On to Malta

Sibrenic Croatia

Not far from  Hvar which we visited a few days ago. Lisa has a friend in Norway who owns a home in a little town named Torgir   and that was a part of our tour

Room service

We had a 7:30 time but he showed up at 7:20 am. The sail in was terrific as it is via a narrow channel and very pretty on both sides. We had our noshes while. I started with the shower, then Ed and then Lisa. As it turns out we were all ready much sooner than we needed to be.

Tour

We joined others in the Lounge and as we left the ship, we were met with little donut holes and a sample of their local cherry wine. What a wonderful greeting. In some ports we are greeted in unusual ways and it is always fun.

soon we were off on our tour with Marina, a terrific guide. We winded through mountainsides with lots of rocks. Some hills are denuded and many others had many olive, almond, and fruit trees. Vineyards are everywhere though wine isn’t a large product. There were not as many old houses as in some country sides.

You can see Hvar and Brac islands from the high points on this one. Many coves show lots of small watercraft and blue, clear, clean water. Just gorgeous. Most beaches are rocky but many are sandy.

The little town was cute to walk through and hard to get lost. We toured the cathedral and Ed and Lisa climbed the bell tower. We walked through local green markets and bought some local figs.

Back to ship

We dropped our stuff, had a quick lunch in the buffet and then we were off the ship again to walk Sibrenic which was along the seaside about a few blocks. We toured the duomo and the fellow allowed us to go into the baptistry which is in a stone cove to the side of the high altar. This is a gorgeous cathedral.

Then we just walked and gawked at the tiny streets and occasional open areas. Ed bought a bottle of the local cherry wine we had this morning. Lisa found more snacks, her specialty. We ran into Daisuka, one of the ship’s photographers, and Lisa used his camera to take a picture of HIM in front of this enormous wisteria vine.

We saw another church but didn’t go in. By this time, we can’t see the ship but we know the direction of the sea. Eventually a fellow told us where stairs were and we made our way down to the entry to the port and returned, tired but after a really good day.

Weather

It has been windy and very cold these days, but clear, sunny and just wonderful. Lisa has been a special treat to have along. We so enjoy her company.

Dinner

We have our own table now for the duration of Lisa’s stay with us. It has a great window view and we were able to enjoy the sail away. Lisa left pretty quickly to watch it from our balcony. Francis and Peter came over to visit with us. Peter was so excited because his mother and his sister traveled 10 hrs one way to spend some time with him here and then return the same way.

Treasure hunt

Thank goodness we know the ship and so we got all the stamps right away and turned in our tickets hoping to win something fun tomorrow. Ed picked up the photos while we were working.

Entertainment

By this time we needed to find seats. Tonight it was a comedian. My Lord he was funny. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my cheek. It was almost as much fun watching Lisa’s reaction to the comedian. It was a good belly laugh.

Washing

We are trying to determine tomorrow’s schedule, what tours to take next, where we will all be tomorrow and such. I did some hand laundry and now Lisa is doing hers. Ed doesn’t have hand laundry (big smile).

Goodbye Venice

Off to Piazza San Marco

We slept well, ate a bite and headed off: first getting off the ship, then walking to the People Mover (1.5 euros per person for ¼ mile ride), then to water bus and enjoying the views and the Italians and scads of tourists until we reached the stop for the Piazza. We had texted Lisa so soon enough she arrived and we were off to the Doge’s Palace. Us and at least a million other people mostly high school students from everywhere. It took a while to get the tickets and then our acoustaguide which was a god send.

The Doge’s Palace is enormous. It is impossible to describe the ceilings with their original art work, gold filigree and so much more I cannot describe adequately. One room larger than the other. But boy what a vicious bunch they were making accusations willy nilly (there was a special marble mailbox where you put your denunciations and then the poor victim had to defend himself. Sounds like our current administration.

Eventually we came to the awful prisons, considerably cleaned up for our visit. And they went on and on and they said there wasn’t enough room for the prisoners! One did manage to escape though I can’t iagine how.

Lunch

This was over 2 hrs of gawking and craning our necks. For the total day, Ed says we walked more than 9,000 steps. So we found a place to eat. We weren’t choosy but found a small restaurant and each of us ordered a salad. As Ed was paying the check, a group of kids from Connecticut were trying to decide what to eat. I told them we had a good meal there. They asked what we had. When I said salad you could see they weren’t impressed. So I pointed to this H U G E pizza in the window and asked them how they could go wrong with that. So since there was enough room for them, they decided to try it. The guy at the door said I was doing his job for him.

We picked up Lisa’s bag from the hotel and began our walks through the narrow streets of Venice with the grand idea of picking up our boat at the rialto bridge. We were running out of time so we defaulted to the known and picked up the water bus at the same stop where we left it and retraced our steps to the ship. We made it with 15 min to spare. Things take so much longer there.

Sail Away

We invited several people to join us on the front of the ship for the sail away. It was fun with Lisa being the subtle great hostess she always is. We had fun discussing various things about Venice: Lisa and Rick found so many leaning towers it became a fun sport to find one that looked straight up. We talked about things we still wanted to see or do in Venice and Rick said that’s a good excuse to return.

Dinner

It was open seating and so we joined Frances and Randy at our usual site with Francis and Peter. We had fun as usual. The entertainment tonight was a movie but we didn’t finish dinner until after 9 with all the excitement and we have an early tour tomorrow so it is an early evening for us.

Venice Day One

Venice Day One

We were up at 6 to get ready. At 6:30, our guests began arriving for the sail in. It had actually started a little but the channels were narrowing. It was cold and windy on the front of the ship. There was a haze and overcast so it had a horror movie warmth about it.

There it is!

Suddenly Sam pointed out the very familiar scene of the church where the two waterways split in a V; this is directly across the Grand Canal from the Piazza San Marco. I couldn’t believe it! This large ship was actually going to sail through Venice! We took the canal to the east of the Grand Canal. Well you can imagine the views. Not only unobstructed but from higher up. What an unexpected treat!

And our dock was near the train station from the mainland! Eventually we get off and begin to learn our surroundings and make choices about transportation which is a real challenge in this city of waterways and peculiar alleyways.

People Mover

Eventually we find this. We could see it from our balcony but it’s different on land. It was 1.5 Euros each for one way. This is almost laughable as it’s only about ¼ of a mile. Then we get off and start “discussing” how to get to San Marco where we had agreed to meet Lisa at 10:45 am.

Walking Venice

To condense a very long story, I wanted to walk as we had been told it was possible to walk to the Piazza. It is a loooonnnnggg fwalk (Ed says we did 9 miles of walking yesterday; I think that’s an exaggeration but it is a long walk.

Find the right bridge.

The advantage is that you get to see areas otherwise unknown to you. And finding bridges to get you across from one piece of land to another can be fun/challenging. Along the way, we wound up in front of the Church of St. Rocco (close enough) and met two others from the ship who thought they knew where thing were. Big Smile here. And the older man was very chatty and you know how Ed likes to talk. I just wanted to get on our way. I asked some folks along the way; some instructions were more definitive than others; some more accurate than others.

Separated

At some point Ed was so far ahead of me, the alleyways were so narrow and there were so many people that we got separated. Interestingly this didn’t bother me much as it was daylight, lots of people around and my destination was a well known public site where most people went to.

Rialto Bridge

Eventually I did find this which is a crucial landmark in walking to the Piazza. We had stayed at a little closet of a hotel near there years ago. So on I trudge asking “Piazza San Marco? Now and then and getting pointed fingers and occasional good English monosyllabic answers. Now and then there is a sign high on the walls which has an arrow (brown on yellow not so easy for me to make out) “per San Marco” or “per Rialto” so eventually I emerged in the square.

Meeting point

In my naiveté I had assumed that the piazza was be as bared as our other ports where we had been “out of season”. What a laugh. It is near Holy Week and every high school kid in Italy is here on a field trip. You could not see the pavement for the kids; occasionally now and then an adult would appear.

Police presence

I want to mention this because I thought it was so subtle. I didn’t notice them until one came to a guy and told him to take some stuff off of a fountain. Thus ensued a stereotypical Italian exchange where the policeman stood his ground and eventually, begrudgingly, the guy obeyed. In the US his butt would have been in jail long ago.

There are Venice police and some in beret and camouflage. It makes sense when you thing about the iconic status of Venice.

Meeting up

So I texted Ed where I was: on the west side of the Cathedral San Marco near the fountain in the shade. How did I know it was the west side? Because it was morning and the sun was coming right across the piazza so the shade would be west.

Lisa and Ed are in touch and since his directions can go on indefinitely and it’s 20 cents a minute to call gave Lisa two point directions and she comes waving to us.

After wandering around and finding a bathroom and then getting a clear set of information, we board a water bus for Murano island. As we step off, there is a factor tour right ahead and we got with the small group to see a demonstration. No documentary or verbal description can describe the skill this takes; you have to see it in person. And alas, like so many other crafts these days, it is a dying art.

We looked around the amazing things for sale; none in my price range! And besides it would just join other dust catchers.

Lunch

Around the bend we found a restaurant that looked promising and had an extension out into the waterway where we could eat and feel we were experiencing the full Venetian experience. We all had very good salads and soon were on our way to the Murano Glass Museum

So across yet one more bridge and the entrance fee for old codgers is 7.5 Euros which Lisa elbowed her way past Ed to pay for. They are funny together: He so tall and older; she so tiny, dark and younger.

Glass Museum

You can’t imagine what’s in here. One of the Doges had a complete crystal model of the city made in his day. Every imaginable thing is here and no two alike. The designs are amazing and range from very old and discolored, to bright modern designs.

And oddity: in the garden or forecourt, there is a small pond with the oddest sound emitted from it. It is a steel sea monster of some kind; it looks like it’s right out of Jules Verne.  What it has to do with glass I cannot imaine.

Back to the Piazza

Lisa navigates us on the water busses and we return to the original scene of the crime. No so many kids but still plenty of bodies in the Piazza.

One thing is different this time: we saw no flooding in the Piazza even though the elevated tables they use for walkways during such times were stacked around. Lisa speculated it might be a seasonal phenomenon. Could also be some engineering strategies we had seen described on a documentary.

Lisa’s hotel

We wind our way through a maze of upscale shops following her black hair and eventually she turns into a hole in the side wall and up we go on very steep, red carpeted stairs to the “lobby”: actually you can’t call it that as there is only a one way path there. And then we begin climbing and turning even more. Only because there was only one path down did I make it back to the street.

Her room has a cute view over other living spaces and it is about the size of a “cell” in a monastery. Clean neat bright with a tiny TV mounted on the wall almost to the ceiling. She resorts her clothing and such as we are bringing her largest bag back to the ship.

The ride back

Lisa got in the front of the water bus and took great pics along the Grand Canal At the end of the line, we get off and walk searching for the People Mover (thanks to the help of a policeman and then fellow passengers). At the end we can see the top of the ship and so after a few wrong turns, we were at the terminal. Finding which entrance to use this time (not the same one from which we emerged this morning) we arrive on the ship. We are OK but we need to get Lisa signed in. As we entered the port, She had to show her passport, boarding pass and we vouched for her. The man says he’s doesn’t speak English but another man came who said nothing but they called the ship and she was allowed to pass.

We got through another level of scrutiny: ours is only the cruise card and government issued photo ID. She has to show everything and the ship gives permission for her to continue.

We have to strip down and send everything through the magnetometer. Thankfully, the personnel there lifted her huge bag at every point. And we wind our way up the gangway to the ship.

Another security check. The lady from Passenger Services arrives soon after with Lisa’s cruise card and takes her passport to make a copy.

To the room

We have created a little niche for Lisa and get her luggage perched on a chair. I don’t think they have luggage racks here; no one seems to understand when I ask. We introduce her to folks along the way.

It is getting dark by this time and so we act like protective parents. She reminds us she’s travelled all over the world alone with no problems.

I go to the dining room as it’s going to close soon and Ed takes her out to the port gate. He joins me at dinner.

Our bodies

Ed looks terrible and reminds me how awful he feels so I tell him it’s an early night (mercifully perhaps no MSNBC?). He wants to stay away until 10 (some superstition I presume) and we did totally sleep well. However this morning our feet know we overused them yesterday. I definitely won’t get him to take the same route back today when we meet Lisa in the Piazza at 10 am to see the Doges Palace to begin.

Lisa ... and Venice... tomorrow

Tomorrow we get to see Lisa!

Today was Hvar Croatia. This island is 63 kilometers around and we traveled over most of it which is very craggy and mountainous. It was a tender port and our tour left at 7:30 am. The seas were very calm and the ship was close to shore so the tender ride back and forth wasn’t bad.

Our tour guide, Nicolette, was a delight with great English and she was born and raised right here. There are only 11,000 people on this island and their water is piped in from the mainland.

Again we are the first ship of the season and so have it all to our tourist selves. We mosey along the tight streets, up and down, looking at the rustic buildings. We traverse some hillsides with magnificent view of the ocean all around. Eventually we stop in a little town of 2000 people and see their old and new houses. A bay splits this town and the ferries from the mainland come in here. The downtown is quiet and with a few shops open. Their local products are olive oil (the best in the world—of course) wine, and lavender. We eventually purchase some of the latter at one our stops. The lady in town had an unrealistic idea of the value of her lavender.

We stop at a Dominican monastery, lived in by only one monk by now, where there is a lovely, well kept museum. An original Tintoretto painting resides here! We walk around admiring the wonderful wild flowers, blooming trees, and smellingthe wonderful earthen smells.

The strange potential appliances on the old buildings are explained to us including the fact that the kitchens were on the top floor, living quarters on the second, and wine and olive oil cellar on the ground floor. You can tell by the type of door the purpose of the place: double doors: olive or wine cellar. Slender door: dwelling. Upside down L shape: a merchant. Think Dutch doors. This has a full door on the long side and a half door on the shorter side of the L where the merchandise was sold out of the window.

Vino and Olive oil

We stop at a family run place that merely looks like a house but had 3 terraced areas and we sit outside and enjoy samples of the local red and white wine, the local grappa, hard bread with olive oil, ham, cheese, and delicious figs. This is where we buy the lavender and now our cabin will smell of lavender all the way back to LA.

Finally the fort

This has been a disco in recent years but we are here because it is the most magnificent view of the harbor and our ship in the distance surrounded by the other islands. Poppies and lots of other wild flowers grow here.

We must step carefully everywhere as the stones are treacherous.

And finally we are redeposited to the town square. You’d think it was a Sunday. When the cafes open, they pretty much only serve coffee and hard drinks. We have reconnected with Frances and Randy, who were on another bus, and we decide to try lunch together. Ed had hit the ATM earlier so he had kuna, the local currency. They did not take credit cards and were not legally allowed to take euros or USD. So we were in good shape. We all had sodas and cheeseburgers so big it was hard to get into your mouth. French fries were fresh. The waiters were efficient and forgiving and spoke great English.

Tender ride back

Was quiet, tame and totally pleasant. The weather has been chilly all day long but wonderful for touring. The rain clouds threaten but mostly sunshine.

Catching up

I decided to organize all our handouts to the present as the next leg of the trip begins in Venice tomorrow. This way I can start fresh and file away (store somewhere in cabin) the mementos of last leg.

Trivia was pathetic but we had fun with it. Supper was Francis pushing more food. He was good about my salads and fruit plate but did remind me there were more good things to eat. Frances says he’s like a Jewish mother.

Production show

These young people are such amazing professionals and athletes. Not a hint of fat on the guys; great anatomy lessons watching them dance.

Drink raffle was supposed to be at 9 pm but they changed it to 10 so I gave the tickets to the folks with whom I played majority rules before. We have folks coming in the morning to see the sail into Venice. That will be a first for us.

And we get to see Lisa tomorrow!

Off across the Aegean sea

Bari, Italy

We woke up at 6:30 but I was still very tired and didn’t want to get going. Still after breakfast, we went to the Lounge and got our tickets for Tuili houses and Sasse di Matera. The weather is cool but I’m good with that.

No immigration. Just the usual walk off the ship and onto the bus. There were only 32 of us on a bus for 50 people. That’s nice as there’s lots of room and little hassle with stops.

We wound our way out to a superhighway and out of town toward Sassi di Matera about 1  ½ hrs away.

Tuili houses

These are squat conical shaped houses that were built long ago out of local stones and resemble the onion domes in Russia. They were built this way because when the conquest came, and the soldiers and their minions demanded taxes for buildings, they would tear down the buildings to avoid the tax. After the bad guys left, they would rebuilt them by placing the stones in concentric, ever smaller circles and top it with a head stone. They aren’t very large and were used for humans and animals.

Along the way

There was a great deal of highway construction to double the width of the road and as we whizzed along, in a desolate side road, I spotted a very thin, very tall, lovely woman in very high heels and very short shorts. Well I confess my idea was not very flattering and so I passed it off as my ignorance. However, later on, past the major part of the construction, was another similarly unclad lovely lady. This time I couldn’t ignore the reality. How convenient: the guys get a break and refresh themselves with the ladies.

On the way back I saw two more ladies and this time I noticed a small shed nearby about the size of the chicken coops we used to lock the hens in overnight. The one woman’s image passed so quickly I can’t remark on her looks, but the last woman was clearly no spring chicken, rather plump, in a bikini with a drink in her hand of some kind, bleached blonde hair and ready for business. I also wonder if public prostitution is legal in Italy. I have to ask.

Sasse di Matera

Is a town created out of caves over many years ago. Front pieces have been created so that they look like a modern very dense subdivision all made out of the local rock. We climbed up and down so many rocks and pebbles; good thing we both had trekker sticks. We saw a few churches, but only one inside. It was originally a Greek Orthodox church complete with frescos. A family eventually inhabited it and destroyed some of the frescos and tore out some of the walls. Mold got many of the frescos as well. It was interesting to see how this soft limestone had been carved by people. They even had a place for their animals.

The builders had created gutters to guide the water to cisterns which allowed it to provide a way to survive in this unhospitable area. All of this are is now a UNESCO site.

On the top of the mountainside where all these cave houses are, a modern city has been created using the same styles and stones.

Highlight of my day

One of the tours was of a home in the cave. I started in but it looked too dark for me, so I waited outside where there was a group of probably 8^th grade students. One boy began to talk to me and then others gathered around until I had a bee hive of giggling boys and girls. They wanted to see if I spoke Italian. One tried to speak Arabic to me. I tried my Spanish but the one girl who supposedly spoke Spanish wouldn’t come forward. One girl had pretty good English but probably like me with my Spanish, she had exhausted her mastery. But I had so much fun with these kids. I didn’t understand that they wanted to know where I was from. When I said Los Angeles, there was a big whoop. Later in response to something, I said Hollywood and one asked about Oscars. None of this made much sense but it was such fun. One little guy: “An-to-nio!” wanted to know my name. they got the “bonnie” part. It was just so much fun and made my day. Ed got a video of it and put it on FB.

Lunch

Was in a local restaurant. They had red wine for everyone; everyone who liked red wine liked it. We had hard bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, some breaded round ball, and a small round of some kind of cheese?? Then we had beef with small amount of gravy on it and roasted potatoes. The dessert was a very sweet creamy center in a light crepe like outside. I had water with gas until someone figured out they had still water.

The toilet required one to twist sideways to get into the sink area. To each side was a restroom: one for men, one for women. I have often been transported back to Cuba on this trip as they are without a toilet seat, and often no paper to dry your hands. They do seem to have running water, soap, and usually toilet paper but there’s no guarantee of the latter.

Back on ship

Ed slept the whole way back. I have had an annoying something on the instep of my right foot for over a week and since I can’t see it to assess it, and it is continually irritated by walking, I dropped by the medical clinic. The doc did some kitchen surgery: he checked it out, squeezed it a lot and expressed some pus (well at least I felt validated a little), told me to keep it clean, put some Neosporin on it and keep it wrapped. He thinks it might have started as a blister.

Supper: we went late and Frances and Randy were already there. I only wanted a salad and a fruit plate. Francis is like a Jewish mother and so he brought two scoops of the very famous strawberry ice cream. I was good: I only took one small spoonful.

Photo raffle: a lovely family on board won prizes #2 and 3! And a lady travelling with her young son won the first. I was happy about all of them.

Tonight’s show: the Maori singer we had the other night with the harmonica player. I’d love to hear the singer but we are both tired so probably an early night for us. Another long tour tomorrow in Hvar Croatia. (Hvar is pronounced: hard “ch” like you’re clearing your throat, and then var).

Winding through the islands of Greece to Bari Italy tomorrow

What a day!

Let me start with the best part: taking the tender back to the boat. It was pouring cold rain and so the tour bus kept us on until it was time to queue up for the tender. I’ll talk more later about stupid Americans and shorts. The rain is whipping around us and we are all, no matter what preparations you made for the weather, getting soaked. Some were clearly unprepared so others helped. We are assisted onto the tender by 4 ship’s personnel. They do a marvelous job of keeping the tender as level as they can given the roiling seas. We packed into the tender as good as we could with our sodden clothing and laden packs. And off we go.

This ride was more than an E ticket. It was more than a combination of a camel, elephants, and dune safari ride. We were yelping “Whee” as the tender went upright, and then plunged down into the next wave. These guys are amazing.

As we approach the ship, you can tell it is giving it it’s all to keep the ship abreast of the wind so we have seas as calm as possible. The thrusters are atfull tilt despite being at anchor. The tender keeps usig all it’s motors to keep us snug to the platform and again we are assisted by 4 personnel (casino folks, bartenders, etc. in their day job) to hoist us onto the platform and as quickly as possible into the protection of the ship, up the stairs, check in, go through magnetometer, and up to our room.

GET ON BOARD as soon as you can

We can mentally send messages to our fellow passengers on shore. It may be impossible to get you onto the ship later as the seas are getting rougher and the thunder and lightening seem to be increasing.

We go to lunch and guess what?

Within an hour the seas are calm and the sun is out!!! But since everyone is now on board, the ship raises anchor and leaves early.

All we can do is laugh and thank the powers tht be for the no charge extra fun.

Stupid Americans and shorts

I don’t get it. There is something about the americans and wearing shorts. Really! In 60 degree weather, overcast and with a brisk wind! So guess who was the most trouble with the inclement weather. Never mind being inappropriate in the churches. And don’t get me started on…

Really! You had to take a photo!?

Despite being explicitly asked by the priest’s wife not to take photos, you guessed it. Cameras clicking away. So several of us in a loud enough voice kindly remind them that we are not to photos in the church. They look sheepishly (I wish I could say the rest of us smiled at them but more like chastising scowl) and put the camera in the pocket though I still wonder if they pulled it out again just to prove they could get away with it.

The city of zanthos; it’s also the name of the island in the Ionian Sea

It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 (with a sister one in 2003) so most of it is brand new. There are 3 buildings in town that survived. However, out in the country side are many original and very colorful sites that you treasure on documentaries. Since it rained off and on the whole day, none of the pics are especially good.

The flowers are lovely and the hillsides are very green. You see lots of sheep, some goats, and a cow now and then. Lots of church steeples, almost all Greek Orthodox.

Olive factory

This was a new experience for me and much more interesting than I imagined. There is tree trunk of an old olive tree over 1500 yrs old. Lots of old equipment outside.

Nothing is wasted. Growers bring their olives in burlap sacks and their harvest is put into a special machine that blows off the twigs and leaves (which are used for compost) and then the olives are washed well with pure water. Next they are put into temperature controlled machines (cold pressed) to secure the olive oil. A further process separates the oil itself from the other “stuff” which is then used for cattle feed. What comes out is extra virgin olive oil. Now these folks are not paid a fee for this; they get a commission on all the sales thus the incentive to do a good job. In addition to the olive oil, they had a lot of soaps and lotions here as well as oil for body grooming. Greeks consume 47 liters per person per year of Olive oil! We also had an opportunity to sample several oils, three with infusions in them: garlic, lemon and?

Monastery

This was a lovely old compound where the local saint is said to have lived, St. Dionysius. The overwhelming majority of the men born here get this name and they celebrate the saint’s day, not their birth date (at least that’s what we were told). It is of modest size and with the predictable gold flecked icons and iconostasis. Long chandeliers hang down all over. All of these churches are dark inside with modest seating possibilities.

Panoramas

We did see some great panoramas but in a limited fashion because of the weather. They have great beaches on the East side of the Island but only cliffs and rocks on the West.

The All Aboard

Was for 3:30 but clearly everyone was on board long before that. As I’ve described before, by this time, the weather was absolutely spectacular. However, our clothes are hung all over the cabin to dry! Let’s hope so as we have another tour tomorrow.

Trivia: we were embarrassed but so were the folks next to us. The winning teamonly got 12 so we didn’t feel so bad then.

Formal night

We kind’ve sorta got dressed up. Ed wore a suit with open collar and no tie as did Randy. Then we took a bunch of pictures, some with the dancers dressed in Venetian masks.

Champagne waterfall

Another fun thing they do regularly in the atrium. Oscar bought a costume and so everyone had their photo done on the waterfall with him in costume. He is so much fun.

Carrie: Reba McIntyre (wanna be)

I don’t usually like impersonators but I was trying to keep an open mind. But I left after the first song as she is almost a caricature of Reba whom I like very much but imitation isn’t so pleasant.

Sunset on the sea

It was gorgeous tonight. Lots of rain clouds overhead but a modest sea and lovely breeze with temps probably in the 60s.

My clothing from today has dried out sufficiently enough to send to the laundry and so I can return the room to a semblance of normality rather than a laundry set.

200+ nautical miles to zakinthos

We both slept pretty soundly. I could tell we were coming into port and the sun had just started up. We were surrounded by high ground in the distance.

Eventually we both got up and headed out to the city bus into town as the pier is about 25 to 30 min. outside the city. RT for the two of us was 6.80 euros. It was a conventional city bus. It went to the next ship over, one we keep seeing in other ports, picked up a few more folks, and then we were off.

First thing is the snowcapped mountains at 6000 ft in the distance. Quite pretty and called the white mountains because they are snow capped 8 mos of the year.

Where are we?

On the Greek island of Crete in a little town called Chania (ha-nee-ah). The temperature was in the 60s but the sun is fierce here. Apparently it had rained yesterday.

We were let off in front of the central market and decided to take the hop on hop off bus. We were both a little skeptical at first (too long a story to recount here) but eventually we were off and saw some tremendous views. The beaches here are terrific: clear water as far as the eye can see and sandy beaches.

We have been the first ship of the season into these Mediterranean ports and so there aren’t many tourists and many folks are opening up just because the ship is in town. It is Sunday when the central market is usually closed but they opened because we were here.

We climbed mountains, saw sheep, old rustic stuff, old buildings some inhabited but they look like something out of the movies. I saw two babushkas walking along the road: scarf over head with long black over garment trudging along with bags. Couldn’t get a pic though. We saw an Ikea which made us laugh. Many olive groves and lots of wild flowers.

Then we are back at the Central Market where there are tubs of every imaginable kind of olive. Huge wheels of cheese were everywhere. Olive oil is sold in all disguises. Nuts galore and spices of every kind.

Ed approached a lovely woman in a children’s area to ask for a recommendation for a lunch place to eat. She wrote down the name and gave directions that were so Greek: Go to Agros sign, turn left, turn right into little alley (she was right here: barely enough room for your shoulders to pass through), go down it, then turn right at next lane and look for this name on the left near the minaret (Ed asks me what a minaret is????). This is a little niche with a few wooden tables in front. We order: he pork something or other, me beet root salad. We are given water and olive oil with a dish and a basket with 3 pieces of bread. A smaller bowl holds some shriveled up things no bigger than raisins. So we pour olive oil into the plate and try to soak the bread in it. No luck. It is rock hard. Still we managed it. It was a thick wheat bread close to zwieback bread. The little black unknown things were tiny Kalamata olives.

We watch the people go buy: babies learning to walk, buggies, hipsters, older couples, scooters, and so on. Dogs are ever present as are the cats though the latter are slimmer than those on Rhodes. The weather is perfect.

Since everything is made from scratch it takes a while for our plates to arrive. The beetroot salad is wonderful with pistachio nut pieces, cream cheese, capers and I know not what more. Ed said his was equally as good.

I go to the restroom and ask for the check and walk around a little to see what else is along this lane, and when I return there is a teeny shot glass for both of us and cruet of Ouzo. Nasty stuff but very Greek! The bill is modest. Later Ed reported back to his information source about how great the meal was. I have a photo of her and Ed talking. She looks so Greek and is so tall and elegant. Such fun.

Then we walk around the old streets. We see a woman painting a wooden door in a small alleyway. Repairs are being done everywhere.  Very rustic. We pass a Church which looks huge from the outside but when we go in to look, it is really quite modest but with beautiful icons.  There is a huge plaza outside where we see a girl of perhaps 8 yrs old under the base of a statue of some saint, orating as if she were leading a protest. A future leader of Greece?

We pass many stalls of table linens, kids’ toys, leather goods of all kinds, more of the ubiquitous olive soaps and creams, and much more. It was fun and quite peaceful.

We head back to the Central Market for our bus back to the ship and Ia ask Ed to buy some sesame candy as we are the last ones who make it on the bus. The next one was 30 min later. I felt sorry for those who didn’t get on and had another wait. But we had to stand the whole way back and my arm does not like that.

Trivia

So close and yet so far. Phillip, one of the male Russian dancers, read the trivia this afternoon. He is sweet and works very hard to pronounce words accurately. I admire their determination. Dinner was fun with Francis pushing the chef’s latest creation, this time an Indian concoction that Ed and Frances declared quite good.

Entertainment

A wonderful tenor from New Zealand who sang Maori and well known opera tunes. Also some by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. All were a delight to hear.

Seder

There will be one on the ship but we don’t have the details yet.