Spectacular Santorini....Eyes Wide Shut

On Sunday morning we gradually sailed into one of the most beautiful places on earth. Amidst a number of Greek isles (too many to count), the port town of Fira on the island of Santorini is high up on the cliffs from the shore. When you get off your tender boat, you have a choice of a long Donkey ride up a switch back path or a ride in a gondola style cable car. We opted for the donkeys going up and the cable car coming back down. The donkey ride was quite an experience as they do seem to have a mind of their own. Guides walk the switch back path all the way to the top in order to keep the donkeys under control. Some people were actually attempting to walk the path.

We dismounted the donkeys near the top and were left with a short walk albeit almost straight up! To be honest, walking up the steep stairs was a bit of a challenge in the 88 degree weather. All the temperatures here are mentioned in celsius so you have to do the conversion in your head. It is roughly like this: take the celsius number and multiply it by two and then add 32. This will give you the approximate farenheight temperature. So 25 celsius is about 82 degrees. The actual conversion is 9/5ths of the celsius number + 32 but that math is a little harder to relate to after a few drinks!

Once we made it to the top of cliffs we visited a few shops and before long we were in a cab with another couple from Toronto, heading for Oia. Once there, Peg and I took photos of the homes and blue domed churches overlooking the cliffs. The main attraction to Santorini has to be the scenery (well, unless you are into shopping because there is an abundance of that there too). The towns of Fira and Oia are as high as 1,000 feet above the shore. After taking a number of photos we headed back down the cliffs by cable car this time. Peg kept her eyes closed the entire way down. Somehow, it all seemed safer that way....

Not a Typical Weekend.......

On Saturday morning we found ourselves just a bit further down the coast of mainland Greece and still in the Ionian Sea on the island of Cephalonia. The island is just south of Corfu and still in view from the western shore of mainland Greece. Cephalonia is the 6th largest in all of the Greek islands. We anchored in a cove near the town of Argostoli where the tender boats took us in. Peg and I had no specific plans today other than to relax a little. We thought about taking a tour up to Lake Melissiani (the mythical nymph Melissa drowned herself here) but opted instead to visit a local beach where we ended up having the entire beach to ourselves. It is said this is where the legendary figure Odysseus went for rest and relaxation. I thought if it was good enough for him, we could certainly give it a go.

We took a few photos and relaxed in the sunshine but did not stay at the beach long as our ship was leaving a bit early today and heading much further east. In the middle of the night we sailed into the Sea of Crete.... and are now sailing up into the Aegean Sea where we are slowly making our way to the island of Santorini. Santorini is only 60 square miles in size and has a coastline of about 43 miles. The island is 70 miles from Crete and 130 miles from Athens. We are told that Santorini is one of the most picturesque islands in the world (so I will be taking some pictures I guess). We met a couple last night at dinner who were on the cruise just before this one doing a
back to back 24 night trip. Santorini was the only stop this cruise... that they had stopped at already.... on the last cruise. The people told us to take the tender boat ashore, ride the donkeys up the cliff (the town of Fira is on a cliff and there is little or nothing actually on shore where the tenders pull up) and then jump on a bus to Oia where there are cafe's and such built over the side of cliffs. The people also told us they saw people attempting to walk back down the donkey path on their way back to the tender boats (not a good idea as the donkey path becomes a bit slippery and messy...and it is not because of rain). Our plan will be to take the donkey's up and ride a cable car (gondola style) back down to our tenders. So instead of cars, trains, planes, and taxis....today will be tender boats, donkeys, busses, and cable cars. I hear the anchor going down...so that means it is time to get dressed, make sure the camera batteries are charged, and head ashore to Santorini....the farthest EASTERN point on the globe (from Chicago) we have ever been.

Corfu Greece.....

One of the side benefits to the cruise experience is that you end up learning about things you didn't expect. I probably should have learned more in World History back in my freshman year of High School. Unfortunately at the time, I simply chose to just try and get through it. Today it seems so much more fascinating. Very early this morning while still sleeping, we left the Adriatic sea and entered the Ioanian sea, then squeezed between a very narrow passage between the island of Corfu Greece and the mainland country of Albania. Over night we travelled 210 nautical miles from Dubrovnik to Corfu. The island of Corfu is long and narrow and sits only a few miles off shore from Albania and mainland Greece. Corfu is the 7th largest Greek Isle which really is saying something considering there are 3,000 Greek Islands (I think they are counting every rock coming out of the water). Before today, I did not know that the island of Crete is the largest Greek Island. Then again I didn't know that the Greeks have a great tasting beer called Mythos or that 40% of all men who live here have a first name of Spirow, but that is another story.

Peg and I boarded a tour bus and headed for the west side of the island. There we visited a resort like community where it is believed that Ulysses came to and was greeted by friendly people after the Trojan war. Aparantly Ulysses was the brains in the operation of the war with Troy. He was the one who engineered the idea of taking ships apart and using the wood to build a huge horse filled with Greeks to concur the people of Troy. I did not know that the Illiad (sp?) and the Oddessey (sp?) were composed by Homer (who was blind). The Illiad tells the story of the Trojan war and the Oddessey tells the story of what happended and what life was like after it. I may have some of this wrong but that is what I understood from the tour guide anyway. Like I said, I wish I studied harder in high school!

We visited a Greek Monestary where 7 Greek Monks live high on a cliff. The place is called PalaioKastritsa which means Very Old Palace. In the Greek church the old custom was to bring valuables to the church and give them up in return for being healed or having a less painful childbirth experience. The church was awesome inside and out. We then headed for old Corfu where we had lots of free time but on the way there, we stopped at a place high on a mountain overlooking Mouse Island. We were supposed to be there for a photo opportunity but I actually found it more interesting because the very newest Starbucks had just completed construction there and the views over the cliff were outstanding.

We ended our day in Old Corfu which was very much like Venice even though there was no waterways. The poor island (for all of its walls and fortresses) had been taken over through the years by Romans, Venetians, the French, and the British. The west end had a huge problem with piracy forcing all the local people to move high into the hills where they could not enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the western shores. Everyone who invaded Corfu left their mark behind. We actually went by ancient Roman baths and an ancient Roman curch (all built of stone) that are still being uncovered by archeologists today.

OK, now I have to get ready for tomorrow. We are about to sail away from here and head for the island of Argostoli. I have no idea what that place is all about, but I am sure I am going to find out!

Islands, Countries, and Continents

The WALL from off the coast of Croatia:

Standing on top of Wall looking across the channel:

On top of the wall:

Boat ride up and down the coast of Dubrovnik:

After a great night of sleep and the feeling of being 100% adjusted to the new time warp we are in, we found ourselves in a new country today. The city of Dubrovnik sits on the east side of the Adriatic sea. The geography would remind you of northern California where the sea crashes into the rocky coast. Again it was a very warm day.

We took our time getting out but eventually found ourselves on a shuttle bus to the old town of Dubruvnik which is encapsulated by rock walls as high as 80' tall. We learned the Croations built this wall around the entire city to protect the town from would be invasions from the French, the Austrians, and even from our friends the Venetians. I didn't know it until I got to Dubrovnik but Venice actually ruled the world between the 12th and the 14th century. Venice continued to control all sea trade well into the 17th century. Apparantly Dubrovnik was a very strategic port as it represented a link between the eastern and western world. Just east of Dubrovnik, Croatia is Bosnia and then Romania which borders the Black Sea.

The most incredible site to be seen in Dubrovnik is the wall. It is a rock structure which took the people 600 years to build. It surrounds and protects the entire old town section. One of the wierdest things you notice walking into the old town Dubrovnik is the marble streets and walkways. Today the old town is for pedestrians only and no cars are allowed in.

We made our way to an inexpensive panoramic boat ride outside the walled city and then walked the wall itself. One of Peg's cruise clients told her once, "If you ever get to Dubrovnik, you have to walk the wall". Now I know what he meant by that. When you are on top of the wall, you see all the old buildings but the roofs appear to be new. I was told that back in 1992, Dubrovnik was bombed with over 200 airial bombs dropped on it from above and 80 people were killed. The wall path itself is 1.2 miles long.

Peg and I had dinner with a couple the other night that said they have been to all of the Caribbean islands.... and that they don't want to cruise to islands anymore. Now they only want to cruise to countries or continents. After visiting for one day inside..... and on top of... the walls of Dubrovnik, I can appreciate their desire.

More Photos from Venice....

Before moving on to Dubrovnik, Croatia I wanted to add a view more photos we took in Venice. Saling away from Venice meant time to get ready for dinner. We never miss that!

Venice is so famous for the Gondolas, we actually took a Gondola tour of the city ourselves.

The city is known for its' bridges, you have to feel sorry for people bound to a wheel chair.

The religious scene was taken inside one of the archways at St. Marks Basilica. Just outside the Basilica are two towering posts that mark the original entrance to Venice when it could only be reached by sea.

It is not uncommon to have a Gondola traffic jam as can see in the photo above. It was amazing however that these guys never bash into one another or even hit the buildings they come so close to.

Piazza San Marco.......

Before leaving Venice on Wednesday, it occurred to me that for all that we had done and seen, we still had not been to one of the most famous landmarks in Italy, the Piazza San Marco square. We had the choice of water bus or walking so I decided a long walk would be more interesting. It was about 1.5 miles through the streets and canals of Venice to St. Marks Basilica but it was well worth it. These pictures were taken from the square on Wednesday morning. Our ship left Venice on Wednesday at 2PM local time and headed for Croatia. Leaving the city of Venice was a site to see with historic sites on both sides of the ship. I think one could spend 10 days in Venice and still have plenty to do. We may or may not ever be back, but our stay in Venice Italy was certainly one to remember. By 3pM Wednesday, we were sailing the Adriatic Sea.

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words....

Words cannot quite explain all that we did in Venice, so here are a number of photos that tell the story: