Italy-Turkey-Egypt-Greece Trip - October 2008
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| Oct 8 - Rome, Italy | |
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Oct 9 - Rome Day1 - Our
flight from SFO to Philadelphia to Roma was about 15 hours. We met Michele
and Will Wise from Washington State and went into the city with them
taking the metro.
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Oct 10 - Rome Day2 - With the
Wises we took a tour of the city on the on again off
again Ciao Roma tour. 1 - We began at the Piazza
Dell Esquilano. and saw the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the
Opera House.
3 - The third stop was the Colosseo and the Palatino Roman Forum. 4 - At stop four we saw Circo Massimo and Bocca Della Verita. 5 -
Next we went to Piazza di Monte Savello where we saw Isola Tiberina. 7 - The Citta Del Vaticano - Via della Conciliazione, Caffe Pietro. 8
- Ponte Sant Angelo, 9 - Piazza
Augusto, Imperatore / ARA Pacis (Mausoleum of Augustus),
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Oct 11 - Rome Day 3 and to the
port: Rome to Civitavecchia, Italy
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Oct 12 - Sorrento, Italy Sorrento claims one of the Amalfi Coast's most picturesque harbors. Some of the excursions include the whispering groves of lemon trees along the Amalfi Drive, and another puts passengers aboard a hydrofoil to the serene and sunny island of Capri. Anther excursion is the tour to Pompeii, the fascinating ruins of a city covered in lava and ash from the A.D. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. And finally there is the bustling city of Naples, with a unique culture that the natives still hold strong.
Oct 12 Sorrento - After breakfast in our room we took the tender into Sorrento Harbor. Sorrento claims one of the Amalfi Coast's most picturesque harbors. We chose to take a local bus up the hillside into Sorrento where we attended mass. The church was decorated in baroque style with a beautifully painted ceiling and a marble alter. Then we spent the morning strolling the streets like the local Italians and we shopped the many small shops for gifts. We stopped to have a cappucino and people watch. Next we took a
local bus up the mountainside for a look at the local scenery. As we
looked at the ship from port we could also see Vesuvius and were reminded
of our previous trip to the Amalfi coast when we visited Capri and
Pompeii. In the afternoon Roseann
went for a swim in the ship's pool and later we met with the Cruise
Critic group for a champaign party with the officers of the
ship. The dinner was outstanding. |
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| Oct 13 - At Sea - a wonderful day at rest. | |
Oct 14 -
Crete (Heraklion), Greece
A string of high mountains divides this Greek isle into four regions, each with its own distinct landscape. There are two main attractions -- the restored 4,000-year-old Minoan palace of Knossos and the unparalleled archaeological museum in Heraklion. There is also a colorful fruit and vegetable market and a quaint fishing village. We walked to town from the port. It was only about a mile, so off we went, There were quite a few tourists walking the streets and strolling along, we ambled our way towards the town central area. As we approached the main qualre, we came upon the Basiclca of St Mary, a Greek Orthodox church, very old and decorated in the usual Byzantine fashion. After enjoying the artistic interior, we headed for the square, where the Lion Fountain is located. Unfortunately, the water was shut down due to a shortage of rain the past season. We still enjoyed the stone work...eroded by eons of water dripping over the surfaces.   
Continuing down the street, we spotted the market place... streets with no vehicles, not even scooters. Every conceivable item is there, including plumbing fixtures, carpets, clothes, toys for children....food...you name it it was there. We worked our way around town and ended up in a park/square with many trees and benches to enjoy our picnic lunch. from there, we had a panaramic view of the town. Along the way, we discovered the Archeological museum, full of artifacts dating to 3000 BC, the very earliest civilization in the Mediterranian. Eventually, we headed back to the port area.Wit tired feet and many photos to review, and iced tea on board the Azamara was in order. A shower, nap, and we dressed for dinner, where we celebrated the 28th wedding anniversary of our fellow travellers, the Lerners, from Dayton, Ohio. The bed seemed somewhat softer, as we slept well, dreaming of faraway lands of adventure. At dinner we celebrated Gayle and David's anniversary.
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Oct 15 - Chios,
Greece
Then we drove to Pirgi which is a
very unusual town with a fabulous old church and also saw the
new church and geometric designs on all the homes.
Our next stop was Mesta which had the largest
and most ornate church on the island. It was also built in a
maze and quite hilly. We ate lunch at the Port of Mesta. Then we
drove to a monastery and finally back to the ship for a great
dinner and show. Finally we enjoyed evening tea with Carolyn
and Dave. |
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Oct 16 - Istanbul, Turkey
Cruises that visit or depart
from Istanbul sail in the Black Sea, Greek Isles and the
Mediterranean.
Istanbul is one of the world's
most interesting cities. Cruise passengers get a striking view of
the minaret-pierced skyline as the ship pulls into port. The
treasures are plentiful here; visitors marvel at the great
architectural triumph of the Blue Mosque, the glorious frescoes and mosaics of the Chora Church and the amazing Grand Bazaar.
We had a lovely
dinner with Canadians and Scotlanders and then watched a wonderful folk dance
and belly dance. Finally we enjoyed evening tea with Carolyn and
Dave. | |
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17th - Istanbul, Turkey
Today we walked through town to the Palace Museum. After we toured the museum we walked to the great Bazaar.A lot of exercise but worth it. We loved Istanbul's ever active life.   
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Oct
18th - Canakkale, Turkey
Archaeological digs have revealed nine cities and various
ruins of the city walls, typical house foundations, a temple
and a theater. We toured Troy and saw the archeological
diggings and findings. We had a wonderful guide named Baris
who teaches at the University. |
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Oct 19 - Bodrum, Turkey - Spread out between
two crescent bays, Bodrum exudes an "artsy" ambiance. With
its white houses and flower gardens, it is one of the prettiest
resorts on the South Aegean coast. Bodrum is easy to get
around on foot. From the center square small streets fan out,
lined with shops selling arts and crafts, leather, jewelry
and carpets. Artists display their works along the harbor
front. There is also a market offering a variety of
clothing and local produce.
This town was delightful
- quiet and clean with a perfect bay and sparkling water. We
walked from the ship through the town shopping as we
meandered and finally ended at the castle. After touring the
castle we walked back. Did I say I'd like to retire here?
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Oct 20 - Fethiye, Turkey Located in the Tourus Mountains and on the hillside of Mount Mendos is the picturesque town of Fethiye. The scenery is beautiful as our the local tea gardens. A number of outdoor sports are available, including rafting and scuba diving.
The bay was beautiful and
the sea was as calm as could be. This town as very pleasant
and appealing. I preferred Bodrum for the beaches but Fethiye
has better shops with nicer merchandise. We picked up a few
items as we walked around.
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October 21 - Antalya, Turkey
Aspendos is one of the most
well preserved ancient city examples in the world. Aspendos Theatre -the best preserved theater of antiquity, with a seating
capacity for 15,000 is still being used today. The theater's galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect's
success. In the 6th century B.C., the Lydians reigned here until they were defeated by the Persians. Until 425 B.C. Aspendos
was a member of Delian Sea Confederacy. In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great came to Pamphylia.
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October 22 - Limassol, Cyprus
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October 23- Cairo / Giza (Alexandria),
Egypt Highlights in
Cairo include the Ibn Tulun Mosque, which dates to the ninth century, and
the Citadel, a medieval fortress. Many passengers choose to visit the
Great Pyramids of Giza, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World;
the Sphinx is nearby. Tours of these sites are offered on foot, horseback
or camel. The port city of Alexandria is set on a strip of land between
the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mareotis, and serves as the gateway to
Cairo and Giza. In Alexandria, a tour of the harbor and Montaza Palace or
lounging on the beach are favorite activities. |
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| Oct 24 - At Sea | |
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October 25 -
Athens (Piraeus), Greece Piraeus is the
port to Athens -- the birthplace of Western civilization. The first stop
on most excursions is the Parthenon on the hill of the Acropolis. The
Acropolis also is the site of the Propylea, the Temple of the Wingless
Victory, the Erechtheion and the Acropolis Museum. A drive down Syngrou
Avenue offers an impressive view of the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of
Olympian Zeus. The National Archeological Museum houses a rich collection
of antiquities.
Major restoration is being completed on the Parthenon and
other structures. Our room and balcony at hotel had an excellent view of this tourist attraction, and
the bluff and buildings are lighted at night, making it glow with drama and character.
A new underground Metro makes moving around cheap, fast, and efficient. (No graffiti yet,
either). We went to the usual sites, visited the National Museum, shopping bazaars,
Temple of Zeus, and several parks. The food we sampled was not special, and was expensive.
Nonetheless, we put maximum miles on our walking shoes, as we made the most of our few days
in this exciting and vibrant Grecian city.
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October 26 - Athens (Piraeus),
Greece - :
This ancient city is the place to go to see the heart of Greceian history. It was here that an entire emipre was ruled, and was the center for important art, architecture, and literature. We arrived at the hotel after a short ride across town...by taxi. Our biggest surprise was the view from the balcony, the most famous site in Athens, the Parthenon.  
On our first adventure around the city, we got a closer look. A short stroll takes you to Hadrian's arch, and the former residential area of many roman officials, near the Temp[le of Zeus, the most powerful of tahe Greek Gods. All that is left are the foundations of the housing, as many were largely wooden structures on stone foundation.
Here, all things important to the government were a short walk away. Strolling along the boulevard takes you to the National Museum, where art and treasurs of days gone by are there to view. They were Great painters doing frescoes and decorations on their walls. Unparalleled works in Bronze, White marble,jewelry, and pottery are all beautiful and priceless.
(In a gesature of friendliness, the Senator bids us Goodbye, as we leave this most fascinating place. |
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October 27 - Athens (Piraeus),
Greece - day 3 - fly to SFO
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| October 28 - Arrive SFO | |
Entering Alexandria harbor, one instantly feels the meeting of the old and new…of commerce as it is and was.
A two hour drive takes you to Cairo, the Nile, the Great pyramids, and a taste of the ancient.
The “desert schooners”… Camels, are present for the visitor to see, and make up a part of the scene.
We had a lunch on the Nile, and a short cruise. The oldest mosque in Cairo … and a feel
for the streets clearly give you a feeling of the history and tradition of this country. The street bazaar
and shops are typical of the Orient…busy, noisy, and colorful . Leaving the city, a last glimple of the
old and new contrasts the Egyptian way of life.
