Blue Floral
We Were Into The Second Day Of A 10-Day Roman Empire Mediterranean Cruise, Having Boarded In CivitavecchiaTthe Previous Morning After 3 Superbly Chaotic And Engaging Days In Rome.
This incredible sight heralded our dawn entry to the Strait of Messina between the southern "toe of Italy" and the island of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
We were into the second day of a 10-day Roman Empire Mediterranean cruise, having boarded in Civitavecchia (Rome's seaport) the previous morning after three enchantingly chaotic and engaging days in Rome. This was our second cruise, and we are now committed to the cruising culture. Our 12 p.m. boarding of the ms Noordam was nearly a homecoming and we were shortly settled into our stateroom and were under way.
We cruised thru the Strait of Messina and north into the Adriatic on this first "at sea" day familiarising ourselves with our superb environment. The Noordam was spectacular.
The central curving glass staircase between decks was striking and the art-bedecked lounges and the nautical paintings, antique model ships and collections of period navigational instruments were interesting.
We relished our dinners. The continually changing Vista Dining Room's five-course menus never did not satisfy. Rosenthal china, gleaming silver and sparkling crystal glasses set on crisp white table-cloths were wonderful to behold. We opted for "open dining" and made many new buddies. There were three "formal" evenings and 7 "smart casual".
The casual Lido Grill buffet food court offered a choice of cuisine and made-to-order "super sandwiches" or burgers and hot dogs, all of which you might carry back to your stateroom, or out on to the deck to enjoy by the pool. Occasionally, we requested a room service meal to our stateroom. The Indonesian crew expected our every need and delivered morning tea, orange and a fresh flower to our stateroom.
On morning three, we spooked with the sunrise into the harbor at Dubrovnik, Croatia, and after a substantial breakfast, we rode the Holland America Line shuttle to the gates of the traditional walled town.
The Old Town's Pile Gate opens on to the white marble streets and buildings of the medieval city. This fairytale place is completely enclosed inside its 13th century 2km-long fortified wall. We walked the wall to spectacular views which modified at every turn. Along the Placa, the key street below, cafeterias and shops are tucked into the old buildings, and churches and monuments control the piazzas. The flamboyant 16th-century Sponza Palace museum keeps Dubrovnik archives and art collections.
After another smooth overnite sailing, we awoke to a crimson dawn over the island mountains of Corfu, Greece. The shuttle carried us into city, but before discovering its delights, we climbed the steps to explore tunnels under the stronghold castle overlooking the island's harbour.
The city of Corfu is enthralling. We looked and shopped and then relaxed outside a cafeteria in the city square, devouring baklava seeping honey with our iced moccachinos.
Having cruised south overnite, we docked at Katakolon, Greece. Our 3rd shore excursion was to Olympia, a name that's legend as the site of the first Olympics around 776BC. The Olympic torch is lit here every four years for the modern games. The Archaeological Museum exhibits sculptures, bronzes, pottery, jewelry and other artefacts.
Those famous white buildings and bright blue domes embellished the island's skyline. We had appeared at Santorini and were shortly tendered ashore, anxious to explore the alleyways and courtyards festooned with crimson bougainvillea.
But first, we had to scale the 220m caldera (cliff). There's a cable-car and the mule ride up was tempting, but we opted to stroll and shared the gentle, winding cobbled trail with the mules and their mounts. The dwellings, shops, narrow alleys, open squares and churches of Santorini, and the nearby city of Oia were enchanting.
Kusadasi, Turkey, is the port gateway to the Roman town of Ephesus. The shore excursion and tour of this best saved of Roman ruins brings alive the everyday life of its voters of two thousand years back. The walk down Curetes Street past villas, public baths, fountains and meeting places to the Augustus Gate, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the amphitheater is intriguing.
Ferries have precedence over cruise ships, so we waited a bit outside the narrow entrance to Piraeus Harbor, the traditional port gateway to Athens.
To walk round the Acropolis and gaze up at the Parthenon is the fulfilment of a lifetime dream for many - it was for us. To stand on those smooth granite rocks where the ancients had trod and absorb the grandeur was notable.
Messina was our last port of departure and the drive down the coast to the picture-perfect Sicilian community of Taormina, high on an escarpment overlooking the Ionian Sea, was a well-liked shore excursion. The old village, "the pearl of the Ionic Sea", provided a last chance for shore shopping or walks thru the pretty streets to the English Gardens and the Roman Greek theatre.
A last sea day on the return excursion, a last glance of Mt Stromboli, the last grand dinner before retiring and at 7am we berthed at Citeveccia prior to returning to Rome, writes tagza.com.
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