide in Croatia.
Helena showed us Diocletian's Tomb in Split. Diocletian was an emporer of Rome in the 300 AD period. Rather than die in office, he decided to retire to the area near Solan, where he had spent his childhood. He built a "palace" that today is the entire center of the old city of Split. It consists primarily of high walls surrounding the original palace grounds and enormous cellars, which we toured. A small cathedral is built in one part of the grounds and the ancient Roman Temple of Zeus became the Christian's baptistry centuries ago.
Our ship features two fine dining restaurants in addition to the dining room and the cafeteria. We decided to enjoy dinner together on Saturday evening and reserved space for all 19 of us. We celebrated Pat's birthday that day and Judy & Al's first anniversary the next day. It was a wonderful dinner, which many of us finished with Grand Marnier souffles.
Helena showed us Diocletian's Tomb in Split. Diocletian was an emporer of Rome in the 300 AD period. Rather than die in office, he decided to retire to the area near Solan, where he had spent his childhood. He built a "palace" that today is the entire center of the old city of Split. It consists primarily of high walls surrounding the original palace grounds and enormous cellars, which we toured. A small cathedral is built in one part of the grounds and the ancient Roman Temple of Zeus became the Christian's baptistry centuries ago.
Our ship features two fine dining restaurants in addition to the dining room and the cafeteria. We decided to enjoy dinner together on Saturday evening and reserved space for all 19 of us. We celebrated Pat's birthday that day and Judy & Al's first anniversary the next day. It was a wonderful dinner, which many of us finished with Grand Marnier souffles.
Ravenna Italy
Our first port of call was Ravenna Italy. A smaller city, with a very calm, old center, Ravenna was the capitol of the western Roman empire in the last days of Rome, after that city had collapsed and the empire was split in two. As a result, eight beautiful religious buildings exist there today, covered in mosaic murals, and in perfect condition. We enjoyed seeing them, and strolling through the town.
We also enjoyed being in a smaller, uncroweded city and having a day that operated at a slower pace.
We also enjoyed being in a smaller, uncroweded city and having a day that operated at a slower pace.
Venice and Our Ship
On Wednesday morning our bus returned to take us to Venice to board our ship. Our cruise adventure was about to begin! Grace and Pat arrived at the airport that morning, and Richard and Vicki, who had been in Venice for a couple of days made their way to the ship, and we all met onboard the Azamara Quest, for our small ship cruise to ports in Italy and the Adriatic. There are 19 of us cruising together, and all are charming and cooperative, and we are all enjoying the company of the others.
Our cruise began with two days in Venice -- the day we arrived and the following day until about 5:00 pm. We enjoyed a walking tour around the area of St. Mark's Square. Our guided showed us the interior of golden St. Mark's basilica as she told us a bit of the history of Venice. She ecorted us away from the hordes of Americans (two other cruise ships with a combined passenger capacity of 7000 were in port too) and into a charming neighborhood behind St. Mark's.
Then we boarded gondolas for a ride around that area. It was really fun to listen to the chatter of the gondoliers while getting a different view of the beautiful old homes we passed.
We experienced our first dinners in the dining room of our ship, and became accustomed to the rooms we would call home for the next ten nights. The ship is not large -- the capacity is fewer than 700 -- but it is rather grand. It is the new "luxury" line of Celebrity Cruises.
On our second day in Venice each of us had a chance to explore on our own. The ship sailed at 6:00 pm. The ride our of the harbor past the grand sights of Venice was one to remember.
Our cruise began with two days in Venice -- the day we arrived and the following day until about 5:00 pm. We enjoyed a walking tour around the area of St. Mark's Square. Our guided showed us the interior of golden St. Mark's basilica as she told us a bit of the history of Venice. She ecorted us away from the hordes of Americans (two other cruise ships with a combined passenger capacity of 7000 were in port too) and into a charming neighborhood behind St. Mark's.
Then we boarded gondolas for a ride around that area. It was really fun to listen to the chatter of the gondoliers while getting a different view of the beautiful old homes we passed.
We experienced our first dinners in the dining room of our ship, and became accustomed to the rooms we would call home for the next ten nights. The ship is not large -- the capacity is fewer than 700 -- but it is rather grand. It is the new "luxury" line of Celebrity Cruises.
On our second day in Venice each of us had a chance to explore on our own. The ship sailed at 6:00 pm. The ride our of the harbor past the grand sights of Venice was one to remember.
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