Naples day 32

After 2 sea days we get to get off the ship!! We decided to skip Pompeii has we were all somewhat over ruins. Headed to Vesuvius but the cloud cover didn't play ball so got pics from half way up. Got to see the mother of all malls (no seriously, it was the first shopping mall that others copied).
Naples is very pretty with plenty of little streets to get lost and eat obscure pizzas. (Donna le Sophia. Pizza named after Sophia Loren).

Istanbul days 28 & 29

Arrived in sunny (not) Istanbul mid afternoon. Sleet fell on and off while we checked out Topkapi Palace and the Harem. I tried to stay in the treasury rooms with the diamonds, but it was too cold. Trammed it back to the boat and modern central heating. Woke up next morning to full on snow. Visited Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque in ever increasing levels of snow. After that we decided to retreat back to the boat and watch the snow from the boat.

Izmir day 27

Steamed into port this morning at 7.30ish. Quite a change in the weather (drop in temp.) into the tour bus to visit Ephesus and the rug factories (the word "no" has little meaning when the Turks are trying to sell something.) Ephesus has hit the must revisit category, hopefully in the summer to see a concert in the amphitheatre during the evening. (That might be a few years away yet.). The farmland looks fantastic and interesting to see that they are 100% agriculturally self sufficient.

Cruise day 26?

Into Athens this morning and off to see more ruins, (the retail economy is ruined, soooo many empty shops). Then up the coast to see if we can make Elyne carsick. Got to the temple of poiseiden then back down the coast road, much to Elyne's amusement. Then drove past the temple in the ship on our way to Izmir.

Cruise day 3

Olympia. The race was on. Who would crack and get out of bed first ( give a clue , it wasn't Elyne ). Got mismatched at the port but found our way. Great fun but the place is in ruins!! The handicap system was not in my favour for the running races. Didn't stop the shopping spree at the end, beginning to think this is a con.
It's all Greek to me. Decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

Cruise day 1&2

First day on the ship. Decided this world ( the boat) is too small for me. Not much on except motoring to Katakolon. Didn't feel that good first day and couldn't sleep at all. Just made me grumby for my first day at sea. Pretty hard to complain about service or anything really ( they even listen to Elyne ). Olympia tomorrow ( major goal = Maureen running the 100m ).

Last of Rome

New Year's Day started with a bang (actually 1/2 an hour of lots of bangs, fizzes & crashes). Elyne designated today as our day for getting lost. We went to the Villa Borghese gardens and (god help me) I agreed to renting a 4 person bike. It was electric so the hills were easier. Not so easy was people/dog/polizia/bus dodging. Still we survived along with everyone else in the park. Tomorrow we're off to the ship. We won't be able to post every day as ship Internet is pretty pricey.
Nothing in this place opens on New Year's Day. Is most unusual to see all the little cafes etc closed up. Luckily just enough food in the house to make dinner.