The Greek island of Rhodes, or Rodos as the locals call it, was wonderful. I was on the Scenic Rhodes tour that took us for a drive in the countryside, along the beautiful coast and beaches to ancient Kamiros. The ruins are fairly raw, without a lot of rebuilding by archeologist. They date back to the 3rd/2nd century B.C.
The guide was very knowledgeable, passionate about the history and VERY CUTE.
The beach areas, with all the shades of blue of the ocean were gorgeous and the Towns, though full of tourist accomodations were clean and picturesque. Some 70 percent of the economy is based on tourism.
We stopped at a ceramic shop to watch the artisans throw a vase on the foot spun wheel and another doing the detailed etching and painting of the traditional Greek pottery.
Rhodes is divided into Old Town, within the medieval walls, and New Town. Our tour concluded with a walk through Old Town, over the three moats to the palace of the Grand Masters, past the hospital and streets of the Knights of St. John. Originally a religious order, in medieval hospitals, they expanded to a fighting order until overthrown by the Ottomans (I think). The Knights went to Malta and returned to their religious roots and still operate hospitals in Europe. Many of the houses of the Knights are now used as embassies (such as for France and Spain).
The cobblestones in the old town were very pointy and rough walking (no wonder the child in the stroller was screaming as every bone got rattled and shook) on the street. We had free time to wander the museum, marketplace and have a coffee before returning to the ship. If I wasn't travelling light I would have been tempted to fill a suitcase or two with the beautiful cotton sweaters, ceramics and silver jewellery. Too soon it was time to leave and sail on to Turkey.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
May 6 - Just Cruising
Another day at sea..and for taking it easy. The antibiotics are starting to work as my teeth no longer hurt but my nose just keeps dripping...I think my antihistamines have quit working.
Finally found the steam room and a spa hot tub down in the gym area (no wonder I never saw it before!) They also have a scale down there, for anyone brave enough to see how the constant feedings on a cruise affect your body. The steam and hot spa were invigorating. That energy burst saw me through dinner and Count Dimas show in the main theatre. He is a concert pianist from Transylvania who not only played serious classical music, but shared some of his countries folk tunes. He also came out in a crazy suit covered in silly little whistles with squeeze air balls that he 'played'...very spastic looking way to make music that left everyone laughing. A very entertaining evening.
Finally found the steam room and a spa hot tub down in the gym area (no wonder I never saw it before!) They also have a scale down there, for anyone brave enough to see how the constant feedings on a cruise affect your body. The steam and hot spa were invigorating. That energy burst saw me through dinner and Count Dimas show in the main theatre. He is a concert pianist from Transylvania who not only played serious classical music, but shared some of his countries folk tunes. He also came out in a crazy suit covered in silly little whistles with squeeze air balls that he 'played'...very spastic looking way to make music that left everyone laughing. A very entertaining evening.
May 5 - Port of Ashdod - Gateway to the Holy City of Jerusalem
It was off for a six hour Jerusalem Old City tour. It took about an hour to drive from the port to the Dung Gate of the old city where you have to go through an airport type security check point before entering the old city. First stop was the Western (Wailing) Wall where men and women are segregated as to where they can go to the wall. Being Thursday there were many Bar Mitzvahs with music and celebrating on the men's side while female family members stood on chairs to see over to the men's side for the celebrations.
From the plaza at the wall you can see the Muslim's sacred Al Aqsa Mosque dominating the Temple Mount along with the Dome of the Rock.
We continued our walking tour up the narrow Via Dolorosa - the way of suffering tread by Christ - with stops at the stations of the Cross - from where Christ was judged and sentenced, to three points where he fell while carrying the cross, to where Veronica wiped his face, where Mary prayed as he passed and on to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church is believed to enshrine the sites of Christ's crucifixion, entombment and resurrection.
Steep steps take you up to the shrine situated on Calvary (or Golgotha) where Jesus was hung on the cross. Down steps on the other side is a beautiful modern mosaic of the crucifixion, anointing and burial. Next to it is a slab of rock that it is believed is where Christ was laid, anointed and wrapped for burial. His tomb was right next to where he was crucified and is marked by another shrine built over the original rock that sealed the tomb.
It was an interesting experience to walk the path of so many pilgrims through the ages. And to reflect on the co-existence of holy sites of various religions within the Old City walls.
Our group was fortunate to be ahead of the crowds throughout our time in the old city ...so no line-ups to wait. That gave us some extra time to stop for a local culinary favorite - falafel pitas - very tasty, seasoned with herbs and served crispy hot with salad veggies in the pita.
We exited through the Jaffa Gate as our bus took us to a viewpoint to capture Old and New Jerusalem. A quick bathroom and shopping stop then it was on past Bethlehem and its protective walls, in and out of the Palestinian controlled West Bank with its armed guards at the checkpoints, before a scenic drive through the agricultural and forest areas took us back to the Port.
A most enjoyable trip in my view though the shoppers on the bus were upset they could not shop in the Old City. It's true we passed a ton of shops but it would be hard to let a group go shopping there as it is a labrynth of 100 streets and over 1000 shops and stalls that you could quickly get lost it.
I forgot to mention that our bus also took us past Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, and the windmill seen on so many postcards from Jerusalem.
I was exhausted by the time we returned to the ship so a quick snack and nap were next on the agenda. That gave me enough energy for supper before calling it a night and heading early to bed.
From the plaza at the wall you can see the Muslim's sacred Al Aqsa Mosque dominating the Temple Mount along with the Dome of the Rock.
We continued our walking tour up the narrow Via Dolorosa - the way of suffering tread by Christ - with stops at the stations of the Cross - from where Christ was judged and sentenced, to three points where he fell while carrying the cross, to where Veronica wiped his face, where Mary prayed as he passed and on to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church is believed to enshrine the sites of Christ's crucifixion, entombment and resurrection.
Steep steps take you up to the shrine situated on Calvary (or Golgotha) where Jesus was hung on the cross. Down steps on the other side is a beautiful modern mosaic of the crucifixion, anointing and burial. Next to it is a slab of rock that it is believed is where Christ was laid, anointed and wrapped for burial. His tomb was right next to where he was crucified and is marked by another shrine built over the original rock that sealed the tomb.
It was an interesting experience to walk the path of so many pilgrims through the ages. And to reflect on the co-existence of holy sites of various religions within the Old City walls.
Our group was fortunate to be ahead of the crowds throughout our time in the old city ...so no line-ups to wait. That gave us some extra time to stop for a local culinary favorite - falafel pitas - very tasty, seasoned with herbs and served crispy hot with salad veggies in the pita.
We exited through the Jaffa Gate as our bus took us to a viewpoint to capture Old and New Jerusalem. A quick bathroom and shopping stop then it was on past Bethlehem and its protective walls, in and out of the Palestinian controlled West Bank with its armed guards at the checkpoints, before a scenic drive through the agricultural and forest areas took us back to the Port.
A most enjoyable trip in my view though the shoppers on the bus were upset they could not shop in the Old City. It's true we passed a ton of shops but it would be hard to let a group go shopping there as it is a labrynth of 100 streets and over 1000 shops and stalls that you could quickly get lost it.
I forgot to mention that our bus also took us past Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, and the windmill seen on so many postcards from Jerusalem.
I was exhausted by the time we returned to the ship so a quick snack and nap were next on the agenda. That gave me enough energy for supper before calling it a night and heading early to bed.
May 4 - port of Haifa
Managed a little more time on my feet and less in bed today. I stayed on board while most of the ship's passengers headed out for tours - Nazareth and Galilee, Haifa and Acre, Tzippori Mosaics, Megiddo and Belt She Arim and even a few who took the two day overnight tour to a multitude of sacred sites.
I treated myself to a seaweed detox and massage at the spa - heavenly. It left me feeling almost human again. Today's rest and relaxation should ensure I'm ready to go tomorrow.
I treated myself to a seaweed detox and massage at the spa - heavenly. It left me feeling almost human again. Today's rest and relaxation should ensure I'm ready to go tomorrow.
May 3 - Another Sea Day
This sea day passed in a haze as I popped antibiotics and pain killers and napped a lot. I will admit I felt horrible, and the doctor had said it would take a few days before improvement would be noticeable.
Considering how I was feeling I opted to cancel my first booked tour in Israel as it was a nine hour Saffed Kabbalah experience for the next day...and I knew I would not be able to make it through nine hours.
One good thing about being sick on a cruise - free room service. So all I had to do was eat, sleep and medicate. And dress long enough to go down for the face to face inspection with Israeli immigration - mandatory for all guests.
Considering how I was feeling I opted to cancel my first booked tour in Israel as it was a nine hour Saffed Kabbalah experience for the next day...and I knew I would not be able to make it through nine hours.
One good thing about being sick on a cruise - free room service. So all I had to do was eat, sleep and medicate. And dress long enough to go down for the face to face inspection with Israeli immigration - mandatory for all guests.
May 2 - port of Piraeus
Off on the Panoramic Athens tour today. At 4.5 million population the city is huge and modern other than no high rises (in order not to block the view of the Acropolis). Hilly, with many narrow streets while other areas boasted six lanes of traffic. I was treated to views of sights only seen in books before with the highlights Hadrian's Arch, ruins of the Temple of Olypian Zeus, Panathinion Stadium, the white marble Olympic stadium and the Acropolis. The theatre ruins (Odeon) at the Acropolis are still used for concerts (ie. Andre Riel) and the Athens Festival. More modern points of interest were Constitution Square, tombe of the unknown soldier with the honor guard in front of parliament (they even do their own changing of the guard ceremony), National Gardens, library and university.
I didn't go right up to the Acropolis and wander among the ruins. Our tour stopped at the base and entry to the Odeon - close enough to see it all without the hazardous walk. And it was hazardous as one lady I met at dinner stepped on a rock that turned sending her face first - bloody mess at the site that after medical attention was scrapes, one deep gash, black and blues over her body and quite a shiner.
By the time I got back to the ship my sinuses were causing pain right down to my teeth. I had to see the ship's doctor who looked at my sore gum, swollen glands and sinuses and prescribed some heavy duty antibiotics along with Tylenol 3's and strong dose Ibuprofen for the pain. The antibiotic requires avoiding exposure to the sun, no coffee and the Tylenol put me out for the night.
I didn't go right up to the Acropolis and wander among the ruins. Our tour stopped at the base and entry to the Odeon - close enough to see it all without the hazardous walk. And it was hazardous as one lady I met at dinner stepped on a rock that turned sending her face first - bloody mess at the site that after medical attention was scrapes, one deep gash, black and blues over her body and quite a shiner.
By the time I got back to the ship my sinuses were causing pain right down to my teeth. I had to see the ship's doctor who looked at my sore gum, swollen glands and sinuses and prescribed some heavy duty antibiotics along with Tylenol 3's and strong dose Ibuprofen for the pain. The antibiotic requires avoiding exposure to the sun, no coffee and the Tylenol put me out for the night.
May 1 - Just Cruising
Today was a sea day and a perfect opportunity to get my hair trimmed. I was chatting in the relaxation room (waiting room) with the salong manager, who decided he liked me and wanted to do my hair. What did I learn from his 20 plus years of Italian experience...never color my ' beautiful white and silver hair', frame the face but NO bangs, long layers and go for the sexy, messy look by crunching under the top layer for body. Looked great when he finished but I still haven't masterd the sexy bed head look - just the messy part.
Spent the day relaxing as I had a sinus headache...too many weeks of fighting strange pollens I think.
Spent the day relaxing as I had a sinus headache...too many weeks of fighting strange pollens I think.
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