Saturday 22 September, sea day. Only one sea day on this cruise and we filled it with self satisfying endulgences.

Pedicure at 815 am for Pam. Lovely, soft and relaxing overlooking the sea out the spa window. Feeling pampered being exfoliated, massaged, wrapped in hot towels, more massage with oils, nails sculpted and paint applied. Closed eyes and relaxing. Taking it all in. Are we getting pampered too much, she asks. Pam responds, is there ever too much? Pam also scores complimentary white flip flops, and enjoys wearing them throughout the rest of the day.

Then breakfast on the lido deck for omelet and other tasty treats. Penny headed off for her pedicure and Pam took in a 1 and half watercolor painting class… Sailboats in water. After the class we went to the lido deck and laid in the hot beautiful sun, by the pool. A slight breeze kept it from getting too warm.

Penny found the outdoor barbecue and brought back burgers for us both. Pam headed back to another watercolor class painting the famous blue dome that can be seen of Santorini. Fun to draw and imagining we will see this site in just a few days. Blue skies, blue sea and stark white painted as if bleached, buildings with blue domes.

Last night we ventured off ship to purchase some needed wine. It was dark and way out of Pam’s comfort zone. Penny is always encouraging. The duty free was closed. We stumbled upon a small outdoor restaurant and could see some wine and beer inside. Wondering if they would sell to us … Are you kidding? I am beginning to think everything is for sale in Istanbul.

The owner did not speak very good English however he got up on a chair and recommended a spectacular red wine. He only had one of those. Forty lyra translated to about $20 USD so that was a deal. He also had a cheaper bottle, and we needed two. I also purchased two local beer for Penny to have in our room.

We came on board and to our delight, celebrated the lovely red wine choice. We seem to be not too interested in the late shows of dancing and singing. Rather hanging out on our amazing balcony enjoying the cool breeze and warm air, and listening to the water sloshing below us. Dark black night sky and sometimes lights off in to the distance.

We contine to blog in the evenings and have established a ritual of comfort in this extraordinary luxury. We design a collage for the day of our adventures, and capture a moment in time on pictures taken with our iPads.

Tonight was formal night, one of many. Dressed in our bling and stunning wardrobe pieces we have early dining at a table for 10 but only 8 have every been present. 3 other lovely couples bring unique personalities and great stimulating conversation to the table. It is fun and rewarding and very enjoyable.

 

Today up early and watched us arrive in the port in Istanbul.  What a sight!  This is the largest city in Europe.  The last few days were so hot so planning what to wear seemed easy, and ensure covering for shoulders and head.  We gathered our cameras and money to exchange as this is Turkey and we have an excursion booked.  Up for breakfast at the lido deck, egg white omelet and crispy bacon.  The clouds look like we might have some cooler weather so we change clothes.

 

We are advised we may have rain.  I don’t have my hat or hood on my jacket that I brought.  I put a scarf round my neck and wonder how cool it might get.  I had no idea.  It rained buckets on me!  Eventually I purchased a lovely clear see through umbrella to keep me out of the elements a bit but I was soaked and chilled.  

 

We boarded the Mercedes Benz bus and headed out to see the hippodrome lwhich is second largest only to the one in Rome.  7 times longer than a football field.  Wow … Few monuments in the center, one made from the shields and swords from conquering the Persions.  The 3 headed snake was woven in 3 snakes.  The heads are scattered, one in Turkey museum and one in London museum and one went missing.  One of the monuments, the obilisk that came from Egypt had depictions carved in marble of how it was raised so many centuries ago.

 

We walked to the Blue Mosque and took our shoes off before entering, women covering their heads.  By this time we were donning our umbrellas and workIng our way through the crowds.  Breathtaking blue tiles adorned the walls. Lovely mosque.

 

After we walked a way to the St Sophia, we were in the presence of the largest and most copied mosque.  Our guide told story after story for our enjoyment.  He obviously lived and breathed this very special place and the history.  He suggested we watch the 47 minute National Geographic study on how the building was constructed.  

 

Then back to the bus for a ride to the Grand Bazaar.  I was very nervous at first to be set free on a marketplace of over 4,000 stores.  Penny, being the great friend she is, stayed close by and said things that comforted me until I could relax.  We ended up staying for several hours.  We saw carpets, jewellery, fabric, beads for making jewellery, leather  goods, light fixtures, ceramic and scarves, silk and wool.  Hats and shoes /slippers.  Every store clerk trying for our attention and dollars.  Great sense of humor and many laughs were had.  Crazy, chaotic and marvelous.  The choices overwhelming and helped me keep a tight hold on my money!

 

We found a few Starbucks and few brand name eat joints.  We walked down toward the sea and then spied our ship.  We passed over a bridge, followed a tram, cars bumper to bumper.  No one paid attention to passenger cross walks.  Our guide advised us not to take a taxi as they are sure to get lost in traffic and it taking hours to get to where we are headed.  We were unable to find a liquor store and decided to search out some after we have some food.  It has been a long since breakfast.  

 

Quick change and off to dinner then walked out to the wild dark streets of Istanbul in search of a bottle of wine for the stateroom and the day at sea.  We stop and ask people but alas, they did not understand our request.  Then we spied a small restaurant and saw they sold beer.  We had a chat and finally negotiated to use USD and got what we came for.  Back through security and to the ship for the evening.  

 

We made pedicure appointments for tomorrow sea day.  We also reviewed the activities for tomorrow, some enrichment activities to be followed by formal night and a masked ball!  This will be our only sea day on this cruise.  We have great stops yet to come.  Penny is keeping a diary and is able to capture the details of the history we have learned.

 

It seems my blog is more emotional stories?.

 

Wish you were here.

 

Love love love

P

 

I am not sure what day of the week -I have lost track. I do know that it was the 20th September 2012. 

 

As with most of the cruises I go on, the days start to flow together.  I sometimes think a world cruise might not be the best to see the world because by the time it was over, I would have trouble remembering where we started!  

 

Today the lovely island of Lesvos.  Perfect weather, very clear blue sky and a very good pace.  We found washrooms and Internet when we wanted coffee or a water bottle.  Very affordable resting places.  A very leisurely stroll through the streets of foreign towns.

 

We came home, took some pictures, had a taste of ouzo and sat watching while the ship sailed out to sea.  Then we attended a free course on tablets and specifically featuring the iPad. There will be more great courses while on this ship.  Then off to dinner with our new friends, all 3 couples that sit at our table.  There is room for two more but they have never joined us.

 

We have a beautiful table in the window at the back so we can see out to sea.  

 

Today we arranged and paid for two itineraries, one for Istanbul tomorrow to see the special mosks and Grand Bazaar.  Apparently we don’t have the correct currency as we only brought USD and Euros.  

 

Tomorrow night the ship stays docked until 11:30 in this city.  The largest, they say, in Europe.  We will need to be more careful tomorrow.  

 

All is very well on this trip.  I miss my family, however having lots of fun.  I look forward to meeting up with Steve and his family and my friends in Rome.  

 

For tonight, I wish you all a very good day and hope you are enjoying the blog journal of the Great Greek Adventure.

 

Much love to all, 

 

 

First we took a tender, Penny’s first. A very short ride in the morning sun to this exciting island, Lesvos. We popped in to a tourist info building, received a map and some directions for walking and seeing the sights. We enquired about heading to the ouzo place we learned about but the return bus would have made us miss our ship. Plan B.

Sometimes I have to be encouraged to do what is unfamiliar to my past experiences. I love traveling with friends who encourage my courage and adventurist spirit. This is one such trip with my best buds from high school and now reunited for this exploration of friendship, the past and ancient sites in Greece, Turkey and Venice.

We walked through the streets of stores, old market and lots of people delivering something or other for their small trucks. Also scooters and motor cycles. Pedestrians are of secondary concern and have to keep a sharp eye. No purchases but a few hours in we stopped for Penny to have a sweetened Greek coffee, I purchased a bottle of water and we enjoyed the free Internet from Fame Coffee.

We have been traveling with the iPads and iPhones. I seem to be technically challenged with posting pics to my blog … Once I figure it out I will have many to share. In the meantime, we are posting a few to Facebook and my journal is part of the blog.

Up and up we walked toward the Byzantine church … Added coverings for our shoulders and stepped into the culture. We took a few pictures and then set our sights on the castle fortress. Penny treated 2 Euros each to enter the ancient stone walls. The castle of Mytilene on the isand of Lesvos.

Up close and personal we entered the fortress and enjoyed small stone part buildings, imagining stories of a a time BC, many hundreds of years before BC to be closer. What was it like? And then some discussions on our youthful exploring stage of life. Singing and dancing to familiar tunes from our youth when we found some cool shady area ….few laughs were had … We found a sign that said taking pictures prohibited but we were already heading down toward town by then.

Hoping to find a secluded beach. Some place to cool down. Acknowledging we made a choice to not bring bathing suits …. Crystal clear waters of the North Aegean beckons us. We could see the stones, coral and bright red sea anemone below. Up on the road a dark man stopped his scooter, watched us for a bit while, no doubt, enjoying his cigarette!

Dried off in the hot sun and much refreshed we walked to the part of town to catch the tender. Picking up some souvenir bottles of Ouzo to share with loved ones back home and one little bottle to share on board.

Back to the ship and a fter a wee bite of salad, 3 pm….Listening to Jimmy Buffet tunes and sipping on my first taste of authentic ouzo from this island. Sitting out on the balcony marveling at my life … And

Wondering about all of the seemingly small decisions that lead me to this place.

To do yet, Pam to get a pedicure. Later today we have an iPad instruction on the ship and then semi formal for dinner.

First day on Greek soil into the cruise. Wow, the town was lovely. Penny and I choose not to take an excursion in to Mykonos. We began with complimentary shuttle in to a parking lot along the sea. There were several groups forming for walking tours and buses … We started by claiming up. Up. Up. Steps and cobblestone narrow pathways …up toward the windmills that appear to not be in use anymore. The windmills are the hallmark card of this town. They stand solitary and about 5 stand together lining the top area with view of the sea.

Several times my breath catches in my chest, deep breath and take it in. We took pics on iPads and iPhones as we would find eye watering scenes of beauty. Whitewashed buildings, blue shutters and hanging vines heavy with fragrant flowers and bright colored plants. Steps with no railings almost too small for even child feet to use. Curious. Little shops dotted the back roads as if a market place.

We arrived early enough to be there before all the shops were open. And then as if by magic the areas that looked residential sprang forth to sell their wares for us, the one cruise ship to be docked this day. White linen and cotton clothing displayed proudly. Jewels adorned window glass, hats, shoes, scarves, gelato, souvenirs and artwork …. Dotted with some by upscale Louis Vitton, Chanel …. No real pattern. We wonder if the owners live in the back or upstairs? Very small grocery stores selling the bare necessities and wine .. Ouzo, bottled water, candy and other treats. Some veggies and flower kiosk type stores as well. Along the coast linked together as if all one, cafe, restaurants, pubs and eateries. Some seafood can be bought and it must be fresh.

We stop to watch a small local fisherman as he rinses clean his catch of the day and then hustles it off the a kitchen or two in the vicinity for enjoyment of the tourists, no doubt. We see a man early in the day walking with a dustpan and broom cleaning up debris, empty water bottles. We see him again and again and again as if he must be stalking us all day. He also drove a small scooter like truck which had on the back an area for him to place the recyclables and garbage. A very clean town for the most part, cleaner and so much smaller than Athens. This town is designed for tourism. The cobblestone streets and all the Buildings are painted in white, with spots of grey marble or painted colored shutters and doors. Many ornate doorknobs and tiny steps as if to nowhere. Stunning, uniquely Greek and so pleasant as an experience.

About 2 pm we stop by the sea in a cafe, Rouvera, where we have a small beverage and get the code for free wifi. We enjoy the pictures we took of the sights.

Highlights of the day included free beach combing with finding tiny treasures of brightly colored sea glass. This is apparently an locally overlooked richness and gift from the sea. We also made a purchase of a multi use cotton knit sweater wrap from Athens designer Joanna kourbela. Gold tan in color we each buy the same one, after a fun demonstration by a lovely polite and stunningly beautiful sales angel dressed all in white (the name of the store).

We came back to the ship to grab a wee lunch and donned our bathing suits and hit the pool deck. Yes, now we are enjoying all that cruising in the heat has to offer. It was not a scorcher day due to winds from the sea, howev, today I feel a slight color change on my face and arms.

Love to all, wish you were here!

Entry 7. Sailing toward Mykonos

As Sheena once wrote to me from Sweden: let me set the stage….

Muggy grey skies. Sweet gentle sound of water being displaced by this majestic ship, Queen Elizabeth. Sitting on my balcony and seeing the whitewashed homes on steep slopes of the rugged island. Terraced land and dry vegetation as far as I can see. Another photo op on iPad. Dreams really do come true. Wish you were here!

Almost time for breakfast and going ashore. Penny slept in longer than me. I was up before 4 am so was writing and reading and then downstairs to check out Internet cafe.

Blue skies overhead promise great weather for the day. I have been cold as air conditioner is blowing in the room. Of course, I am always cold so I will layer for the day’s adventure on land. Today we will walk and explore a bit.

Mykonos looks just like the pictures. Peaceful and scenic. Flat top roofs, sandy beaches, yachts in the marina. I am excited to go on land and check out local culture of this Greek Island.

A lot of locals getting about with scooters and motorcycles, no helmets, and whizzing in and around where other small cars and larger work vans are stopping at lights. Several with extra passengers hanging on the back, or large packages getting ready for delivery. This was the scene in Athens. So now I get to see the similarities between the two cities. I see in the distance some scooters taking their drivers to destinations, likely the start of work day for many here at the port.

Entry 6 GGA Cunard Service

I will be looking forward to more of the same fabulous quality I have learned in my on line training with Cunard line. We are part of the emergency drill with life jackets in the dining room. Then back to our rooms to partake of that sparkling gift as we dress for dinner.

Our bags arrive and Penny comments a few times on how impressed she is with how little luggage I have! Once again I am grateful for having had the time and courage to downsize. It is a new packing exercise for me and I feel I have graduated to the next level. Well done, me!

We meet our new dinner mates in a large oval table in the window. A table for 10 is delightfully prepared and we meet the waiter and m’aitre d who will look after all of my special dietary needs and more. One couple are residents of Texas and I am delighted to swap stories of cruises past and future. They are also dancers and are on the search for the best wooden dance floor. Later in the evening we take a moment to stop and watch their expertise and flowing movements as they spin and glide in graceful beauty.

Penny talks more to a couple celebrating 52 years of marriage. Our waiter and several more join in singing ‘let me call you sweetheart’ as the couple hold hands. Not a dry eye in the house. What a lovely experience to behold. Note to self, always have a special celebration party organized for people who book their vacations with me. Such a value added service of emotion and thoughtfulness. I am moved by the scene!

Entry 5 of the GGA (Great Greek Advenutre)

Off the plane and met by Cunard represent tatives for the transfer to the ship. A 45 minute drive by highway and through some of the city sights in Athens on route to the ship pier in Pireas.

Ships in the harbor NCL Jade, Ruby Princess and MSC Armonia as well as some local and regional ferries that no doubt connect the fabulous ports in Greece. The alphabet in Greek is unique and always had the comfort of English spelling for us tourists!

Penny was waiting when I arrived at the pier where cunard’s beautiful and newest ship was docked waiting for our arrival and embarkation. The process was not too onerous and within minutes we were boarding Penny’s first cruise. Although I have cruised many times, I am thrilled to be anticipating this great adventure aboard Cunard for my first time. Luxurious and very classy describe the decor.

The man who checks us in at the desk enquiries, “are you sisters?”. We laugh as this is the first time we had that question posed to us since we met sOme 43 years ago!

In our spacious balcony stateroom(we were upgraded a few times from our initial investment for an inside stateroom), was a lovely bottle of French champagne on ice. We learned to use our room keys to turn lights on. Our room steward Edwin is super helpful and seems keenly interested in making our stay extraordinary. Cruising is really about service. Cunard offers remarkable and understated, ever present service.

Entry 4 the great Greek adventure

Many gracious thanks to Joanne for the few days pre flight.  she picked me up from ferry and we had a super fun time preparing for my trip.  We ate out a Greek restaurant in preparation of what come next.  We re-packed my bags and downsized my items of need on the trip.  We enjoyed a great belly laugh.  Then she got me to the airport on time. I am so grateful!  

 

I recommend a book, Zero Limits by Joe Vitale for a life changing practice for every moment of living.  I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.

 

The first leg of the flight to Montreal was uneventful.  The folks sitting next to me did not speak english.  A mother and daughter team, both stunning beauties. The second leg from Montreal to Athens was a great adventure unto itself.

 

I met a fabulous and soulful man, Rick  S.  He is a world traveler and we shared story after great story of past experiences, great books to read, life long learning and encouragement for a future full of deep relationships.  I was so impressed and inspired with his knowledge, courage, success, willingness and straight honesty.  I do hope we keep in touch.  I would love to be in business or something with Rick.  I am so grateful for this heart communication and meeting a new friend.