Retouched and Ready to Reprint!

Red eye removed, lights turned up and edges sharpened... Photo editing software is an amateur photographer's best friend! So, we now have a "retouched people pictures" folder ready for your viewing at Fotki! Soon, we anticipated posting Jennifer's photos also! So, stay tuned. Meanwhile, our photos are available online for making prints... 4 x 6 for .19 cents each. Larger sizes are also available. If there is a size you wanted that is not indicated, just let us know. We wish we could have ordered the ship's photos for these prices! Click here

Authentic Venice

On our last day in Venice, we set out to visit the Jewish Ghetto in appreciation of Sharon and Jennifer's faith. With our trusted map in hand, we wound through Venice, over its bridges, past many squares, in search of authentic places and people. And that's exactly what we found! No, we weren't the only tourists there, but we were thrilled to talk with the residents and watch the children play in the fountain of the Jewish Ghetto.

Every day is Carnival!

In Venice, every day is Carnival! We arrived Saturday morning and disembarked from the Splendour and began our journey through Venice. More than 1,000 islands connected by 420 bridges, we set out to see ALL of Venice, an impossible feat. But if our first day in Venice had a theme, it would have to be "Carnival." We shopped many of the mask shoppes and after dinner, we went to the theater: "Venezia, the History... Carnival, the Show!" After the play, we took an evening Gondola ride through Venice that ended in front of St. Mark's Square, the perfect ending to a busy day in Venice!

The Dalmatian Coast

After leaving Corfu, we cruised past Albania and into the night... we awoke to the sights of Split, Croatia, a city which was founded by Greeks but ruled over time by the Venetians, the Austrians, the French, the Yugoslavians, again by the Italians and finally, today, governed by the first people's government of Croatia! So, as you can imagine, it's architecture and history is rich and varied.

Our excursion originated in Split but took us to several towns along the Dalmation Coast, which indeed is named after the spotted dog breed! My personal favorite was Trogir where I negotiated some euro for kuna at a little coffee shop and tried my first turkish espresso. That little drink kept me awake and snapping photos through the long bus ride to our next stop, the town of Sibenik (while many of my companions were lulled to sleep by the hills and turns along the coastal roads)!

In Trogir, we visited the 13th century Cathedral of St. Lawrence, considered to be one of the finest examples of sacral architecture in all of Croatia. You will see photos of it in our grand photo gallery. In Sibenik, we visited the Renaissance Cathedral of St. Jacob.

The final destination for lunch: a Priest's village in the hillside where we were met with stolling musicians and appetizers of walnuts, figs, and brandy and a hearty lunch of lamb chops, potatoes and red wine!

Corfu: The "Emerald Island"

On Thursday, we awoke to the beauty of cruising into our port of Corfu! No wonder it's known as the "Emerald Island" and a hidden treasure of the Mediterranean -- it's landscape is lush and green, it's buildings in colorful shades of gold and terracotta, and it's sea is crystal clear in shades of turqoise, green, and sapphire blues!

Our first stop on our excursion was the Achillion Palace, built by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria in 1891. The gardens had a breathtaking panoramic view of the Ionian Sea. Sharon, Maria and I enjoyed posing with the nine muses of Greek mythology on the Terrace of the Muses!

Just when we thought it couldn't get better, our excursion guide took us on a tour through the Corfu countryside through olive groves and forests of pine, cypress, lemon and orange trees to Paleokastritsa, considered by some to be the loveliest spot on the coastline of Corfu Island. We took a boat tour of the bay and caves where we were thrilled to see fish through the clear blue waters.

Katakolon: Gateway to Ancient Olympia!

For more than 1000 years, the ancient Greeks flocked to Olympia every four years to celebrate their sacred games that were dedicated to their God, Zeus. The ruins Archeological Museum of Ancient Olympia were fantastic, as was our tour guide for this excursion. She revealed the many stories and history to bring the history in perspective for us. The Museum was a treasure house of classic and Roman sculptures, including the famous Nike "Winged Victory." On the grounds, we explored the ruins of the temples, stadium, and quadrangles. Unlike Mykonos, Katakolon is green and lush, alive with the chirping of millions of crickets. We could easily let ourselves imagine the days of the ancient greece games, and then the later earthquakes and floods that ravaged Ancient Olympia.

Perfect Postcard Views from Mykonos

Set against the rolling brown hills and pale blue skies is the postcard perfect town of Mykonos... white houses and tavernas, colorful shutters and doors, a maze of shops and restaurants, endless steps up to the windmills and down to the beaches, blazing sunlight reflecting off the whitewash, and a cooling 35 mph "breeze" that could blow you over! These are our impressions and memories of yesterday's day at the island of Mykonos. Only 33 square miles, it has around 5,000 residents overwhelmed by an annual 900,000 visitors! Still, even with most of the ship's occupants onshore, it was easy to find our own space in Mykonos. And the locals are welcoming and helpful.

Our Prayers go out to Marilyn!

Our dear travel companion, Marilyn, suffered from chest pain after our day in Athens, so she and Doreen were escorted to Athens Hospital last night! We're all really saddened and hoping for the absolute best care and recovery, and we're really going to miss having them on board for our next ports... they're so much fun! We sincerely hope she'll be fine and that they can rejoin us later in the cruise. Here's a photo of us shopping in Switzerland on the first leg of our trip... from right to left, Marilyn, Doreen, Jen and Sharon.


Epilogue: Marilyn is now home resting in NYC. She and Doreen spent all week at the hospital in Athens, then on Monday, we were all on the same flight home together. Marilyn will tell you Doreen is the best friend a person could have, and from our observations, the feelings appear to be mutual.

First Port: Awe-inspiring Athens!

We awoke to the sight of Athens on the morning of June 30! Athens is a city where the splendour of ancient Athens coexists with modern Athens, home to 4.5 million people and sprawling over 165 square miles! The Acropolis was our first destination and we inhaled every moment! Our private tour put us ahead of the cruise ship's excursions, so we enjoyed some uncrowded time to explore the sites of The Parthenon, The Temple of Athena Nike, and the Odeon of Agrippa Concert Hall and Theater, which has been reconstructed and is used during the summer to host Athens Festival performances. In Plaka, we walked the narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops and restaurants. At first glance, Athens may seem overcrowded with traffic, people and lacklustre cement buildings, but as a tourist, it's easy to love Athens! Its people are friendly, the food is amazing (oh! wonderful mousaka!), the shopkeepers mostly welcoming, and history absorbing.