Mediterranean Cruise: September 2011

The flights going home were much easier than arriving in Barcelona, everything was on time and we even landed a little early.

A Best of List:

Best place to meet a rich husband: Monte Carlo

Best food and wine: A three way tie, Barcelona, Athens and Florence

Most romantic: Mykonos

Most surprising city: Istanbul

Most spectacular drive: Naples

Best tour and tour guide: Rome

Best city to get lost in: Barcelona

Most Educational: Pompeii, Ephesus and Istanbul

Most friendly: Athens

Most historic treasures: Istanbul and Rome

Most beautiful: Another tie, Venice and Mykonos

I learned the most from Ephesus, since I hadn't even heard of the city much less known of lost ancient city. I loved the lost city but I was not impressed with the Virgin Mary's house or St. Johns supposed church.

This trip has meant so much to me, I can remember studying ancient civilizations and wondering what it would be like to live in those times. Standing in the Coliseum I could imagine the gladiators doing battle. I loved this trip and I loved the cruise. Which stops would I go back and visit? Rome, Florence, Athens, Barcelona, Mykonos, and Istanbul.

Top Ten Things I Learned:

1. I learned that you don't need guided tours in Mykonos, Venice or Monte Carlo, you can easily do those on your own. I'd recommend a tour for the other cities simply because it's so easy and they really pack in the most must do stops, plus you never get lost.

2. I learned a lot about the beliefs of Islam and how a few evil men tainted a religion.

3. I learned that gay men can be just a prissy and bitchy as any woman.

4. I learned that far too many people have died and cities have been looted in the name of religion.

5. I learned that some people have way too much but most have way too little.

6. I learned every city in the world has a McDonald's and a Subway.

7. I learned that the only thing worse than flying is not to travel because of fear.

8. I learned that the Greeks and the Turks are similar to the Jets and Sharks of West Side Story.

9. I learned that the contents of the Topaki Palace in Istanbul could feed the world for 100 years.

10. I learned that no matter what, "There's no Place Like Home."

Thank you for reading my blog. I do hope you enjoyed it and please feel free to share it with anyone you think would be interested.

Hutch, our port expert, spoke over the loud speaker as we lined the decks to watch the sail in. My best photos are taken from deck 12 looking into the city. Water taxis are the way to get around since any other vehicles, including bicycles, are not allowed in Venice. You can see a parking area just north of Venice and then it's all boats. Let's start with the shots from the sail in.

Beach time

Venice is sinking every year, this is a mufti-million dollar project to save the city. It's massive.

Beautiful water.

Party boat.

The views are phenomenal.

Flying into town.

Local transportation

My first glimpse at these lovely canals.

I could spend a few months in this apartment building.

An escaped yacht from Monte Carlo?

These pedestrian bridges are everywhere. I think if you're elderly or handicapped you have to move out of the city.

Which costs more the yachts or the apartments?

A lovely old church

St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace with a huge advertising banner, what?

St. Mark's square

The famous square

Zooming in from the ship to the square.

The romantic Gondola that Italians wouldn't be caught dead on.

The Grand Canal viewed from the ship.

This would make a great stop for lunch.


Pisa's not the only city with a leaning tower.

Isn't it beautiful?

In LA you drive a car, in NY you take a subway, in Oregon you ride a bicycle, but in Venice your boat is parked right outside your door.

Every canal we passed, every building we saw, every floating restaurant was more beautiful than the last.

Fabulous.

The beginning of the parking area.

We're really going to fit in there?

We're about to make a hard right and dock.

Last place to park, no autos in Venice.

Today we are going to St. Mark's square, Doge's Palace, the basilica and a museum. There were no photos allowed in the church or the museum so most of the following photos are the sidewalks and canals. We disembarked our big ship and got on one of the water taxis and headed to the city. Our first stop is the museum, here are some pictures I took on the way.

Exiting the ship for an excursion in Venice.

This looks impossible. All of these buildings appear to be built on top of the water.

These lovely street lamps were placed at every corner.

Pigeons, Pigeons everywhere.

Gondola under repair.

Shoe wall, huh??

I'm not exactly sure but I think this is a portable little flea market. Selling wares from the side of his boat. I love the dog and the vendors hat, it looks like a Hemingway tale.

Lovely

Even without looking at the cameras, you can tell the tourists from the stickers on their shirt.

For sale at every corner

Drying the laundry. From the appearance of those shirts, it looks like the owner's profession is a Gondola operator.

This picture is my favorite from Venice. I was able to catch a glimpse into the life of Venetians without the tourists like me.

Waiting for a fare.

This is hard to see but it's an old gondola at the museum.

Do you remember my comment about the gay Canadian couples? Well this was the nice one chatting with Gary while the small bladdered American women were in the toilet. His partner was anxiously pacing the corridor wishing those women would hurry the heck up.

Taking pictures in the museum before they told me I couldn't.

The museum was an old palace with elaborate ceilings and decorations, the art work was amazing. When we finished the museum (again, not enough time) we were on our way to St. Mark's square.

Trucks on a barge

The Grand Canal

Parasol windows.

I was so lucky to happen by these best friends sitting on the seawall and planning their lives.

Lovely hotel and cafe

The main sidewalk

Who wants some Italian stuff?

It was a busy summer day in Venice.

I would of been in greater awe of St. Mark's had I not seen St. Peter's Basilica and the little church of Santa Croche first. Don't get me wrong, St. Mark's was fantastic!! The architecture is amazing and every building is adorned with statutes or carvings. The best part of the square is people watching. It's hard to believe that someone would stand still holding bread and allow those nasty pigeons to land on them.

Were there more tourists or pigeons?

The bell tower

These horses were taken as loot from the 4th crusade when the Venetians sacked Constantinople, they're probably at least 2,000 years old.

Beautiful Mosaics

Built 1063, almost a thousand years old.

This entire city is gorgeous.

Look at these statues!

Isn't this beautiful?

The courtyard of the palace.

We were guided to a prison somewhere in the maze of St. Mark's and the Doge's Palace. The prison was infested with insects and built to be freezing in winter and sweltering in summer. The prison once held Casanova, among his crimes were blasphemy, seduction and public controversy. He was sentenced to 5 years without even a trial.