Europe - 2015 Day 16

The day everyone hates came today – the end of the cruise.  We had a car take us to the hotel at 9:00am so we were up at 7:00am to meet Jeff and Vera at 8:00am and get through customs. 

We were actually a little early for the car; however, we had a great porter who found the van and loaded everything into it.

It was a short cab ride to our hotel, the AC Marriott Istanbul.  The AC is a chain of European, very modern hotels that Marriott bought a few years ago.  We were upgraded to a beautiful suite – too bad we have to leave tomorrow.

After checking in, we met Jeff and Vera who wanted to take us to a famous Synagogue and we took a cab to it; however, it was closed.  So, Jeff found another that was close and we walked to it.  The problem was we got lost trying to find it so it was a long, long walk with a couple of steep hills and when we got there, it also was closed.

We got a cab to take us to our next destination, lunch and found a delightful restaurant on a street we had been on a couple of weeks ago.  We had a great lunch.

Then it was time for the highlight of Turkey for us – a Turkish Bath called a “Haman”.  We went to an original Haman that was built in 1557 and is still used and while it has been remodeled, it was still an amazing place and experience. It was all marble and wood and it was like being treated as royalty.

Jeff and Ed went into one part of the Haman and Barb and Vera went into the other part as the men and women had separate facilities.  We each had a 90 minute package which included a very hot room to start the sweat going.  Then we were given a body scrub, followed by a moisturizing body clay mask.  Then they washed us off with an amazing bubble wash ritual.  Then they gave us a rub down, followed by a 30 minute total Aromatherapy massage, including using oils.  It was an amazing experience and one we all would do again.

When we finished it was raining and it took over an hour to get a cab so we went back to the hotel to rest for a couple of hours before going out for dinner.

Dinner was different in that we had lamb and pork instead of fish at a local place that was close as it was really raining hard.

After dinner we came back to the hotel and said good night and see you next trip to Jeff and Vera who are great friends and great to travel with.  Two totally different couples from totally different backgrounds and parts of the country but we travel well together. 

Night from Istanbul and we will be home tomorrow  landing in Chicago at 6:30pm and we miss everyone.

Love from Gram and Ed - Night - Night

 

 

Ready to go home

Lunch

Sea Bass

Cooking area outside



 Ayasofya Hurem Sultan Barh - 1557

The men's entry room

Europe – 2015 – Day 15

Our last day of the cruise and since we had gone to bed early, just after midnight, we woke up early and it was raining!!  So much for sitting in the sun for most of the last day as we had wanted to do.

Ed was up early and Barb go some much needed rest, then we packed and we finally left the cabin together at about 11:00am. 

We went to the photo area and picked up pictures from embarkation and the two formal nights.  Then we walked around until we ran into Jeff and Vera.  We all decided to go eat lunch in the main dining room, something Barb and I have never done before.

Lunch was just fine and then we all went to the casino and played a session.  Barb lost just a little and Ed had the biggest win of the trip.

Then we went to the café and got some snacks and went back to the room to eat them before our nap.

 

 

Leaving for the day

Snacks delivered at 4:00pm

More snacks at 4:00pm

 





Going out for our final evening

Europe – 2015 – Day 14

Today was out last stop before arriving in Istanbul and the end of the cruise.  We are now in Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey.  Ephesus is the gateway city to the House of the Virgin Mary and also the ruins of Ephesus that date as far back a 10^th century BC (that is old!!)

We have been here twice before and the first time took the tour to the ruins and the House of the Virgin Mary, so we only got off the ship to visit the shops of the port.

As soon as we got off we realized that this port has the most aggressive of all shopkeepers in any port we have ever been to.  They actually sit outside their store and if you go in, they rush in and also block you from getting out.

We spent a couple of hours buying scarves and saying no to a lot of storekeepers and then came back to the ship.

We had a good hour of sun and then went to the Aqua Spa for a healthy lunch and when we got back to the deck it had turned cloudy and started to rain; so, we went inside and Ed went to the Future Cruise office to get options for 2017.

Then we discussed cruises for 2017 and settled on a January 11, 2017 cruise that will start n Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and end in Singapore for a 15 night cruise.

For March 2017 we booked a 14 night cruise from Miami on March 5, 2017 that includes a number of islands that we have not been to such as Bonaire, St. Kitts & Nevus.  Hopefully we will have a group go with us on this trip like we have for the March 2016 trip.

Then, since it was still raining, we took a nap.

After our nap, we got ready to go out for the evening.

Tonight was the third of the big production stage shows by the cast and it was an around the world trip to music and it was one of the better shows we have seen on Celebrity.   For this cruise, the production numbers by the cast were probably the best we have ever seen on one cruise.

We then sat in the lounge and listened to the band play and watched the dancer.

Then it was out typical, dinner at 9:00pm with Jeff and Vera and then on to the casino.

Barb broke even and Ed was up $20 so it was a fine day.  Let’s hope tomorrow we wake up to sunshine and great weather as it is our last day of the cruise.

GO CUBS!!

 

 

Ready to go out in the morning

Please buy my scarf - she didn't!!

We also didn't walk up to these shops

Aqua Spa for lunch

Europe – 2015 – Day 13

Here we are in Athens or rather the port of Piraeus which is about 10 miles from the center of Athens.  The weather is a beautiful 73 degrees and it was a clear day to start with and ended overcast but still a nice day.

Originally we were going to take the train into town but found a taxi driver who virtually had the same rate as the train so we took the taxi in to the old city where all the fun shops are.

We walked and shopped until 12:45pm when we met the same taxi driver who took us to the port town of Piraeus and a restaurant called Diasimos that Jeff and Vera had found a couple of years ago.  We met them at 1:15pm for lunch and what a feast we had.  Below you will find all of the courses the four of us had for lunch and wow, was a great.

We walked about 1 ½ miles back to the ship and got there just in time for our nap.

Tonight the show was a performance by a British vocalist and show pianist who was a pretty good singer and piano player.  She played a lot of Liberace versions of songs which was fun.

Tonight we and Jeff and Vera were guests of the casino host in the specialty restaurant called The Ocean Liner and had some great food.  Sorry I didn’t take the camera to show you.

Then of course we went to the casino where Ed won nicely and Barb hit for a really nice jackpot!! 

After finishing blackjack, we sat in the bar with the casino manager and talked for two hours.  We learned a lot about casino life and just basically had a good time with her.

Life is good – GO CUBS!

 

A Greek donut

A Greek Salad

Octopus

Calamari

Ed's Ocotpus - yes he ate it all!!

Grilled Sardines

Freash Sea Bass

Baked Calamari

We are full!!

 

Europe - 2015 - Day 12

 

We woke up on our second sea day with the news that the Cubs lost to the Mets again – say it isn’t so!!

Anyway, we spent until 1:00pm on the deck in beautiful sun and then ate with Jeff & Vera in the Aqua Spa lunch area.

Then we went to the slot tournament where Barb had been given a free entry by our Casino Host – but she lost.  Then we ran up to the deck to sit in the sun for another 30 minutes when we went back to the casino for Ed to play in the Blackjack Tournament and he did not qualify for the finals.

Barb then played slots and Ed played blackjack and we both won.

By then it was time for some snacks and a nap.

 

After our nap, we dressed for the 2^nd formal night and went to the show before dinner. 

The show was a comedian who also did magic and it was very good.

For dinner, Jeff and Vera were invited to the Captain’s table so we invited a couple from London who we had met earlier to join us.  They were very nice and it was an enjoyable evening.

Then it was time for the casino where Barb lost a little and Ed had his best winning night on the cruise.

I am very blessed to be married to Barb and when you look at the two formal night photographs you will see how awesome Barb has looked on this cruise.  Kids, you are also very blessed to have a mother like her!!

Tomorrow we arrive in Athens, Greece and our plans are to walk to the train station, go to the old city and shop and then come back to the port and have a late lunch with Jeff and Vera.

 

GO CUBS!!

 

Tonight

 


Last week



Ready for the slot tournament



Snacks that they deliver each day

 

 

Europe – 2015 – Day 11

Our eleventh day of our vacation found us docked in Dubrovnik, Croatia and the weather was beautiful.

We woke up to find that the Cubs had lost to the Mets, but there is always tomorrow – good luck CUBS!!

This is a great small city with centuries-old monasteries, churches, synagogues and even one of the oldest operating pharmacies in Europe.  The medieval-era Old Town is a walled city with marble alleyways and no vehicle traffic.

The ship provided a shuttle to the old city and that saved a 30 minute walk from the port.  We have been to Dubrovnik several times before so our goal was just to wander around the old city enjoying the city and eating lunch, which we did.

We finished at about 1:00pm and took the shuttle back to the ship and then we changed and went out on the deck to soak up some sun.

Then it was back to the cabin for some snacks and a nap.

 

After our nap we went to the show which was a singer from the Netherlands and she was pretty good. 

We ate again at 9:00pm, which was good and then went to the casino where Barb and Ed both lost.   Jeff and Vera have also lost at Blackjack so it has not been as good as we would have liked – but there are several more days left.

Tonight we set the clocks ahead one hour and tomorrow is a day at sea and hopefully the sun will be out and it will be a great day.

 GO CUBS!!

 

The view from our cabin

A typical street

Notice the sheets hanging out over the "street"




Lunch

We ordered too much

A snack before we left the old city

 

Europe – 2015 – Day 10

This was our first trip to Split, Croatia and it was a fun stop.  The nice thing is that we had to set our clocks back one hour and we didn’t arrive in the port until 10:00am, so we really got some great sleep.

We were off the ship by 10:30am and walked into the old city.  There were a lot of ships in the port and so the old city was very crowded.  

The city is quite large, 200,000; however, ½ of the population is in its 20s so it is a very young city. 

The old city is actually 10 acres of a very old palace started 1,700 years ago.  It is an amazing place where shops, hotels and cafes co-exist with the old historic buildings and fragments of columns and arches within the thick walls of the palace.  We were told that it took 20,000 slaves 10 years to build!

While walking around, we discovered a huge market and ended up eating lunch there.  I have attached a picture what we ate and the store owner, could not describe it to us other than to say it was some kind of meat with a sauce on wonderful bread.

Then we decided to go to a specific beach and we asked a cab driver and he said he knew where it was.  When we got to the beach he took us to, it was not the one we wanted.  So, he drove for another 15 minutes to a beach that was perfect.  The agreed price was 200 Croatian Kuna which was for a round-trip for both of us and he would wait.    There were only about 5 people on the entire stretch of beach, which was wonderful and at the end of two hours we walked back to our waiting cab.  When he drove us back to the ship, Ed gave him 200 Kuna plus a 20 Kuna tip and he demanded to be paid 700 Kuna for all the extra driving – even though it was his fault he first took us to the wrong beach.  We were right next to the ship so after a little shouting by the cab driver, Ed put the money on his arm rest and got out of the cab and we “ran” for the ship.  It felt great getting on the ship!!

Then we snacked and took a well deserved nap.

Then it was time to go to the show which was one of the best song and dance shows by the cast we have ever seen on a Celebrity ship.

Of course the next thing we did was have a great dinner and then onto the casino where Barb broke even and Ed loss.

 At the casino we found out that a man had jumped from his balcony a couple of days ago and died – what a terrible tragedy.

Our friends are Mets fans, so let’s hope the CUBS are victors – GO CUBS!!

 

Part of the castle

The entire old city grounds

Lunch - Mystery meat and great bread

Local butcher shop

 

Europe – 2015 – Day 9

Today we arrived in Corfu, Greece.  Corfu is a very small island lying at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea.  As it typical, it is a small island, less than 230 square miles.

60% of the island is covered in olives, citrus fruit trees and vineyards.  The olive oil produced here is supposed to be Greece’s best.

Our plan was to go to the old city and browse the winding streets and do some typical tourists shopping and they head to a beach: however, when we arrived it was cold, raining and not a good day for a beach.

We hopped on the shuttle bus with a jacket on and our umbrellas and went to old town.

There we wandered and of course shopped and shopped.  Even though it was lightly raining, we had a good time and this is a wonderful old city.  We had hoped to go to the beach but the clouds never parted.

We ate lunch at a marvelous restaurant and ordered 3 appetizers.  One was salmon, one was stuffed artichoke hearts and the third was brochette (sp) with sardines.  There was way too much food so we shared some with people in the tables next to us.

Then we finished walking and took the shuttle bus back to the ship. 

It was a little early, but certainly time for a nap, which we did until 5:30pm when we got up and went out for the evening.

The show tonight was a stand-up comedian from Britain and he was not able to make the ship as his plane was late so they brought in two people who we had just seen, a piano player and a singer.  They were good.

Then we walked around and people-watched and listened to music until it was time for dinner.

We ate at 9:00pm and the dinner was very good, as was the service.

Then it was onto the casino where Barb lost just a tiny bit and Ed won nicely.

Tomorrow we arrive in Split, Croatia, a town we have never been to so it should be fun.

Night – GO CUBS!!

 

Buying placemats

and now a new purse -she deserves it!!

Inside a Greek Church

 

Honey on a pastry beforelunch

Lunch

Europe – 2015 – Day 8

Today we arrived in Katakolon, Greece.  This seaside Greek town with a population around 3,000 is a typical small-town cruise port.  Cafes lace the waterfront, shops sell T-shirts, hat and jewelry and there is nothing much else to do in town except walk down the one street and eat at a local restaurant.

The popularity of the port is that it is 40 minutes from the ancient site of Olympia and the first Olympics and that is an amazing site as a lot of the site still has remains that you can visit, including the original straight track.

We have been to Olympia once before and once you have been there; there is no need to go back. 

So, we slept in and walked into town and down the shops before going to a little sea-side restaurant and having a great Gyros plated meal – it was more than enough for the two of us to share.

The shops had very good prices and Barb was able to find some great buys on scarves that she needed and Ed bought a shirt that he also needed!!!

After spending more time in town we came back to the ship and enjoyed the calm life on deck in the sun from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Then it was time for a nap and after our nap, we walked around and also talked to the future cruise staff about cruises in 2017 – nothing planned yet.

Tonight dinner was again in the Aqua dining room where we had a great table and wonderful wait staff

Then it was onto the casino where Barb and Ed both lost.

Tomorrow we go to a new island, the island of Corfu, Greece and we are looking forward to it.

Night for now – GO CUBS

Glad we have extra room in the suitcase

That's a Greek Gyros lunch

Barb's hall for the day!!  Ed's red shirt

Nap time!

Europe - 2015 - Day 7

We awoke to beautiful weather and anchored outside the island of Mykonos.  Mykonos is an amazing island.  All of the buildings are painted white with only the church domes painted either red or blue.  It is quite a sight to see.

As the ship did not dock but anchored, we had to take a tender to the small town.  It was actually better that to take a tender as they dropped us off right in front of the main part of the city.

According to the books, this island was “discovered” in the 1960’s by Aristotle Onassis who brought Jackie Kennedy here and soon the island became a playground of the celebrities.  Today it is for everyone and has a permanent population of only 8,000 people.

After spending most of the morning wandering the little streets of the town, we took a cab to one of the most famous beaches Paradise Beach.  The sand was almost like pebbles and the water was crystal clear with a very hot sun.

We ordered lunch which was a seafood salad, including shrimp and octopus and then stayed on the beach for the rest of the afternoon.  It was also the beach where most of the show cast was staying.

Then we took a cab back to town, walked around a little more and took the tender back to the ship.

We went to the food deck and brought some snacks back to the cabin and ate on the deck – what a great place to just relax!

Next was nap time and when we woke up it was time to go to the show.

The show was a piano player from England whose claim to fame was coming in second in one of the music TV shows.  We didn’t stay.

Dinner was a little late as they didn’t have a table for us right away so we sat in the lounge and were seated at 9:15pm.  The food was excellent; however, tonight the service was lacking.  Also, we had a very loud table next to us.  The Manager noticed it also and apologized to us and said he would sit us in a better table tomorrow.

Then it was time for the casino and both Barb and Ed won – so it was a good day and a good night.

Tomorrow is Katakolon, Greece, the gateway to the original Olympics.  We have made that tour before so we will get up late, get off the ship and shop in the little village of Katakolon.

Night for tonight – it is 1:30am our time.

The windmills for the city

Lunch on the beach

Part of Paradise Beach

A snack on the way back



Leaving town

The Celebrity Constellation