Back to Athens
Trip Start
Apr 01, 2008
1
7
10
Trip End
Jul 24, 2008
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Athens,
Attica,
Greece
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Left the port of Pireaus in Athens for a 9 day EasyCruise Ionian Sea adventure...ports of call were Itea, Ithaki, Saradina (Albania), Corfu, Preveza, Kefalonia, Kiato (Ancient Corinth), the back on May 8th to Marina Zea, Athens. Whew!
Easycruise was a blast! So very unlike any other cruise we've done, and mostly for the better. The room was small, but did have a window and we weren't in there often anyway, so it suited us just fine. Beds were very comfy and the rocking motion had us both sleeping very well. This ship stops at many of the smaller ports and islands the big boats can't get into -- usually arriving about 12 noon every day and staying all afternoon and night, leaving that port around 3 or 4 in the morning. This gives a great chance to get into places at night and not have to be in a hurry running back to the ship. There were only about 110 people on the ship -- so it was awesome to have whole decks (and the hot tub) to ourselves many times. Staff was great. Food was good -- the wine, even better!
The water in the Ionian Sea is gorgeous! So many shades of blue that it's hard to imagine -- and crystal clear. It's still a bit chilly for those of us with Florida blood, but it's warming up fast. We discovered small villages with olive groves, vineyards, lemon and orange trees, and freshly blooming honeysuckle bushes -- the smells were incredible. Springtime is a wonderful time to visit the Greek Islands, and the people everywhere were so friendly.
While we were visiting the routes of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, we saw the ruins of Delphi where the famous oracle once spoke, the ancient cities where Anthony and Cleopatra fought against the Romans, and followed the footsteps of Paul through Ancient Korinthos (Corinth). It was mind-boggling the amount of history we sailed through in 9 days!
Comments
Hi From Malissa Binkley
Hi You Two!! Great to see you are still globe trotting! Any plans to go to Madagascar? I am pregnant again. Baby number 2. Emily is 3.5 now and I am due end of Oct/early Nov. Writing a book? What will it be about? Can't wait to read it! Nice to see Deidre came to visit you two. Im sure that was like having a little piece of home. I shared all your Africa pictures with Emily she thought they were so cool and wanted 'to go there too.' Seems you are both happy, healthy and well! Take Care, Malissa
visa and/or fee to Albania
Hi -
I'm a USA citizen. I checked Albania web site. It said for US(and many other countries) citizen, there is no need for VISA, but it said there is a charge Euro 10 to enter. What is your experience? I already paid the tour package. Thanks.