Ashore in Athens

Early Sunday morning (Mediterranean time), soon after docking in Piraeus,

 we took a bus tour to Athens that eventually led up to the Acropolis. 

I loved the drive through the city, going past the old Olympic Stadium, the

parliament building where we caught the changing of the guard - which was quite theatrical, 

the public library with it's beautiful columns and more churches.

Funny, how I always pictured the ancient ruins to be situated in a barren wilderness,

and here we took a cool walk through an area that resembled an olive grove.

We stopped at the wall of a theater.

Going up and turning on the path, saw it from the inside with 

new steps for seating on both sides.

We continued on up a cobbled path to the entrance of the Acropolis,

which holds several temples.

Our guide explained from how far away the marble had been brought and how it was erected and 

sculpted on site. The craftsmanship is beyond amazing!

Considered as the "cradle of Western civilization," Athens truly  features some treasured sites.

Pointing out historic places, such as Mars Hill, where the Apostle Paul addressed the Athenians,

made us feel like we were walking on precious history itself.

The Temple of Erectheion features statues of human figures as columns.

 Just to show we were here . . .

and because I happen to have good wifi at this moment.

The marble columned Parthenon has been the target of a lot of damage and theft,

but still standing and able to make one feel quite small.

The story behind this temple, how it lost it's roof  and more, is a lesson in history, Greek philosophy, democracy and conflicts over centuries by empires that came and went.

It was quite surreal to think that one city can hold 2500 plus years of this kind of history.

Truly a treasure site to behold!

Formal NIght

Saturday night, after a day at sea, everyone was busy getting ready for formal night -

even husbands and dads got involved in pressing out clothes 

in the laundry room. 

And when everyone was ready,

there were lots of photo ops going on inside and out.

Such fun!

Day in Dubrovnik

Croatia is a country I never expected to visit, but now that we've seen a part of it, 

I am so glad to have had even just a peek into this country. 

After anchoring this morning, passengers got off to go on a pre-booked tour or to do their own thing.

We split a taxi ride with our friends and took a drive up for a view of the city. 

It was not just a view, but a personal visit with the driver and some of  what he has experienced, 

living through the war and losing members of his family. 

He had a very positive outlook toward tourists, now coming in by the ship loads. 

His story and the views of his city, now re-built, was a picture of faith to go on.

At the end of the drive up the mountain, scattered with wildflowers, goats and ruins, 

he took us down to the town to see this ancient fortress in our own time.

Here we took steep narrow steps down into the old city. 

The architecture of beautiful old cathedrals, steeples and narrow streets

 with vendors and cafes lined up alongside them reminded me of Venice. 

In the end we had to take the 100 plus steps back up, 

where we hailed another taxi to take us back to our ship.

It's Friday evening here and, after all departure checks are complete,
we will be setting sail just as the sun is setting.
I'm heading up with my camera.

Good Bye Venezia

This was the view looking out from the hotel entrance where we stayed

and it's where I left a piece of my heart.

Yesterday a taxi boat picked us up right there and took us 

through the channel out to the cruise dock

where our hotel on water was was waiting.

Our ship will be leaving port today sometime,

sailing all night and taking us to our next destination by the morning.

Until next time,
Ciau

Venice Vistas

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How did I not know such a beautiful place even existed?
Canals, channels, endless narrow cobblestone streets leading into open squares
and then more paths, channels and bridges!
Quite the playground!

Packing

Joe Mathieu illustration 

When we began to plan our trip, we assumed it would fit in after one family moving -

and then barely in between another family's visit and yet another having a baby.

Adding work related schedules, it did not look too promising . . .

 then we decided there may never be a good time and booked anyways!

Now we are heading to the airport one week before our kids leave for Indonesia.

And do you know what? 

I'm good with it . . .

 maybe it's a blessing in disguise just to see our lives continue

and not to focus on the goodbye . . .

as I have for far too long now.

So I've worked at making the best of our times together these past weeks . . .

and now I'm packing with a skip in my being.

Dresses and skirts for dinners

linen and cotton pants

white, khaki and jean walking shorts
t-shirts and pretty tops

dress shoes and walking shoes 

accessories to tie things together

his suit

his other clothes

new passports

They say that where we are going 

we'll fall in love all over again.

This is a good time.