HI Folks,
here I am in bonnie Scotland, getting ready to leave continental Europe behind, and head for the Americas. Since leaving Greece, we have sailed into Turkey at Kusadasi and Istanbul l, also visited Anzac Cove for a moving ceremony, then on to Venice. I just wandered around on my own at Kusadasi, but in Istanbul Hazel and Mike and I went into the city on the shuttle, and explored the Blue Mosque, and the grand Bazaar! It hasn't changed since 2003. Loved it then and loved it now, at least I didn't buy any more Carpets! Then it was Venice! What can I Say! Fantastic! We walked my feet into the ground, I was absolutely kNaked! Bought quite a bit of venetian glass, " murano" . We stayed overnight there and the next morning, hazel and mike and I did a trip to mural island to see the glass blowers in action,shockingly Expensive! Then we went over to Brand island, where the lace workers Are! Gorgeous, but we didn't have enough time to explore thoroughly.
After leaving Venice we stopped at Dubrovnik, my legs were playing up, after all the Venetian walking, so I can celled my tour and just went into town on the shuttle and wandered for a few hours, then came back on board for a well earned leg massage and treatment. Absolutely Fabulous! I booked more for after the big shore Days! To keep me mobile. I have discovered that cobblestones are murder on your legs and Ankles! The walled old city of Dubrovnik was fascinating, another place to ad to the bucket list.
Instead of getting smaller as I travel, it is actually getting Longer! Then we had Rome, livorno, for Florence and Pisa, then Barcelona and Lisbon. WELL Barcelona just blew me away. What a lovely city, mostly architecturally art nouveau period, different from art deco, really beautiful buildings, and the laws don't allow anyone to change the front ages , at least. Which means the whole place is protected. I did a tour up into the mountainside to Montserrat,a benedictine monastery, where I tasted their wine/liqueur, tasted like our benediction, but cheaper, so I bought a bottle. Also fantastic cheese and salami, for my pre dinner drinking nibbles. Have been able to pad out my minibar supply with a few from ashore, so that is a blessing.
Oh backtracking, when in Rome, the Vatican square was blocked off, Andre Bocelli was giving a concert for the Pope. Wasn't that what happened when we were there last time, with John and Judy, JEAN? Our train was beautiful, red leather seats, and air conditioned, thank god, we had the hottest weather while in that part of Europe, 36,so and 37. Pretty warm. I was absolutely wet through all day. !
Lisbon was a pretty place to visit too, Hazel and I just did a bit there as Mike has hurt his knee. Then after a good crossing of the Bay of Biscay, we landed at Le Havre, where I did a tour of Monet's Garden. Beautiful. Took a lot of photos, but there were so many visitors that I ended up buying lots of postcards, as I always had some Jap, s o head in mine. Lovely lunch in a mill house, converted to a restaurant. Then on to Rouen, Joan of Arcs Cathedral, where she was burnt at the stake. Finally crossed the channel to Southampton, then over to Cobb, Dublin and today, Greenock Scotland. Very disappointed as I hoped to catch up with my granddaughter who has come over to Scotland to be with her boyfriend, but she started training for her job at the festival in Edinburgh so she couldn't come. Never mind.
Well friends, I hope this reaches you all and finds you in good spirits. I have visited many churches and cathedrals so far and I say a prayer for you all in every one. Until the next blog, love and hugs, Vicki
