Chania (Souda) - Crete (Greece)

Well here we are in Crete. Opening the curtains this morning and once again it seemed like a sparce, barren island - little trees and lots of rocks and dirt. These Greek islands are not 'pretty' but amazing culture hidden amongst the hills.
We gave up our excursion we had paid for (got refund by on-board credit) as we decided to do our own thing. It is a small place and only had a few hours here.
The great thing about cruise ships is that there is shuttle type buses organised to pick up travellers who just want to go into town and then back again. We walked around the old port area, into the old town amongst ancient city walls, lots of small shops in allyways (again!).

We tried to find the war museum but it was a walk away from town. Found lots of interesting houses/areas that were out of the tourist area tho.
Lastly we had the local food (squid that looked and smelled disgusting for Dave and meatballs for me).
The squid looked like fried baby octopus with legs sticking out and all - gross!
Decided the Greeks were much nicer to talk to and helpful than the Turks. You felt quite safe in the markets and crowded small streets, and get lots of smiles.
We have made some younger American friends who we sit beside at dinner. They had a very invasive Turkish Bath yesterday and were still recovering from the ordeal of stripping naked in this large room (seperate for men and woman), shoved on a marble slab and loofahed all over and in parts that should not be named! Today they took a taxi to some beach over the hills and were just going to sun-bathe! Apparently Crete has some lovely beaches - not where we were tho.

Bodrum (Turkey)

Bodrum (a small town in Turkey)

We are now in Bodrum, which is at the south of Turkey. A small coastal town that boasts of a castle set up by the knights of St. John during the crusades (think French but like the Knights of the Round Table), lots of money in exclusive yachts and resorts on hillsides and a port big enough to take our huge boat. Apparently origionally this cruise was supposed to have a day or two in Istanbul but with the unrest etc decided to change the itinerary and add this place. It was great! We did a tour of the castle which also houses an underwater museum (not actually underwater just artifacts from shipwrecks in the area – and apparently there have been many!) Had a Turkish tour guide of about 50 who loved my hair and kept being sleazy touchy feely. Thought I was British and Dave was a Kiwi!

The castle is unique in that it was built by the French, then some English knights had a tower then some German then Spainish. All Catholic fighting the good fight for God and trying to destroy the infidels (Turks – Muslim) in nasty ways. It got bombed by the French is WW1 and then the Germans in WW2 and it is still there!

The ship wreck part was interesting – they had some very old late Bronze age artifacts from a ship found at the bottom of the sea near here (the oldest recovered from a ship wreck anywhere).

Even bones from a princess found buried near the castle grounds. The guide was interesting in that he said that a scared urn from the shipwreck was abomination to muslims (it was for cremation ashes) but very sacred to Hindus (strangeness of religions).

Anyway the second part of the tour was to go out on a large yacht type boat and go off the boat swimming in the sea, for a while and then onto a second place for swimming.

I actually swam both times (second time jumped in from the deck – yes me in the photo!). Dave said it wasn’t pretty but I did it (quite high up for little ol’ me). The water was a bit chilly but not too bad. We met a Maori girl on the tour from Rotorua who was with 4 others who wouldn’t go out on tours so was alone. Her and I swam together cause she needed a friend and Dave played life-saver in case we drowned! Was gorgeous in the water, sun shining,  off the coast of Turkey ….. just like in the magazines with the rich and famous! The other types who came were funny – one was an old biddie who was British and straight in (gotta love them!) then we had two big types with noodles to hold themselves up! Hey brownie points for getting in.

The funniest part  was here we are out in the middle of the Agean Sea and a little motorised blowup boat turns up pulling along side selling icecreams – like a nautical Mr Whippy! Only in Turkey! He did a roaring trade then moved off to the next yacht that was anchored nearby. We were in a sheltered type bay so other yachts were moored off the beach. Had a laugh tho!

Tonights show was a magician from Spain. He was quite good – not sure what the oldies thought tho. 

Kusadasi (Turkey)

Kusadasi

Ephesus day! Oh joy ….. we have been there before on the last time OE however wanted to go again cause there is lots you don’t remember. In case you aren't aware it is a major roman (in Turkey) ruin of a coastal city which has been excavated.  They have up-graded the entrance, the walk-ways are now paved with marble stones for ease of walking (tho slippery when wet). A lot of the ruins are now roped off (last time there were not many roped off areas and all these ancient ruins were getting walked over and stood on). I think the first time was better because of the ‘wow’ factor, yet this time was taking in more information about the ruins.

 I know the pictures make out it was a searing hot day, but it wasn't. It was about 25C and quite pleasant.
After Ephesus we went to a new place established by the Turkish Govt about 2 years ago as a promotion for the history of the area. They put on a Roman skit with Cleopatra, Mark Antony, roman warriors etc. Quite cheesy and weird that it was Roman culture pushed by Turkish Govt. but .....

We secretly left our tour when they were going to a carpet place in the town (last time I was accosted by these ferocious salesmen who chased me down to the bus with me yelling out no! no! all the way). However we did go into the ‘Grand Bazaar’ of Kusadasi and found a lovely leather place and straight away told the man ‘don’t hassle me or I will walk out!” so they kind of left me alone. In fact they were so nice that after trying on 10 jackets, drunk their apple tea, Dave had a Turkish coffee, we walked out with 2 leather jackets and the wallet rather a lot lighter! Some definite bargaining going on, but it is hard to tell if it is a bargain or not. They shortened the sleeves while we waited (more Turkish beer and wine handed out) and voila! Dave was determined not to buy one but there was one that looked so different and good on him that he didn’t have a choice with me on the salesmen’s side (and yes there was 2 or 3 of them! A family I think).

After that Dave was nose to nose yelling at a shoe seller bargaining over a pair of leather shoes for me! Seriously haggling over one or two dollars! I thought they would come to blows …. But no a hand-shake, etc later all smiles. God it is bloody hard work these Turks!

It is always nice to come back to a swim, spa and cocktail at the pool. This is the life!

Show last night was the Paul and John show – beatles tribute – two brothers dressed up like them and god they were good! Most of the audience probably danced to their tunes in Liverpool in the 60’s so they sang along just like the mission concert! Even Dave knew a few words (Julie if you are reading this  - I thought of you when ‘Yellow Submarine’ came on!)

Mykonos

Mykonos

Well, it’s a lovely place – glorious day –(except windy) however it was a disappointment after Santorini. The best part was we went on a boat trip to the Island of Delos ( the island that is named the birthplace of Apollo). It is uninhabited but it is covered with the ruins of the city that was there up to 700BC. It has been excavated with some amazing relics like mosaic floors etc of the houses left. We had a tour guide who reminded me of a very enthusiastic history teacher that makes the ancient come alive. He was great! Apparently the island ended up being a trading island, with a huge slave market place ( he said the Greeks treated their slaves much better than the British did in America). It was fascinating to imagine this island bleak and windy being an alive bustling trading city.

After that we went into town which was just by the pier. Saw the windmills, and white cobbled streets, lots of tiny allyways again, shops …… just not the magic of Santorini. They have pelicans (big, real ones wandering the shops!)

That night was our first night at one of the more up-market restaurants – really lovely. Dressed up in my one of two dresses, Dave even put a shirt on, and enjoyed the atmosphere. At a table near us we got talking to an older British couple who had done this same cruise at the beginning of the year and booked in for the same table every night with the same waitress cause they liked her! Talk about sticking to routine! The waitress was called Marsha and was a big Caribbean mama who you wouldn’t muck around with! Smile was lovely tho with big white teeth!

Show after that – then bed! I am getting to like this life!

Mykonos

Mykonos

Well, it’s a lovely place – glorious day –(except windy) however it was a disappointment after Santorini. The best part was we went on a boat trip to the Island of Delos ( the island that is named the birthplace of Apollo). It is uninhabited but it is covered with the ruins of the city that was there up to 700BC. It has been excavated with some amazing relics like mosaic floors etc of the houses left. We had a tour guide who reminded me of a very enthusiastic history teacher that makes the ancient come alive. He was great! Apparently the island ended up being a trading island, with a huge slave market place ( he said the Greeks treated their slaves much better than the British did in America). It was fascinating to imagine this island bleak and windy being an alive bustling trading city.

After that we went into town which was just by the pier. Saw the windmills, and white cobbled streets, lots of tiny allyways again, shops …… just not the magic of Santorini. They have pelicans (big, real ones wandering the shops!)

That night was our first night at one of the more up-market restaurants – really lovely. Dressed up in my one of two dresses, Dave even put a shirt on, and enjoyed the atmosphere. At a table near us we got talking to an older British couple who had done this same cruise at the beginning of the year and booked in for the same table every night with the same waitress cause they liked her! Talk about sticking to routine! The waitress was called Marsha and was a big Caribbean mama who you wouldn’t muck around with! Smile was lovely tho with big white teeth!

Show after that – then bed! I am getting to like this life!

Athens X 2

Athens and more

We arrived in the port city of Athens and awoke to a lovely harbour. I must let you all know we have breakfast outside over looking the back of the ship. So far lovely mornings, no wind, warm …..

Anyway our first shore excursion that you just walk out onto the buses. I must say they are all very organised for 3000 passengers, the majority of whom will do the excursions. We went up to the Acropolis ….. very ancient, lots of steps, boring guide but fascinating history. I learnt heaps about its history and destruction, re-building, destruction ….even an Englishman Lord Elgin was the last evil presence taking away all these artifacts (now housed in the British Museum). We got there reasonably early, but my god so many people arriving. And this is end of September! There has been major reconstruction/restoration done and is still on-going but not enough to distract from the splendour. We drove pass many of the other sites, and left me yearning for more.

Then it was pool, spa, cocktails, nana nap (again) more cocktails, winning a prize in a trivia competition! ( a backpack full of little travel goodies), then dinner about 8.30 for a show at 9pm. All go on this holiday! The show was a violinist, who I didn’t think Dave would go to, but he did and he was seriously impressed. I think he is expanding his cultural experiences slowly but surely! Afterwards there was a disco era band playing leading into a Zorba the Greek dancing at 10.30pm. Just letting you know what happens at night around here!

Today was back in Athens, but a do your own thing tour, where they drop you off show you the direction of things and away you go! We were in an older type of area, near the Acropolis, and Plaka ( the old town area). The first thing was go to the new Acropolis Museum, highly recommended by the guide and it has won lots of global awards. What has happened is that during restoration of the ruins and Parthenon a lot of the valuable relics have been slowly eroded by weather and human ‘pollution’, so they have taken all the statues etc and put them into this museum. It is fantastic! It is built over ruins so you keep walking over glass floors and look down onto excavated ruins down below to give you a feel of the era.

 They have made a whole top floor for the Parthenon, laid out to the same size (huge) with the same number of columns and then put the artifacts in the same place they were in on the original, with photos, explanations etc. Really worth a visit.

After that was a walk through the old town, lunch of mousakka and chicken slovakka? With beer that freezes the froth the glass is so cold!  Then onto the original stadium of the old games, which was reconstructed in 1876? For the very first Olympic games of the modern era. The stadium was made of marble …. All of it! …. Pretty small in the middle (400 metre track) … as Dave said he would hate to be a runner running while the javlin was on! Cool experience.

Then on to more ruins, Hadrians Arch (built by the same man who built Hadrians wall) and the ruins of temple of Zues. By then all ruined out … you look one way and there is the Acropolis, and another and there is Temple of Zeus.

As a city Athens wasn’t too bad. Not really English friendly but better than Paris. I hope they continue to preserve what they have.

Now it’s end of a long day …. We are about the move on out so will go up to the top to watch.