Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Rome Sweet Rome..almost home sweet home!!!
Bonjourno,
As I write this blog, I am sitting on my bed in the middle of almost packed luggage. We have been cruising on the Queen Mary for six days and will be greeting the Statue of Liberty early tomorrow morning. What an adventure this has been. I think I got behind on my blogs in the last few weeks so today before I get off the ship. my goal is to finish with our last tour...to Rome.
Ken and I took two different tours...he visited the highlights of Rome and I went to the Sistine Chapel. We did see some of the same landmarks though. Our dock was in Civitavecchia, which is two hours from Rome. The buses actually are pretty modern and with the tour guide's commentary on the city it makes the time go quickly. The first thing I noticed about Italy was the green...it was Spring and the rolling hills dotted with purple crepe myrtle trees was such a delightful view out our window. Along with our guide's wonderful Italian accent, I felt like this was the frosting on the fabulous cake we have been enjoying this journey!!
Our tour took us first to a very popular fountain called The Trivia Fountain. It is tradition to make a wish here while throwing a coin over your shoulder into the fountain. The fountain is surrounding by magnificent sculptures. On the way to the fountain we saw two women with a baby stroller...it was kinda weird because I saw one of the ladies using a cardboard to block the baby or something....the next thing, she grabbed into the pocket of one of the elder men's pocket...he knocked the cardboard and her down. We were warmed..beware of gypsies. It has been amazingly sad how people use children to help with their begging and crimes. Fortunately this was the only episode that we knew but after that I turned my backpack into a frontpack!!
Next we took a journey back to the days of the Gladiators with a visit to the incredible Coliseum. It is Rome's finest amphitheatre commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72AD. This immense sculpture once held up to 55,000 people. Subterranean passageways lead to holding chambers for competitors, animals and equipment and the 76 entrances to allow the access for the eager crowds.
From here we walked to the Vatican Museum which houses one of the most impressive collections in the world. The artwork is unbelievable...you hear about it all but until you are in front of it...you just can not believe it...I still can't!!! Michelangelo..what a guy!!!
Our last stop was the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica which took over 100 years to build. It sits on over 800 pillars and is adorned with 44 altars....that is a BIG church!!! It is by far the largest church in the world. We saw where the Pope stands to give his speeches and all that good stuff. They have Wed. morning service when he is in town...I guess he didn't know we were coming because he wasn't there.
The history of this city is ancient It is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city. It's history as a city spans over two and a half thousand years, as one of the founding cities of Western Civilization. It would take alot more time than we had to really see the sites yet I feel we got a very good feel of the history of the place.
So, the tours have ended...I just got back from a wine tasting, on our way to the "passenger" talent show. I was hoping Ken would play his digiredo but he said he is not prepared...possibly on a spaghetti Sunday he'll play for us. Afterwards we are going to the planetarium, dinner and our last show. When we wake up at 4:45 we are going up to the bow to see us go under the Barisono Bridge (3 meter clearance) and the Statue of Liberty as we arrive in our home sweet homeland.
I'll write once we get settled in Maine and finish the trip. Chris is picking us up in New York tomorrow where we'll stay a few days and then drive up through Boston to the Maclin's place which they so generously are letting us stay until Chris graduates. Our flight home will be on Mother's Day...how apropos....
Arriveiderci,
janet and Ken
As I write this blog, I am sitting on my bed in the middle of almost packed luggage. We have been cruising on the Queen Mary for six days and will be greeting the Statue of Liberty early tomorrow morning. What an adventure this has been. I think I got behind on my blogs in the last few weeks so today before I get off the ship. my goal is to finish with our last tour...to Rome.
Ken and I took two different tours...he visited the highlights of Rome and I went to the Sistine Chapel. We did see some of the same landmarks though. Our dock was in Civitavecchia, which is two hours from Rome. The buses actually are pretty modern and with the tour guide's commentary on the city it makes the time go quickly. The first thing I noticed about Italy was the green...it was Spring and the rolling hills dotted with purple crepe myrtle trees was such a delightful view out our window. Along with our guide's wonderful Italian accent, I felt like this was the frosting on the fabulous cake we have been enjoying this journey!!
Our tour took us first to a very popular fountain called The Trivia Fountain. It is tradition to make a wish here while throwing a coin over your shoulder into the fountain. The fountain is surrounding by magnificent sculptures. On the way to the fountain we saw two women with a baby stroller...it was kinda weird because I saw one of the ladies using a cardboard to block the baby or something....the next thing, she grabbed into the pocket of one of the elder men's pocket...he knocked the cardboard and her down. We were warmed..beware of gypsies. It has been amazingly sad how people use children to help with their begging and crimes. Fortunately this was the only episode that we knew but after that I turned my backpack into a frontpack!!
Next we took a journey back to the days of the Gladiators with a visit to the incredible Coliseum. It is Rome's finest amphitheatre commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72AD. This immense sculpture once held up to 55,000 people. Subterranean passageways lead to holding chambers for competitors, animals and equipment and the 76 entrances to allow the access for the eager crowds.
From here we walked to the Vatican Museum which houses one of the most impressive collections in the world. The artwork is unbelievable...you hear about it all but until you are in front of it...you just can not believe it...I still can't!!! Michelangelo..what a guy!!!
Our last stop was the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica which took over 100 years to build. It sits on over 800 pillars and is adorned with 44 altars....that is a BIG church!!! It is by far the largest church in the world. We saw where the Pope stands to give his speeches and all that good stuff. They have Wed. morning service when he is in town...I guess he didn't know we were coming because he wasn't there.
The history of this city is ancient It is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city. It's history as a city spans over two and a half thousand years, as one of the founding cities of Western Civilization. It would take alot more time than we had to really see the sites yet I feel we got a very good feel of the history of the place.
So, the tours have ended...I just got back from a wine tasting, on our way to the "passenger" talent show. I was hoping Ken would play his digiredo but he said he is not prepared...possibly on a spaghetti Sunday he'll play for us. Afterwards we are going to the planetarium, dinner and our last show. When we wake up at 4:45 we are going up to the bow to see us go under the Barisono Bridge (3 meter clearance) and the Statue of Liberty as we arrive in our home sweet homeland.
I'll write once we get settled in Maine and finish the trip. Chris is picking us up in New York tomorrow where we'll stay a few days and then drive up through Boston to the Maclin's place which they so generously are letting us stay until Chris graduates. Our flight home will be on Mother's Day...how apropos....
Arriveiderci,
janet and Ken
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Travel not only stirs the blood...It also gives strength to the spirit!!
Yasas from Greece,
As you can see from the photos, it was another "dress up" night on the Queen!!!! We are at a cocktail party that they invite certain people to...whether you are on the world voyage, traveled thousands of days or are in with one of the crew!!! Anyway, it's free champagne so I usually get there at the beginning and Ken joins up with me..ha-ha!!
The camel is representative of our great time in Egypt...we could've dressed the part...oh well...notice my Egyptian bracelet. By the way, that is what I've been collecting everywhere I go...bracelets. Needless to say I have a big collection of bracelets!!!
The next photo I titled "3 blondes with stripes"!!!
So we are onto Athens...what a great day and what was so special is we met up with Niki, my longtime friend who lives in Greece. We had to go to Plan B on our meeting as all the taxis and buses went on strike and the ship was docked about 30 minutes from town. We took a tour in the morning to the Acropolis and our initial plans were to meet up with Niki who was taking the metro and come back by taxi or shuttle bus. Since parking is so bad in the city Niki didn't want to drive. Well, parking is bad, but with 17,000 taxis and the buses off the road it was very easy driving and she ended up driving into town, we met at the museum and had a great lunch on the Platka. I must say I was a bit nervous if we hadn't caught up with her we would have had no way back to the ship..Not good!!! Boy, I was so glad to see her...my first girlfriend in 3 months...it was so emotional. Our tour to the Acropolis was another taste of ancient history. To look at the building, the sculptures and the designs just blows my mind...how did they do that??
I hated to say goodbye to Niki and was sad that her daughter, Katarina was unable to join us. She had unfortunately come down with something that morning and was home sick from school. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is also known as the birthplace of democracy. Named after the goddess Athena, Athens is one of the oldest city in the world with a recorded history of at least 3,000 years. Today, the Greek capital is a bustling and cosmopolitan and metropolis with an urban population of 3.1 million people and a metro population of 3.7 million people. it was the host city for the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896 and in 2004 welcomed the Summer Olympics back home with great success.
All in all it ended up to be a great trip, especially with less traffic...it was almost as the Red Sea was opened and we were able to drive through...they even had one lane that only taxis were to drive in that we could drive in. It was the only Niki said she had driven in that lane...I guess there's a first for everything!!!
One more tour to Rome and we are done; too soon!!!
Looking forward to sharing all the other exciting adventures with y'all when we get home!!
janet and ken
As you can see from the photos, it was another "dress up" night on the Queen!!!! We are at a cocktail party that they invite certain people to...whether you are on the world voyage, traveled thousands of days or are in with one of the crew!!! Anyway, it's free champagne so I usually get there at the beginning and Ken joins up with me..ha-ha!!
The camel is representative of our great time in Egypt...we could've dressed the part...oh well...notice my Egyptian bracelet. By the way, that is what I've been collecting everywhere I go...bracelets. Needless to say I have a big collection of bracelets!!!
The next photo I titled "3 blondes with stripes"!!!
So we are onto Athens...what a great day and what was so special is we met up with Niki, my longtime friend who lives in Greece. We had to go to Plan B on our meeting as all the taxis and buses went on strike and the ship was docked about 30 minutes from town. We took a tour in the morning to the Acropolis and our initial plans were to meet up with Niki who was taking the metro and come back by taxi or shuttle bus. Since parking is so bad in the city Niki didn't want to drive. Well, parking is bad, but with 17,000 taxis and the buses off the road it was very easy driving and she ended up driving into town, we met at the museum and had a great lunch on the Platka. I must say I was a bit nervous if we hadn't caught up with her we would have had no way back to the ship..Not good!!! Boy, I was so glad to see her...my first girlfriend in 3 months...it was so emotional. Our tour to the Acropolis was another taste of ancient history. To look at the building, the sculptures and the designs just blows my mind...how did they do that??
I hated to say goodbye to Niki and was sad that her daughter, Katarina was unable to join us. She had unfortunately come down with something that morning and was home sick from school. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is also known as the birthplace of democracy. Named after the goddess Athena, Athens is one of the oldest city in the world with a recorded history of at least 3,000 years. Today, the Greek capital is a bustling and cosmopolitan and metropolis with an urban population of 3.1 million people and a metro population of 3.7 million people. it was the host city for the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896 and in 2004 welcomed the Summer Olympics back home with great success.
All in all it ended up to be a great trip, especially with less traffic...it was almost as the Red Sea was opened and we were able to drive through...they even had one lane that only taxis were to drive in that we could drive in. It was the only Niki said she had driven in that lane...I guess there's a first for everything!!!
One more tour to Rome and we are done; too soon!!!
Looking forward to sharing all the other exciting adventures with y'all when we get home!!
janet and ken
Monday, April 26, 2010
What a day we had today!!!
Salaam alaykum as they say in Egypt,
What a day...we thought our tour started at 5 a.m. and found out when we got back to our room after dinner we actually had to be in the Queen's room at 3:45 a.m. I'm including Ken's script on his trip as we took separate trips....I'm so glad he did decide to go afterall...I think he is too. So, we take a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the pyramids and they are all they say...mysterious, huge and beautiful. The amazing thing is you would think you'd travel quite away into the desert to see them, although they are right outside the town of Cairo. The first pyramid was built 2570 BC and took 200 years to build. It is just mindboggling to try to figure out how they moved 2,300.000 blocks of limestone weighing 2 1/2 tons each to put it all together. And all of that without computers, nails or cement!!
They were supposedly tombs for the pharaohs yet they have not found any mummies inside.
I walked all around one of the pyramids and took pics from every corner...I'm planning on comparing to see the difference!! There were so many people, children included looking to take your money...like the guy who wrapped a scarf around my head...I kept saying no money and he kept wrapping!! Then a security guard told me of a great pose for a pic and he took it...his bud said "you pay him?" You couldn't do anything without a handout!!! They would offer you a camel ride for $20 and once you got up they'd want another $30 to let you down. I did not fall for that one!!
And the little kids were so homely looking asking for money and bargaining with us...at one point I had a whole group of school age children approach me and their favorite question is "What is your name"...at first I thought they were asking for money and then realized they were on a school trip so I started clapping and they all joined in so there we were all singing and clapping...until their teacher pulled them away....probably saying in Greek..."that crazy American lady"! It just was so fun to interact with someone who didn't want money!!
We then visited the Sphinx which was amazing as it was carved out of a rock. On the way to our next stop we visited a mosque..yes, another one but it was pretty cool. We drove down a street in Cairo that had the first church, first synagogue, and first mosque.
Afterwards, we stepped aboard and experienced the colorful and fascinating sights of the magnificent Nile River on a floating restaurant. We took a gentle cruise as we had lunch and were entertained by "folkloric presentation and belly dancing". The belly dancers looked more like someone from Hooters!!
We have been so fortunate throughout this whole trip with the weather. I can't even remember when it last rained and it has been so warm during all of our tours. We sure have lucked out as it could make alot of the tours pretty nasty if it was cold or rainy.
And now Ken and his day...
4-13-10 Tuesday (anchored at the mouth of the Suez channel)
My original plans where to stay on the ship and observe the 100-mile Suez Channel transiting trip. However, the night before, I receive a call from the tour desk indicating there was still space open on a tour going to Cairo (Pyramids and the Sphinx). Even though the bus ride to Cairo was 2 hours long, anything had to be better than the infamous “camel ride”. So, at 2:30 in the morning I pulled my sorry butt out of bed dressed and was in the tour queue by 3:30AM.
Some 400 passengers took a number tenders (shuttle boats) to shore where we boarded our buses. .The Pymards of Giza are massive,,,, bigger than you can imagine. The Sphinx is also one of the 7 wonders of the world and make you ask, who, what, where and why??
The Cairo guide has his master degree in archeology and made the trip incredibly interesting. Aside from the history, the poverty (and traffic) in Cairo was overwhelming.
Kids working at 10 years old, bathing in filthy channel water and living in unbelievable conditions. Because of the usual traffic “grid lock” we and the other 10 Canard tour buses where very late leaving Cairo.
We where almost 3 hours from Port Said (the top of the Suez Cannel) the entrance to the Mediterranean. We where to depart Port Said at 7 pm (on a very tight schedule as dock space is at a premium because of the Suez ship scheduling). As a result, they gather all the late running Cunard tour buses at one spot on the outskirts of Cairo and under a special police escort took us across the county to the port to try meeting the departure time. Truck traffic on the Egyptian highways is very heavy. Even under a high speed police escort, traveling at 60 to 80 mph, this 10 Big Bus convoy was late arriving in Port Said. Most of the trucks we forced of the road gave up the “Egyptian hand salute”…We board Q.V. at 9PM (remember we have up since 2:30am) wiry.
Saal ma'is salaama,
janet and Ken
What a day...we thought our tour started at 5 a.m. and found out when we got back to our room after dinner we actually had to be in the Queen's room at 3:45 a.m. I'm including Ken's script on his trip as we took separate trips....I'm so glad he did decide to go afterall...I think he is too. So, we take a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the pyramids and they are all they say...mysterious, huge and beautiful. The amazing thing is you would think you'd travel quite away into the desert to see them, although they are right outside the town of Cairo. The first pyramid was built 2570 BC and took 200 years to build. It is just mindboggling to try to figure out how they moved 2,300.000 blocks of limestone weighing 2 1/2 tons each to put it all together. And all of that without computers, nails or cement!!
They were supposedly tombs for the pharaohs yet they have not found any mummies inside.
I walked all around one of the pyramids and took pics from every corner...I'm planning on comparing to see the difference!! There were so many people, children included looking to take your money...like the guy who wrapped a scarf around my head...I kept saying no money and he kept wrapping!! Then a security guard told me of a great pose for a pic and he took it...his bud said "you pay him?" You couldn't do anything without a handout!!! They would offer you a camel ride for $20 and once you got up they'd want another $30 to let you down. I did not fall for that one!!
And the little kids were so homely looking asking for money and bargaining with us...at one point I had a whole group of school age children approach me and their favorite question is "What is your name"...at first I thought they were asking for money and then realized they were on a school trip so I started clapping and they all joined in so there we were all singing and clapping...until their teacher pulled them away....probably saying in Greek..."that crazy American lady"! It just was so fun to interact with someone who didn't want money!!
We then visited the Sphinx which was amazing as it was carved out of a rock. On the way to our next stop we visited a mosque..yes, another one but it was pretty cool. We drove down a street in Cairo that had the first church, first synagogue, and first mosque.
Afterwards, we stepped aboard and experienced the colorful and fascinating sights of the magnificent Nile River on a floating restaurant. We took a gentle cruise as we had lunch and were entertained by "folkloric presentation and belly dancing". The belly dancers looked more like someone from Hooters!!
We have been so fortunate throughout this whole trip with the weather. I can't even remember when it last rained and it has been so warm during all of our tours. We sure have lucked out as it could make alot of the tours pretty nasty if it was cold or rainy.
And now Ken and his day...
4-13-10 Tuesday (anchored at the mouth of the Suez channel)
My original plans where to stay on the ship and observe the 100-mile Suez Channel transiting trip. However, the night before, I receive a call from the tour desk indicating there was still space open on a tour going to Cairo (Pyramids and the Sphinx). Even though the bus ride to Cairo was 2 hours long, anything had to be better than the infamous “camel ride”. So, at 2:30 in the morning I pulled my sorry butt out of bed dressed and was in the tour queue by 3:30AM.
Some 400 passengers took a number tenders (shuttle boats) to shore where we boarded our buses. .The Pymards of Giza are massive,,,, bigger than you can imagine. The Sphinx is also one of the 7 wonders of the world and make you ask, who, what, where and why??
The Cairo guide has his master degree in archeology and made the trip incredibly interesting. Aside from the history, the poverty (and traffic) in Cairo was overwhelming.
Kids working at 10 years old, bathing in filthy channel water and living in unbelievable conditions. Because of the usual traffic “grid lock” we and the other 10 Canard tour buses where very late leaving Cairo.
We where almost 3 hours from Port Said (the top of the Suez Cannel) the entrance to the Mediterranean. We where to depart Port Said at 7 pm (on a very tight schedule as dock space is at a premium because of the Suez ship scheduling). As a result, they gather all the late running Cunard tour buses at one spot on the outskirts of Cairo and under a special police escort took us across the county to the port to try meeting the departure time. Truck traffic on the Egyptian highways is very heavy. Even under a high speed police escort, traveling at 60 to 80 mph, this 10 Big Bus convoy was late arriving in Port Said. Most of the trucks we forced of the road gave up the “Egyptian hand salute”…We board Q.V. at 9PM (remember we have up since 2:30am) wiry.
Saal ma'is salaama,
janet and Ken
If you actually look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel!!!
Our next tour was Sharm El Sheik in Egypt. Ken's description was far better than anything I could write so I will leave the tales to one of the greatest storytellers I have ever met. Although, just for your information, I had a great time and loved it all...well. the bumpy 4x4 I could have done without!!! So here goes Ken and the Camel story......
Advertised as a European “water playground” for the rich and famous, was just an over-priced high-end beach resort catering mostly to Russians. THIS was the tour for the big “Camel and Jeep” (4 wheeler) tour. This tour-group departed the ship at 8AM and loaded us into 17 different Toyota four-runner SUV’s. (All 112 of us). The ride and desert scenery was great…. while we were on the blacktop highways. But, then things started going south!!! Our 60 mph (highway) ride continued even after we took a hard right into the desert. There was 6 of us (per SUV) all packed into the rear on very hard board seats. Bucket seats have not been introduced into this part of the world yet!!!!! This part of the desert is “hard packed” and (really) bumpy.. “head beating on the roof of the SUV bumpy…The sand being kicked up by the other SUV’s made visibility almost zero.. After 60 minutes of this, we arrived at the base camp where we where to initiate ( JR’s long awaited) “camel ride”. At the camel camp , where the local Arabs will help us “mount up” and ride (further) into the desert. My camel took an immediate dislike to me. (the feeling was mutual). Therefore, we watched each other carefully.. If you have ever ridden or have been in a camel saddle when the S.O.B. decides to stand up, you will understand the pure terror that overcome you (ME). One minute you are at ground level sitting is a saddle designed for a 4 year old, the next you are 10 feet in the air on the beast that has the boniest back you can ever imagine. I yelled over to JR, who was resting comfortably on a much fatter and more amiable camel, “that my body was not designed for this camel”.. she, in turned, answered…. that my camel was not designed to carry a “big Buddha” like me!!! After 30 minutes of my first and last camel ride, they finally called a halt to this torture (I almost fell off twice trying to find a more comfortable position and easing the shooting pains coming from by backside.)
Getting off a camel is far more dangerous than getting on. This nasty animal that I was on, who was even more pissed at me than I was at him. He was going to take huge bite out of my butt the minute I hit the ground.. so knowing this, I decided to do a “Tom Mix dismount” i.e. jumping off prior to the camel getting down on his knees (or what ever they call them). Side note… first, a camel saddle has NO stirrups… and a saddle horn on the front AND back of the saddle.
So. in showing my riding prowess, I tried my “flying dismount” I made a critical mistake and caught my foot on the rear saddle horn…. flying off the camel, in what some say, a spectacular dismount… Happily, I ended up on my feet and immediately gave the beast the finger and he tried to spit at me…… all’s well that ends well…but my butt is still sore….
Now, after all that I still had a ride back in the “butt buster SUV”…..And, we paid $165.00 a head for this stupidity………
Arriving back at the ship, I smelled worst than I looked…enough for today.
janet and Ken (the camel hater)
Advertised as a European “water playground” for the rich and famous, was just an over-priced high-end beach resort catering mostly to Russians. THIS was the tour for the big “Camel and Jeep” (4 wheeler) tour. This tour-group departed the ship at 8AM and loaded us into 17 different Toyota four-runner SUV’s. (All 112 of us). The ride and desert scenery was great…. while we were on the blacktop highways. But, then things started going south!!! Our 60 mph (highway) ride continued even after we took a hard right into the desert. There was 6 of us (per SUV) all packed into the rear on very hard board seats. Bucket seats have not been introduced into this part of the world yet!!!!! This part of the desert is “hard packed” and (really) bumpy.. “head beating on the roof of the SUV bumpy…The sand being kicked up by the other SUV’s made visibility almost zero.. After 60 minutes of this, we arrived at the base camp where we where to initiate ( JR’s long awaited) “camel ride”. At the camel camp , where the local Arabs will help us “mount up” and ride (further) into the desert. My camel took an immediate dislike to me. (the feeling was mutual). Therefore, we watched each other carefully.. If you have ever ridden or have been in a camel saddle when the S.O.B. decides to stand up, you will understand the pure terror that overcome you (ME). One minute you are at ground level sitting is a saddle designed for a 4 year old, the next you are 10 feet in the air on the beast that has the boniest back you can ever imagine. I yelled over to JR, who was resting comfortably on a much fatter and more amiable camel, “that my body was not designed for this camel”.. she, in turned, answered…. that my camel was not designed to carry a “big Buddha” like me!!! After 30 minutes of my first and last camel ride, they finally called a halt to this torture (I almost fell off twice trying to find a more comfortable position and easing the shooting pains coming from by backside.)
Getting off a camel is far more dangerous than getting on. This nasty animal that I was on, who was even more pissed at me than I was at him. He was going to take huge bite out of my butt the minute I hit the ground.. so knowing this, I decided to do a “Tom Mix dismount” i.e. jumping off prior to the camel getting down on his knees (or what ever they call them). Side note… first, a camel saddle has NO stirrups… and a saddle horn on the front AND back of the saddle.
So. in showing my riding prowess, I tried my “flying dismount” I made a critical mistake and caught my foot on the rear saddle horn…. flying off the camel, in what some say, a spectacular dismount… Happily, I ended up on my feet and immediately gave the beast the finger and he tried to spit at me…… all’s well that ends well…but my butt is still sore….
Now, after all that I still had a ride back in the “butt buster SUV”…..And, we paid $165.00 a head for this stupidity………
Arriving back at the ship, I smelled worst than I looked…enough for today.
janet and Ken (the camel hater)
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