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August 23 Travel is such an adventure!July 23rd my closest friend Debbie & I flew from Portland, Oregon to Rome, Italy. A long 14 hour flight. . .Worth every second.
I'd prearranged a car to take us from the airport to our hotel just off of the Piazza Barberini so it was an easy trip to the hotel. That afternoon we took a tour of the Coliseum.
Our tour was one of the most thorough tours I've experienced. Seeing the Coliseum through the eyes of our guide brought it's history to life. I was able to envision gladiators fighting til the death or Christians being thrown to the lions. In reality, the lions came to the stage by elevator; a fact I found extremely interesting.
We walked in circles around our hotel for at least an hour afterward. * Remember to take the hotel address with you when you first venture out in your jetlag induced fog.
I scheduled a Vatican Tour for the next morning. Another incredible experience! Our guide pointed out the most interesting details, yet details I would've otherwise overlooked. The tapestries stand out in my mind as absolutely breathtaking yet I would've sped by, barely giving them a look.
On cruise day we took a car with another family to the port and boarded the ship. I was still working, taking care of the Virtuoso Group, so not really relaxing into vacation mode. I think it's normal for many people to be so stressed on a daily basis that it takes time to relax and fully enjoy their vacation. When someone tells me they want five nights in Hawaii or a 3 night cruise I do my best to convince them they should add a few more days. . .Not only do you need the extra time, it maximizes your overall vacation value. . .
I digress. . .We visited Dubrovnik, Croatia; Katakolon, Corfu and Santorini Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Valetta, Malta and Sicily, Italy. What a great itinerary! The weather was hot, but not intolerable.
Dubrovnik, the walled city, is very unique. It's a midieval, working town with the sounds of babies crying through open windows, laundry on lines, children playing, . . .During the war between the Serbs and Croatians that lasted from 1992 to 1995 there was quite a bit of damage which is most aparent because of an abundance of new roofs.
A memorable and funny part of that day is when Debbie walked into a Croatian bank, stepped up to the counter, set her postcard on the counter and asked them to mail it. The look on the teller's face was priceless, total befuddlement. Fortunately I had a front row seat; I thought she went in there to cash a traveler's check.
In Katakolon we ventured to the ruins of Olympia where the Olympics first began. . .The columns there are massive. To stand where such time-honored history began is a thrill!
Corfu is a small town with beautiful beaches. We rented a cute little Suzuki Jimmy and cruised to the beach. It was my first time driving a stick-shift in 7 years. As I sat behind the wheel on a hill with a beautiful motorcycle behind my vehicle, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. I ground a few gears but my 5 speed driving skills remain intact.
The beaches were crowded with local citizens. The weather was very warm so it was pleasant lying on the beach people watching.
We enjoyed lunch at a restaurant overlooking the beach. I ordered Moussaka and partook in a few sips (I was driving) of Ouzo just so I can say I did it.
Enroute back to our ship we stopped at a small olivewood shop along the side of the road where we bought olive oil and olive wood souvenirs. The little old lady who ran the place was very sweet and helpful wrapping each item as if it were a gift. I loved when she excused herself mid-transaction to go stir her dinner. It was charming and 'real'.
Our next stop on the cruise was Santorini, a very scenic place. The most popular area is Oia (ee ah) where white buildings with blue roofs are prevalent in tourist literature. There is a photo opportunity around every corner there! In Oia the shops are trendy and expensive full of beautiful items. Dogs and cats lounged in the middle of the street, outside and inside of stores . . .everywhere. Often you had to step over them to get inside the business.
My feelings were hurt slightly when a woman shopkeeper scolded me, in a very nasty way, for photographing a dog sleeping on the floor of this elegant shop. I like dogs and liked the dog being there. I completely respect and follow the rules of the area so I apologized, but her harshness was unwarranted. It lost her a sale and left me with a disappointing memory of Santorini.
After a long day of sightseeing it was time to go back to the ship. There is a long, steep hill from Oia to the port. You can walk, ride a mule or take a cable car down. I had work to do on the ship so, to get back as quickly as possible, Debbie and I rode the cable car. Seated opposite us were two heavy German tourists who were hysterically laughing the whole time. Either they partook in Ouzo or thought they'd pull down the entire cable. . .
The Virtuoso Excursion was the best experience imaginable. United Travel Services handled the tour and were excellent. The owner's daughter made a special trip from Istanbul to greet us. Our tour guides spoke eloquently about Ephesus pointing out little, yet significant, details throughout our tour. I'm impressed that they took the time to make sure everyone, including the children, were enjoying the tour. They provided bottled water and towelettes which was such a treat in the hot temperature. We enjoyed a nice traditional snack at the beautiful Kismet Hotel then headed back on our tour bus to a rug gallery near the port.
At the gallery we enjoyed traditional Turkish coffee and Rake, their version of Ouzo. . .The gentlemen working at the rug gallery put on an elaborate 'show' presenting many of their finest carpets. The rugs are breathtaking and the show topnotch. Worth an entrance fee. They got many sales resulting from the presentation.
Two new friends and I perused the shops after our carpet show. We stopped in many different places looking at clothes, food, souvenirs, . . . We found a tea shop selling "Sex Tea", proclaimed "Better than Viagra". In reality it looks like multicolored sprinkles and when dissolved in water tastes like juice. No results ocurred but we had a great time joking about it.
We had a day at sea which was a blessing. I needed to completely unwind. . .That evening we sat on friend's Veranda in a superior suite, ordered tons of food from room service, watched people go by in the glass elevator, took pictures of the sunset and talked for hours.
We arrived in Malta on a Sunday so most things were shut down and the town was quiet. We admired the colorful flags draping the main streets. We wandered all over town, visited the palace and enjoyed the quiet ambiance'. . . That evening, back on the ship we spent time at the piano bar then hit the disco and stayed up late talking again.
Our last stop was Sicily. We didn't get beyond the city. There were excursions to Mt. Etna but, living in the Pacific Northwest, we see mountains all of the time.
Sicily was covered in more grafitti than I've ever seen in one place. There was no beginning and no end. Even parked trucks weren't immune to being spray painted. Sad really, it's difficult to notice much else.
While there, we climbed a large amount of stairs to a church. As we stood in the churchyard enjoying the view we encountered a tough-looking Italian man who gave us an impromptu Italian lesson and pointed out sights and islands in the distance. My favorite part was when he played his cell phone ringtone; the theme from The Godfather, ironically on a hot pink phone. . .
By early evening, back on the ship, crewmembers were stacking the pool chairs which was disappointing. Many of us felt as if we were being cheated out of the last full day of our cruise. Heck, it came quickly enough without assistance. . .
That evening we enjoyed dinner with our new friends, packed and requested a wakeup call.
I slept through the entire ride to Rome then we hopped in the taxi belonging to Victorio, a very nice man who is married to an American so he's very fond of American women. We spoke about family, politics, Rome sights, etc. We arranged for him to drive us to the airport the next day.
Debbie and I both, prior to our trip, learned of the Church of the Immaculate Conception where the Capuchini Bone Chapel exists. We were determined to see it and finally did! The entire place is artistically decorated in individual bones, skulls and mummified corpses dressed in their monk robes. I stress, it was art which made it even more fascinating and creepier than I expected. Definitely worth a look. . .
On August 6th, our last day in Rome, Victorio picked us up right on time. Enroute to the airport we stopped for breakfast, Victorio's treat. As an added testament to his kind, honest character, he charged us less than we originally paid from the airport to our hotel when we first arrived in Rome. He also refused a tip and gave us his phone number with the promise of a coastal tour the next time we came to Rome.
Inside we drug our bags through the extremely confusing Rome airport only for me to be left behind. The airline changed my flight without notifying me then at the airport, put me on standby which they planned to do on a daily basis until standby cleared. The language barrier and cultural differences made it difficult to plead my case. Without having another option Debbie flew home and I spent a fortune to stay at the Airport Hilton where I slept most of the time, including in the tub. I emailed my wonderful work colleagues who not only fixed things but found my hotel to let me know everything was fixed. Everyone should have a good travel agent!
On the flight out of Rome I sat next to a nice man originally from Athens heading back to his home in Miami. He and I both slept most of the time. During our brief wake periods we spoke about our homes and families. We exchanged hugs at customs and went our own way.
One of the best things about travel is meeting warm, wonderful people!
Once home I was greeted with lots of love by my dog Lady and cat Rajsa. Lady seemed content whereas Rajsa kept meowing and didn't want to let me get out of her sight.
I'm already contemplating my next trip! I hope it's soon! August 21 ms Oosterdam SPECIAL Sailing
Susan Knudsen/TRAVEL SAVVY INC
Mexican Riviera Company Ship Trip Dates Locations Duration Info
Included
Day 1 2-3 4 5 6 7 8
Puerto Vallarta Feb, 4 2009 | Half-day Shore experience with Refreshments Once an inaccessible fishing village, Puerto Vallarta is today one of the premier resorts on Mexico’s West Coast. Nestled inside the horseshoe-shaped Bahía de Banderas, the city is composed of two distinctive areas: Old Town, a bustling mosaic of shops, galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs – and beyond the town, Playa del Sol, a gloriously uncluttered expanse of beach. Residents are dedicated to maintaining the town’s integrity as a sleepy (albeit posh) getaway. All houses must be painted white and roofs tiled red. Even the grocery store has a cobblestone parking lot. It’s a magical composition when one looks upward from the glistening bay: palm-covered hillsides against a periwinkle sky – and the tidy white and red houses like staccato notes dotting the emerald rises. And just outside town, steep mountain roads curve and twist through jungles replete with cascading waterfalls, rushing rivulets, and peaceful coves. Virtuoso Explorer guests begin in Marina Vallarta, the largest marina in Mexico with more than 455 boat slips that can hold mega-yachts up to 120 feet long. We will then have the oportunity to walk in the Old Town along its centuries-old streets. Highlights are the main square with the landmark Lady of Guadalupe church. A stop at a delightful cafe overlooking the River Cuale for light refreshments and snacks will provide a delighful diversion. Afterwards, guests may return to the ship or enjoy the rest of the day independently in beautiful Puerto Vallarta. Approximate Length: Three hours. Suggested Attire: Casual wear with a sun hat and comfortable shoes. Light walking. PLEASE NOTE: All Virtuoso Explorer events ashore are capacity controlled and require a minimum number of participants to operate. Events are subject to change without notice. Virtuoso Explorer events are individually tailored for each date and arrival. Your event could be different than what’s noted here; but it will be designed to be memorable and to bring you a traveler’s view that you will treasure, and would otherwise miss entirely. Final details will be outlined in program letters provided by your Virtuoso host aboard ship. Onboard Hosts: To Be Announced This offer was featured by Virtuoso and your travel specialist. |
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