We have had such a wonderful times on this trip, its hard to think about settling back down into routine life again. So we are taking time to think about where to next and 'what' next professionally. We will keep you posted.......watch this space!
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Noosa.
Saturday 6July 2013
Felt like we had dropped into a scene from Neighbours - beaches were full of bikini clad bathers, surfers galore and families having bbq's. Sun shine, surf,laid back beach towns, fishing, boating, wild life, cafes......paradise in the middle of winter
Felt like we had dropped into a scene from Neighbours - beaches were full of bikini clad bathers, surfers galore and families having bbq's. Sun shine, surf,laid back beach towns, fishing, boating, wild life, cafes......paradise in the middle of winter
Guess where...
4 July 2013
Arrived in Sydney after a long set of flights, Venice to Dohar, Dohar to Perth and then Perth to Sydney. Gorgeous sunny day, town buzzing with all the Lions supporters. Huge walk around Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and down town. Caught the Manley ferry for a cheap harbour cruise with the best city views. 23°, sunny.....winter in Sydney...I like it!
Arrived in Sydney after a long set of flights, Venice to Dohar, Dohar to Perth and then Perth to Sydney. Gorgeous sunny day, town buzzing with all the Lions supporters. Huge walk around Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and down town. Caught the Manley ferry for a cheap harbour cruise with the best city views. 23°, sunny.....winter in Sydney...I like it!
Ravenna
Monday 1 July 2013
Docked at 7am and the port was 7k's out of town so we got the cruise shuttle bus into town. Ravenna is flat, no hills in sight so great for walking and biking and the locals were whizzing about on their bikes with gusto. Ravenna's claim to fame is it's exquisite 5th century Byzantine mosaics....they are protected under world heritage status. I had read a bit about them before going there but really, the hype do sent do them justice...... they are truly stunning.....they take your breath away....the intricate designs and vibrant colours and the perfection.....a-maze-ing!
First stop Bascillica di San Vitale, mosaics of the imperial couple Justinian and Theodora reflected in the mosaic images. Then the Mausoleo di Galla Placida - a woman to be reckoned with - daughter, sister, wife and mother of emperors. It looked really plain outside and then you step in and its like being encased in a highly decorated Faberge egg.....the blue and gold stars on the ceiling are said to have inspired Cole Porter's ' Night and Day'...such a wonderful sight.
Then Battistero degli Aria I, also 5th century, when Theodora reigned the cult of Adrian was the official religion of the court. The dome has the most amazing mosaic of the baptizing of Christ....the water in the mosaics look transparent - stunning.
Then Bascillica di San Apollinaire nuovo, 6th century, built as Theodora's private church, full height mosaics of the procession of virgins down one side and on the other the martrys.....the church inside is sparsely decorated and then you look up and up and its stunning - the art of mosaics at its best.
Then finally Dante's Tomb. The city of Florence which originally exiled Dante wanted his body back but Ravenna said no, now Florence provides the oil for the eternal flame in the tomb....one day hoping for Dante's return to the vacant tomb in Santa Croce Florence.
Great little walking city with cafe culture, art and history....lovely!
Docked at 7am and the port was 7k's out of town so we got the cruise shuttle bus into town. Ravenna is flat, no hills in sight so great for walking and biking and the locals were whizzing about on their bikes with gusto. Ravenna's claim to fame is it's exquisite 5th century Byzantine mosaics....they are protected under world heritage status. I had read a bit about them before going there but really, the hype do sent do them justice...... they are truly stunning.....they take your breath away....the intricate designs and vibrant colours and the perfection.....a-maze-ing!
First stop Bascillica di San Vitale, mosaics of the imperial couple Justinian and Theodora reflected in the mosaic images. Then the Mausoleo di Galla Placida - a woman to be reckoned with - daughter, sister, wife and mother of emperors. It looked really plain outside and then you step in and its like being encased in a highly decorated Faberge egg.....the blue and gold stars on the ceiling are said to have inspired Cole Porter's ' Night and Day'...such a wonderful sight.
Then Battistero degli Aria I, also 5th century, when Theodora reigned the cult of Adrian was the official religion of the court. The dome has the most amazing mosaic of the baptizing of Christ....the water in the mosaics look transparent - stunning.
Then Bascillica di San Apollinaire nuovo, 6th century, built as Theodora's private church, full height mosaics of the procession of virgins down one side and on the other the martrys.....the church inside is sparsely decorated and then you look up and up and its stunning - the art of mosaics at its best.
Then finally Dante's Tomb. The city of Florence which originally exiled Dante wanted his body back but Ravenna said no, now Florence provides the oil for the eternal flame in the tomb....one day hoping for Dante's return to the vacant tomb in Santa Croce Florence.
Great little walking city with cafe culture, art and history....lovely!
Dubrovnik
Sunday 30 June 2013
After leaving Alexandria we had two days at sea. During this time we learned of the demonstrations in Cairo and Alexandria and that a US citizen was killed. It looks like we left Egypt in good time, it dosen't sound like things will be settled there for a long time. Dubrovnik.....what a contrast by comparison - beautiful clear, deep blue waters, clean streets and beautiful historic buildings in the old town. We walked off the ship early so when we entered the old town through the city wall gates, the town was still waking up and it was peaceful and quiet....a big contrast to the noise of Alexandria. Caught the cable car up to the hilltop and had amazing views of the town. We saw Orlando's Column, St Blaise Church and the Rectors Palace....the Italian influence obvious everywhere you look - stunning old buildings. Would be lovely to come back and explore more of the Croatian coast line.
After leaving Alexandria we had two days at sea. During this time we learned of the demonstrations in Cairo and Alexandria and that a US citizen was killed. It looks like we left Egypt in good time, it dosen't sound like things will be settled there for a long time. Dubrovnik.....what a contrast by comparison - beautiful clear, deep blue waters, clean streets and beautiful historic buildings in the old town. We walked off the ship early so when we entered the old town through the city wall gates, the town was still waking up and it was peaceful and quiet....a big contrast to the noise of Alexandria. Caught the cable car up to the hilltop and had amazing views of the town. We saw Orlando's Column, St Blaise Church and the Rectors Palace....the Italian influence obvious everywhere you look - stunning old buildings. Would be lovely to come back and explore more of the Croatian coast line.
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Egypt
Just had two days in Egypt out of the port of Alexandria. We arrived mid day so on the first afternoon we explored Alexandria as we knew we had a full day going to the pyramids and Sphinx the next day.
We were two of only eight foot passengers that ventured out on their own, everyone else took tours or stayed on board. The port police took your name down as you left and crossed you off when you came back so if you did go missing someone would know.
We made sure we were suitably dressed, elbows and knees covered, lots of sunblock as it was about 40°.....hot and sticky! It was fine. Frantic, energetic, dirty, polluted, exotic, dusty, eye opening....like nothing I've experienced before......we loved it! Every corner revealed a new sight....sooooo different from what we are used to and how we live. We walked the food bazaar..... the only westerners there....and everyone was calling 'welcome' and smiling.......trying to sell us stuff of course , but happy and smiling and no bother.
Most people speak three languages here, Arabic, English and often French. The women and girls were lovely, waving and smiling and looking back at us once they had walked past us. Even the ladies where all I could see was their eyes...you could see they were smiling, the old men nodded their heads in greeting and we were welcomed into a mosque. The market stalls are an eye opener....fish, meat, live chickens, cheeses, dates, fruits, odds and ends, herbs, flat breads, spices.....saw a small cattle beast being butchered right there on the street in all the dust...the entrails flopping out......quite a sight....not much ice or refrigeration in evidence, dust and flies everywhere, multiply Bangkok food market 100 fold......incredible.
The sounds of the city were mainly car horns...tooting, honking....traffic like you have never seen before, all the taxis appear to be Lada's and no car is undented, we saw a crash right in front of us.....lanes mean nothing. In amongst this are still donkeys, horse and carts....its dangerous crossing the road....the traffic doesn't stop it goes around you so you have to be sure you can get across the street.....you can't turn back. There are enormous lines of cars and trucks to get into the petrol station .......drivers pushing their cars in the line as they inch forwards....the queue goes for about 2k's...sometimes longer. Once that station is out of gas it shuts the doors. (Apparently the Army are controlling the petrol and selling it elsewhere).
There is rubbish everywhere....rubbish hasn't been collected for 2yrs so imagine the waste from a city of 3.5million just collecting on the pavements......and along the beach front. The water was brown.......all the run off from the city appears to run into the bay.....the filthiest beach I have ever seen and people were swimming in it and fishing.....such a shame. The beautiful old waterfront buildings from the 1920's are falling into ruins.....but you can still see the gorgeous Venetian mosaic work on some.
We walked around the back lanes...saw a wee boy of about 7yrs lifting building sand on a pully from the street level up about 10 floors...he was in a full galabaya and hot and tired.....poor we fella.....no school for him. The people are desperately poor here.....they want visitors to feel safe and welcome.....they need the income. They were really lovely to us.......at one stage we were going down a street and we must have looked a bit unsure and a local came up to us "are you from the princess ship...go left , go right....welcome, welcome...." humbled by their friendliness...the kids laughing and smiling at us.
Next day up at 4.30am to get breakfast and then be in the bus at 5.45am for the three hour journey to Giza and the pyramids. We traveled in a convoy of coaches and had a security guy on our bus. Drove through back streets, motorways that have broken down trucks and cars just left where they stopped, unbelievable little shack stalls right in the traffic lane selling fruits or water, people standing in the middle of the highway waiting for a lift.....cars even going down the wrong way as the other side is too bumpy for their heavy laden trucks...trucks with open trays on the back with people jammed in amongst goats or small calves, people on the roof....some trucks so heavy laden its a wonder the driver can see out the front. Some big check points have army tanks .....more as a deterrent presence at this stage we were told. Although the day we left there were protests in Alexandria and 20 people injured and there will be a big protest on Sunday....one year since the president took office.
They have these pigeon houses that look like old fashioned bee hives....only taller. Pigeon is a delicacy and they stuff them until they are the size of a chicken. When a man gets married for the first month the mother in law makes him pigeon! Newly marrieds' live with the mother in law until they have their own family.
There are a lot of unfinished buildings here..until the last floor is completed you don't pay tax. Some cars come into the country cut in half, the halves come into different ports and there is an industry involved in welding the two parts together.......a half a car doesnt attract tax and when you are poor you buy the cheapest car you can afford - lots of old cars from other countries can be seen land-crabbing down the highways.
We had lunch at The Meridian Hotel which was lovely....4star and amazing options....pigeon curry...just kidding, Egyptian and western menu and again the hospitality was superb...they want visitors to be really welcomed.
Then off to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the oldest of Egypt's 110 pyramids, and the first limestone structure of the world. There was also a temple here with a colonnade of 40 pillars, impressive. Every time you get off the bus the traders are wanting for you to buy a camel ride or some souvenirs... .they try very hard but its not a problem, a firm 'no' and they move on. We didn't have much money as we hadn't planned to buy anything....too much to lug about in our packs. We felt quite bad though so with the few euro we had we gave to the young kids trying to sell pens and tat, wished we had some more money with us as just a few dollars can make a big difference, things are really dire here right now.
Next stop the Great Pyramids of Giza-the great pyramid of Cheops made of more than 2million blocks, the smaller pyramids of Chephren and Mycernius....incredible! Then last stop the Sphinx.
We had a wonderful tour guide who explained the context of the current political situation and that "most Egyptians see this as an interim period......the Muslim Brotherhood won't be ruling forever.....things will get better....Egyptians are positive......look at our history.... look at what President Sadat achieved for us......we have a positive future"
We were two of only eight foot passengers that ventured out on their own, everyone else took tours or stayed on board. The port police took your name down as you left and crossed you off when you came back so if you did go missing someone would know.
We made sure we were suitably dressed, elbows and knees covered, lots of sunblock as it was about 40°.....hot and sticky! It was fine. Frantic, energetic, dirty, polluted, exotic, dusty, eye opening....like nothing I've experienced before......we loved it! Every corner revealed a new sight....sooooo different from what we are used to and how we live. We walked the food bazaar..... the only westerners there....and everyone was calling 'welcome' and smiling.......trying to sell us stuff of course , but happy and smiling and no bother.
Most people speak three languages here, Arabic, English and often French. The women and girls were lovely, waving and smiling and looking back at us once they had walked past us. Even the ladies where all I could see was their eyes...you could see they were smiling, the old men nodded their heads in greeting and we were welcomed into a mosque. The market stalls are an eye opener....fish, meat, live chickens, cheeses, dates, fruits, odds and ends, herbs, flat breads, spices.....saw a small cattle beast being butchered right there on the street in all the dust...the entrails flopping out......quite a sight....not much ice or refrigeration in evidence, dust and flies everywhere, multiply Bangkok food market 100 fold......incredible.
The sounds of the city were mainly car horns...tooting, honking....traffic like you have never seen before, all the taxis appear to be Lada's and no car is undented, we saw a crash right in front of us.....lanes mean nothing. In amongst this are still donkeys, horse and carts....its dangerous crossing the road....the traffic doesn't stop it goes around you so you have to be sure you can get across the street.....you can't turn back. There are enormous lines of cars and trucks to get into the petrol station .......drivers pushing their cars in the line as they inch forwards....the queue goes for about 2k's...sometimes longer. Once that station is out of gas it shuts the doors. (Apparently the Army are controlling the petrol and selling it elsewhere).
There is rubbish everywhere....rubbish hasn't been collected for 2yrs so imagine the waste from a city of 3.5million just collecting on the pavements......and along the beach front. The water was brown.......all the run off from the city appears to run into the bay.....the filthiest beach I have ever seen and people were swimming in it and fishing.....such a shame. The beautiful old waterfront buildings from the 1920's are falling into ruins.....but you can still see the gorgeous Venetian mosaic work on some.
We walked around the back lanes...saw a wee boy of about 7yrs lifting building sand on a pully from the street level up about 10 floors...he was in a full galabaya and hot and tired.....poor we fella.....no school for him. The people are desperately poor here.....they want visitors to feel safe and welcome.....they need the income. They were really lovely to us.......at one stage we were going down a street and we must have looked a bit unsure and a local came up to us "are you from the princess ship...go left , go right....welcome, welcome...." humbled by their friendliness...the kids laughing and smiling at us.
Next day up at 4.30am to get breakfast and then be in the bus at 5.45am for the three hour journey to Giza and the pyramids. We traveled in a convoy of coaches and had a security guy on our bus. Drove through back streets, motorways that have broken down trucks and cars just left where they stopped, unbelievable little shack stalls right in the traffic lane selling fruits or water, people standing in the middle of the highway waiting for a lift.....cars even going down the wrong way as the other side is too bumpy for their heavy laden trucks...trucks with open trays on the back with people jammed in amongst goats or small calves, people on the roof....some trucks so heavy laden its a wonder the driver can see out the front. Some big check points have army tanks .....more as a deterrent presence at this stage we were told. Although the day we left there were protests in Alexandria and 20 people injured and there will be a big protest on Sunday....one year since the president took office.
They have these pigeon houses that look like old fashioned bee hives....only taller. Pigeon is a delicacy and they stuff them until they are the size of a chicken. When a man gets married for the first month the mother in law makes him pigeon! Newly marrieds' live with the mother in law until they have their own family.
There are a lot of unfinished buildings here..until the last floor is completed you don't pay tax. Some cars come into the country cut in half, the halves come into different ports and there is an industry involved in welding the two parts together.......a half a car doesnt attract tax and when you are poor you buy the cheapest car you can afford - lots of old cars from other countries can be seen land-crabbing down the highways.
We had lunch at The Meridian Hotel which was lovely....4star and amazing options....pigeon curry...just kidding, Egyptian and western menu and again the hospitality was superb...they want visitors to be really welcomed.
Then off to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the oldest of Egypt's 110 pyramids, and the first limestone structure of the world. There was also a temple here with a colonnade of 40 pillars, impressive. Every time you get off the bus the traders are wanting for you to buy a camel ride or some souvenirs... .they try very hard but its not a problem, a firm 'no' and they move on. We didn't have much money as we hadn't planned to buy anything....too much to lug about in our packs. We felt quite bad though so with the few euro we had we gave to the young kids trying to sell pens and tat, wished we had some more money with us as just a few dollars can make a big difference, things are really dire here right now.
Next stop the Great Pyramids of Giza-the great pyramid of Cheops made of more than 2million blocks, the smaller pyramids of Chephren and Mycernius....incredible! Then last stop the Sphinx.
We had a wonderful tour guide who explained the context of the current political situation and that "most Egyptians see this as an interim period......the Muslim Brotherhood won't be ruling forever.....things will get better....Egyptians are positive......look at our history.... look at what President Sadat achieved for us......we have a positive future"
Israel
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Just had two days in Israel, one day in Haifa and one day in Ashdod.
Yesterday from Haifa port we took a taxi with a couple of lovely ladies from Chile, Veronica and Maria-Gloria. We had planned to take the local bus to Nazareth but as we were all waiting at the bus stop a taxi driver offered us a great deal which we accepted after the usual amount of haggling and it turned out he was a wonderful guide. We explored Nazareth, Tiberius, Tagbha, the River Jordan, the Sea of Galilee....amazing to see the Golan plateau with Jordon so close and Syria to the north. Wonderful day, amazing sights, incredible history, very, very hot though.
Everywhere you go you pass through security, on and off ship Israeli officials check your passport and landing card. Women and men pass through different queues, bags go through metal detectors....its amazing how quickly you get used to this. Lots of young people in army uniforms as they have national service here....some look so baby faced but they are packing the fire power.
Today in Ashdod we did made a deal with a lovely taxi driver who took us to Jerusalem. He took us through the old town and the Jewish, Muslim and Christian quarters, the Western (wailing) wall, Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Temple Mount. We placed wishes in the wailing wall. Our wishes were placed up high so they should stay there longer and have a better chance of fulfilment!
Then our driver whisked us off to the Dead Sea...the lowest sea in the world....1,276 feet below sea level. It was amazing to swim there and just float effortlessly. The water is full of salt and minerals and we covered ourselves with the mud and then you wash it off on the shore. The ground is so hot....you can burn your feet if you are not quick in your mad dash to your chair and shoes.....really its the hottest I have ever felt the ground...burning hot and we had no jandals...just our togs.
On our drive we passed the border wall with Palestine, nomadic Bedouin settlements, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, camels, sparse desert and also lush plains with grape vines and date palms. Incredible country of contrasts. The people are friendly, its clean and there is no graffiti, our driver said " in Jerusalem all the people live more or less in harmony...Jew, Christian, Muslim and Bedouin...no trouble here....the trouble is caused by politicians and not the hard working people".
Just had two days in Israel, one day in Haifa and one day in Ashdod.
Yesterday from Haifa port we took a taxi with a couple of lovely ladies from Chile, Veronica and Maria-Gloria. We had planned to take the local bus to Nazareth but as we were all waiting at the bus stop a taxi driver offered us a great deal which we accepted after the usual amount of haggling and it turned out he was a wonderful guide. We explored Nazareth, Tiberius, Tagbha, the River Jordan, the Sea of Galilee....amazing to see the Golan plateau with Jordon so close and Syria to the north. Wonderful day, amazing sights, incredible history, very, very hot though.
Everywhere you go you pass through security, on and off ship Israeli officials check your passport and landing card. Women and men pass through different queues, bags go through metal detectors....its amazing how quickly you get used to this. Lots of young people in army uniforms as they have national service here....some look so baby faced but they are packing the fire power.
Today in Ashdod we did made a deal with a lovely taxi driver who took us to Jerusalem. He took us through the old town and the Jewish, Muslim and Christian quarters, the Western (wailing) wall, Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Temple Mount. We placed wishes in the wailing wall. Our wishes were placed up high so they should stay there longer and have a better chance of fulfilment!
Then our driver whisked us off to the Dead Sea...the lowest sea in the world....1,276 feet below sea level. It was amazing to swim there and just float effortlessly. The water is full of salt and minerals and we covered ourselves with the mud and then you wash it off on the shore. The ground is so hot....you can burn your feet if you are not quick in your mad dash to your chair and shoes.....really its the hottest I have ever felt the ground...burning hot and we had no jandals...just our togs.
On our drive we passed the border wall with Palestine, nomadic Bedouin settlements, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, camels, sparse desert and also lush plains with grape vines and date palms. Incredible country of contrasts. The people are friendly, its clean and there is no graffiti, our driver said " in Jerusalem all the people live more or less in harmony...Jew, Christian, Muslim and Bedouin...no trouble here....the trouble is caused by politicians and not the hard working people".
Turkey
Kusadasi - Turkey 22 June 2013
Up early and off the ship and did a small spot of haggling with a taxi driver and off we went to Ephasus early before the coach tours arrived and before it became too hot. Ephasus is the best preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Its stunning, the ruins are still being preserved but you can't help but be awed by these feats of engineering -the design, scale, complexity andmsophistication.......and all from around 41AD. They had hot water piped around the entire city, a great theatre capable of holding 25,000, you walk through the Pillars of Hercules, the Library of Celsus....there was even a sophisticated latrine system, marble paved roads...incredible. Later back in Kusadasi we had very relaxing scoot around the bazaar and enjoyed the friendly banter with the Turkish rug sellers, heard their take on the protests taking place up in the north. We found Kusadasi to be a lovely city, unashamedly catering to the tourists but in a balanced, almost proud way....very clean town and lovely people.
Up early and off the ship and did a small spot of haggling with a taxi driver and off we went to Ephasus early before the coach tours arrived and before it became too hot. Ephasus is the best preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Its stunning, the ruins are still being preserved but you can't help but be awed by these feats of engineering -the design, scale, complexity andmsophistication.......and all from around 41AD. They had hot water piped around the entire city, a great theatre capable of holding 25,000, you walk through the Pillars of Hercules, the Library of Celsus....there was even a sophisticated latrine system, marble paved roads...incredible. Later back in Kusadasi we had very relaxing scoot around the bazaar and enjoyed the friendly banter with the Turkish rug sellers, heard their take on the protests taking place up in the north. We found Kusadasi to be a lovely city, unashamedly catering to the tourists but in a balanced, almost proud way....very clean town and lovely people.
L,
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