21-MAY-2015
Beneath the Olive Trees
As we gathered beneath a grove of olive trees, Nike, our local guide told us about prehistorical life here.
21-MAY-2015
Above an Ancient Ruin
After visiting the Acropolis, we walked downhill and reached the Acropolis Museum, which is built above an archaeological site.
21-MAY-2015
Birth of Athena
On the top floor of the Acropolis Museum, our guide Nike explained to us the sculptures on the east pediment of the Parthenon, which depicts the birth of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war, and the city of Athens. Athena emerged from the head of her father, Zeus, fully grown and armored. The rest of the Olympian gods reacted to this event. This reconstruction was based on a 1674 drawing by Jacques Carrey. By that time, the center group of statues had been destroyed a long time ago.
21-MAY-2015
Home of the Sea God
At Cape Sounion surrounded by sea, we can see why the ancient Greek chose this peninsula as the site for a temple of Poseidon, the sea god.
21-MAY-2015
What's on the Menu
Within walking distance from our hotel is the Vizantino Taverna. We had a choice of chicken kebab, stewed beef or grilled fish.
After dinner we walked around to see the nightlife in this district below the Acropolis known as Plaka.
22-MAY-2015
Paid in Euros
Almost all of us joined the optional shore excursions offered by the ship and paid with Euros.
Our package tour from Peony Tours covered some but not all the excursions.
22-MAY-2015
Our First Aegean Excursion
After taking a free shuttle bus from the main port of Mykonos to its largest town Chora, we walked on a narrow path along the waterfront to see the famous giant windmills.
22-MAY-2015
Dining aboard our Cruise-ship
We returned to our cruise-ship at
sunset.
The Aegean Restaurant aboard the MS Celestyal Olympia has only 2 tables that can sit eight. We always sat at this table.
Our regular waiter, Gamal, took our orders for dinner.
24-MAY-2015
Line for the King
At the palace of Knossos, we lined up to see and take photos of the dim Throne Room.
Please click on the link for
next page to see the continuation of our trip.
24-MAY-2015
Rough Sea and Solid Ground
On this afternoon, the water inside the Santorini caldera was very choppy. The trip by tender to the port of Ormos Athinios was an adventure. We all smiled after stepping on terra firma.
24-MAY-2015
Santorini Cable Car
We ended our tour of Santorini at the main town of Fira, where we rode the Santorini Cable Car down to the Old Port. Each train of the cable car has 6 cabins that can sit 6 persons for a total of 36.
The trip by tender back to our cruise-ship was thankfully uneventful.
25-MAY-2015
Late Lunch in Olympia
By the time we arrived in Olympia, it had been over 6 hours since our early breakfast aboard the cruise-ship. We quickly order lunch, which was very flavorful local cuisine. As it turned out, the Ambrosia Garden is within a short walk from the Olympia Museum and the ancient ruins.
25-MAY-2015
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
We gathered around a model of the Olympia site to hear our guide, Athena, about the history of Olympia.
On the left is the original site of the Olympic games. At the center is the famous Temple of Zeus.
On the right, the building with a disk atop its front is the
Temple of Hera.
25-MAY-2015
Victory Column
We looked up at a 3m tall statue of Nike created by Paeonius of Mende around 420BC. Behind us, the largest hall in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia displays the pediments of the Temple of Zeus.
25-MAY-2015
Olympic Flame
We stood around the Altar of Hera , on which the flame of every Olympic Game since 1936 was lit. The Doric column on the right was where Temple of Hera (wife of Zeus) once stood.
25-MAY-2015
Birthday Wish
Before dinner was served at the NAFS Hotel, we celebrated the birthday of Mr. Tsai, one of our fellow travelers. The NAFS Hotel has a beautiful dining room with a view of the sea. After dinner, most of us walked to the port of Nafpaktos to see its fortress.
26-MAY-2015
Ancient Artifact
We took a close look at the Charioteer of Delphi, one of the best-known surviving artifacts from Ancient Greece at the Delphi Archaeological Museum. This bronze statue was found in 1896.
26-MAY-2015
Upward Bound
Delphi, the ancient site of the sanctuary of Apollo is on a hill side. We walked pass the Roman Agora. Our guide, Athena, was pointing to the Temple of Apollo just ahead of us. The Theater is on the top.
27-MAY-2015
Cheer to a New City
We raised our glasses to each other in another city on our journey as we started dinner with Turkish appetizers at the Sura Restaurant across from our hotel.
28-MAY-2015
Largest Mosque in Istanbul
We arrived early at
Süleymaniye Mosque when tourists and worshipers were few. Its large west courtyard is anchored by four minarets. Our ladies put on head scarfs according to Islamic tradition before entering.
28-MAY-2015
Taking Pictures of Pictures
The
Chora Church is currently under a multi-year renovation. The exterior was completely covered with scaffold. The main sanctuary (naos) is closed. Fortunately, the most beautiful mosaics are in the two entrance halls (narthex). While listening to our guide, we took pictures of photographs of the church posted on the construction fence. Once we stepped inside, nothing can compare to the real sight.
28-MAY-2015
Exotic Evening
The dinner and belly dancing show at the Kervansaray in the Sisli district across the Golden Horn ended with some of us participating.
29-MAY-2015
Entering Hagia Sophia
We were in awe as we entered into the narthex (entrance foyer) of this great historical church/mosque, before we even saw its interior.
The sight inside is even more spectacular.
29-MAY-2015
The way to Grand Bazzar
Our guide Fatih made sure we remember this important intersection when we made a right turn on our walk from the hotel to the Grand Bazzar.
Behind us is the Metro T1 tramline with its Flexity Swift train made by Bombardier.
29-MAY-2015
Turkish Balloon Bread
In the Albura Kathisma Cafe & Restaurant where we enjoyed dinner together for the last time on this trip, balloon bread (Lavash) was served with hummus and yogurt as appetizer. It was followed by chicken or koftas kabobs.