Stage 2 - Istanbul to Athens
Day 10
Following the sea day we arrived in Istanbul.
The sun continues to shine down on us and we disembarked in the beautiful Turkish city of Istanbul.
Istanbul (aka Constantinople in Roman times) straddles 2 continents and is a city where the East meets the West. Rich in history and culture, it was once the heart of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Rich in places to see, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque to name a couple.
The Grand Bazaar was closed on Sunday.
As we have visited the city in previous trips we elected to take a short walk into the city's main shopping area and not brave the heat and walk to the numerous sights. And yes, that included visiting jewellery shops where we spent considerable time and, sadly, money. Julie's birthday is nearing so she decided to lash out and spoil herself 😭.
After that fun adventure we wandered back to the ship. The pool and sun lounges were becoming our closest friends.
Many of the guests were leaving us and a new group arrived (a new trivia was formed).
That night we got to eat at the specialty restaurant (Solis). It was extremely good and we met 2 lovely couples that made it a very special night.
A nice start to the second leg.
Day 11 - Canakkale (Troy)
Canakkale is a historic city in the northwest of Turkey and bridges Asia and Europe along the Dardenelles Strait. It was the site of the legendary city of Troy and the pivotal WW1 Gallipoli Campaign.
The ship docked a good distance from the large town of Canakkale. Expected temperature was 36 Deg 😎 and fortunately the ship put on shuttle buses to take guests into town which was suppose to be about 20 minute trip.
Julie remained onboard whilst I ventured out to check out the place. Once again, in hindsight Julie made the better decision.
The bus driver got himself lost in the city's streets and the drive in to the city ended up taking near on an hour. The day was hot and so was the inside of the bus. By the time we reached our destination I was over the thought of hobbling around the streets in the heat so stayed on the bus for the return trip (along with about another 6 guests) Mistake number 2!
On the return journey the driver got lost AGAIN😡. He stopped to ask directions from a local and we even tried to show him the map on the mobile. We eventually made it back. The bus trip was very long and irritating.
That was 2 hrs of my life I will never get back!!
Back onboard and headed directly to the pool to cool off and have a drink (or 2).
That night we again ate at the Solis.
Day 12 - Izmir
Izmir is Turkey's 3rd largest city. Once more we were fortunate to have a shuttle provided to take us into the city centre and as predicted temperature today was 38 Deg. Sweltering day so the plan was not to be out too long and get back to the ship and the pool.
The city was remarkably clean and modern. We wandered around the local bazaar. Julie was hoping to find a place for a pedicure but failed. The shop keepers were not pushy (unlike some Asian countries) so it was pleasant to wander without being hassled. Nothing was bought (still getting over the purchases in Istanbul 😱).
Back onboard and relaxed around the pool. A popular choice.
Good drinking weather 😊
A pleasant evening at the Restaurant with a couple from Mosman.
Day 13 - Patmos
Patmos is one of Greece's most enchanting islands. Known as the "Jerusalem of the Aegean" it holds deep spiritual significance as the place where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation.
So returning to the Grecian waters we awoke to another calm and warm day (28 deg). We really have been lucky with the calm seas, sunshine and no rain (although looking at the countryside it could do with a good dose of rain).
There appears to be little incentive to go ashore (unless more archaeological sights are your fancy). Too difficult a challenge to walk around the ruins over uneven, rough grounds. So I grabbed a sun lounge by the pool and settled in for the day.
The Ship opened up the back end and put on a water sports afternoon.
And we were not alone in enjoying the beautiful weather
It was a formal night for dinner (a bit of a pain to wear a coat). Food was great - surf and turf for me and fish for Julie. Ate with a couple of lovely English ladies. This was followed by a show and then bed after a late night cocktail or 2.
Day 14 - Rhodes
Rhodes is the largest of Greece's Dodecanese islands and is known as the Islands of the Knights. It was once home of the ancient Colossus - one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World and later became the stronghold for the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades.
Rhodes is a lovely city both the old section and new. As the day was not excessively hot we decided to go ashore and catch a hop on - hop of bus (even though we only hopped off once). The bus went around the outer areas of the city and took about an hour.
Starting at the Port we went through the streets, up the higher look outs, along the beach front and got off in the new section of the city where, low and behold, the shops happen to be 😱.
We escaped the walk through the shopping without a purchase (just) and continued to meander back towards the ship.
Onboard, the mandatory lunch by the pool, Julie arranged for a massage (complimentary with our package) whilst I went to the gym (not really working to reduce the waistline 😖).
Dinner was with an interesting couple from the UK. After that we passed on the opportunity for a nightcap, instead off to bed to watch a movie (age is catching up).
I have still to read 1 page of my book.
Day 15 - At Sea
Finally another sea day. Needed it to chill out.
Nothing special. Julie slept while I caught up on the blog.
After lunch Julie checked out the jewellery onboard (need to spend that onboard credit!) Then trivia (not good - clearly we lost the clever ones of the group in Istanbul). The entertainment was a movie - Mind Games of all things. Our grand daughter (Adriel) would have loved it. We didn't go 😁
The weather has been outstanding albeit a bit on the hot side - far better than the alternative. Today was a bit windy and choppy but not enough to make it uncomfortable.
Dined with the Entertainment Manager who was delightful. She had a lot of good stories, as did the other's at the table. Another fun night.
The artist tonight was a classical pianist. Very good but not to our liking.
Day 16 - Spetsis
Spetses is a charming Greek island located in the Saronic Gulf, known for its rich maritime history, architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The town is car free in it's main section making it a peaceful retreat for visitors to explore by foot, bicycle or horse drawn carriage.
It was another hot day so Julie stayed onboard and I explored. It's a small town with lots of restaurants. Fresh seafood abounds intermingled with boutique shops for swim wear and summer clothing, some jewellery and bars.
A small rocky beach and a couple of very nice yachts in the harbour.
Its the last day of the second leg so many were packing for leaving the ship in Athens. Another new lot of guests tomorrow.
Stage 3 - Athens to Venice
Day 17 - Pireaus
A hot day to welcome onboard new guests (36 deg).
No need to go ashore as we have seen enough of Athens so we grabbed the sun lounges while the newbies arrived. Quickly slipped into my routine - beer, whirlpool, swim (before it became crowded with the new guests and those returning from excursions to Athens), beer, lunch (this time pizza) followed by a rest by the pool.
I know its hard but I managed to get through it.😎
The afternoon, and a couple of cocktails and chill continued. The occasional nibble, a frozen fruit skewer offered by the bar attendants or anything else you desire to eat of drink - the Seabourn touch.
Early to bed in preparation of the final leg of the cruise.
Day 18 - Monemvasia
Monemvasia is a medieval fortress town that rises from a giant outcrop of the south-eastern Peloponnese coast. Know as the Gibraltar of the East this ancient citadel reveals centuries of history through its Byzantine churches, Venetian architecture and winding cobblestone pathways.
A hot day ahead (35 deg) so we headed ashore to the beach. Far too hot to hike up to the fortress (although speaking with those who did apparently was a terrific sight - such is life) and we headed to the small, but picturesque town.
The small beach was a wee bit rough on the feet, a rocky foreshore, but the water was crystal clear and beautiful. We swam with the fish 😃
Very rocky in the water (more like boulders than rocks) which made it slightly difficult to stand but the water was great - especially on this hot day.
Lovely place to visit.
Back onboard for more swimming and daiquiris.
Another formal night but we had enough of dressing up so took the more casual dress route and ate at the Colonnade at the back of the ship overlooking the sea. It was a French flavour. Escargot, Chateaubriand and lobster on the menu.
Julie couldn't decide between the meat or lobster - so she had both
Sunset as a backdrop
All washed down with a very nice wine and finished with a port (for me).
A very enjoyable day was had and off to bed.
Big day tomorrow - Julie's Birthday.
Day 19 - Katakolon
The expected temp today was 28 deg (pleasant compared to other days of the cruise) as we round the southern part of Greece and head into the Ionian Sea and Adriatic towards Croatia.
The port of Katakolon is a popular stop for cruise ships, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of Olympia. Its good to see green foliage after the dry and barren countryside we have encountered to date.
We awoke to a surprise delivery for Julie.
It is a lovely seaside resort. We took a walk through the town and a bit of shopping.
and then back onboard in preparation of Julie's birthday (21 again today 😁).
Back onboard we discovered the staff had made a special effort for Julie.
A nice Seabourn touch.
We booked the Solis restaurant for Julie's birthday and invited a delightful couple from Florida to join us. First a cocktail at the bar and then onto dinner.
Lots of fun and laughter was had.
The meal was fabulous
and after that we headed to the poolside for the evening's entertainment.
Best night of the cruise to date. 😄
Day 20 - At Sea
Time to catch our breath as we sail towards Croatia. It was an uneventful day. About 29 deg, smooth sea and a little breeze.
Julie slept for over 13 hours (recovering from her Birthday 😁). I caught up on the blog, had a massage by Olgar who pummelled my back unmercifully 😬, and we had dinner with an interesting Scottish couple.
In bed about 10.00. It was smooth sailing overnight.
Day 21 - Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, often referred to as the "Pearl of the Adriatic, is a stunning coastal city in Southern Croatia renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and dramatic sea views. Encircled by massive stone walls dating back to the 16th century, it is a UNESCO World heritage site.
It will be another warm day (31 deg) so we left the ship early for the 20 min shuttle to visit the Old Town before the heat and crowd.
We strolled around looking at this very beautiful place.
A bird's eye view of the statue
Unfortunately we failed to avoid the crowds (apart from those visiting from land trips there were also a number of very large cruise ship's alongside). By the time we entered the old town it was already getting very congested.
Within the first 50 metres of entering through the gate, Julie found a series of interesting shops
The were lots of small restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and other touristy places to visit. However as we have already been here before when we stayed in Cavtat (another beautiful, tranquil town a ferry ride away) there were limited places that we had not seen before..
As the weather started to heat up and both of us were still hampered by our lingering injuries, we decided to head back to the ship after about 2 hrs.
Back onboard was deserted so we had the pick of sun lounges and made the most of the peace and quiet.
The crowd started to drift back after lunch. By 3.00 pm the pool deck was once again packed.
A trip to the gym (one place that is never packed), back to the whirlpool and enjoy the sail away party around the pool deck.
The band was playing as caviar and champagne was being served washed down with shots of vodka (and ouzo for me). A civilised way to farewell Dubrovnik Another very Seabourn event.
We had room service for dinner. Another early night
Tomorrow Hvar
Two more sailing days remaining.
We went ashore mid-morning to allow the rush of guests to get the earlier tenders for the various excursions. The weather was warm (31 deg) and calm.
Day 22 - Hvar
Hvar - a sun-drenched jewel in the Adriatic. Known for it's crystal clear waters, lavender fields and vibrant nightlife. Hvar attracts visitors from all over the world
We went ashore mid-morning to allow the rush of guests to get the earlier tenders for the various excursions. The weather was warm (31 deg) and calm.
Hvar is definitely a beautiful place to visit. Getting off at the jetty it was clear to see it is a favourite place for the younger generation. The pier seethed with people queuing to get on smaller vessels to take them to other surrounding islands or hotels/resorts on the coastline.
We strolled through the small cobbled stone lanes where many small boutiques, restaurants and jewellery, clothing and miscellaneous shops abound.
After a short time, Julie wasn't feeling the best so, once again, we headed back to the ship.
The upside of this of course, we get to the pool with very few other guests and get the pick of the sun lounges.
Dinner tonight will be with the Future Cruise Director. After that, an early night to help Julie recover from her bug before we head off to Budapest in 2 days time.
Of course there still is Rovinj to see tomorrow.
Day 23 - Rovinj
The last full day of the cruise and, true to form, another beautiful warm, sunny and still day greeted us as we cruised into Rovinj.
Rovinj is a picturesque coastal town in Istria, Croatia, with roots dating back to the Roman era when it was known as Arupinium. Originally an island, Rovinj was connected to the mainland in 1763 creating the peninsular that visitors see today. During the Middle Ages the town came under the control of the Byzantine Empire, Frankish rulers and later the powerful Republic of Venice. In the 19th century it became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Julie's bug has gained momentum so she decided to stay in the cabin packing for disembarking tomorrow morning in Venice. A hamburger and chips for lunch.
I, on the other hand, decided to venture ashore and explore this beautiful town.
Whilst a very interesting place, it was very crowded. There was another cruise ship alongside plus many visitors who must being staying in Rovinj or the neighbouring area.
There are lots of touristy shops, selling souvenirs, clothing and jewellery (I was lucky Julie stayed onboard 😊). It was also market day so the local market also was very busy.
There was a lot to see.
It clearly is a very popular swimming spot off the rocks into the crystal clear water.
Once back onboard, I also started to pack. Then headed to the pool deck for my last dip and cocktails 😥.
Tonight will be dining at the patio for some easy food. It avoids having to wear more dressier clothes which are now packed away.
So we bid farewell to the Encore. A very enjoyable and entertaining cruise (albeit maybe a tad too long).
- We have met many great people.
- Eaten a LOT of food.
- Drank gallons of cocktails, wine, beer, Guinness and cider.
- Won trivia.
- Had wonderful staff.
- Seen some amazing places.
- Experienced some very good entertainment on and off the Ship.
- Did not read a single page of my book (but did see the Swans win a couple of games and the Wallabies defeat the British Lions 😁).
Tomorrow we start the final phase of our adventure, flying to Budapest to join Scenic Opal for an 8 day river cruise to Munich.
So the story continues.
Comments
Post a Comment