Cruise the Pacific

Dockside Serenades When Cruise Ships Arrive in Port

2014-03-26T13:45:00.001-07:00

An Istanbul Welcome

Brass bands, ethnic dancers, school choirs, bagpipes, drummers.....who have you been serenaded by as your ship docks? I love this part of arrival in a new port. The music really adds a bit of life to a dockside scene and gets me interested in finding out more about the port and the people.

Here is a photo gallery of some of my favourites.

Istanbul, Turkey

Lifou, Loyalty Islands, South Pacific

Noumea, New Caledonia

Savusavu, Fiji

Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

Port Klang, Malaysia

I hope these photos remind you of some interesting port arrivals on your cruises. Here's to many more!

The March of the Tiramisu

2014-03-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Tiramisu dessert on our MSC cruise

If you've cruised before you have probably experienced one night on board, at dinner time, the Parade of the Baked Alaska. Uniformed waiters march in a long line through the restaurant, each carrying a plate displaying a magnificent Baked Alaska dessert. Sponge, icecream and meringue lit by a blazing candle. It is quite spectacular.
On our MSC cruise on Sinfonia, we were very much amused one night at dinner when the waiters, wearing sashes the colours of the Italian flag, paraded round the dining tables carrying platters of that divine dessert, Tiramisu. Coffee, sponge biscuits, liqueur and chocolate - yum!

Passengers enjoying the March of the Tiramisu

The passengers really got into the festive mood, swirling their linen napkins round their heads and singing, at the top of their voices, that rousing Italian song, 'Volare'.
Such fun and such a delicious end to the meal.

A Mystery in Palma de Mallorca

2014-03-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

An unusual souvenir in Palma

Can anyone solve this mystery for me? In Palma de Mallorca, in a souvenir shop, in amongst children's flamenco outfits, items made with shells and assorted ceramics painted with red coral designs, was this stand.
Australian Aboriginal boomerangs decorated with traditional dotted designs!!
Why? We're a long way from Aussie in the Mediterranean!
Why would a Spanish island have these for sale? Is there a link between the two countries I don't know about?
Or did the souvenir buyer for the store like the look of them, think,'Oh, we'll just paint Mallorca on them & put them out in the shop.'
A mystery indeed. I'd love to know the answer.

Souvenirs from a Western Mediterranean Cruise

2014-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

A bright and cheerful souvenir shop at Olbia, Sardinia

What do you bring back from your travels? I tend to buy small things like earrings or a book or something relevant to the places I've been that won't contribute to any baggage overload! On this last cruise we visited ports in France, Spain and Italy. Here are some suggestions for unique souvenirs I found.

Beautifully packaged lavender products from St Tropez

St Tropez, France: the lavender of Provence is famous and at the market in St Tropez, I bought several lavender sachets and drawer liners, all beautifully packaged.

Hand-painted ceramic tiles from Palma

Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Hand-painted ceramics and tiles are beautiful. I bought these for our letterbox from the cathedral shop. Also ceramics (dinner sets, platters and vases) painted with a design of red coral for a fresh, modern look. And pearls - necklaces and earrings - are famous from this part of the Med.

Local delicacies at Mahon

Mao (Mahon), Minorca, Spain: Flat leather sandals are locally made and hard-wearing. Pastries made into coils called ensaimada are delicious. Other beautifully packaged foodstuffs make nice gifts.

Distinctive ceramics and cork are souvenirs of Olbia

Olbia, Sardinia, Italy: Cork, cork and more cork, the best in the world (so I was told!) made into various souvenirs such as coasters and bookmarks. These are great as they are extremely light and unusual to give to folks at home. Also ceramics in this distinctive colour and artisanal cheeses are locally produced.

Citrus from the Amalfi coast at Pompeii

Pompeii, Italy: Lemons in limoncello liqueur, or ices, or gelato or fresh juice in the forecourt of Pompeii. Cameo jewellery carved from shell is also a popular souvenir. And red coral necklaces, earrings and bracelets are prevalent in the souvenir stalls here too.

Aprons and tea towels make lightweight souvenirs

Genoa, Italy: For an interesting, lightweight souvenir that won't add to your excess luggage, there are a variety of aprons and tea towel sets for sale in Genoa that make nice gifts for friends back home.

I hope these examples have given you a few ideas of what you'd like to buy on a Western Mediterranean cruise.

Salerno for a Cruise Ship Tour to Pompeii

2014-02-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

MSC Sinfonia docked at Salerno

At last I could fulfill a long-held dream, to visit Pompeii. Ever since I took Latin at high school and learnt about that doomed city I had wanted to go there. And now, on a half day ship's tour, I could.
The coach picked us up on the dock right beside the ship and whisked us the 30 kilometres along a motorway to the ruins. It was an early start which was good as we could explore the site before many of the hordes of sightseers arrived.

Near the entrance to Pompeii

I was amazed at the size of the archaeological site - it's enormous - and still so much has yet to be excavated. There are dozens of store rooms full of amphorae, bits of broken statues, roof tiles, carvings and who knows what else tied up in plastic bags that look the worse for wear. The sheer scale of the site and the overwhelming number of artifacts is mind-blowing.

A store room at Pompeii

The layout of the city is typically ancient Roman with straight streets in a grid pattern. Huge raised paving stones sit in the middle of the streets so you could cross the road without getting your shoes wet. These stones are spaced exactly so carts could trundle by. Their wheels have left grooves in the roads' surfaces.

A typical street at Pompeii

The amphitheater has been restored. As you walk around Pompeii it is easy to look into the rows of houses and apartments and imagine them with their roofs on and their walls intact. Some of the houses are named, indicating who lived in them at the time of the eruption.

Pompeii's amphitheater

Beautiful mosaic wall features and pavements are still fresh and bright despite having been buried under mountains of ash for centuries. Some bronze statues have been restored and replaced in their original positions.

A mosaic floor featuring doves

A word of caution: the site is huge, the ground uneven, the tour guides set a cracking pace, you walk several kilometres. With my mobility issues I found it exhausting and very painful to keep up with the group. It was sheer stubbornness that kept me going! And not wanting to miss out on somewhere that I was desperate to see.

Visit Olbia, Sardinia, Cruise Port of Call

2014-02-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

Arriving in Olbia on MSC Sinfonia

This was a new port of call for us - Olbia, Sardinia, an Italian territory. Our ship docked at the working port so a free shuttle bus ran every 10 minutes, taking passengers on the five minute ride from the wharf into town, to stop outside the information centre.

A flower-bedecked restaurant on Corso Umberto, Olbia

Corso Umberto is the main street with some grand old buildings, cafes and a few touristy shops at the harbour end. The side streets were so quiet they almost had a 'village' feel.

In Olbia

Across the road from where the shuttle bus stops is a little island where the museum is situated. Olbia was an important port in Roman times and when the harbour was being dredged for the modern port expansion, several Roman era ships were found. They have been restored and according to my guide book, were on display in the museum. We looked all round the museum but couldn't find them, so I asked the man on duty (who doesn't speak English & I know only a few words in Italian) where they were. He beckoned us to follow him & we went out the back, through several locked doors to a huge climate controlled room where the remains of the vessels are displayed.

Roman trading ships found in Olbia Harbour

So, another interesting port visit on this Western Mediterranean cruise. We are enjoying it so much!

A Day Ashore in Mao (Mahon), Menorca

2014-02-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

MSC Sinfonia dwarfs the quayside houses and shops in Mao

Mao, or Mahon (depending which brochure you are reading!) is another picturesque Mediterranean town easily accessible from a cruise ship. By that I mean the ship will dock right beside the township. However, most of the town is up on a plateau, accessed by flights of stairs or a zig-zagging road. I have a few mobility challenges some days, so really had to take my time to get to the top.

It is quite a steep walk from the dockside up to the township

Once at the top of the stairs you'll find, on the left, a big church and beside it a market in the old cloisters. On the right, streets lead into the old town with its narrow lanes lined with houses several storeys high, many with wrought iron trimmed balconies. It is a lovely place to wander.

At the market in the cloisters

A typical street scene in the older district of Mao

We were lucky the day we were there. The weather was beautiful and there was a Festival of Flowers on. Many properties had decorated their balconies or shop windows with lovely floral displays.

Celebrating the Festival of Flowers

At sail away we went out on deck and watched as our ship slowly passed along the second longest harbour in the world. On the shores of the narrow waterway, houses (some with direct water access, jetties and boat sheds) were gleaming white in the sun. At the entrance to the harbour is a huge complex on the headland, the old fortress called La Mola. It's a forbidding looking place, even in the sunshine.

La Mola, the fortress at the mouth of Mao Harbour

So where to next? Tomorrow we'll be in Olbia, Sardinia, another new port for us.

Visit Palma de Mallorca on a Cruise

2014-01-25T17:36:00.001-08:00

View of Cathedral at Palma de Mallorca from the Cruise Port

After a sea day we were looking forward to docking in Palma de Mallorca, a new port of call for us. We were overnighting here so had plenty of time to look around the old town with its historic buildings, quiet laneways and bustling plazas.
The cruise ship docked at the port, about 15 minutes by bus to the centre of the city. A continuous shuttle ran all day at a cost of 12 euros per adult and 8 euros per child, round trip.
In the huge square below the cathedral there is a tourist information office and lots of street entertainers and buskers to keep you amused and smiling for quite some time! 'Living statues' of men dressed as Shrek, a Zulu warrior, Charlie Chaplin, an Aztec prince and a cowboy added to the mix of cruise ship passengers, (3 ships in port that day), locals and other tourists.

I snapped this photo before the street performer put his 'head' on!

Some people wanted to see around the historic town centre in a horse and carriage.

Waiting for passengers outside the cathedral

But we preferred to wander the maze of back streets that fan out from behind the cathedral, finding unexpected delights in little squares and peeping into beautiful courtyards and admiring ornate doors and balconies.

An entrance courtyard to a property in Palma

Of course, the massive cathedral -La Seu- was on our 'must see' list of local sights. It truly is magnificent, both inside and out. As we entered the nave, a ray of sunshine struck one of the stained glass windows and cast a reflection onto one of the pillars. Serendipity!

Sunshine 'lighting up' a cathedral pillar

I love this photo - a case of being in the right place at the right time!

Part of the ornately carved exterior of La Seu cathedral

We did enjoy our time in Palma de Mallorca. I would like to have stayed longer as there was so much more exploring to do.

Cruise the French Riviera to St Tropez

2014-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Cruise the French Riviera

Our first port after leaving Genoa was the town of St Tropez, long associated with movie stars and rich heiresses and celebrities. Our ship anchored offshore and we were transported to land by tender.

The streets of St Tropez were decked out with banners

It was very pleasant wandering round the edge of the marina where artists painted the yachts and picturesque buildings that line the boat harbour. The Tourist Information Office is located right by the famous bright red cafe-patisserie called Senequier and next to the fish market building.

Cafe Senequier, the place to people watch

What's to buy at the St Tropez fish market

After stopping at the cafe for the second most expensive coffee of my life (the most expensive was at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore!) I wandered along the narrow twisting streets of the old town to the market.
The market was huge, set out in a tree-lined square. Goods for sale ranged from bric-a-brac to Provencal specialties to clothes to just about everything else. Colourful local ceramics caught my eye as did the lavender products that would make lovely gifts for friends.

Local ceramics at the market

All in all it was a pleasant day out in beautiful weather but did I see a movie star? No!

Genoa, Italy, Cruise Port

2014-01-14T12:41:00.001-08:00

View from MS Sinfonia over Genoa Port

We hadn't been to Genoa before so we were looking forward to exploring a bit. We stayed the night before the cruise at Morelli Palace, right in the picturesque Porto Antico area. It was wonderful - candelabra and crystal glasses, sumptuous breakfast, antique furniture and wall hangings - all for a very reasonable price.

Our room at Morelli Palace

As we sat in the breakfast room we could see our ship arriving at the cruise terminal.
On looking at the map, we had thought we could walk from Morelli Palace to the cruise terminal but the reality was a bit different - roadworks and construction sites meant a large part of the area was blocked off to pedestrians. So it was a short taxi ride that took us to the ground floor embarkation area of the cruise terminal.
Embarkation went without a hitch. At the time we arrived there were no queues of passengers waiting to be processed, so before we knew it, we'd had our photo taken and were walking up the gangway, ready to start our cruise.

About MSC Sinfonia

2014-01-06T20:46:00.002-08:00

Swimming Pool on Deck 11 of MSC Sinfonia

First impressions on boarding MSC Sinfonia? How spotless it is, both inside and out. Gleaming white paintwork, shiny brass and chrome, and sparkling mirrors really impressed us!
Throughout the ship the clever placement of mirrors, along with the shine of chrome fittings make the interior spaces seem much larger than they are. For example, in this photo the library seems to stretch the width of the ship - it doesn't!

The library

The decor throughout is pale woodwork with burgundy and green upholstery and carpet. All pleasant enough, but without the 'wow' factor that some other ships I've been on have with their art work in public spaces.
Sinfonia can carry 2087 cruisers over 9 passenger decks. Our captain is Pietro Scarpato and over the course of the 7 night cruise, round trip Genoa, we'll have 6 ports of call in the Western Mediterranean.
So it's all aboard for the cruise!

MSC Western Mediterranean Cruise

2013-11-14T22:16:00.000-08:00

Blue Skies and Palm Trees on our MSC Cruise

We had been looking forward to this cruise so much because it would take us to places we hadn't been, such as the Balearic Isles and Sardinia. Our ship was MSC Sinfonia and the itinerary was a round trip from Genoa (Italy) over 7 nights.
Here are our ports of call:

St Tropez, France
Palma de Mallorca, Spain (overnight here)
Mahon, Menorca, Spain
Olbia, Sardinia, Italy
Salerno, Italy
Genoa, Italy

Over the next little while I'll report on the ship and each port of call with information for cruisers. The cruise was a relaxing way to see these smaller places in the Med. We really enjoyed it!

Cruise Ships in Venice - Changes for 2014

2013-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

Cunard's Queen Victoria in Venice

There has been fierce debate about the number and size of cruise ships visiting Venice for several years now. Opponents of the ships argue that the huge vessels, with the wash from their engines, are damaging the foundations of the historic city which is already in a fragile state. The port workers and cruise industry employees argue that ships' visits provide many jobs in a city where employment options are few.
I kept an open mind about the situation until we were there this year. Our NCL cruise departed from Venice. I must say, now that I've been there and seen for myself, I support a limit to the number and size of cruise ships coming to Venice.
As you can see from my photograph, the ships tower over the historic buildings as they pass along the Guidecca Canal (which is not very wide) on their way to and from the cruise terminal and port.
An announcement has been made today, after a meeting between the Italian Prime Minister, the Mayor of Venice and other interested parties, that will change the cruise ship situation in the new year
As of January 2014, the number of cruise vessels docking in Venice will be limited to five per day, a decrease of 20% on 2012 numbers.
As of November 2014, the largest ships, those over 96,000 tonnes, will be banned from central Venice. A new facility will have to be built on the outskirts of the city, away from the precious buildings and piazzas of the historic centre.
Cruise companies which plan their itineraries up to two years ahead will, I imagine, be scrambling to work out alternative arrangements for their passengers.

Toulon, a Cruise Port in Provence

2013-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

Toulon, a view from the cruise ship

It was a glorious day when we arrived in Toulon. The ship docked right in the town, beside the yacht harbour. Here expensive boats were moored alongside little fishing boats where men sat repairing their nets in preparation for the night's fishing. Following the wide promenade around the harbour, it was only a five minute walk to the cafes that lined the bay and to the main square with its wonderful market.

The market at Toulon

There were many street entertainers out to entertain the crowds of shoppers which added to the bustling atmosphere. We'd seen a lot of buskers in our travels but this one, the man in Georgian dress with two cats sitting on his arms, had to be the most unusual! The cats didn't even flinch when a little yappy dog ran up to them.

A street entertainer in Toulon

Another attraction for us in the city was a ride on a little white 'train' that took us along the coast to a lovely beach and park. It was an opportunity to see a little more of Toulon.

Back to the cruise terminal then, with its array of stalls selling local handicrafts, and on board to sail away to our final port - Barcelona!

Livorno, Cruise Port for Pisa and Florence

2013-10-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

The rooftops of Livorno, Italy, as seen from the cruise ship

This cruise port of Livorno was new to us. We had traveled to Pisa and Florence several times before so decided to stay the day in Livorno rather than go back to those more famous cities. And what a surprise this town was!
A complimentary shuttle bus from the port dropped us in the centre of town near the tourist information office. Just across the road was the stop for the 'hop on, hop off' bus.
The tour on this bus was excellent. We trundled around the inner city which is criss-crossed by canals, thousands of little boats tied up along them.

The canals of Livorno

The city has big piazzas and imposing buildings and on this sunny Sunday, many of the citizens were out at the markets and walking or jogging along the magnificent seafront promenade.

The seafront promenade at Livorno

Along the coastal part of the city, there are huge mansions in walled gardens with fancy wrought iron gates and lush planting. The whole town looks well cared for and very pleasant. We were glad we stayed the day ashore there.

In Civitavecchia, the Port for Rome, Italy

2013-09-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

'The Kiss', an enormous statue on the promenade at Civitavecchia

On our arrival at Civitavecchia, most of the ship's passengers were whisked away early to go to Rome, a 90 minute coach ride away. We had a more leisurely breakfast then got the free shuttle bus from the ship to the entrance of the port and explored the town on foot.
There were 6 cruise ships of various sizes in port that day and I heard one of the officials say that meant 16,000 visitors in 12 hours. The mind boggles!!!
Civitavecchia is a pretty town with a wide paved promenade along the shore, a fortress tower built by Michaelangelo and this much photographed statue of "The Kiss". It is a 3 dimensional representation of the iconic photo taken in Times Square, New York, when the news broke that World War 2 had ended. Now visitors queue up to be photographed with it.

Big statue, little people!

Civitavecchia was easy to walk around, with part of the main street being a pedestrian mall. We found the fantastic food market - fruit and vegetables outside on stalls, meat and fish and cheese inside a purpose-built building. All so fresh and colourful at cheap prices we can only dream about at home!

Seasonal produce at the market in Civitavecchia

In the fish hall at Civitavecchia market

I like roaming round new places, exploring on my own rather than being herded around on a pressured guided tour. I like to sit and watch the people and absorb the atmosphere, the sights and smells and sounds of somewhere different. Sometimes I'll go on city sightseeing buses, the hop on, hop off, type. But I don't listen to the commentaries! It's important to me that I use all my senses and having a tinny voice in my ear is off-putting. I take photos and make notes and if I want to know more about a statue or a building or a local legend, I'll research them after.

Naples, a Mediterranean Cruise Port of Call

2013-09-29T15:08:00.001-07:00

Naples, Italy

After a relaxing day at sea, our next cruise port of call was Naples. And I must say, the cruise port terminal there is one of the best I've been in. It's a modern building with a range of shops, post office, cafes with WiFi and stalls selling souvenirs of the region.
Naples is the port for visits to Pompei and the isle of Capri . But as we had been to those places on a previous cruise, we decided to stay in Naples and explore the city that has featured in so many movies.
Across the car park outside the cruise terminal is the bus stop for sightseeing tours. We did two circuits of the city to see as much as we could while there.
The Inner City tour took us through the narrow, crowded streets lined with tall apartment buildings in various states of repair.

Inner city Naples, graffiti and vespas

Many of the buildings were defaced with graffiti and the general air of the place was one of neglect. Washing lines were strung between apartment blocks across the side alleys. The buildings are stacked up the steep hillsides, dominated by the castle at the top. Another castle guards the entrance to the port and yet another is across from the cruise terminal.

Washing day in Naples

After changing to a different bus, we did the hop on- hop off tour that went around the shore of the Bay of Naples. I was so glad we did this as it showed us a contrasting side of the city. We saw beautiful villas and grand old hotels built right on the edge of the bay with terraces and arches framing views across the water to Mt Vesuvius.

Looking across the Bay of Naples to Mt Vesuvius

All in all, our day in Naples was very interesting and enjoyable. And we got back to the ship just before the rain started pelting down!

Visit Mykonos on a Cruise

2013-09-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Spirit anchored off shore at Mykonos

Mykonos is one of the most popular places to visit on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, one of those places where the white of the buildings contrasts with the blue sky and sea of the Aegean to make the quintessential Greek Island experience.
Our ship anchored out in the bay and we went ashore by tender, a trip of only a few minutes, landing at the pier by the main town.
In days gone by, villages on the Mediterranean islands were often threatened by pirates. So the little towns were built as a maze of narrow alleyways that twisted and turned to confuse invaders. Not much has changed in Mykonos except that now the narrow twisting, turning alleys confuse the tourists!

Wander the alleyways with their white edged paving stones

When you get there most of the ship's passengers will, no doubt, wander straight into the main part of the town. But if you go to the right of the pier you can avoid the crowds. Just follow the edge of the sea round to the next bay where buildings with wooden balconies overhang the water in the part called 'Little Venice'. Most of these are now bars and restaurants.

Little Venice on Mykonos

On the rise to the right are the windmills, restored now, making them one of the most photographed scenes of the Greek Islands.

Mykonos' iconic windmills

And then it's fun to plunge into the labyrinth of Mykonos town, wandering and taking photos, perhaps stopping for an ice cream or doing a spot of shopping. There are many up-market shops here selling beautiful clothes, jewellery and homewares.

Typical architecture at Mykonos

Enjoy your day ashore!

Cruise Shore Tour in Istanbul

2013-08-21T02:30:00.001-07:00

Inside the Blue Mosque, Istanbul

The first thing we learned on our shore tour called 'Scenic Highlights' is that Istanbul is home to 17 million people. The second thing we learned is that it has over 700 Starbucks coffee shops!
We drove past the Dolmabahce palace on the foreshore of the Bosphorus then across the long bridge to the Asian side of the city. There was a short stop for photos in a little park near the bridge. However, the traffic was so bad & the roads so congested that it took ages to get back to the Old City for our visit to the Blue Mosque. I wondered whether the long drive was worth it just to say we'd crossed the bridge into Asia.
At the Blue Mosque we were instructed to cover our shoulders and knees and for the women to cover their heads. The crowds of visitors were 'funnelled' through a narrow corridor where each was inspected by zealous staff who approved of how you were dressed, or not, as the case may be. Long skirts, pashminas and headscarves were provided for those who needed covering up.

Suitably dressed to enter the Blue Mosque

Inside the Blue Mosque I was awed by the size of the building and the wealth of decoration - every surface covered in blue tiles, plain or patterned. It was spectacular.

The sheer size of the Blue Mosque

After this visit we were let loose in the Grand Bazaar! I'd been told how easy it was to get lost as there are hundreds of stalls and dozens of exits. We went in at Gate #1 which turned out to be where all the very expensive boutique-style shops selling gold jewellery and leatherwear were situated.

Inside the Grand Bazaar

Up and down the side alleys we went, always keeping a nervous eye out for the passageway that led back to Gate 1 in case we got hopelessly lost and missed our bus! The colours of all the goods for sale were vivid and interesting - it really was an Aladdin's cave, a shopping experience like no other!

Istanbul Cruise Port of Call

2013-08-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

View from the cruise ship dock in Istanbul

The Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn - all magical names for the waters around the city of Istanbul. And now we were there, looking across to the Old City with its famous mosques and museums. The harbour was very busy with all sorts of craft making the short ride across to the Asian side and back to the European side of this city which straddles two continents.
As we docked a flock of crows flew on board, parading round the handrails and sitting on the backs of the sun chairs.
But they weren't the only ones to welcome us. A troupe of musicians gathered on the wharf and started to play traditional songs.

A musical welcome to Istanbul

It didn't take long to disembark, walk along the dock to the cruise terminal and find our coach for our shore tour. More on that next time.

Norwegian Spirit docked in Istanbul

NCL Shore Tour to the Ephesus Area and the Basilica of St John

2013-08-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

Statue of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus

The shore tour I went on from Izmir didn't involve so much walking so was better for me with my limited mobility. Our coach took us first past the upper gates of Ephesus to this statue of the Virgin Mary, gleaming in the sunlight. It is situated near the house where she was said to live in her old age.
After a photo stop there we went to the village of Selcuk where the ruins of the Basilica of St John lie on the hillside beneath the old castle fort.
I loved exploring these ruins. The tomb of St John the Baptist is here as well as the baptismal bath, in the shape of a cross, where the devout were immersed.

Tomb of St John in the ruins of the Basilica

The baptismal font

The site has wide views down over the village and along the valley out to sea. The Basilica buildings must have been huge and well decorated with carved marble columns, plinths and statues. Poppies were growing amongst the ruins and storks had built their untidy nests on top of some of the columns. You can see one in the photo on the right. I thought that was pretty special!
Next stop was at the lower gate of Ephesus but the trees had grown so high you couldn't see in to the site.
We travelled to Kusadasi then, the home town of our guide. It is built around a very pretty bay with a wide promenade and busy shopping centre. Our stop there was to visit a carpet showroom. After complimentary drinks and a snack, the salesmen told us how the carpets are made, and showed examples of the traditional designs and types from different regions of Turkey. It was interesting to learn these things but I hate the 'hard sell' techniques and had no intention of buying anything. I preferred to go outside and stroll along the promenade until it was time to board the coach for our ride back to the ship.

Shore Tour to Magnificent Ephesus, Turkey

2013-08-12T15:50:00.001-07:00

The amphitheatre at Ephesus

Pete and I did separate tours from Izmir. His one was called 'Magnificent Ephesus' and involved quite a lot of walking over uneven terrain and cobblestones of the archaeological site. Because I don't walk so well some days, I did a shore tour that was mostly by bus called 'Gates of Ephesus and Basilica of St John'.
'Magnificent Ephesus' shore tour started with a bus ride from the port at Izmir to the upper gates of Ephesus. This was an interesting drive, through the countryside which was being intensively worked with plantations of fruit trees including pomegranates, oranges and dates.
Once at Ephesus, the guide gave all the passengers audio headsets so they could wander around the ruins and still hear his commentary.

The Library of Celsus at Ephesus

Among the many interesting ruins were the Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastic Baths, the agora, the amphitheatre and the terrace houses. Of particular interest to Pete were the mosaic pavements and the fragments of carved columns and slabs lying around.

Wonderful mosaics at Ephesus

Also of interest was a pageant acted by local people of life in the 3rd century AD. They were dressed in costumes of the day, some as Roman soldiers, others as upper class Ephesians, some as musicians playing trumpets and others as orators wearing togas.

A pageant depicting Ephesus in the 3rd century AD

And of course, there was the obligatory tourist shop stop that all cruise ship shore tours seem to have; this time to a carpet store.

Izmir (for Ephesus) Port of Call

2013-08-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Turkish flag flying high

We were welcomed to Izmir, our first port of call in Turkey, by a group of folk dancers dressed in traditional costume. And by a flock of pelicans which landed on the water right beside Norwegian Spirit. Both seemed very exotic to me!
It was a beautiful day in the city which stretches around a wide harbour and back into the surrounding hills. Huge Turkish flags flew from tall poles, making vibrant splashes of bright red amongst the washed out ochre and cream colours of the buildings.
Izmir is the Smyrna of ancient times and is now Turkey's third largest city and an important port. It is the cruise port for shore tours to the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, about an hour's coach ride away.
I'll tell you about the tours we went on in my next post.

Piraeus, Athens Cruise Port of Call

2013-08-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Spirit in port at Piraeus, Greece

I was so looking forward to returning to Greece. It is a country close to my heart. I was out on deck the evening before we docked in Piraeus so I could catch my first glimpse of the land I think of as my second home.
Once we were moored in port, most of the ship's passengers boarded coaches to go on shore tours into Athens to see the Acropolis and other wonderful sites of the ancient world.
But we decided to stay in Piraeus and spend a leisurely day wandering round Marina Zeas, where the millionaires and billionaires keep their boats. We stopped for coffee at an outdoor harbourside cafe and watched some elderly local men pull up chairs and tables for a lively game of backgammon.

Piraeus, seen from a cruise ship

Our next stop was at a family run restaurant where we ate huge plates of calamari and sipped ouzo. That was when, speaking Greek with the owners, I felt as if I had really arrived 'home'.
The port building at Piraeus has free wifi and several shops selling souvenirs, clothes, postcards and stamps.

Venice Cruise Port of Call - Using the People Mover

2013-07-29T00:53:00.000-07:00

Explore Venice on a cruise port of call

In this post I'll tell you how to get to the Cruise Terminal in Venice. On the day we were embarking on our NCL cruise, there were 4 cruise ships in port. And it wasn't even high season! So be prepared to queue and allow yourself plenty of time to get to the ship.
Access to the cruise port is easiest if you use the People Mover, a monorail that leaves from Piazzale Roma. This square is the big transport hub for Venice, with car parks and bus terminals at the end of the causeway from the mainland.
There are clearly marked signs round Piazzale Roma that will lead you to the People Mover.
You buy a ticket for 1 Euro from a machine on the ground floor of the People Mover building then either walk up the stairs or take the elevator to the next level where you will get onto the monorail. It takes only 5 minutes to reach its stop near the cruise port entrance. I had thought it took you right into the port area, but it doesn't. There was still a distance to walk to get alongside our ship, that I hadn't expected.
At the time we went there were not many people embarking but I can imagine that at busy times there would be long queues, to buy the tickets and use the lift to get to the People Mover.

Hotels and canals surround Piazzale Roma