Greece

AROUND THE WORLD?

CAN YOU ACCIDENTALLY CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD?

YES!

I TOOK MY FIRST CRUISE IN 2005. MIAMI TO LOS ANGELES - AND WAS HOOKED.

THREE OR FOUR CRUISES LATER, AND I REALISED THAT IF I WERE TO 'LINK' ALL THE CRUISES TOGETHER, I COULD ADD A FEW AND MAKE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

I RETIRED IN 2010 AND HAD A CRUISE BOOKED FOR 2011 .. THAT IS TWO LEGS OF AN AROUND THE WORLD CRUISE, NEW ZEALAND TO GREECE,

I HAD ALREADY GOT AS FAR AS ITALY GOING WEST TO EAST SO THERE WAS GOING TO BE THIS TINY BIT MISSING. ITALY TO GREECE.
WILL I THEN LIE AND SAY I HAVE CRUISES AROUND THE WORLD, OR FILL IN THE GAP?

MY DAD ALWAYS SAID THAT WHEN HE RETIRED HE WOULD TAKE MY MUM ON AN AROUND THE WORLD OCEAN VOYAGE.
MY MUM HAD OTHER IDEAS. SHE DID NOT "WANT TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY THAT QUICK".

THEY ARE BOTH DEAD NOW BUT I FEEL THAT I AM NOW GOING TO COMPLETE THEIR WORLD CRUISE IN THEIR STEAD - AND USE THEIR MONEY TO DO IT.

THANKS MUM & DAD.

VENICE TO GREECE....

I FLEW TO THE WORLDS WORST AIRPORT - FRANKFURT. I AM FRANKLY AMAZED THAT THIS AIRPORT IS IN GERMANY.

I DID SOMETHING NEW HERE - VOLUNTEERED.

THEY ANNOUNCED MY FLIGHT TO VENICE WAS OVERBOOKED ( SURPRISE! ) AND WOULD ANY ONE VOLUNTEER TO TAKE A LATER FLIGHT, VIA MUNICH? AND PICK UP 200 EUROS

I HAD PLENTY OF TIME, SO WHY NOT. SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NEED TO GET THE OTHER FLIGHT.

MUNICH IS A NAME FAMILIAR TO MANY ENGLISH FOOTBALL FANS FROM THE MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM THAT CRASHED THERE IN 1958.
IT'S NOT WINTER SO NO FEAR OF ICE ON THE WINGS FOR ME.

APPARENTLY, I WAS AT THE LAST GAME THEY PLAYED, AT ARSENAL, BEFORE THEY LEFT FOR GERMANY. HAVE NO MEMORY OF IT APART FROM IT BEING AT NIGHT & RAINING - MAYBE.

MUNICH AIRPORT IS DEFINITELY IN GERMANY. A WONDERBAR AIRPORT. PRETTY AS A PICTURE.

NOT THAT I HAVE ANY PICTURES OF MUNICH.
NOR GOING OVER THE ALPS ON A BEAUTY OF A CLOUDLESS DAY.
NOR VENICE.
NOR CROATIA.
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE MEMORY CARD AT A BEAUTIFUL CASCADING WATERFALL IN CROATIA - & I LOST ALL THE PICTURES.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM MEMORY CARDS!
I HAD FORGOTTEN TO BRING A SPARE.

IN THE EVENT, I GOT TO VENICE AND SAW PEOPLE FROM MY ORIGINAL FLIGHT SO THAT WAS GOOD.
I HEADED TO THE LUFTHANSA DESK TO GET MY 200 EUROS & YES, IN CASH. NONE OF THIS VOUCHER MALARKEY.
BUT NO - NO LUGGAGE.
HAD TO BE A BLIP SOMEWHERE.
BUT! TWO HUNDRED EUROS IN MY POCKET.

NCL HAD PUT ME IN A HOTEL THAT IS A FOUR OR FIVE STOP TRAIN RIDE OUTSIDE VENICE & THAT WILL BE A NICE EXPERIENCE, JUST GETTING THERE.

AND VENICE WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME. I EXPECTED IT TO BE ALL WATER BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WALKING YOU CAN DO TOO.

NO PHOTOS FROM HERE OR THE NEXT STOP, SPLIT IN CROATIA. TOO BAD.

I COME BACK TO VENICE IN A WEEK SO THAT IS A BONUS.

CORFU

I HAD A BUS TOUR UP ONE SIDE OF ISLAND , & BACK DOWN THE OTHER.

SOME PRETTY VIEWS, A NICE MEAL AND SOME CLOUD - LOTS OF CLOUD

AND RAIN ...

I JOINED OUR TOUR GUIDES WHEN STOPPED FOR LUNCH.

THERE IS A TREE GROWING INSIDE THE RESTAURANT THAT YOU CAN SEE OVER HER SHOULDER.

YOU KNOW ITS A REAL TREE BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD ADD THESE TO AN ARTIFICIAL TREE - MUSHROOMS - IN A RESTAURANT.
WOULD THEY?

SANTORINI

THIS IS A PRETTY LITTLE PLACE. THERE IS A FUNICULAR TO GET UP & DOWN THE CLIFF BUT AFTER TENDERING ASHORE WE HAD A BUS.

THE TENDER WAS UNUSUAL. IT WAS NOT A SHIPS LIFEBOAT WHICH IS THE NORM. IT WAS A LARGE BOAT FROM SHORE. GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF VERY QUICKLY.

VISITED THE FIRA MUSEUM. THE GUIDE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE & I KNOW SHE IS VERY PROUD OF HER HERITAGE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE OUTSIDE WAITING LONG BEFORE SHE FINISHED INSIDE.

THERE ARE ARE A LOT OF PRETTY LARGE JUGS INSIDE THOUGH...

AND A BLUE MONKEY.

A WALK THROUGH THE NARROW, SHOP FILLED LANES

AND IT'S BACK TO THE SHIP. A LITTLE MORE SNUG THIS TIME

ANOTHER ISLAND ( OR MAYBE THE SAME ONE) MYKONOS?

I THOUGHT THIS PLACE LOOKED SO BLACK & WHITE THAT I TOOK THE PHOTOS IN BLACK & WHITE TO MAKE THEM A BIT MORE INTERESTING.
THIS MAY BE TRUE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN.
COLOUR SHOTS CAN BE MADE TO BE BLACK & WHITE ON A COMPUTER. BLACK & WHITE STAY AS BLACK & WHITE.
MIGHT AS WELL SHOOT IN COLOUR TO GET AN OPTION LATER.

LOOK MA! NO HANDS

TIME TO BRING A BIT OF COLOUR BACK...

MUST TELL THE CAPTAIN THERE IS A MOUSE ON BOARD

THIS IS CRETE

I HAD ARRANGED TO MEET AN OLD CLASSMATE HERE BUT THERE WAS SOME MIS-COMMUNICATION AND WE NEVER MET UP. HE OWNS A RESTAURANT NEARBY SO MAYBE HE WAS BUSY.

AN ADVERT FOR UDDER WEAR ! ! ! ...

AND ONE TO REMIND ME OF HOME

AND THE WEATHER WAS SO DISMAL I DECIDED TO LIVEN IT UP WITH A BIT OF CHEATING & PHOTO A TRAVEL AGENTS WINDOW...

AFTER CRETE IT'S A NICE COUPLE OF DAYS AT SEA ON THE WAY BACK TO VENICE.

HERE'S SOME SHIPBOARD LIFE.....

YES - A BED IN THE NIGHT CLUB. A VERY ODD SHIP IS THE GEM.

ROCK CLIMBING AT THE BACK OF THE SHIP

THE TEPPANYAKI RESTAURANT - VERY GOOD TO EAT HERE..

BIG SCREEN TV AT THE COFFE BAR

ME AND THE BAR STAFF...

MY FAVOURITE BAR. VERY QUIET MOST OF THE TIME. A GUY PLAYING ACOUSTIC GUITAR RATHER WELL, AND SINGING NOT QUITE SO WELL

AND SO, BACK TO VENICE...

SACRILEGE - EVEN VENICE HAS GRAFFITI, CAN YOU BELIEVE..

I SUGGESTED TO CARLA THAT WE HAVE A PHOTO COMPETITION - SHE WON TAKING THIS ONE OF ME.

THIS COULD BE AN AIR CANADA ADVERT

A CIRCULAR RAINBOW

I FIRST SAW THIS PHENOMENA FLYING THROUGH A CLOUD OVER MEXICO. THERE WAS A PERFECTLY CIRCULAR RAINBOW WITH THE SHADOW OF THE PLANE IN IT'S MIDDLE. IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT LOGO FOR SOMEONE IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN DONE.

THIS ONE IS NOT SO GOOD AND NO SHADOW, BUT IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE MANAGED TO GET CLOSE TO PHOTOGRAPHING IT

IS THIS JERSEY? COULD BE, OR GUERNSEY

ANOTHER GREAT TRIP DONE & I HAVE NOW CRUISED HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

FINAL MORNING COFFEE WITH ROSE, VLADKA & CAROLIN...

EARLY MORNING VIEW OF PIREAUS... ATHENS PORT

AND MY FINAL VIEW OF THE MS AMSTERDAM...

AS THERE WERE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE GETTING OFF HERE IT WAS AN EASY DISEMBARKATION AND A SHORT HOP TO THE HOTEL WITH A GREAT POOL ON THE ROOF & A VIEW OF THE PARTHENON ATOP THE ACROPOLIS.

AND ANOTHER VIEW ACROSS ATHENS

THERE IS TIME FOR A TOUR AROUND ATHENS..

PRESUMABLY FAKE DESIGNER BAGS WHOSE SELLER DISAPPEARED SHARPISH WHEN THE COPS CAME TOWARDS HIM.

ATHENS IS NOT AN EASY PLACE TO TAKE PHOTOS. CRANES & TELEPHONE WIRES ALL OVER THE PLACE. & THE CITY HAS WAY TOO MUCH GRAFFITI..

A NICE RAINBOW NEAR THE EXCELLENT MUSEUM WHICH COULD TAKE A WEEK TO VIEW PROPERLY. A GREAT PLACE TO PUT THE STOLEN ELGIN MARBLES & IT'S ABOUT TIME THE BRITS GAVE THEM BACK & STOP BEING SO EMBARRASSING.

THERE IS A GLASS FLOOR OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM & THIS IS WHAT IS UNDERNEATH..

THE GLASS FLOOR AGAIN....

A GIRL DANCING ON THE STREET...

I HAD A MEAL NEXT TO THE STARBUCKS SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO THE HOTEL & HALFWAY THROUGH EATING I REALISED I WAS IN GREECE EATING PIZZA AND DRINKING GRAPPA. BOTH ITALIAN.

AND THE FLIGHT HOME OVER THE ALPS TO GERMANY

NEARLY HOME - THE BIG O IN MONTREAL...

AND SO ENDS MY TRIP.

MET LOTS OF PEOPLE, SOME NICE & SOME NOT SO NICE.

STILL IN CONTACT WITH SOME & FOUR OF WHOM I HAVE MET WITH SINCE - MARTHA IN FLORIDA, BAKI IN HAWAII & BJ & JACK IN CHARLESTON.

IT WAS HALF WAY ROUND THE WORLD ON THE SHIP & THE REST BY PLANE.

IT ALSO COMPLETES AN AROUND THE WORLD CRUISE IF I CONNECT ALL THE CRUISES I HAVE DONE.

WHAT NEXT?

This is a cruise with a UK company called Voyages to Antiquity aboard their one & only ship - the Aegean Odyssey

They don't only travel in the Aegean, but this cruise will cruise that sea & also the Black Sea.

It is not an all inclusive cruise but almost. First they are going to get me from Ottawa to Montreal which was right on time & Montreal to Athens, ditto.

I had two surprises at Montreal. First up was that I get to sit next to a young beauty from the USA. This is very rare, in my experience, but it did not last long. As soon as the plane reached altitude I switched seats so her equally pretty friend could sit with her. I moved back down the plane & sat with a lady, Laurie, who will actually be on the same cruise as me. That was the second surprise,

Laurie & I spent the next 9 hours talking. Fastest crossing of the Atlantic I have ever done.

Landing at Athens, the immigration is a bit of a shambles. I say goodbye to the two young lovelies & Laurie. Passport in hand, I am approaching the immigration desk when someone jumps the line in front of me. The immigration guy glances at my passport from 4 paces away and waves me passed the jumper. Could not possibly have seen my passport detail, but I am into Greece. Five minutes later my bag is off the carousel & I am looking for the V 2 A representative who is right in front of the line. A short wait for two other passengers & a quick walk to the parking lot & we are on the bus to the hotel.

There are three of us on the transfer to the hotel. The other two are also from Ottawa. About 40 minutes later we pull up at the hotel & the Bell Boy whisks the suitcase away to the room.

A short wait to check in and see the V 2 A Rep who gives me the program for my two night in Athens.

Amazingly efficient & full marks to V 2 A.

The hotel is the King George, almost an annex of the slightly fancier Grande Bretagne next door. It's a strange hotel. No coffee bar or bar on the ground floor. No shop either. The bath is very nice but only a hand held shower. First time I have had a bath in I don't know how long.

This is the view from the terrace of the hotels restaurant ....... some old building on top of a hill spoiling the view ....

The hotel is right in the heart of downtown & after a nap I take a walk around the nearby streets. All crowded with people at 9:00 at night. Pleasant temperature. A nice evening for sitting and watching the street life. I had a chat about football with a barman in a bar where there were lots of single ladies. It occurred to me they may have been hookers but if they were they were very well dressed & not blatant.

V 2 A had laid on an excursion around Athens for the next day & here we are at stop #1 - the Olympic stadium ....

and passing the guards in dresses outside Parliament. Not quite as scary as the Scots in their kilts ..

After a bit of a drive around it's time for the walk to the Acropolis.

As everyone knows, the Acropolis is the building on top of the hill overlooking Athens. At least that is what I always thought.

Not true - The Parthenon & other buildings are on top of the hill called the Acropolis & every little town in Greece has an Acropolis. I now know to avoid any excursion that mentions Acropolis since it translates to " way to many steps for me ".

Half way up ....

On top ....

It is very pretty though ...

but - what goes up, must come down ....

After exhausting myself walking around the Acropolis site we get a bit of a break with a couple of hours around the quite wonderful Acropolis Museum It would be even more wonderful if the Brits would give them back the Elgin Marbles to add to the display. They have a space ready & waiting. Not gonna happen any time soon & that is just not cricket.

But - as the world knows, the Brits can't play cricket either.

Mostly there are no photos allowed in the Museum but this is NIke & it was allowed to take photos in this area.

Hard to believe it's possible to carve something like that out of stone ...

Another shot of the changing of the guard before the guide dropped us off at the hotel.

Later I took the Coastal Tram for over an hour to the end of the line. A lovely little commuter ride to & along the coast. Stops a lot & very crowded. Had a beer at an almost empty beech bar, watching the sun go down & the tram back to town. For old foggies the fare was one Euro 20 return. Not a bad deal.

Spent the rest of the evening wandering the same back streets by the hotel & found a great little music bar which again had lots of ladies. Must be a shortage of men here.

Next day it was just breakfast in the hotel & a stroll around the block, wasting time waiting for the transfer to the ship at Pireaus. There was another museum tour on offer which I passed on.

Again - very efficient on the part of V 2 A

The following day we will leave for the island of Syros.

I finished a cruise in Athens on 2011 & was not impressed. Too grey, too much Graffiti.

Still lots of Graffiti but I left with a much better impression this time.

Only half an hour from the hotel to the ship docked at Pireaus & getting on board was a snap. I noticed the Swan-Hellenic cruise ship Minerva just leaving as I arrived. I will be on that ship in January. Pity I did not see a bit more of it.

My cabin is the cheapest I could find & it shows, but it is adequate for me. Two small single beds that cannot be combined to make one. First time I have come across that. The Air Con is roaring and freezing & I cannot find a regulator until much later. It is on the ceiling. Even with it off the room is still very cold. Under the duvet it is too warm. I never did get used to the temperature on this ship. I was either too hot or too cold unless I was outdoors.

It did not take long to find the casual restaurant aft. Turn left at the entrance & there is a line up of about eight young fellas ready to help the passengers, all with big grins & 'Welcome aboard'. One tells me the special of the day & points me to my tray already with a plate. I circle the circular buffet. A selection of breads, salady stuff, then a guy making a salad to order, a soup guy, a carvery guy, another guy serving hot veggies and stuff, then the grill guy.
All Philipino behind buffet.

Coming to the end another guy takes the tray off the counter & hands it to yet another guy to take my plate to whatever table takes my fancy. Lots of tables to choose from indoors but I head to the door taking me outdoors, passing more food laid out on a large table.

Deserts - later.

Outside there are collapsible, canvas chairs set at tables for two four & eight. Some under cover, some in the sun. More food out here too. A tapas table & a grill station. I take a seat & meet my first booze waitress. Kadeck. Easy to remember. I remember that wine is complimentary with meals but only the evening meal. This is lunch.

Enough time before the abandon ship drill for a stroll around the ship. No frills & pretty basic. Not luxurious by any means but quite comfortable looking.

After the safety drill where we actually went to the lifeboat, there was the welcome aboard meeting. The Cruise director introduced members of staff, described what we could expect aboard etc. He thinks himself very funny but is a bit of a plank.

After dinner, again out on deck we have already set sail & it's an early night to be ready for the island of Syros

All the passengers have been allocated a colour coded excursion 'group'. There are Road Scholars & AHI - two American travel groups, and a few V2A groups. Mine is pink.. The daily journal has directed which lounge & at what time the various colours should assemble.

This is going to be a half day walking tour of Empouli. Everyone has the same tour except that Road Scholars & AHI people will retain the same tour guide at each stop. At least in Greece but I may be wrong about that.

My pink group of about 30 people is led through the town .....

by a young lady, up hill to visit this church ......

And more street walking ...

for a visit inside a very old theater. Still used by the locals & our guide performs here ...

into another church ...

where there is a 'discovered' El Greco painting that I did not manage to get a photo of.

After this , the guide escorts us towards the ship. We can either board for lunch of stay in town for the afternoon.

She had been keeping a running commentary on our radio headphones. Suppled by V2A, A great feature this. Plug them in overnight in the cabin.

I choose to sit by the sea and try an Ouzo. I am joined by Randy from BC & Tom from the US. I had met these two at the hotel in Athens.

Then we split & I head off to the back streets to find a bit of lunch in this restaurant, complete with lucky black cat ...

Lunch was some fried Cheese - very squeeky. Mussles & bread & a Greek beer.

Greek is not the easiest of languages to read as there are non-english characters. This ad in the restaurant gives an example of the translation for Asprin ....

Evening meal was again on the terrace but as I had eaten not long before at lunch, I had a slice of all the cheeses available. The Tapas table is close by & the 'Snack Boy' - that was really his title - delivered some of his morsels for me.

That became something of a routine for me, only having dinner in the more formal downstairs restaurant twice the entire cruise. And eating a larger lunch than diner.

Cheese on this ship was excellent, unlike most cruises I have been on where it is mostly tasteless & can be used as a bouncy ball.

At dinner I also meet more booze waitresses. Kadeck has gone awol and been replaced by the lovelies, Grace, Lorraine and Andrea. The girls do not keep count of what you are drinking & offer White. Red - beer or soda all through meal time - 7:00 to 9:00

After dinner some quiet time in the lounge listening to the girl on violin who sings like Edith Piaf and her piano accompanist.

A before bed cup of camomile tea from Irish - yet another Philipino waitress and it's the island of Santorini tomorrow.

Moving on to Santorini. I have been here before & so know what to expect.

Rain.

And I was not disappointed. It did rain quite a lot but strangely when I was under cover.

Breakfast first - out on the terrace with Santorini as a back-drop. Not too shabby.

The buffet has the same set up as evening except the food changes. All the usual suspects, well presented & lots of it.

Into the lounge to await the call for Pink group. It's gong to be a long day today with an included stop for lunch at a 'Typical Taverna'.

We have to tender ashore & unlike just about every other tender port I have been to, Santorini sends out it's own tender. Quite large ferry type vessels to get lots of people ashore at one go.

We head away from the closest town of Fira I suspect because the only way up the hill is by funicular or donkey & would take up too much time

It's not long before we get to Oia & the guide drops us in the square by the church, gives us directions to varous lookout spots & two hours to get back to the bus.

Do you think this man is colour co-ordinated on purpose?

Picture perfect .....

I head into a restaurant & up stairs to the roof for a coffee & some photo taking

A favourite wedding photo spot is just below me .... People come here form all over the world to get married. Can't imagine why!

My boat out there I think. That whole area is the caldera of a volcano and most of what we are on is the rim. One massive volcano.One massive explosion.

An amusing piece of outdoor art & ...

what nice boots the bride has .... Careful girl..

Looks like rush hour with another wedding in the middle. Paul & Therese just to her left. We spent a lot of time together on the ship.

This guy could care less ....

old & newer Santorini together ...

A last glimpse of the happy couple & we are off to the Archaeological dig at Akrotiri

I expected to get very wet here as it was pouring with rain but the dig is completely covered.

The site is very well laid out and the radio commentary from our very knowledgeable guide was excellent. Except that my group of 30 some people were strung out so much on the narrow walkways that I started to pick up some other tours commentary. Took me a while to realise I was listenting to a different lady, but noticed my ladies lips were not moving.

The last time I was here it was on a three thousand passenger cruise ship. This time the ship has 300. Which makes lunch strange. From the big ship, lunch was in a restaurant that held our bus load of about 30 - 40. This time we had lunch in a wedding venue & the entire boat was there. Small ship sailing does not always equate to a more intimate experience.

I could have come down the cliff by donkey but chickened out & took the funicular.

Grace, a waitress from the ship was excited that she took the donkey up & down the cliff. Good that the girls get some free time off the ship occasionally.

All that rain presages a storm coming.

A storm at sea - lovely.

The bad weather seen in Santorini had been moving in our direction for a few days now & arrived overnight with a vengeance. 70 KMPH winds put a stop to our docking in Kos as scheduled. So it seems, it is is any port in storm - except Kos

V2A re-jigged the itinerary so we arrived in Rhodes a day early. Spent the scheduled two days there & then backtracked to Kos. Good job by them.

So - Rhodes .

What do we know about Rhodes.

The Collosus that stretched his legs over the harbour - probably a myth but I think they should build one here anyway.

A fine walled city inhabited by the some Knights, but not the Jedi type. The Crusader type ...

A start with a quick photo-stop at the Acropolis overlooking Rhodes city. Thankfully, the only steps were getting down from the bus

Heres Cindy, An ex Canadian now Australian.... Had a few laughs with her & her Australian husband.

A drive by theater ....

And the moat around Rhodes city ....

Going through the city walls ....

I spotted this young girl posing for photos & snapped a few pics as I approached, knowing I had a Euro in my pants pocket to give her. But the Euro is in another pair of pants so she got five Euros instead. Seemed cruel to ask for change.

Now inside the Knights castle ...

Some intricate mosaics.

NCL ships have dolphins on the carpets in the corridors - swimming forward.

A very helpful thing on ships that other cruise lines should emulate. It takes me ages to get my bearings on ships, even now.

Another girl trying to make a buck, but not from me this time ...

and we are outside the city walls again ....

and up an alley way for a beer in an empty restaurant ... That's santorini on the wall ...

A stroll up hill, through the city....

Some Graffitti in Arabic above the archway?

to another city gate ....

and back down again ... where this girl is having a good stretch in the sunset ...

Day two on Rhodes now & a bus tour down the island to Lindos & an Acropolis.

Getting higher ... But no donkey for us.

but Yes - More steps ...

South African Angela & Her husband John helped me down these rocks & the steps. Bi-focals are not well suited to going down hill. Some goon stopped in front of me to take pictures on the steps & I almost sent him over the edge.

The view is worth a bit of puffing ....

More asses on donkeys on the way down .....

One lady was having a terrible time on a donkey. The driver thought she was going to fall off. I did too & stayed well out of the way.

and this is a river, albeit with no water .. Must be a torrent when it rains.

And that's it for Rhodes. Worth a second visit some time

The storm had abated & we were able to dock in Kos this time.

A pleasant enough place - with yet more ruins to look at.

As might be expected, ruins are a big feature of a Voyage to Antiquity cruise & we were to get our fill of them but here's a cat playing with some string.

Lots & lots of cats around on this cruise.

Kittens mostly.

I think this is another Acropolis. Steps anyway. A nice gentle slope down through the trees, & back to the bus.

Time for a quick stroll through the village & a snack here....

And Olive trees. A tremendous acreage of Olive trees. I wonder what the least number of Olive trees is needed to provide a living ... My thought for the day.

I took a pass on actually seeing the the tree where Hippocrates took a flight of fancy from....

A gentle sort of day & tomorrow we switch countries - to Turkey ..