Mediterranean Cruise

Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
edited November 2, 2006 in Journeys
My lovely wife and I celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary by going on a Mediterranean Cruise. The cruise lasted 12 days.
It started in Barcelona Spain and finished in Venice Italy. In between we had stops at Villefrance (Nice, Eze), Livorno (Florence and Pisa), Civitavechia (Rome), Naples (Capri), Athens, Santorini and Dubrovnick.
I can tell you that after living with me for 25 years, she deserved to be given the boat....not just the cruise

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We were not able to get to Spain in time for any sight seeing there. This photo is taken from the balcony of our room on board the Millennium and shows part of the Harbour in Barcelona.

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The balcony was a wonderful place for quiet relaxation. The complimentary bottle of Champagne was a nice touch.

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This is our room. Anyone who has been on a cruise knows that the rooms are not very large, but with so much going on, little time is actually spent in your room.

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Our first stop was Villefrance. from this port, we visited the Village of Eze and the city of Nice.


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This is the view from the Villefrance Harbour as we started the tour of the day. We found the cruise line tours to be very expensive. If you are at all adventurous, you can get to the same places by bus or train for a fraction of the cost. We travelled this region by bus and spent about 15 Euro's.


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This is my lovely wife waiting patiently for the bus to Eze.
The following photos will be from the Villlage of Eze.


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Eze is perched on a very high cliff and has a beautiful view
over the water. Our cruise ship can be seen in the distance.


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Old fashion meets new fashion:thumb

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On we go to Livorno. This is the closest Port of Call for Florence and Pisa. We took a tour through the cruise company for this location as there was no easy way to get into Florence. The tour was basically a ride to Florence and then to Pisa and back to the ship with lots of walking in between.

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We were dropped off here at the Santa Croce Basilica and left to explore the beauty of this city.

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The statue looking person in the lower left corner is actually a Mime. It was really fun to watch as my wife dropped a little bit of change into the box in front of him.

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I think he really caught her by surprise!


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No trip to Florence would be complete without a stop at the Pontevecchio. Great place for gold and leather (still out of our price range:cry)

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This is one of the few pictures of me....as you can see it is much safer for viewers if I stay on the other side of the camera.

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Window shopping on the Pontevecchio

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Lots of gold to be purchased.

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Leather gloves in all colours of the rainbow.

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Just in case my pictures don't turn out...better safe than sorry!


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A hard afternoon of sightseeing and shopping needs to be followed by the best ice cream ever.


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Statue of David

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Zeus


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On we went to Pisa for a lovley but crowded afternoon at the Leaning Tower.

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I really need to learn perspective control and making buildings straight....sorry.

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Next stop was the port of Civitavechia. This is the closest port for the city of Rome. We took the train to Rome for 9 Euros return. We had been to Rome before and were mainly interested in the Popes house. We never got in the last time.

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The next pictures are taken inside St Peters Basilica


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From Rome we continued on to Naples. Our day was spent on
the Island of Capri.

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Getting to Anna Capri is an adventure in itself. I was lucky enough (read dum enough) to get the front seat of the bus.

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If the bus ride didn't soil your pants the cable car will likely finish the job!

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Getting to the top was worth the ride and takes your breath away completely.



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Capri was another one of those places where one day is just not enough to take in all the beauty that is offered. Such is the life of a cruise holiday.

The next stop was the city of Athens. A population of over 4 million people. I would have thought a city that large would be dirty. Seems I was wrong. It is a wonderful spot.

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Shopping in the Plaka.



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Outside the city of Athens

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And on we go to my all time Favourite...the Island of Santorini. I think this means the most beautiful place...at least we thought so.

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Our home away from Home as seen from the town of Fira.
The following pictures are from the town of Oya.

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Next stop was Dubrovnick in Croatia. Another beautiful place!

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A walk on the top of the wall around this city ia a must for any visitor
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Our last stop before returning home was Venice Italy. One of the best experiences of this trip was entering the Venice harbour via cruise ship. The following pictures are taken from the top of the ship looking down into the city.

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And then the walking started.74228142-M.jpg

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For those of you who are still awake....thanks so much for pursevering and I hope you enjoyed. If you are wanting for more punishment the rest of the pictures can be found on my website.

Dan
Dan
Mickey57

Comments

  • ESigginsESiggins Registered Users Posts: 185 Major grins
    edited October 13, 2006
    Nice series! I really like the first one of Eze with the clock tower.
    Shoot, or shoot not. There is no try.
    http://esiggins.smugmug.com
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 13, 2006
    Thanks for your kind words.....more coming...as soon as the people at work figure out that I am on holidays. ne_nau.gif

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 14, 2006
    I have finally completed this journey. Sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoy.
    Caution....lots of pictures
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • TommyboyTommyboy Registered Users Posts: 590 Major grins
    edited October 14, 2006
    Mickey57 wrote:
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    Old fashion meets new fashionthumb.gif

    For those of you who are still awake....thanks so much for pursevering and I hope you enjoyed. If you are wanting for more punishment the rest of the pictures can be found on my website.

    Dan

    Dan,

    Spectacular series. There are a number of especially fine images here, but truthfully they are all good, each in its own way. The one above is my sentimental favorite.

    The rest of the pictures? This isn't all of them? Sheesh, you're as bad as I am.

    Thanks for having us along.
    "Press the shutter when you are sure of success." —Kim Jong-il

    NEW Smugmug Site
  • BlueHoseJacketBlueHoseJacket Registered Users Posts: 509 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    Wow Dan
    Those were great. I am looking at my 22 anniversary in June, may need to look into a similar cruise for the big 25. What a beautiful part of the world.
    Thanks for sharing.
  • OwenOwen Registered Users Posts: 948 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    I did a very similar trip with my grad class. It was amazing!

    Did you go on the Fragonard tour in Eze? It was very cool!

    Owen
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 22, 2006
    BluehoseJacket:
    You will not regret a tour such as this. It is such a beautiful part of the world. There are several of the places that we will visit again, as one day was not enough to soak in all the beauty. If you want any info regarding the trip, feel free to e-mail me.
    Thanks for commenting.

    Hi Owen:
    We never got to the Fragonard Perfume Factory, but my wife did get the chance to go to a factory store and make a purchase.
    Now she smells as pretty as she looksmwink.gif

    Thanks to both for looking at my pictures.

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    Wow, wonderful JOURNEY! Great post bowdown.gif

    clap.gif
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,938 moderator
    edited October 23, 2006
    Wow! Hardly does the trip justice. I'll bet it was wonderful with a capital
    W thumb.gif

    Congrats on 25 years of marriage too.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • DavidSDavidS Registered Users Posts: 1,279 Major grins
    edited October 24, 2006
    Nice series. Looks like it was a wonderful trip. What a great way to celebrate 25 years.
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited October 24, 2006
    What a great Mediterranean tour.

    I loved the shots of the village of Oya. The white buildings with the colored roofs against the blue sea are outstanding.

    A great series of images. Makes me want to go on a cruise ship!!thumb.gif
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 24, 2006
    To Andy, Ian and David
    Thanks very much for taking the time to look and also for the nice words.
    It was a once in a lifetime trip for Marianne and I. We won't soon forget it.

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2006
    Fantastic trip and gorgeous shots!!! It's difficult to pick out a favorite, I'd love to see it all. The shots of Oya and Croatia are stunning. And every shot of your beautiful wife looks as if she was having a marvelous time. Congratulations and thanks for taking us along! :saurora
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 26, 2006
    Hi Saurora:
    Thanks for the nice compliments. It was the journey of a lifetime for us.
    The more I think of it the more I feel that Santorini was my favourite stop. The buildings and landscape there were truly breathtaking. I would love to go back and spend a week......I just have to figure out how to win the lottery :giggle

    Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • smhs.imagessmhs.images Registered Users Posts: 137 Major grins
    edited October 26, 2006
    why is there not even one photo of the two of you together? Other than that they are beautiful and it looks like you had a marvelous time. Can't wait to hit that part of the world!
    Shawna
    www.shawnaseto.com

    Nobody gets in to see the wizard. Not nobody, not no how.

    Join Smugmug get $5 bucks off!
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited October 26, 2006
    Hi Shawna:
    I do have some, but as I was in them so they are not my best work.
    It's amazing what 25 years of marriage will do. I told my wife that I thought we should go out more often. She agreed and told me to leave the light on if I get home before her wings.gif
    Just kidding of course. Thanks for looking...you will enjoy this part of the world when you get there.

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • wholenewlightwholenewlight Registered Users Posts: 1,529 Major grins
    edited October 26, 2006
    great shots of a great trip - congrats and thanks for sharing the adventure
    john w

    I knew, of course, that trees and plants had roots, stems, bark, branches and foliage that reached up toward the light. But I was coming to realize that the real magician was light itself.
    Edward Steichen


  • frankensteinfrankenstein Registered Users Posts: 57 Big grins
    edited October 27, 2006
    Dan, I feel like I've been on a whirlwind trip! What a great bunch of images - you've captured the European feel very well. Nothing like a nice trip to burn a few pixels, eh?

    Frank
  • maegandoughertymaegandougherty Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited October 28, 2006
    Celebrity Millennium?
    You have so many beatiful shots. Some of them look very familiar! My husband and I did the same cruise for our honeymoon last October. What a trip!

    http://maegandougherty.smugmug.com/gallery/1336393
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2006
    What a great trip
    You're going to laugh, but I loved the shot of your cruise ship room! Santorini calls to me too... but I doubt I'll ever get there.

    Thanks for posting the photos -- and especially for the verbage describing the places and scenes. I know that takes a lot of time to put together.
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited November 2, 2006
    Hi Dee:
    I am glad you liked the cabin shot. I wasn't going to put it in this thread but then realized that, for us, seeing that cabin for the first time made us realize that this was going to be a great trip.

    When I look at this gallery, I see so many places that I would love to go and I realize that many of these trips will never happen.
    That is why it is so nice that all these wonderful photographers take us along on thier holidays.

    Thanks for looking

    Dan
    Dan
    Mickey57
  • USAIRUSAIR Registered Users Posts: 2,646 Major grins
    edited November 2, 2006
    Thanks for taking us along
    Awesome photos

    Fred
  • Mickey57Mickey57 Registered Users Posts: 48 Big grins
    edited November 2, 2006
    To John W:
    Thanks so much for the congrats. Hope she will put up with me for a few more years, and thanks for looking

    Frank:
    You are so right about burning the pixels....you don't realize just how many you have burned till you get home and start downloading eek.gif
    Thanks for taking the time to look.

    Meagan:
    Excellent guess on the ship. I looked at your website to see your cruise pictures. They are really great as well. There were several newlyweds on board our cruise. Seemed everytime they turned around they were getting marked out. One couple was celebrating 55yrs of marriage....man I thought 25 was tough on my wife...don't think she will be that patient bowdown.gif

    Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. I really do appreciate them.
    Dan
    Mickey57
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