Naples, Italy

April 13^th

Naples, Italy

Well, we woke up to very stormy, rainy, cold weather. Yuk. We had an all day tour booked to go to the Isle of Capri, and it was still on, so we dug out our rain gear and headed out. We boarded a jetfoil for the 1 hr ride to the island. It was packed with people. I guess many people work over there. Either that or they were just crazy tourists like we were. The ride was fairly calm despite the stormy weather. We arrived at a very quaint looking harbor, although it was hard to see through the driving rain and the fog that was blocking most of the Island from view. This was not looking any better. We then boarded a bus to Anacapri, which is located on the top of the Island. This was a very narrow one way road and these Islanders really know how to drive these roads. Not a fender-bender in sight, though we came very close. We arrived at the top and walked around some of the shops. We had a very nice respite from the rain, and enjoyed an Italian lunch with heat and a view…I think. Back out into the rain for some more shopping, or at this point the free limoncello samples that the shops were giving out. Hey, anything to stay warm, right? Well, the weather was just getting worse and the guide was getting a little cranky, so we decided to pack it in an hour early. To give the guide credit, she did take a poll and everyone decided that they had enough, and really did not want to take a tour of the gardens in the mud and rain. So, downhill on the funicular tram and the boat ride back. A hot toddy and shower never looked so good. We have been very fortunate so far with the weather on port days, so this was just a little glitch. This was just a different kind of adventure. A wee bit disappointing, but an adventure none-the-less. I might still get to come back and enjoy this (I am sure) beautiful Island. Maybe the 3^rd time might really be the charm since the 1^st and 2^nd times were bust. My mom, sis, niece, and I were here in Oct. and this tour was cancelled due to weather.

So very wet…..

Messina, (Sicily) Italy

April 12^th

Messina, (Sicily) Italy

We docked about 1 hr early (10:00am) this morning which allowed us to walk into the city and explore for a few hours. We had a transfer to the village of Taormina at 1pm. Another warm sunny spring day….I was here in Oct. with my Mom, Sister, and Niece and it was raining so this was a plus. We walked to the downtown square where the astronomical clock is in the bell tower. It is an elaborate timepiece with figures that put on quite a show at noon, which we had to miss due to our tour. We walked for a few hours past churches, fountains and many Sicilians enjoying the weather. And also up and down many steep hills with fantastic views of the sea and harbor. Beautiful. Back to the ship for our transfer to Taormina which is about a 45 minute drive one way. We drove along the coast and up to the cliff-top Monte Tauro on a very curvy narrow road. Apparently this was one of Winston Churchill’s favorite vacation spots. Taormina is an ancient resort with ruins, boutiques, and restaurants located high above the Ionian Sea. The view was to die for. Warm, sunny and so clear we could see for miles. Mt Etna decided to start erupting that morning, so we had quite a sight of the mountain spewing ash high into the air. No lava, though still very impressive. We walked through the village on cobblestone streets, with shops lining both sides, and 4 different squares with fountains. Surprisingly there was hardly anyone there; except for the school children going home….it was marvelous. Of course Bruce and his mustache was the hit of all of the young school girls. I never heard so much giggling. We shopped and stopped for a bite. Bruce wanted to try the sweet cannoli’s, so we stopped for a sweet and some limoncello. Yum….I ordered what I thought was a Chardonnay wine, but it turned out to be Grappa. I did not realize there were different kinds of Grappa…..My first Grappa, yum, but very strong. It was a great way to spend a sunny afternoon overlooking the sea. I could really get used to this afternoon siesta time. Back to the ship for the sail-away at 8pm. It was so nice to enjoy a leisurely day.

Messina harbor

Mt Etna erupting

Katakolon, (Olympia) Greece

April 11^th

Katakolon, (Olympia) Greece

The small port fishing village of Katakolon is located on the west coast of Greece and is the gateway to the ancient site of Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held. We arrived in the morning to a beautiful spring day. The drive to Olympia was about 25 miles inland and about a 1 hr drive. We drove through farmland, vineyards and olive groves. The people of Athens were correct….the “real Greece” was absolutely breathtaking. Springtime in Greece. Everything was just starting to bloom, flower, and grow. It was so very green. The birds were singing, and the fresh air was marvelous. Today made me realize how very cooped up on a ship we have been. We arrived at Olympia and it looked like a park with ruins all over the place. 2000 yrs ago athletes competed here. We saw the original stadium which held over 40,000 spectators, all standing of course. The ruins of the Temple of Zeus, and The Temple of Hera, where the Olympic flame is, still to this day, first lit and then transported by torch to the place where the games are held every 4 years. We walked all over the area just absorbing the feeling. Huge columns toppled all over the ground, and ruined temples and baths. Places carved out of the stone where gold statues were held in niches. It was fantastic. I think the warm sunny weather was a plus. The Judas trees were blooming, so amongst all of the new green growth, there were bright spots of pink flowering trees everywhere. So very peaceful, except for the occasional gas powered weed whacker that brought you back into the present day world. We were able to walk around there for 2 hrs, and it was worth every minute. Back to the village for some shopping and the real world. What a great day.

Piraeus, (Athens) Greece

April 9th and 10^th

Piraeus (Athens) Greece

Sailing north through the Mediterranean Sea to Greece we left the hot dry weather behind and entered into much cooler springtime weather. After 1 day at sea we docked in the port of Piraeus which is about 10 miles and a 30 minute drive from downtown Athens. We had an excursion booked to see the major highlights of Athens, so we were off the ship early welcoming a sunny cool day. Rain was expected later that afternoon. First stop was the Acropolis which stands 230 ft above the city and has a magnificent views of Athens. The bus takes you up about ¾ of the way and then you have to walk up a winding uneven slippery marble path the rest of the way. Luckily it wasn’t raining, because marble is very slippery when wet. It was bad enough when dry. Interestingly, in Athens, marble is cheaper to build with than wood. All of the mountains around Athens consist of white marble, so everything as far as the eye can see is built with this marble. Very beautiful and bright. We passed through the Propylea, the huge entry gate to the upper terrace. The small Temple of Athena Nike was to the right and the Parthenon to the left. Dedicated to the Goddess Athena, it was built between 470 and 432 BC. It was magnificent. They are still renovating it so there was scaffolding all around the back end of it. It was hard to put your mind in the moment when cement saws and hammering were making quite a racket around you. It was still beautiful and the views of the city were fantastic. And it wasn’t very crowded. Quite a memorable experience. We drove past Hadrian’s Arch, which was the border between the Greek and Roman cities in Ancient times. And the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which took over 700 yrs to build. Only 13 of the 104 columns survive, but they mirror the columns of the Parthenon, which is located above this site. All of these ancient sites were located fairly close to each other. It was kind of strange to see these relics surrounded by modern housing and buildings. Looking out over the city, it was kind of like looking down at green open spaces with crumbling columns surrounded by expanses of white marble. It was very hard to visualize how it could have been back in the day. We then passed the Royal Palace and Constitution Square. We did see some riot patrols, but it was Easter week and I think everyone was preparing for that and not out in the streets protesting. Greek Orthodox celebrate Easter a week later than we do, so everyone was out shopping for decorations and the whole lambs that were hanging in the markets and ready to cook on the backyard spits. We stopped at the Olympic Stadium which was built in 1896, and made completely out of marble. It was a wonderful tour and the rain held off just until we got back to the ship that afternoon. We then went to a Greek dinner and a show. Authentic food and dance. Yum……..lots of wonderful Greek wine, but passed on the Ouzo. Once again the mustache was a hit, but this time, I was included. “Are you Greek?” Bruce was asked over and over. “No” he replied. “Well, no matter, your wife is a very lucky woman” heh,heh……..Geez, will it never end? We had a fantastic day and Bruce had a Birthday he will always remember.

We had a very late night the day before and we saw most of the major sights, so we decided to sleep in and just walk around Piraeus until the ship was scheduled to leave at 4pm. It is a very busy port area with lots of shops, markets and restaurants. It was still raining so we first decided to find a pharmacy….Bruce needed some antibiotics for his ear infection….and you don’t need a prescription. After that we just walked for hours, looking at all of the open meat, fruit, seafood, vegetable markets. They were fantastic with lots of yelling and gesturing. We stopped for pastries and walked some more. We did talk to some local people who hesitantly asked if we were enjoying the city. After we reassured them that we were, they then opened up even more and said that “Athens is not the real Greece, you have to come back and go out to the Islands, go into the countryside…..now that is the real Greece.” Since all of the rioting and such, the tourism business is down at least 50% and some of the locals are hurting. Athens is huge, beautiful and friendly. I would love to come back and see “The real Greece” I am sure it is just as amazing.

AthensTemple of Zeus