|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Oct 10, 2016 06:00 PM Cape Sounion
It was raining in the morning when it was the time to say goodbye to our ship. You paid, you go! You have to be out of your cabin before 8.30 and out of the ship before 9.30! Not very pleasant...
The well kept secret is a city bus X80 going from cruise terminal to Syntagma Square in the center of Athens. On the ship they will not tell you about this inexpensive option to leave the terminal, they prefere to offer you the coach for 20 dollars...
I have to spend the night in Piraeus before morning sailing. Adonis Hotel, 70 Filonos St is the good option for budget traveller. 20 eu per clean room with sink.
At 1 pm the rain dissappeared and Decided to go by public bus to Cape Sounion. No, no lighthouse there. But in the ancient times they biilt there on the cliff a temple of Poseidon. Already as a boy I was dreaming about this place watching black and white pictures in my textbook...
Bus cost 7 eu each way and departs every hour from Egypt Sq near Viktoria subway station. After almost 2 hours of driving (great coastal views on the way) I finally saw my dream. It has very nice location. After season only few tourists there. Blue sea around... The dream came true....
They charged me 4 eu entry (with a senior's discount)
|
Oct 09, 2016 06:00 PM Athens after 42 years...
In the morning we docked in the port of Piraeus. Very busy place - many ferrier goes from here to the Greek Islands. Arrival was very badly organized - no free shuttle bus to the port gate, no maps, no reliable information... Greece... I was walking all over the way to the electric train station in Piraeus. The it is easier: ticket to Athens cost 1,40 eu and you can change to the bus.
I started my walk from Syntagma Square where in front of the Parliament buildings there are guards in funny uniforms performing every half an hour for the tourists. Then it was already close to thd temple of Zeus, Hadrian Arch ruin and Traditional quarter of Plaka. Plaka lies at the bottom of Acropolis. If you want to go to the top they charge hefty 20 euro... Roman Agora, churches, music... It was nice to be here again, Athens did not change much...
|
Oct 08, 2016 06:00 PM Lazy Sunday at sea...
In our original schedule we should be today in Izmir - Turkey. But the owners of the ship decided that it is too dangerous at the moment and we are drifting whole day at blue sea. They returned 34 USD per person. Thank you! It is a time for sunbath and for the walks around the ship (it is so big that I still do not know all lounges, bars and cafes :) Unlimited ice cream for everybody. They eat, eat, eat... In the evening interesting show with many special effects. Time to enjoy the music - I like most three charming young ladies from Bulgaria - violin trio... They were so surprised that I know so many places in their country - usually the passengers even do not know where is Bulgaria on the map... They played especially for me one of my favourites - Lara's theme from "Dr Zhivago"
-Somewhere my love...
|
Oct 07, 2016 06:00 PM Rhodes the beautiful...
It is one of the most fascinating islands in the Mediterranean. By its nature, history and monuments. In the old port they have space for two olny cruise ships. We docked in the morning just opposite the old city walls with the beautiful view of the old town. At 9am I was already ashore, I grab a good map from the tourist office in the port gate and walked along the walls to the long distance bus stop. Bus to Lindos - 5,50 eu each way departed at 9.30. On the way (1,5 h) there were nice views of the coastal lonely peaks and nice beaches in the bays. My target - Lindos Acropolis also looks like a single table mountain on the coast. Go bit further then a bus stop for a greter view! At the bottom of the Acropolis there is lovely, white village of Lindos - Greek beauty with flowers on the white walls... Then you have to walk 160 m up to the top of the hill. The vie from the fortress is great. Some colums fron Athena temple survived and the walls too. It is worth to know that retired people from EU have 50% discount on regular 12 Eu entry fee...
Back in Rodos city I took the walk throuch the old town enjoying mosques, churches, city gates an the Palace of Grand Masters... Great place to be and great, hot day!
|
Oct 06, 2016 06:00 PM Eastern Crete from Heraklion...
We are on the Greek Islands! At the sunrise I saw for the first time the little fortress at the entrance of the port of Heraklion. Once in the city I was running to the bus starion near the port to take a bus to the picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos. The ticket cost me 7,70 eu each way. Exciursion offered by ship cost 120 USD! Lovely lake and fishing port there! Then again by public bus to Elunda - with great views from the coastal road.. Boats to Spinalonga island with little fortress and remains of lepper colony costs 10 erro for round trip...
|
Oct 05, 2016 06:00 PM We are saling...
Days are very busy when in the port, but today we are sailing south to the Greek islands and we have full day at sea. Time for laundry, fo sunbath and - in the evening fantastis show "Amor cubano"
|
Oct 04, 2016 06:00 PM Napoli - Sorrento -Amalfi
Yesterday in the evening I celebrated with my Australian friends the anniversary: 40 years ago I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, on 4th October I reached The higher summit -Mt Kibo.
At the sunrise today I took a great picture of Vesuvio. Then after a long walk through Na ples I took the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. It costs only 2,60 euro each way. I have been to Sorrento and Capri before but I do not know this wonderful road from Sorrento to Amalfi. The road goes on the cliff above the see.I did it! It is really one of the most beautiful roaads in the world...
|
Oct 03, 2016 06:00 PM In Rome again -just for 10 euro...
Our ship docked in Civitavecchia in the early morning and departure will be at 8 pm. Well, I have been to Rome several times but why not to refresh memories? Free shuttle bus took us from the far-away jetty to the town CV. Then I was walking to the station. The cheapest RTticket to Rome costs 10 euro. If you wantvto add free buses and metro it will be BIRG ticket for 12 Eu... Train to Roma Termini station takes about an hour. I got a new map at the tourist office and start my walk - firts to Spanish Steps, then Di Trevi fountain, Plazza Venezia, Colloseo, bridgeson the river and Vaticano. Weather was lovely, but amoutvof smog in the streets is on increase. When I arrived to San Pietro station to take the train back to CV they announced troubles.... We were waiting more then 1 hour for the next train. Be aware!
|
Oct 02, 2016 06:00 PM Livorno to Pisa....
Livorno, where we docked in the morning is a big port and seside resort with nise promenade of Terazza Mascagni along the sea, little fortress on the coast and few palm - fringed plazas. But it is the gateway to Pisaand Florence, easy acaccessible by train. To get to the Stazione Centrale tale a bus 1 - ticket at tabaconist cost 1,20 eu. Then RT rail ticket to Pisa cost 5,60. The journey will take only 20 min.
Pisa with its cathedral and Leaning Tower is one of the icons of Italian tourism. I have been here 46 years ago, so it was nice to refresh memories and to enjoy again this precious, white afrchitecture. It is quite long walk from the station -like 2 kms - to the tower,, cathedral and huge, ornate baptistry hut you are going through the old town and crossing Arno river. Weather was lovely today so I enjoyed the excursion with my Australian friends very much.
|
Oct 01, 2016 06:00 PM Long walk to Marseille...
In the morning our ship arrived to Marseille. Information on the ship is poor - they will tell you how to spend the money, but not how to get to the city on a cheap... They peovide shuttle bus for 17 euro RT. Shame! I took the green line pointed on the ground to get to the port gate. Then you have a choice to take a public bus no. 35 for 1.90 eu (1.60 in the vending machine in the city) or... you have to walk folowing markers Vieux Port. I was walking - it took me 1,5 hour. Let you know that that area could not be safe after sunset...
Marseille of Alexander Dumas from my childhood... Pretty old port, churches, forts at the entrance... I was climbing to the basilica Notre Dame de La Garde overlooking the city from the 162 m hill. Great view! Like 46 years ago when I have been here for the first time... Memories...Little castle- prison d'If on the island is visible, and it seems that they rebuilt it... Comte Monte Cristo, cafes of Canebiere main street.Free 30 m7n wi-fi in the tourist office. I like Marseille!
|
Page:
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141
|
|
|
