The amazing blues of Santorini Greece

     My recent  cruise on the Majestic Princess allowed me to see what it was like to visit many ports and have several sea days on the newest ship in the Princess fleet. My own European Cruise started in Rome and ended in Dubai. At just over 2 weeks it was all the vacation days I had left so there are a few things I did a little different than I would suggest clients do them.  One of the major things I did different than I suggest for clients is I arrived in Rome the day of the cruise departure.  I did this because I was short on vacation  time and it almost ended my cruise before it began since I arrived in Amsterdam to learn the flight to Rome was cancelled. Luckily I was able to be placed on standby for a different flight and only arrived a few hours late.

    My private driver was waiting outside the terminal for me with a sign with my name on it. We were soon off to see as many sites of Rome as I could before I needed to be on the ship. My whirlwind tour  included the Vatican, gelato, a scenic overlook, the. Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain,the Spanish Steps, the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum.

    Naples was our first port and I toured Capri, Sorrento, and  Pompeii. My tour docked in Capri past many smaller picturesque fishing/sailing ships.  We took the Funiculari  to the top. Beautiful sea views await you along with amazing food, smells, oh and more views as you walk to the other side of the island. We took a different ferry to Sorrento where at the dock we were able to get some pics of the famous hotels and beach but we’re quickly whisked off to lunch. At  Pompeii our tour guide explained about the eruption, the rediscovery, and the ruins that remain.  I would tell you more but I want you to discover it on your own.  

    Athens was my next port and my tour was The Temple of Poseidon, The Acropolis, and a visit to Plaka.  The Temple is not still a complete structure but it is impressive. Lunch was a tasty buffet at a local hotel.   Arriving at the Acropolis you start to see ancient relics right away.  We followed our guide to the top with a few explanations about the temples on the way. Once at the top we were given more information and told places to see the best view and then given a meeting time . Plaka is basically a shopping opportunity but the area is cute and has a lot of variety.

    My next port was Santorini and I had another long day of seeing as much of the island as possible planned. Our tour of Akrotiri, Oia, lunch at a local winery, visiting the black sand beach and ending in Fira took all day.  We returned to Fira and were given free time to shop before taking the cable cars back down to the tenders.

     After a few sea days my next adventure was the all day transiting of the Suez Canal. We were part of a convoy transiting the canal.  We passed under the Friendship bridge funded by Japan and by a war memorial. It was neat to see the area where the new and old canals met. I was very surprised by the almost Caribbean appearance of the Bitter Lake areas. The Mosques and churches we passed were beautiful and even surprising as we saw the two religions side by side. There was such a variety of old and new the entire transit. I was so entranced the whole day and my sunscreen did not keep up.

    Jordan and the lost city of Petra was the next port. Our walk to the beginning of the Siq was about a half hour but the Siq itself is at least an hour walk. Petra is almost surreal in its colors as they change from the time you arrive to the time you depart. Many of the structures still allow you to go inside and see the beauty of the carved stone. Much of the site was compromised by the Romans so you will see Roman structures and Nabataean mixed across your wanderings. In truth you could spend days exploring to really see this whole site. After Lunch and some time to buy souvenirs we backtracked through the the alien landscape to the ship.

     My final port was Dubai. My local guide, Ute, took me out to the end of the Palm islands to see Atlantis Dubai and then to the Jumeirah hotels. Next we were off to the mall that contains the fountains, ice skating rink, aquarium, art and the entrance to the world tallest building the Burj Khalifa. Up to the 125th floor I quickly went . The sunset, views of the World Islands, and skyline view is amazing. After tons of pictures I made my way back down in time to watch the fountain show . I ended my night in Dubai with a camel milk colada at the Sky View Bar in the Burj Al Arab.  Over the course of the day I learned a lot . Dubai is truly worth a longer visit .If you read this far and are interested in a similar or different experience I would be happy to help you have an adventure that you will love to tell others about for the rest of your life. There is so much more I have to tell but like time the space allowed is short.

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