The Cruise

The Cruise

Venice

We set off from Florence on the 8.30 am train to Venice;  a two hour journey.  We then caught a water taxi to the cruise terminal.  The cruise terminal is not an easy place to navigate around hence, we had a bit of a hassle finding where we had to be for check-in.  Finally, aboard around 1pm.  After a quick lunch we set off to St Mark’s Square where we were to pick up our walking tour of Venice and gondola ride.  What we didn’t anticipate was how long it would take on the Vaparato to get back to the square and find where we had to be,  hence we missed our tour. {:   We were lucky enough to find the area where the gondola rides went from so we had a lovely ride around the canals.  Venice was very crowded as there were at least eight cruise ships in port.  Still it is a lovely city and we all enjoyed ourselves.  Leaving Venice around 5.30 pm was spectacular.  The weather was clear with no wind.  People from the ferries were waving farewell to us.

On the Gondola - Grand Canal (in my new leather coat from Florence)

St Mark's Square as we sailed out of Venice

At bit about the ship:

The Nieuw Amsterdam is a beautiful ship and our cabin has a balcony so we have had many happy hours.  Most of the passengers are American with quite a number of Australians aboard.  The food is great and plenty of activities.  Our cabin is comfortable.  I would say the average age aboard is around 70 years so not a lot of action happening but very relaxing for us. The Americans are very conservative compared to the more relaxed Aussies.

Nieuw Amsterdam

Phil in our cabin

Split

Sailed into beautiful Split, a fine and warm day.  Spent the day wandering the streets, the local fresh food market (bought some yummy strawberries and figs) and tasted the local beer. Then walked up the hill, which overlooks Split. Had a coffee and a beer, while  enjoying the wonderful view over the harbour.  Back on board around 3pm.  Once again, our departure was enjoyed over a bottle of sparkling wine on the forward deck near our cabin (Vicki, Robyn and Ian – memories from our last cruise, our cabins are situated same distance).

Split overlooking the city and harbour

The Promenade - Split

Athens

Arrived Athens at 7 am but due to port authorities not allowing the ship to berth we didn’t disembark until 8.45 am. A mad rush into central Athens by taxi to meet up with our tour guide for a walking tour of Athens and the Acropolis; we made it.  For lovers of ancient Greek history the visit to the Acropolis was a highlight. After the tour, we found a little taverna for lunch and then had a wander through the alley ways of the Plaka (old town).  The Greeks were l very friendly and all have cousins, aunts and uncles in Australia.  They told us (tongue in cheek) there are more Greeks in Melbourne than Greece.  A taxi back to the ship in time for our formal dinner.

At the Acropolis - Athens

Istanbul

A very cold and bleak morning sailing through the Dardanels at around 7 am.  We passed Gallipoli around 8am and the ship’s information coordinator gave quite a good talk on the Australian and NZ military operation in 1915. After a relaxing morning on board, we arrived in Istanbul at 3.30 pm.  Went ashore to explore the spice market and the Grand Bazar. Very busy but lots of fun.  The aroma of the spices was wonderful.  Vicki, I got your cushion covers for you.   What a vibrant city this is.  The Turks are friendly, smiling and polite people and all call us Aussies their “brothers”.

Spice Market - Istanbul

Found a terrific restaurant that overlooked the harbour;  great food and atmosphere.

On our second day in Istanbul (which was wet and cold), we hired a taxi to visit the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and the Cistern.  This turned out to be quite an adventure rubbing shoulders with the “carpet Mafia of Istanbul”.  A long story which will have to wait until we get home.  Would love to spend more time here.

Blue Mosque

Mykonos

A sunny, but windy morning for our visit to Mykonos. This beautiful little town surpassed all expectations.  Relaxed and friendly with plenty of jewellery shops for the ladies to go crazy.  Winding laneways, with their white painted buildings led us to numerous shops and cafes.  Lunch was a Greek salad – what else – in a great little café overlooking a perfectly blue ocean.  Found Phillipis bar and restaurant tucked away in one of the numerous laneways.  Great staff and all the food and wine is produced by the owner on the island.  Mykonos was a magical place and on the return list.

Mykonos

Phil's Restaurant

Kusadasi

Back to Turkey and the holiday city of Kusadasi.  Again, the weather was fine and sunny.  The highlight was a visit to the Roman city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.  Very crowded at both sites, as there were about six cruise ships in the port of Kusadasi. 

Ephesus was established as a trading port and religious centre about 3,000 years ago.  It was settled by Ionians, Dorics, Greeks and Romans and is now the Aegean’s best preserved Roman city.  Walking the original marble paths, one could imagine being a Roman walking to the library or visiting the Roman baths.  The 2,000 year amphitheatre is still used for concerts and can hold over 27,000 people.  This would have been a very sophisticated and beautiful city.  We returned to Kusadasi to be assailed by jewellery sellers.  Marilyn must have looked like she had a few Euros to spare as one shop tried to sell her a diamond and sapphire bracelet for 12,000USD.  Fortunately, Marilyn had to pass on this one.  A stroll into the town and, of course, a beer or two in a friendly Turkish café. Again, the Turks always welcoming and courteous.

Library ruins - Ephesus - Greece

Santorini

Sailed into stunning Santorini on a beautiful warm morning.  A sheer cliff face to climb.  Options were donkey, cable car or leg power.  The ascent was 364 uneven  steps, so  being the donkeys we are, we opted to walk. Collapsed when we reached the top and was resusiciated  by a beer and wine.  The usual exploration of jewellery and dress shops, while the men found a convenient watering hole.  After exploring Firon, we caught the local bus to Oia.  Ever so beautiful and just like the postcards with the beautiful white buildings and blue dome roofs.  We had a lovely lunch overlooking the Aegean Sea and looking onto one of those beautiful white buildings with blue dome roof.  Stunning.  Back on board the ship around 4.30 pm.  Watched a beautiful sun set from the ship as we sailed out. 

Lunch in paradise - Santorini

Katakolon (Olympia) Greece

A relaxing morning on board ship and got off to explore Katakolon around 11am.  Janelle and Kent went to Olympia but we decided to relax in the town. Had a seafood  lunch of sardines, calamari and greek salad washed down with some good Greek beer.  The restaurant  overlooked the harbour with our ship in the background.  Had to do a bit more shopping, so bought myself another scarf. 

Lunch with our ship in the background in Katakolon

So ends our magical twelve days at sea on the Nieuw Amsterdam. We had just the best time.

Now onto the Cinque Terre (Italy).