MSC OPERA – Another day at sea

Today we are travelling from Athens to Yalta in the Ukraine.

We sailed up the Dardanelles strait and past Gallipoli, but at about 4 a.m.

so we didn’t get up as we wouldn’t see anything in the dark!

We then travelled up the Bosphorus Strait and past the city of Istanbul

(which we will return to in a few days)

Much colder and the seas are rougher today.

There's been an Earthquake in south east Turkey.

They say, Istanbul is due for a big quake too, lets hope it holds off for a few days.

Until next time, Kim

MSC OPERA– Its all Greek to me….

Guess what?

We missed having our photo taken with the captain…. (they charge you 14 euro for a copy anyway)

because we were too busy winning last nights BINGO!

We won 140 euros, woo hoo, this will keep me in cocktails for the rest of the trip… *snigger*

I particularly like the cocktail with is like a banana smoothie with baileys….

but I digress….

We woke early this morning because the boat had stopped moving and had a lovely view of Athens at dawn from our balcony.

We left the ship early for a shore excursion to the Acropolis.

Below is the Parthenon, which was built in the 5th century B.C.

It changed denomination many times in its history, depending  on who was in power in Greece.

The Turkish used it for a ammunitions store which blew up during a skirmish with the Venetians.

Then of course Lord Elgin came along and souvenired bits of it, which are now controversially displayed in the British Museum.

The Greeks want them back….

Its built on a hill made of marble which is really slippery and must be treacherous when its wet.

Its a bit hard to judge a city when you are only onshore for 4 hours but here are my initial impressions.

Athens is jam packed with buildings, mostly apartment blocks.

And generally there is an air of nobody caring to do any maintenance on their homes.

No pride in their homes.

Unlike some other old cities were the houses are neat and tidy and have flowers in windows etc.

There is shabby chic and there is just pain grubby.

Also there is a layer of brown smog hanging over the city.

These impressions were not helped by the garbage problem.

I guess that as a result of the strikes and the other recent problems in Greece they have not had garbage collections for weeks.

Big mounds of smelly rubbish lined the roads, they were trying to collect it but its going to take them weeks to clean it up.

Add to the garbage the number of stray dogs wandering the streets, all large dogs like Labradors and collies.

(I guess little dogs don’t survive) Can you imagine the mess when you combine garbage heaps and stray dogs!

And, homeless people.

You see homeless  people in all big cities but there seems to be an a lot of them here.

Anyway, I guess you can tell that I didn’t like Athens much…

 

We went back to the ship for lunch, I thought I’d have a little rest and fell asleep for 2 hours!

Then there was a sail away party at the pool.

 

 

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Until next time, Kim

MSC OPERA–In the middle of the deep blue sea

We are sitting on deck chairs on the top deck of the ship.

Lots of people about, swimming or lying in the sun.

The entertainment crew have been teaching people to dance, jump through hoops and other silly activities!

The sky is blue and the sea is a deep sapphire blue.

Today we are at sea and are arriving in Greece tomorrow morning.

(That is if its ‘open’ and they are not still on strike!)

NAUTICAL INFORMATION

(from the ships daily programme)

Sailing early in the morning in the Ionian Sea at approximately 12:00pm

we will pass  Keffallania and then Zakinthos islands,

which will both be visible from the port side. With Southeast courses at

approx. 8pm we will be south of Peloponnesus Peninsula

altering course to east bound to the Aegean Sea.

Passing the narrow Steno Elafonisou channel we will alter course

to north crossing the southwest part of the Aegean Sea bound to port of Piraeus the port of Athens, Greece.

Tonight is dinner with the captain, so we need to get dolled up and Graham can get out his new jacket.

Until next time, Kim

MSC OPERA – Sailing away

There are over 2000 passengers on this boat and this morning they all tried to have breakfast at once!

The English only speakers are in a minority, most passengers seem to be German and noisy Italians.

Today we arrived at Bari, which is a city on the south coast of Italy.

Graham went ashore to have a look around and because he needs a watch battery.

(His watch stopped, I knew he should have bought one of those Rolexx (sic) watches from the market in Italy)

Of course lots of the shops were shut for lunch and he didn’t know what time it was so he came back.

I stayed and relaxed in the room as I am ‘tired’!

We left Bari this evening and are ‘at sea’ tomorrow.

 

Until next time, Kim

MSC OPERA–Finally, embarkation.

Very mundane start to the day, sitting in a Laundromat washing our clothes!

Arrived to check into the cruise about 1pm.

Great to finally see the ship in the distance after seeing so many photos of it.

The ship is the MSC Opera – MSC= Mediterranean Shipping Company.

There was a welcome lunch when we got on board, which was slightly chaotic – but I'm sure we’ll get the hang of it.

 

Our room is lovely, it is way up the top on deck 12, the La Boehme deck.

(Sounds classy but, wasn’t that Opera about some crazy artists living in an attic in Paris and a girl that died of consumption?)

We are on the starboard side of the ship and its a nice big room with our own balcony and lounge area.

 

 

Its raining as we are leaving Venice, but we have been lucky with the weather up to now.

Until next time, Kim

VENICE – ITALY– Island hopping and more shopping

Last day to fill in  before the cruise.

Today we caught the ferry over to the Island of Murano, where they make the glass.

There are some beautiful pieces and we were very tempted.

Graham did buy a spectacular paper weight, one of those complicated ones with all the swirly bubbly bits inside it.

(Note to Mum, used his birthday money towards it)

Then we looked at some of the art museums.

We saw countless paintings of baby Jesus and his mum, (e.g. Religious art)  before finishing the day with a nice meal in Venice.

Until next time, Kim

VENICE – ITALY– Buses and ferries

We travelled back into Venice today.

We now need to catch a bus from where we are staying. It takes about 30 minutes to arrive at the Bus station.

ABOVE: A photo of Graham smiling as requested by his Mum….

We bought a 36 hour travel passes, which cost 23 euro each.

But as its 6 euro for a one way trip on the ferry we thought this was good value.

So we spent the day catching Ferries around. It takes about another 1/2 hour by ferry to get to St Marks Square.

We had a look in St Marks Basilica, the tiled floors are spectacular.

It was too busy to get in there before, but its quieter today in Venice.

We visited the Doges Palace. The Doge was the ruler of Venice a bit like a president because he was voted for by a council. As they ruled for life they tended to only vote in elderly men, one Doge only lasted one day before dying.

Venice was once a huge superpower in the days before Italy was a united country.

Looking at old paintings of St Marks square it has changed very little over hundreds of years.

We walked over the Bridge of Sighs which is a covered bridge with windows that connects the Doges Palace with the New Prison next door. It is called the Bridge of Sighs as prisoners would be taken to the Palace to be sentenced and on their return to the prison they would have a last glimpse of freedom from the windows on the bridge. ‘Sigh..’Or so the story goes!

 

Until next time, Kim