Opa! The Photography Book is Available!

Opa!

Photographs and Me...

By Diane Miano

Book Preview

Now available for preview or ordering online, Opa! is a 240-page photography book of our trip. It was a daunting task to wade through more than 1,000 photos and all of the literature I collected along the way, and then to compile it into this keepsake book. While many of our travel companions pop up in a photo here and there, it is predominantly composed of photos of places, cuisine, landmarks, and landscapes. Still, please keep in mind that there are many photos of Sharon, Gary, Jennifer and I! If you are interested in commissioning a custom book, please visit my website.

Jennifer's Photography is Here!

Jennifer took some beautiful photography over the course of our travels. She's already an accomplished photographer, but she collaborated with her classmate and friend, John, in order to get some very creative shots. I particularly like her photographs of the nine muses of Greek mythology at the Achillion Palace, built by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. Watch for a future post where I isolate some of the best shots by Jen as well as some that John composed!

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.

Cruising through the Grand Canal of Venice

After our tour of Northern Italy, we rode the rail to Venice to board our cruise ship, Slendour of the Seas. To our amazement, we left Venice for our first day at sea by cruising right through the Grand Canal, past St. Mark's Square and the bustling sidewalks and canals of Venice.

Tour of Northern Italy

Summer in Northern Italy is in full swing! We arrived in Stresa, Italy, on Thursday for our two day whirlwind tour of the Lake Region. Too excited to sleep, we were all exhausted and jet lagged, but we managed a day of sightseeing in this popular lakeside resort area.

Our first impression was the sweet fragrance of millions of blooming flowers! Stronger than the orange blossoms on a hot day in central Florida, the sweetness hangs thick in the air. Over the lake and in the surrounding mountains, the days are hazy all summer until Autumn, they tell us. It is especially warm for the Italians, in the high eighties, and they say it's a bit unusual to be this warm until further into July. But it's perfect boating weather, and there are boats by the dozens on the Lake Maggiore in front of our Hotel.

Friday, we rode the rail through the mountains to Locarno, Switzerland, at the north end of Lake Maggiore, where we found every woman's dream -- high end shopping, alpine village charm, boutiques and outdoor cafes, gelato and the flea market. The highlight was our return by boat, three hours from Locarno back to Stresa with quick stops at many lakeside villages in both Switzerland and Italy.

Countdown 5 Days: Passport... check; Euros... check!

Checking things off our lists for packing is consuming all our time now, and it at least occupies the mind so any nervousness can't creep in! Do you think it's too late to start those Italian lessons? Okay, I've packed the Survival Phrases book... Buona sera, come sta? Packing is a science. It takes me all week; it takes Sharon an hour! But she's a travel agent, so she has more practice. So many regulations... regulation size, regulation weight, regulations for liquids, etc. So, we've checked our lists and we're packed & ready! See you again from Italy & Greece... Opa!

Countdown 7 Days: Our Pledge as Geotourists

Geo•tour•ism n: Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. -- National Geographic

We will be visiting places rich in history such as the Acropolis and Ancient Olympia, so we have vowed to be good geotourists. We will:

• do no harm to the places we visit


• learn about and observe local etiquette, including using at least a few courtesy words in the local language


• study the local heritage


• respect integrity of place and the character of the locale


• bring new knowledge home and tell stories that will send our friends to Greece to experience the same thing.

Countdown 8 Days: Yamas!

When you are at a tavern or a restaurant in Greece, you might be given an alcoholic drink or a sweet dessert that you didn't order. Just say Yamas (Cheers!) but don't feel obligated to consume it. People sometimes force themselves to drink the ouzo or eat the sweet because they feel like it might be rude not to do so, but it's really not expected.

Countdown 9 Days: Shake it off!

Since my first visit to Yellowstone Park a decade ago, I've been fascinated by geology, geothermal activity and volcanic activity in the region. Often our friends in Cooke City will tell us they had an earthquake in the range of 2-3 or sometimes higher. Since our cabin sits on granite at 8,600 feet, I worry a little about that.

Well, did you know Greece is smack-dab in the middle of a very active volcanic zone? It's where the Europe tectonic plate meets the Africa tectonic plate. There are several active volcanoes, and earthquakes are also very common. Check out My Earthquake Watch for the most updated info on earthquakes around the world!

So, there is a nervous feeling that there could be a natural disaster at any time. The feeling is probably not unlike how we feel here in Florida in hurricane season... on edge. This apparently prompted the Greeks' interest in a kind of religion involving oracles. They have a spiritual belief that in geologic events such as minor earthquakes lies a prediction of the future. Hmmm! Mr. Gore, I believe, would agree.

Be sure to zoom in on Greece on the Earthquake Watch below! (Click on the + to zoom in.)

Countdown 10 Days: The Evil Eye

Superstitions are a part of village life and religious life in the Greek isles. The blue eyed amulets worn by Greeks and visitors alike have a purpose: to ward off the evil eye! Read more to learn why garlic is necessary and spitting is acceptable!

Click the picture to shop at the evil eye store:

• Bread is considered a gift from God... it is never thrown away and must be consumed by some living creature.
  
• The Evil Eye is the most commonly discussed ancient superstition in the Greek Isles. Blue is the color that wards off the evil of the eye, but it is also commonly thought that blue- eyed people are exceptional givers of it! You may be thought to give the evil eye if you compliment someone (but are insincere) or if you stare at someone! Also, when you get a compliment, remember to say ‘Skorda (garlic)’ under your breath and spit three times on your own person! This is acceptable behavior!
  
• Garlic / "Skordo" --Greeks believe in its power to keep evil away, and that's why you will find beautiful braids of Garlic, or some huge, one-of-a-kind head of garlic dangling in the entrances of shops, restaurants and homes.


• Shoes: Overturned shoes (soles up) are considered very bad luck. Never let your shoes lay upside down. If you accidentally take them off and they land soles up, turn them over immediately and say ‘Skorda (garlic)’ and a spit or two won’t hurt either.
  
• Spitting: Greeks spit for a number of superstitious reasons. Take Greek fishermen for example... They will spit in their nets before lowering them into the sea so they ward off evil and get a good days’ catch.

Thank you to Susie Atsaides for her advice and studies... read more at Village Superstitions.

Countdown 11 Days: "Tea ee neh aff-toe?"

... means, "what's this?" According to Mike Barrett, author of GreekTravel.com:

"What usually happens when you walk into a restaurant is after finding a table (almost always outdoors between the months of May and October), you will be permitted or encouraged to go to the kitchen to see what they have to offer. There will be a large steam table full of pots with different dishes in them. Pick out what looks good and don't be afraid to ask your cook, waiter or host "Tea ee neh aff-toe ?"

Here are a few dishes from Mike that sound sooooo goood:

Dolmades (doh- mah -des): Grape-leaves stuffed with rice, onions and sometimes ground beef.
Mousaka (moo-sah- kah ): Baked like eggplant parm but not as much tomato sauce... eggplant, potatoes, onions, ground beef, oil, cinnamon, and a flour, milk and butter topping.
Pastitsio (pah- sti -tsyo): Like Lasagna but not as saucy.
Anginares (ang-ee- nar -es): Artichokes in lemon and egg sauce with potatoes.

Are you the HAMBURGER type? If so, ask for "Souvlaki," but first, click here.

Countdown 12 days: Our Minds Stray!

Sometimes it's tough being a dog or cat lover! The old heart strings pull when we hear this dog or that cat doesn't have a home. No matter what our emotions are on the subject, there's something all visitors to Athens should know: it has more than its share of strays!

Apparently, first-time visitors to Athens often complain about the same three things: the perceived number of stray dogs and cats, Greek taxi drivers, and the traffic. Nevertheless, the majority opinion is that Athens is a fantastic city! So, with a little background knowledge and mental preparedness, these negatives can be seen as characteristics that add to this city's uniqueness.

For more in depth reading on the matter, read STRAY DOGS.

Countdown 13 days: Music to our Ears

This post is in honor of Jennifer's new appointment as Drum Major... she will appreciate the fine musical direction of Greek Composer Mikis Theodorakis - Zorba (live, 2001 in Romania). However, it occurs to me that Jen may not have ever heard of Zorba the Greek or Zorba's Dance, the Syrtaki. So, I've posted a video here for her and anyone who enjoys the classic Greek music. It's time to learn those Syrtaki steps! Opa!