Holland America Cruise
Kusadasi, Turkey
We sailed from Athens into
Kusadasi, Turkey.
Kusadasi, Turkey.
From our cabin we could see the old fortress guarding the port.
We heard the call to prayer at the mosque. Paul is standing near the faucets where people wash before entering.
Silk rugs were being made everywhere.
We could see the white city
of Fira, Santorini from our stateroom.
of Fira, Santorini from our stateroom.
After a trip up to the top of the island
on a cable car. . .
on a cable car. . .
we shared the narrow streets
with donkeys. . .
with donkeys. . .
and sampled some of the
island's famous wine.
island's famous wine.
We visited Olympia where the Olympic torch is lit each year.
The beaches were rugged.
The next day as we cruised past the Stromboli volcano it began smoking.
That night was our first of
six formal nights.
six formal nights.
When we pulled into Monaco, this was the view from our window.
The casino is at the top right.
The casino is at the top right.
We visited the casino
and didn't lose any money!
and didn't lose any money!
Barcelona, Spain
We spent a wonderful day in Barcelona with our great friends,
the del Campo Garcia family.
the del Campo Garcia family.
Our lunch with them was a seafood extravaganza!
Where to eat?
Botafumeiro
Calle Gran De Gracia, 81
Barcelona, Spain
Cartagena, Spain & The Rock of Gibraltar
The beautiful city of Cartagena was a pleasant and tropical surprise.
We bought tea and had a pint of bitters in a pub on the Rock of Gibraltar.
Cádiz, Spain
We were amazed that the gardens in Cádiz were perfectly manicured
when we took our early morning walk.
when we took our early morning walk.
Casablanca, Morocco, Africa
We visited the third largest
mosque in the world,
the Mosquée of Hassan II in Morocco.
mosque in the world,
the Mosquée of Hassan II in Morocco.
The inside of the courthouse was a marvel of moorish arquitecture.
Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Spain)
The Cactus Garden had over 9,000 beautiful plants.
Los Jameos del Agua was a lava tube formed from a volcanic eruption that is the home of a rare type of tiny blind white crabs.
Part of the volcano's tunnel collapsed,
leaving this tropical paradise in the middle of a wasteland.
leaving this tropical paradise in the middle of a wasteland.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain)
The island of Tenerife was much greener than Lanzarote.
The volcanic mountains cascaded into the sea.
The volcanic mountains cascaded into the sea.
Funchal was a beautiful city, full of white buildings and parks.
The Central Market sold
exotic fruits and flowers.
exotic fruits and flowers.
Right before we took a one mile basket sleigh ride from the
top of the mountain we were relaxed and smiling.
That certainly changed on the way down as we sped though the narrow streets (sometimes sideways) with the gondoliers riding the wooden runners behind us.
top of the mountain we were relaxed and smiling.
That certainly changed on the way down as we sped though the narrow streets (sometimes sideways) with the gondoliers riding the wooden runners behind us.
Paul competed in the Iron chef competition and created filet mignon medallions with garlic, mango chutney and redwine reduction garnished with a Dijon mustard vinagrette salad in less than 20 minutes!