We became fans of refreshing apple tea in Turkey.
The main reason for visiting Kusadasi was to go to Ephesus - a short bus ride from the port.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Kusadasi and Ephesus
Our last port before the end of the cruise in Athens was Kusadasi in Turkey where we spent 2 days. Kusadasi is a very popular holiday spot - huge bazaar where I bought Phil a new straw hat for the Wadham Garden Party - look out for the photos.
We became fans of refreshing apple tea in Turkey.
The main reason for visiting Kusadasi was to go to Ephesus - a short bus ride from the port.
We became fans of refreshing apple tea in Turkey. The main reason for visiting Kusadasi was to go to Ephesus - a short bus ride from the port.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Greece - the monasteries of Meteora
OK - this isn't in Greece. We are now in Seaford with Christy and Pelagia. Couldn't resist slipping this one in. The news from Andy in Borneo with his 24 youngsters is good - yesterday they were all presented with gifts from 2 princesses of Brunei - unfortunately the group had just finished playing outdoor games in the mud with children at a special school and hadn't had a chance to change. Maybe the gifts were soap.
We had a day anchored at Volos in Greece. Ginny chose to visit a couple of nice villages but we took a 2 hour bus ride inland to Meteora to see the monasteries dating from C12. There were originally 27 of these Eastern Orthodox monasteries but only 6 remain. Many were badly damaged during WW2 and since then one has been given to an order of nuns to restore and use. The geology is dramatic as these pictures show. How ever di they get the building materials here.
See the monastery top right.
We had a day anchored at Volos in Greece. Ginny chose to visit a couple of nice villages but we took a 2 hour bus ride inland to Meteora to see the monasteries dating from C12. There were originally 27 of these Eastern Orthodox monasteries but only 6 remain. Many were badly damaged during WW2 and since then one has been given to an order of nuns to restore and use. The geology is dramatic as these pictures show. How ever di they get the building materials here.See the monastery top right.
An Icon artist at work.
Monastery of the Holy Trinity
Rousanou Monastery
Varlaan Monastery - this is one we went into. The chapel has fantastic frescoes dating from C16.
Cruising through the Bosphorus
Sailing through the Bosphorus is a delight - it is a 32 km long stretch of water that divides the asian and european parts of Istanbul and connects the Black Sea in the north with the Sea of Marmara in the south. We were lucky to sail through on a beautiful sunny day. Container ships, oil tankers and ferries as well as little local fishing boats all share this waterway with cruise ships. Along the banks are palaces, ruins, villages and old ottoman wooden houses.
Fifteeth century Fortess of Europe
Fifteeth century Fortess of Europe
Ortakoy Mosque built 1850s
Istanbul - Beyoglu - the area that is the heart of the commercial and entertainment parts Istanbul- note Galata Tower which we climbed up the previous week.
The Sultanamet area of Istanbul where we stayed - the Blue Mosque is on the left and the Hagia Sophia on the right.
Eventually we slowly sailed out of the Bosphorus into the Daardanelles, the strait leading into the Agean Sea. The Gallipoli Peninsular on the eastern side holds a particular place in the hearts of Australians. Even if like me you are opposed to violence and war, you cannot help but pause to remember the lives lost and maimed here during WW1. It was a very sombre afternoon for the Aussies and Kiwis on board.
Canakkale Martyrs' monument to turkish soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsular - the anzac memorials are on the far side of the peninsula - our ship didn't go past that way.
The Sultanamet area of Istanbul where we stayed - the Blue Mosque is on the left and the Hagia Sophia on the right.
Eventually we slowly sailed out of the Bosphorus into the Daardanelles, the strait leading into the Agean Sea. The Gallipoli Peninsular on the eastern side holds a particular place in the hearts of Australians. Even if like me you are opposed to violence and war, you cannot help but pause to remember the lives lost and maimed here during WW1. It was a very sombre afternoon for the Aussies and Kiwis on board. I looked up the Australian War Memorial website and of the total population of Australia in 1914 of 4 million people, 417,000 men enlisted - a staggering 38.7% of the male population between the ages of 18 - 44 and probably almost all of the able bodied ones. I have read the Victoria Cross citiations in the Hall of Valour at the AWM on several occasions and marvel at the acts of courage and heroism that earned these men that honour - many lost their lives in the process and you can't help but wonder how they might have contributed to our country if they had returned.
Canakkale Martyrs' monument to turkish soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsular - the anzac memorials are on the far side of the peninsula - our ship didn't go past that way.
Cruising makes for a great holiday
There was lots of sunshine, interesting ports of call, your bedroom goes with you every night, good company
Lovely music before dinner
Great food and company
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Vale Christina Lorenzen
Today we are very sad not to be with our friends Thorwald and Jill as they farewell their daughter who died on the weekend after a long and courageous struggle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their extended family today and through the tough times ahead.
Where to begin!!!
Three and a half weeks since our last blog; so much has happened; so much to tell. I think I will just put up a heap of photos with a little commentary. Anything else is too daunting.
Firstly, just to let you know that there has been no serious reason for being off-line. The backlight on our Dell laptop died shortly after posting the last blog so we have been popping into public libraries and internet cafes to check emails but haven't had time to blog. The laptop was fixed yesterday at huge expense but maybe I'll get that back along with the $440 US that it cost for Phil to consult the ship's doctor. It seems like he had a virus in the inner/middle?? ear. The doc just gave him seasick tablets for 2 days and he has been fine ever since. However Phil has an incredibly slow pulse - around 42 which always worries doctors so the doc insisted on doing an ECG, blood test and a range of other tests hence the hefty bill. It was worth it to be reassured that there was nothing sinister happening.
Firstly, just to let you know that there has been no serious reason for being off-line. The backlight on our Dell laptop died shortly after posting the last blog so we have been popping into public libraries and internet cafes to check emails but haven't had time to blog. The laptop was fixed yesterday at huge expense but maybe I'll get that back along with the $440 US that it cost for Phil to consult the ship's doctor. It seems like he had a virus in the inner/middle?? ear. The doc just gave him seasick tablets for 2 days and he has been fine ever since. However Phil has an incredibly slow pulse - around 42 which always worries doctors so the doc insisted on doing an ECG, blood test and a range of other tests hence the hefty bill. It was worth it to be reassured that there was nothing sinister happening.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday June 26
I am sending this from VERY noisy MacDonalds WiFi in Yalta so no photos till later
Today we are in Yalta, our third port of call in Ukraine. They have all been interesting and the weather has been kind – a few showers on Thursday on our second day in Odessa but not enough to bother us much.
Yesterday in Sevastopol was really interesting. It is still home to the Russian Black Sea fleet and was closed to visitors until just a few years ago. It seemed strange to be able to tie up next to all the naval ships after so many years seclusion. We walked to the Cathedral – probably Russian orthodox and sat in on a service for a while. Two women with beautiful voices were responding in close harmony to the chants of the priest – James Carter would welcome them in his singing group. The Panorama Museum of the Crimean War is a huge continuous painting, over 220 m which goes right around the inside walls of a large circular building. It depicts the battle following the siege of Sevastopol back in 1855 – the Charge of the Light Brigade and all that. It was an horrendous time with a total of 500,000 lives lost.
We then took a local bus out to Chersonesus – the ruins of a greek town founded around 400BC. It is an extensive site right on the edge of the sea. The local people were very helpful getting us on and off the right buses even though their English is very limited and our Ukrainian and Russian non-existant.
Today we are in Yalta – a classy seaside resort for Ukrainians and Russians. It almost has the feel on one of the towns along the French riveria – a lot of French and Italian style buildings and nice shady parks and streets. Phil is a bit sluggish today so stayed onboard while Ginny and I went out for the morning. We decided to take a taxi along the coast to see Swallows Nest, a small castle built on a steep cliff overlooking the sea then back to the Livadia palace where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin held negotiations in the last days of WW2. We chose a driver who said he would take us to both places for 19 euros. After about 10 mins driving up steep streets, he stopped for photos and when we got back in the car he told us it would 90 euros. We reminded him that he had said 19 but he disagreed. We asked to be taken back to the ship and he dropped the price to 70. We insisted on going back to the ship. Disappointed and a bit annoyed - but we then found a taxi drvier to take us to the 2 places for 20 euros. That worked out fine. He left us at the Livadia Palace and we spent an hour or so looking around and then got a local bus back to town for about 60cents.
Phil seems a bit better this afternoon – nothing serious I hope. He is just a bit dizzy and lethargic. There is a medical centre on board and I’ll take him then later if her doesn’t pick up.
Today we are in Yalta, our third port of call in Ukraine. They have all been interesting and the weather has been kind – a few showers on Thursday on our second day in Odessa but not enough to bother us much.
Yesterday in Sevastopol was really interesting. It is still home to the Russian Black Sea fleet and was closed to visitors until just a few years ago. It seemed strange to be able to tie up next to all the naval ships after so many years seclusion. We walked to the Cathedral – probably Russian orthodox and sat in on a service for a while. Two women with beautiful voices were responding in close harmony to the chants of the priest – James Carter would welcome them in his singing group. The Panorama Museum of the Crimean War is a huge continuous painting, over 220 m which goes right around the inside walls of a large circular building. It depicts the battle following the siege of Sevastopol back in 1855 – the Charge of the Light Brigade and all that. It was an horrendous time with a total of 500,000 lives lost.
We then took a local bus out to Chersonesus – the ruins of a greek town founded around 400BC. It is an extensive site right on the edge of the sea. The local people were very helpful getting us on and off the right buses even though their English is very limited and our Ukrainian and Russian non-existant.
Today we are in Yalta – a classy seaside resort for Ukrainians and Russians. It almost has the feel on one of the towns along the French riveria – a lot of French and Italian style buildings and nice shady parks and streets. Phil is a bit sluggish today so stayed onboard while Ginny and I went out for the morning. We decided to take a taxi along the coast to see Swallows Nest, a small castle built on a steep cliff overlooking the sea then back to the Livadia palace where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin held negotiations in the last days of WW2. We chose a driver who said he would take us to both places for 19 euros. After about 10 mins driving up steep streets, he stopped for photos and when we got back in the car he told us it would 90 euros. We reminded him that he had said 19 but he disagreed. We asked to be taken back to the ship and he dropped the price to 70. We insisted on going back to the ship. Disappointed and a bit annoyed - but we then found a taxi drvier to take us to the 2 places for 20 euros. That worked out fine. He left us at the Livadia Palace and we spent an hour or so looking around and then got a local bus back to town for about 60cents.
Phil seems a bit better this afternoon – nothing serious I hope. He is just a bit dizzy and lethargic. There is a medical centre on board and I’ll take him then later if her doesn’t pick up.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
More from Istanbul
In fact I am in an internet cafe in Odessa Ukraine. Had a great time exporing the city and Phil is having a bit of down time so I thought I would blog for a bit. Funny keyboard and the order of the photos is muddled but you will probably get the drift. The main thin is that we are havng a really good time. The ship is just delightful - such luxury that I feel guilty. The ports are interesting but not WOW!!!! Yesterday was Varna in Bulgaria - and tomorrow we sail to Sevastapol. But it is just so lovely relaxing and enjoying varied company and fabulous food.
This is for Kimberley - the local women wash their fleece and let in dry on the parks. By the way, Congrats on the new job!!!
We climbed this tower on Monday - the first 7 levels had a lift - great views over Istanbul fro the top. Ginny was very brave and came too.
Topkapi Palace
Spice Market
Our ship
A day at the seaside!!!
Ruins
Food glorious food.
This is for Kimberley - the local women wash their fleece and let in dry on the parks. By the way, Congrats on the new job!!!
We climbed this tower on Monday - the first 7 levels had a lift - great views over Istanbul fro the top. Ginny was very brave and came too.
Topkapi Palace
Spice Market
Our ship
A day at the seaside!!!
Ruins
Food glorious food.
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