Europe – 2009 – Day 6

The pictures are all from the Market – an amazing place.
1. Fish
2. More fish
3. Chicken
4. The head of something

5. Cutting meat
6. Pork

Everything is just sitting out on tables, some most of the fish was on ice and the meats were just on table.

We were in the port of Athens when we woke up at 8am and by 9 we were off the ship and on the shuttle bus to take us off the docks. From there it was a 20 minute walk to the city train station and the train into downtown. The train was very crowded and while standing on the train the couple next to us said that they were from Texas and when we said we were from Bloomington, Illinois they said they had lived there. The end of the story is that Ed used to work in the same data processing department as he did. His name was Don Dugan and they left Bloomington in the late 70’s. What a small world!!

Our first stop when we got to the town was the Agora, the fruit, meat and vegetable market of Athens – what an amazing sight. The market was built in 1985 and they have 108 butcher stalls, 150 seafood stalls and 80 fruit and vegetable stalls. A stall is about 30’ wide x 40’ deep and has an average of 5 employees. The meat, fish and everything is displayed right where you can reach out and touch it if you want. Anything you want to eat is at this market. We have never seen anything like it. I hope the pictures that you see will show you how the market was.

We then found a local stand in the market and ate lunch. I do know that I had some kind of liver and other parts and Barb had some kind of sausage. That’s all we could understand but it was really good.

Then it was on to the old city to do shopping. Guess what – Barb bought 2 purses – they were a great bargain and it must be the year of the purse. We also bought a neat statue to put out by the ponds.

After shopping it was time to get on the train and head back to the port – what a fun day.

The evening was walk around, dinner, show and then the casino. Not bad for a fun evening.

Our tablemates and the ship are simply wonderful – this is probably the best ship we have ever sailed on and are looking forward to the rest of the cruise.

Night

Europe – Day 5

The pictures are:

1. Making a baked bread basket.
2. Barb and the main dining room during brunch.
3. Our table mates for dinner.

Well we went to the Israel meeting and were cleared and able to now go into their country. It was a strange meeting, taking less than 5 minutes to compete everything but at least they are happy.

Today is a day at sea so after that we went on a tour of the kitchen – it is so amazing how they can serve thousands of meals a day and keep the quality and service so exceptional.

We took advantage of the relaxing day by lying out in the sun for a few hours and it was fun and hot.

We participated in a slot tournament in the afternoon but neither of us did any good.

This was the first formal evening and we got dressed up early and sat around and people watched – what fun talking about everyone!!

Dinner was very special and afterwards we all headed to the show room to see the first major show of the cruise and we were not disappointed. It was a spectacular version of Cirque du Solia (sp) and the cast was really very good.

We have had mixed feeling but it looks like Celebrity is beating our Carnival Cruise Line – we’ll see how the next few days feel.

Then it was on to the casino where Ed came out ahead and Barb broke even – that’s a win for both tonight.

Tomorrow is Athens and it should be fun.

Europe 2009 – day 4

The pictures are:
1. Sorrento from the coast highway.
2. Positano.
3. A hotel on the hillside.
4. The beach at Amalfi.

After our first late night it was a little hard getting up early but we were up and on the dock to meet our driver at 8am. Our driver and guide for the day was Giancarlo and his web site is http://www.tourofitaly.com/ if you want to read about him. This was a great tour of the Amalfi Coast and we had a wonderful day.

We started out by driving to Sorrento, a small town of 20,000 but a beautiful town on the coast. We shopped for an hour and then met Giancarlo for the drive to Position, a small town on the Amalfi Coast which is supposed to be one of the most beautiful towns on the Coast – it was incredible – with everything basically on the side of the mountain.

We stopped there for another hour and then it was onto Amalfi, vacation home to the rich and famous and wow what a place to visit. Some of the hotels were 20 – 30 stories above the water with an elevator inside the mountain to take you down to the beach. The pools and decks were suspended right off the side of the mountain.

We ate lunch there at a local’s seaside restaurant and have a wonderful meal.

After shopping at Amalfi, we drove over the mountains for 1 ½ hours before arriving back at the ship.

What a class ship this is, waiting at the dock were staff with ice cold wash towels and glasses of water. Every staff person on this ship is exceptional in their friendless.

Well we had a great dinner, a good show and fun time in the casino. The only problem is that we turn the clocks ahead one hour so it is no 1:51am and we have to meet Israeli Security people tomorrow morning at 9:45am. They are talking to and checking out each person on the ship!

So, good night for tonight.

2009 Cruise – Day 3

The first day on the cruise ship.

The pictures are:
1. Going to the Scavi Tour.
2. Barb as she boarded.
3. The pool area.
4. Lunch area.

We woke up early today because we only had a ½ day in Rome and then it was onto the ship.

We took the 8am shuttle to the Vatican and went to St. Peters again until it was time to go our tour of the underground Scavi excavations, the excavations that included the tomb of St. Peter. We were not allowed to take pictures and pictures would not really tell the story, you have to see it for yourself. The excavations are 33 feet below St. Peters and the tomb of St. Peter is exactly under the center of the main alter. It was dimly lit and we spent about 45 minutes with 10 others and the guide.

We then walked back to shuttle and back to the hotel.

Our car picked us up at 12:30pm and we had to convince and show the driver how to get out luggage into the car as it was exactly the same model as we had from the airport.

We arrived at the ship after an hours drive and wow what a ship. It took only minutes to check in and after finding our cabin we went to the food area and ate lunch and then walked around for the next hour finding our way around the ship.

It is a beautiful ship with a much understated elegance versus an over the top almost garish look of Carnival. Don’t know which we will like best.

On cabin is the same size as our last Carnival cruise, 195 square feet. The bathroom is larger; however, there is less closet space, but everything will be just fine.

After we sailed, we went to a show and then to dinner. Our table mates are from West Palm Beach Florida, London England, and from Scotland. It should be a good group.

After dinner we went to the casino and we are nicely ahead and it is day #1

Tomorrow is Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Europe – Day 2

The pictures are:
1. The flea market.
2. Cruising the Tiber.
3. Coins into the Trivi Fountain.
4. Dinner on the street.

Well we started out the day by not starting!! The real story is that we woke up at 10:00am. Once we realized how late it was our feet hit the floor almost running. Ed got up, showered and went to breakfast and Barb finished getting ready.

We walked a couple of blocks and took the train into the City and went to the largest weekly market in the world – they say. If it wasn’t the largest flea market, who cared because it was huge. We walked for about two hours. This market is called the market at Porta Portese and is only open on Sunday until 2:00 pm. Barb bought a purse (of course) and Ed bought a shirt (of course)! We had a lot fun. You could buy anything there, even wedding dresses.

Then we ate in a wonderful local’s restaurant and had a three course lunch that we split.

We then walked to the largest Jewish synagogue in Rome and had a guided tour of the synagogue. Our tour guide lived as a young girl during WWII and she was amazing. Her stories of surviving during that period were spellbinding. When we went into the main synagogue they were just starting a wedding so we got to see the bride come in with everyone – it was fun.

A one hour very relaxing cruise on the Tiber River followed and then we were ready to walk again.

We walked to the Trivi Fountain to throw coins in to bring us back to Rome – hey – it worked the last two times!!

A subway ride took us back by the Vatican were we ate dinner and took the shuttle back to the hotel – another wonderful day in Rome.

Tomorrow we get up early to visit the Vatican’s Scavi tour to see the excavations below St. Peter’s Basilica. This is the now opened excavations below the crypts holding the tomb of St. Peter. They only take 120 people a day 33 feet below St. Peters so it should really be interesting. Then we race back to the hotel and head for the ship.

Talk to you tomorrow from the ship – night – night.

Europe 2009 – Day 1

See the previous day for our trip informaiton.


The pictures are:
1. Loading up the car upon arrival.
2. Our noon snack
3. Crossing the Tiber
4. Inside St. Peters - Mary with Jesus.
5. Service at St. Peters.

An uneventful drive to the airport put us there a couple of hours before our flight was to depart. Stacey from Suzie Davis had given us Admirals Club admission tickets so we spent the couple of hours before the flight relaxing and snacking in the lounge.

Then it was off to Rome. The flight took our ½ hour late but arrived in Rome right on time. We waited 45 minutes for our luggage but after it came, we whisked right thru customs and met the up with our driver who was waiting right outside of customs. He shook his head when he saw all the luggage, but we made it with two pieces sitting in the back seat between us.

Checking in was a breeze and they upgraded our room to a balcony on the 5th of 7 floors looking right out at St. Peters Church – was a beautiful view.

Fifteen minutes after we were in the room we were in a taxi heading for Rome. We first stopped at a market called Campo del Flori, then walking to Piazza Navona, then over the Tiber River to an area called Trastervere and then by cab to the St. Paul Basicalla, the only major Basicalla we have not seen in the past.

Then we hopped a subway and went to the Vatican and it was by then 5:00pm. After seeing the Vatican, we took the hotel’s shuttle back to the hotel, made a quick change of clothes and back on the shuttle to the Vatican area were we ate dinner at a sidewalk café.

We asked for their two best pasta dishes and enjoyed a fun meal on the sidewalk.

Then we took the shuttle back to the hotel and are now crashing at 9:30 pm. It has been a long day since we left home but a fun time. Tomorrow will be our only full day in Rome so we will be up early and moving fast!!

Night from Rome.

The 2009 Trip to Europe

We leave home on Friday, August 28 and drive to Chicago. Our flight is American Airlines #0110 and departs at 5:00pm and arrives in Rome at 9:15am the next day, Saturday, September 29 – a 9 hour and 15 minute flight. This is exactly the same flight that we took for our other two trips that began in Rome in 2006 and 2007.

When we arrive in Rome, we will be 7 hours ahead of Illinois and we will have flown 4,824 miles!!

We then check into the Rome Central Park Hotel for the next couple of days of sightseeing around Rome. It will be fun to be back in Rome again and we are looking forward to it again.

Then on Monday afternoon, we will take a taxi to our ship, the brand new Celebrity Equinox. This will be the ships 4th cruise and only the 2nd to the destinations we are going to.

The schedule for the trip is:

Mon, Aug 31 -- Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy ----Depart 6:00 PM
Tue, Sep 01 -- Naples/Capri, Italy
Wed, Sep 02 -- At Sea
Thu, Sep 03 -- Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Fri, Sep 04 -- Rhodes, Greece
Sat, Sep 05 -- Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey
Sun, Sep 06 -- At Sea
Mon, Sep 07 -- Haifa, Israel
Tue, Sep 08 -- Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel
Wed, Sep 09 -- Alexandria, Egypt
Thu, Sep 10 -- Alexandria, Egypt
Fri, Sep 11 -- At Sea
Sat, Sep 12 -- At Sea
Sun, Sep 13 -- Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

After arriving in Rome, we will leave the airport at 11:30am and arrive in Chicago at 3:05pm on Sunday, September 13 and drive home.