Itchy feet
have struck again and it's time to travel...but this time we are off to that
Holiday Mecca known as....
Where is she off to now? |
See our trip
to New York City for Christmas 2006 HERE!
And
New York City for St. Patrick's Day 2007HERE! |
 |
Mediterranean 2006
Please note: These images are NOT public
domain; they belong to Sheree Zielke.
Please ask permission first if
you would like to use a photo. Or please visit the link below where
you can buy stock photography. |
|
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
|
August 27, 2006
We are bound for Italy and the Mediterranean. Rome will be our first
stop.
Flight left western Canada in the early afternoon bound for a plane change
in Toronto.
Flight to Rome was almost 9 hours.
Flying somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. It
was a pretty sunrise view from my window seat. |
August 28, 2006
We arrived safe and sound in Rome on my
51st birthday. Just as planned.
Got off the plane, boarded a bus to get to the main terminal, got our bags,
and walked to the train station.
Boarded a train for Rome. With help from locals, found the way to the
Termini via the subway just near our hotel.
Checked in and then jumped onto a double-decker red bus! Tired as
heck, but we were off to see Rome.
Our first view of the magnificent Colosseum in Rome.
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August 29, 2006
This was our 2nd day in Rome and we
could hardly wait to hit the streets. We re-boarded a red tour bus
since our pass was good for 24 hours and rode around in the beautiful
weather taking in the sights and acquainting ourselves with the layout of
Rome. Much better since we were actually awake this time.
Decided to follow the tourists today and take in the Vatican. Holy
Smokes! The line-ups for St. Peters and the Sistine Chapel were dreadful, so
we skipped seeing the Dome.
Hung out at the Spanish Steps today, too. Oh good grief, does everyone
and their dog and their horse come here? |
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August 30, 2006
This was our 3rd day in Rome. Spent some time investigating the
remarkable Colosseum.
This is a must see for any visitor to Rome.
Lots of ruins in Rome. Just walk down the
street. Look around a corner. No shortage of ancient remains.
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August 31, 2006
This was our 4th day in Rome. We took a
tour bus to one of the farthest points from our hotel to see one of the
Palazzo squares.
Statues photograph beautifully in the early morning light.
I will miss Rome and I will look for any opportunity to return to this
magnificent and charming city. |
September 1, 2006
Today we make our way via Train to Civitavecchia to board the Grand Princess for a
12-day cruise down to the Greek Islands.
We are trying to walk from the train station to the
boat. We had no idea how far the walk would be to the pier.
Luckily, a free shuttle bus came along or we'd still be walking.
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
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comments. |
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Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Sept 1,
2006
We leave Civitavecchia bound for Monte Carlo, France.
Yep, the same place Princess Grace lived and died.
All passengers are processed before boarding.
Your luggage is tagged for delivery to your room and you must go through a
couple of checkpoints.
I took this pic for my grandkids. It is an oddly
box-shaped boat sharing the port with the Grand Princess.
See what I mean? |
Sept 2,
2006
Monte Carlo, Nice, and the French Mediterranean
We took a tour bus to Nice. What a pretty place with an
outstanding open air marketplace. I forgot my camera on the bus.
But I got some great shots of Monte Carlo.
We had to tender back and forth to the ship via this
kind of ferry.
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Sept 3,
2006
Livorno and Florence, Italy
Today we tour Florence or Firenze, Italy. What a beautiful city!
It proved to be my favorite of the entire trip. Especially the Dante
actor we stumbled across performing in an alleyway behind the poet, Dante's,
house. Cool!
I loved everything about Florence. Including the gypsy puppet show we
stumbled across in one of the major squares.
And for anyone interested in leather, this is the place to buy bags of all
types, gorgeous soft leather in all colors from vendors all around the
square.
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
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comments. |
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Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Sept 4,
2006
Naples and Pompeii, Italy
Naples didn't hold much allure for me...too big, too
cosmopolitan.
But Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius aren't very far away. And that's where we
spent most of our time.
Remarkably well preserved Pompeii frescoes with their
original paint colors. |
Sept 5,
2006
At Sea (Thank God!)
I am very sick today and sleep nearly the entire day.
The weather is so gorgeous even at night that I can sleep on a lounger on
the balcony and watch the stars.
But there are certainly worse places to be sick, right? Lots of hot
tubs, pools and places to lie in the gorgeous gentle Mediterranean sun.
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Sept 6,
2006
Santorini, Greece
Crowded!!!! This is the place of the 600 steps up the cliff or if you
prefer you can sit astride a swaying smelly donkey. Or a more
civilized mode is the cable car ride. But be prepared for a LONG wait
in the busy season.
 |
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
email with your
comments. |
Come sign my guest book by visiting the above link!
Feel free to drop me a line and if I can be of assistance, I would be
pleased to answer your questions.
Please be courteous. Thanks. |
Self portrait by sunrise onboard the Grand Princess
arriving in Livorno, France. |
More Photos
Come sign my guest book by visiting the above link! |
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
email with your
comments. |
Sept 7,
2006
Kusadasi, Turkey, Ephesus and the Virgin Mary's
house, if you desire
LOTS of carpet dealers! Be careful! These salespeople are among the
world's most accomplished. You may end up buying an expensive Turkish
carpet that you never knew you wanted or needed. We didn't but two of
our shipmates did...and for only $3500 US. Hey, but that was marked
down from $12 thousand!
Ephesus! |
Sept 8,
2006
Mykonos, Greece
You've seen this place with its windmills a million times before. A
very pretty place with very good food.
It was very windy on this day but these windmills were
not spinning around. Are they just for tourist pictures? |
Sept 9,
2006
Athens, Greece
Home to the Acropolis and the Parthenon and the Plaka marketplace.
Also, home to many ladies dressed in black trying to sell tablecloths to
tourists who just don't care.
 |
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
email with your
comments. |
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Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Sept 10,
2006
Katakolon, Greece
This is the area where one can tour Olympia, home of the original Greek
games. We chose an absolutely charming winery tour instead. What fun!
Great food, great wine, and great pictures. We were treated like
family.
What a treat! We were bussed out to this
Tuscany-style winery where we were given a relaxed tour of the premises.
Then we were treated to this impromptu picnic complete with food and wine. |
Sept 11,
2006
Corfu, Greece
Whoops, found another favorite spot. Corfutown is about the most
delightful little city you could ever visit. We were there too
short a time.
If you like monasteries, there's one on Corfu that is
open to tourists.
Lots of artwork like this piece. But be prepared for the crowds.
Yikes! |
Sept 12, 2006
Venice, Italy
We arrived during sunset and got some wonderful shots of our first views of
St. Mark's square and the famous Venice waterways.
Yeah, we even get to leave the boat as long as we are back by 1 AM.
 |
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Did you enjoy this overview? Please send me an
email with your
comments. |
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Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
Photos by Sheree Zielke |
|
See our trip to New York for Christmas 2006
HERE! |
September 13,
2006
Today, we leave the Grand Princess and
make our way to the Hotel Giorgione in Venice.
Since we have taken advantage of the ship's offer to get our luggage to our
hotel, we amble through the alleyways of Venice in search of our hotel.
Our amble took us over 2 hours.
Hotel Giorgione is an absolutely charming hotel.
See my review at TripAdvisor.com
This lovely fountain with its colored glass pieces and
water lilies was just outside our bedroom door.
The breakfast room is to die for. Gorgeous!!!
The breakfast is generous and is included in the price of the room.
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Sept 14, 2006
Today is our 2nd full day in Venice and we are going
to make the most of it. First, it's off to Murano Island, home of
the famous Murano glass for a private tour and glass blowing
demonstration.
This glass horse was fashioned by a glass blower master in under 5
minutes. He was amazing.
Then on to a museum playing host to this giant glass Balloon Animal Dog.
Eating Tip!
Word to the wise. READ those dinner menus. Check to see if
they charge by WEIGHT. We were thoroughly ripped off by a sidewalk
cafe. Stupid tourists. A fish and potatoes dish we thought was
going to cost 7 EUROS, actually cost 35 EUROS...each.
See our trip to New York for Christmas 2006
HERE!
See our trip to New York for Saint Patrick's
Day 2007
HERE!
See our trip to New York for Fall 2007
HERE! |
Sept 15, 2006
Time to say goodbye to this very unusual city.
It will cost us nearly $200 CDN to get to the Venezia (Venice) airport which
is on another island.
We must take a water taxi, use an expensive porter service, and have enough
for tips and a airport luggage trolley. Leaves just a few Euros
clinking in my Capri pockets.
But I am ready to go home.
It's been quite an adventure.
Destinations I want to return to? Rome, Corfu, and of course, my
beloved, Florence, where I had possibly the best cappuccino in the entire
world.
Yes, this is my actual cappuccino. Look at what
they did in the foam. Almost too pretty to drink. But I did and
it was delicious. |
