Mon. - Tues., 8/8/11 - 8/9/11 - Estes Park to Venice, Italy
Up at 4:30 AM and left EP at 6 AM, flew to JFK (New York) in 4 hours, then Delta to Venice, leaving NY at 8:10 PM and arriving in Venice at 11 AM (Italy time) - about 7 1/2 more hours in the air. The flights were pretty normal. No food on the first flight. We brought our brown bag sandwiches, had a snack in NY, and then had a hot dinner and a breakfast on the international flight.
We were met in Venice by Holland America staff and bused to the ship. Our "deluxe veranda" stateroom on Deck 9 is very comfortable: 2 chairs and a hassock on a large veranda, large comfortable bed, desk/dressing table with bench, sofa and table and chair, and a nice bathroom. This ship, the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, took its maiden voyage July 2010, so all is new and modern.
Holland America's Mediterranean Romance Cruise
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MS Niew Amsterdam docked in Venice, Italy
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Wed., 8/10/11 - Venice, Italy
This morning we took a HAL excursion - the Treasures of Venice. We boarded a water launch with about 60 others from our cruise ship and went from our dock to the harbor on San Marco Island. We were then led by a local guide through the small alleys and over canal bridges to get a flavor for this unique part of old Venice
The Grand Canal |
A smaller side canal
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Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a museum in Campo San Rocco Square that features a large collection by Tintoretto
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Venetian masks are a big souvenir favorite here. Some masks have long noses or beaks, which kept the "doctors" a safe distance from patients with the plague. Some masks cover just the brow and eyes and were used to hide the identity of men engaged in illegal gambling. Masks are still used during the festivals in Venice. |
Gondola on the Grand Canal
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Rialto Bridge - the oldest in Venice |
The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge
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Symbol on the bowsprit of the gondolas. The top represents the doge's hat and the six bars stand for the six districts of Venice. The aft facing bar is for the Lido - a sandbar island (now mostly resorts) that was not a part of Venice proper.
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We entered Piazza San Marco, dominated by the Basilica of St. Mark. It was first built in 1063 and the current building is the third church on the site. It is known for its spectacular mosaic religious scenes. It is also made of brick and covered with marble slabs. We walked the square viewing the bell tower (campanile – which may also have once served as a lighthouse), Doge's palace, and the palace Napoleon erected and the clock tower with its double clock (Roman numeral hours and the astrological signs) and on the very top, the two statues that hammered the bell every hour.
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Basilica of St. Mark in the Piazza San Marco |
Marble detail on the wall of the Basilica
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Mosaic scene in arch of St. Mark's
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Campanile
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Clock Tower with statues hammering the bell every hour on the hour |
Doge's Palace |
Views during the sail-away out the Giudecca Canal |
Looking back at the city
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Thurs., 8/11/11 - Dubrovnik
We docked at 10 AM and took the $7 one-way shuttle bus into Old Town Dubrovnik, which is a World Heritage Site. We entered the old Roman walled city through the Pile Gate and just meandered around the town. We looked at the historic buildings from the outside: the Franciscan Monastery with its original apothecary built in 1391 and still in operation today; Orlando's Column; the Sponza Palace; the town Clock Tower; the old port; another ornate old church; etc. Very narrow alleys branch off at right angles from the main street and many of them were crowded with outdoor cafes and restaurants. It is good that there are no cars in the old town because it was absolutely crammed with people in tour groups or wandering as we were.
Croatian license plate |
Fort Bokar and the Old City walls
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Old port |
Narrow streets with many restaurants
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Clock tower
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It was another gorgeous day, although somewhat hot and humid, and the walk was pleasant. We walked the two miles back to the ship and admired the clear Adriatic water and resorts and boats.
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Fri., 8/12/11 - Corfu, Greece
Last night we crossed a time zone and lost an hour of sleep. In the morning we anchored in deep water and had to tender in to the "new" port and then walk quite a way (an hour) in toward Corfu town. The sidewalks were narrow, traffic and mopeds were all over the small streets, and we never saw a shuttle bus. We walked and were not impressed at all. The two old forts were a maze of tall walls; center city and old town were filled with clothing stores and ice cream/gelato shops.
The old Greek license plate |
The new EU Greek license plate
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New fort
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Palace of St. Michael and St. George |
A market!
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Fish and bread |
Fishing boats in the harbor
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We walked and were not impressed at all. The two old forts were a maze of tall walls; center city and old town were filled with clothing stores and ice cream/gelato shops.
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Sat., 8/13/11 - Argostoli, Greece
This morning we docked in Argostoli, Greece on the island of Kefalonia. We walked around town and visited the gardens (a nice stroll but rather poorly kept) and then down the pedestrian street lined with cafes and souvenir shops and back to our ship along the lagoon. The Ionian Sea looks so clear and clean I was hoping for a nearby beach, but they were all a taxi ride away.
Street scene |
Palm fruit
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Another market! |
Cutting up the catch
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Sat., 8/14/11 - Santorini, Greece
This morning we anchored in the volcanic caldera of Santorini, Greece. Fira, the island capital is laid out along the rim of the caldera. We were transported to the dock and cable car station by Greek launch operators, not our ship tenders. We rode the funicular (or teleferic) up the cliff to the town.
Santorini, Greece
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Harbor from below
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Harbor from above - with the anchored Niew Amsterdam in view |
Looking south from the top of the cliff
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In town we walked up the cobbled path, steps, and pebbles, to Firostefeni at the north end of Fira Town. The views down into the caldera with cruise ships and excursion boats were very impressive. Both towns are full of white cement houses, B&B type hotels, cafes, and shops. It was very hot, not a cloud in the blue sky and all the walking was uphill until we turned around and headed back south.
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We decided to walk back down the cobbled steps to the dock. There are three ways to get up and down from Fira: the funicular, the steps (walking), and a donkey ride. The steps are wide - wide enough for the donkeys that carry tourists up and down and for walkers. The donkeys take two steps on each landing and move without regard for the pedestrians sharing the path. The path is covered in donkey poop and they try to push you over to the edge or pin you on a wall. I quickly learned to use my cane like the handlers and made the donkeys give us room. It was a Santorini experience.
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View of the funicular from above - Six individual six-passenger gondolas are hooked together for the ride up (on right). Another six rotate down (on left). |
The Donkey Taxis
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Waiting for passengers |
View of the funicular and the steps from below
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The town of Oia perched on the cliffs at the north end of the island looking for all the world like snow on a mountain top. |
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After a late lunch on the ship, I cooled off in the pool and Marge stayed in our air-conditioned "veranda suite." We had a good time at dinner again. Pat and Stan had eaten in the 5-star Pinnacle Restaurant last night to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Our waiters didn't want to be outdone, so tonight they sang to Pat and Stan and brought us all chocolate cake with ice cream. We all enjoyed each other's company and conversations. It is a fun group.
Mon. 8/15/11 - Day at Sea
We spent a lazy day in our suite, did more laundry in the tub (this is the first HAL ship we have been on that does not have washing machines, driers, and irons for the passengers to use). For exercise we walked around the promenade deck (3 laps = 1 mile - this is a big ship). Dinner tonight was another formal affair.
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