Saturday, 4 October 2025
Tucson, Arizona
A Brief Look at Ports on the First Part of Our Cruise,
from Istanbul to Rome
One of the exciting things about our upcoming trip is a chance to visit a slew of ports we have never visited before: Canakkale and Izmir in Turkey; the islands of Patmos and Spetses in Greece; Brindisi/Lecce, the island of Lipari, and the Amalfi Coast--in southern Italy--all on the first 16-day part of our cruise. On the second segment, new ports include the Spanish island of Menorca and the Andalusian city of Motril; and Ceuta in Spanish Morocco.
We will also have the opportunity to spend time in a number of places we have seen previously, in some cases more than once. It is always exciting to see new aspects of these locations as we visit (on the first part of the cruise): Istanbul, Rhodes, Pireus/Athens, Corfu, Nafplion, Katolokon/Olympia, Kotor, Naples, and Civitavecchia/Rome.
Istanbul (22-26 October)
My only previous visit to Istanbul was in the spring of 1993, while I was on a semester's leave from VCU. I spent four days exploring the wonders of the city that spans two continents. Although Will was stationed in Samsun, Turkey, when he was serving in the Air Force, he never made it to Istanbul. We have arranged two days of private touring that will take us to the city's most important sites on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday will be able to take a more leisurely approach to other areas of the city on our own. Three photos from 1993:
Canakkale, Turkey (27 October)
Canakkale, a city west of Istanbul where the Dardanelles separates the Sea of Marmara from the Aegean, has witnessed history over many millennia. Its proximity to Troy, the scene of the seminal battle in the founding of Greece, is its primary attraction. This story is recounted in Homer's Iliad ("Ilium" is the greek word for "Troy"). I will be taking a shore excursion that visits the ancient site and its modern museum. Canakkale also provides access to the battlefields of Gallipoli, where one of the fiercest and deadliest battles of WWI was fought.
Will is taking a shore excursion that provides a panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas.
Izmir, Turkey (28 October)
Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, lies on the west coast across the Aegean Sea from Athens. It is a gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ruins in Asia Minor. For most tourists, Ephesus is the highlight of pre-Islamic Turkey. Because the site requires long walks over rough and slippery pavements, it will not be possible for Will to visit. I spent a day in Ephesus in April 2015 while on a 22-day Holland America cruise (from Kusadasi), so I do not need to visit again. Instead, we will both enjoy a shore excursion exploring the highlights of Izmir city. Three photos of the ruins of Ephesus from April 2015 (if you wish to see more, you may link back to that date at the end of this blog entry):
Patmos, Dodecanese Islands, Greece (29 October)
Neither Will nor I have been to this tiny arid island. It was first settled in 1088 when the Emperor of Constantinople made it a gift to the monk Christodoulos Latrnos so that he could establish a monastery in honor of St. John the Divine. Patmos has been a place of scholarship and religious enlightenment ever since. Today this modern pilgrimage site is a quiet respite from the tourist havens many other Greek isles have become.
We will both be on a shore excursion that explores the most important town of Chora (or "Patmos"), where St John spent his final years.
Rhodes, Dodecanese Islands, Greece (30 October)
Will and I have been to this popular island, the largest of the Dodecanese, several times. It is both a vacation haven for folks from northern Europe during the cold months of the winter, and a trove of ancient and medieval architectural and artistic treasures. I first came to Rhodes by plane from Santorini in May 1993. Staying for four days, I was able to explore not just the city of Rhodes itself, but the city of Lindos, about half-way down the island, with its hilltop acropolis. I visited again in May 2015 on a Holland America cruise, and with Will in November 2017 on an Oceania cruise.
Because we have explored most of the interesting things in Rhodes city, we will be joining a shore excursion that takes us on a panoramic tour of other parts of this large island.
Some photos from previous visits, starting with a view of the harbor and Venetian buildings in May 1993:
From May 2015: Acropolis at Lindos (left); City Walls and Marriage Gate at Rhodes
(right)
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| The Street of the Knights, November 2017 |
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| Mosaic from the island of Kos inside the Palace of the Grand Master |
Spetses, Argo-Saronic Islands, Greece (1 November)
Another small island Will and I have never visited, Spetses is very close to the Greek mainland. The island stands out for its stunning architecture and abundant elegance, mainly in its main town. Its Venetian mansions and excellent boutique hotels combine traditional and modern elements in a unique way.
Spetses town is the capital and only village on the island. It is located on the northeastern side and covers an area of almost four km. Dapia, comprising the new harbor and the area around it, is the island's trade center. Its architecture captivates travelers from the first moment, thanks to the quaint mansions with elegant flair.
Our morning shore excursion will take us on a guided tour of Spetses town.
Piraeus/Athens Greece (2 November)
Athens, the capital and cultural center of modern Greece, and its port city of Piraeus, are centered on the southern coast of the Greek mainland. Athens is a city that shares its quiet historical heritage with the noisy bustle of a modern capital city. The port of Piraeus, where all cruise ships and inter-island ferries dock, is connected to Athens by metro trains, buses, and taxis.
Since I have been to Athens several times--April and May 1993 traveling on my own; October 2010 on a cruise with Will; April 2015 and October 2019 on solo cruises, much of the city is very familiar. Today we will focus on the magnificent new Acropolis Museum, which I first visited in April 2015.
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My First Visit to the Acropolis in May 1993 (top), and
People-Watching in the Plaka (bottom)
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| In 2010 Will Secretly Snapped My Photo in Front of the Original Olympic Stadium |
Central Square in the Plaka and Will's Moussaka for Lunch
Climbing the Steps to the Acropolis
The New Acropolis Museum in April 2015 (above and below)
Returning from Athens to Piraeus by Metro (left) and Departing from Piraeus by Ship in October 2019
Nafplion, Greece (3 November)
Nafplion is located on the Peloponnese peninsula less than two hours' drive from Athens. The beautiful old city has a wealth of narrow alleyways and streets, steep stairs, taverns serving delicious Greek food, lively bars, clubs and cafés, a lovely seafront promenade, and enough sights to fill a week. But the best is perhaps just being in this wonderful city, watching the sun go down behind the mountains while it colors the bay red, or relaxing in the central square and looking at the playful children, couples, friends and families enjoying food, wine or coffee.
I have been fortunate to have visited Nafplion twice. The first time, I spent an overnight while on a bus tour in April 1993. My second was on a cruise in November 2015.
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| A Very Filling Lunch |
Katolokon/Olympia, Greece (4 November)
Katolokon's primary purpose is to serve as port for visitors to the extraordinary classical site of the temples, arenas, and museums in Olympia, home to the original Olympiad. I spent an overnight here in April 1993, when the sun was shining and the magnificent Judas trees were in full bloom. Years later, in October 2010, Will and I ventured through the mist and rain to wander the site. In addition to the large park of ruined structures, a museum displays the original sculptures that adorned the top level of the Temple of Apollo. The artifacts are displayed in a room the exact size and shape of the original temple and give the viewer a complete sense of immersion in the original site.
Corfu, Greece (5 November)
Corfu’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a mesmerizing blend of architectural styles and cultural influences. Venetian buildings stand shoulder to shoulder with British neoclassical mansions, while Byzantine churches dot the landscape. The narrow, winding streets reveal hidden squares and charming cafes at every turn, inviting visitors to lose themselves in the town’s rich history. In the morning we will explore the old town on our own; in the afternoon we will join a shore excursion that takes us for a panoramic drive through other parts of this idyllic island. I visited Corfu on a cruise in April 2015, when I only had enough time visit the old town and fortress on my own.
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| Charming Streets of Old Town |
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| New Fortress |
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| View of Old and New Fortress as Cruise Ships Away from Corfu |
Kotor, Montenegro (6 November)
Kotor was one of the most fascinating ports on this 22-day cruise as I experienced for the first time the beauties of the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro is a country that encourages tourists--that is, except for the Greeks--to explore its ancient cities and beautiful coastline. Kotor is a walled city that has preserved its important monuments from the past. In the morning I will take a shore excursion to explore two other coastal towns--Sveti Stefan and Budva. In the afternoon Will and I will explore Kotor on our own.
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| Holland America's Westerdam Docked at Kortor |
Inside the City Walls
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| Fortifications Rise Up into the Mountains |
Adriatic Views as the Westerdam Sails from Kotor
Brindisi/Lecce, Italy (7 November)
The Encore docks in Brindisi in the morning when we join a shore excursion to Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South." We have never visited these two cities and we look forward to discovering what they offer.
Lipari, Italy (9 November)
Lipari is a small island off the southeast coast of the Italian mainland and belongs to the province of Sicily. Lipari promises to bring us a day of rest and relaxation, which by this point in our travels I am sure we will need.
Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, Italy (10 November)
Will and I have been to Naples several times since our (mis)-adventures during the first visit in June 1990. Since then, I have found the city to be less infested with crime, although I have visited during two sanitation strikes, when the city's aroma smelled less of fresh pizza and more of stale milk. Naples is not only a major center of art to rival New York and London, but is located in a region that offers the opportunity to visit other major historical sites, such as Pompeii and Herculanium, two of the most important cities buried by eruptions of Mt Vesuvius, and the islands of Capri and Ischia. Today we are embarking on a shore excursion that will take us to Sorrento and the Amali coast, two places that have been on my bucket list for a long time.
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| The Two Peaks of Mt Vesuvius from Naples Harbor |
Will Enjoying a Morning Cappuccino and the Streets of Spaccanapoli, Formerly the Most Dangerous Neighborhood in Naples
Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy (11 November)
Today we reach Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, and the end of the first part of our cruise to Miami. This afternoon our friends Anita and Deb will join us on the Encore as we continue to sail westward.
In the next blog, I will present information about the ports we will visit on the 21-day cruise.
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