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Mediterranean Cruise and RomeMediterranean Cruise and Rome
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Celebrating my daughter, Sydney, for her graduation and checking off some bucket list items with a Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruise Lines. Starting in Athens, ending in Rome. Stops in Greece, Montenegro, Spain, Gibraltar, France, and Italy. Read more
  • Darlene Rodillo
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  • Vatican City Vatican City
  • France France
  • Gibraltar Gibraltar
  • Spain Spain
  • Italy Italy
  • Montenegro Montenegro
  • Greece Greece
  • Show all (8)
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Beach, City trip, Cruise ship, Culture, Family, Friendship, Sightseeing, Tours, Vacation
  • 16.2kmiles traveled
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  • 65footprints
  • 18days
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  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome

    No COVID!!!

    July 14, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Pre-cruise Covid test is NEGATIVE!!! We are clear for travel. Such anxiety prior to leaving the US since the cruise requires a negative test. We used the Abbott test recommended by the cruise line to do the proctored test. It was an easy process and we got the results at home in 15 minutes!!!Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome

    Getting to the airport and loungin’

    July 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    Driving to Holly’s place in Buckhead and grabbing an Uber to the airport…only to arrive super early lol. Easy check-in and virtually no security line. What?!? Since we were so early, we hit the Club ATL Lounge for some snacks and drinks to pass the time. As we arrived at the gate, the flight was oversold and they were offering $3000, yes, that’s right, $3000, per person to volunteer to take a flight the next day. If our plans were flexible, I totally would have taken Delta up on the offer!Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    We are stamped!!! 🇬🇷Mercedes taxi cabs

    Landed in Athens, Greece 🇬🇷

    July 16, 2022 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    A 10 hour flight from Atlanta, Georgia and we wake up in sunny Athens, Greece. Our passports are stamped and we will soon be on our way to the Piraeus cruise port! We booked a driver through Viator and will try to slide him some extra Euros to drive us by some of the tourist sights. I should have planned better and flown in a day early to see more of Athens, but the work guilt got me.

    Athens is not what I expected although we are only seeing the airport and heading to the cruise port, with just distant views of the tourist sites. Our driver said the city of Athens has 5 million people…while the entire country has 10 million people. The city looks run down and poor. Weird to see stores like IKEA and Lidl. Lots of graffiti on the buildings.    Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome

    Boarding the Regal Princess 🚢

    July 16, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Thankfully the boarding process wasn’t too hectic getting on the ship. This is the biggest ship we have been on and we can’t wait to explore. Loving our aft balcony room and looking forward to the amazing views I know we will have for the next 14 days!Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    Sky Walk on both sides of the shipLoving the aft balcony roomInternational Cafe - open 24/7Sail Away partyGoodbye, Athens!Medallions to get in and out of the room and find each other...a little creepy like Big Brother

    Exploring the Regal Princess

    July 16, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    After boarding we got to know our ship and discover some of the restaurants and bars. The crew is about 80% Filipino, so we fit right in! There’s a really cool, but freaky glass walkway. We discovered the 24-hour International Cafe with various desserts, froo-froo coffee drinks, and light snacks. The Sail Away party was a fun way to leave the port with dancing and music. The Medallions are super cool and unlock the room door when you approach the room. Lots of amenities we haven’t even found yet. I know we’ll enjoy our aft balcony room for the next 14 days as we sail away from each port. We were able to catch the Athens sunset before dinner.Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    The cable cars heading up to FiraStill quiet in FiraDonkeys walking by, they don't travel aloneFirst "blue dome" sighting

    Getting to Fira from the ship

    July 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Santorini is a tender port, so we had to get our ticket for the water shuttle for about a 15 minute ride from the ship to the port. From there, you have the option to take a cable car, walk up a long windy staircase, or ride a donkey to the main town of Fira. We did some exploring on our own on the cobblestone walkways before meeting our tour guide. We left on one of the first water shuttles and arrived so early that many of the cafés were not even open yet.Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    Most photographed blue dome in Santorini
    Walking the narrow streets of OiaGrabbing some baklavaHad to try a beer from Santorini Brewing CompanyThe town square in Oia

    Santorini Views from Fira and Oia

    July 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    We met our guide at the cable car exit and visited the most photographed blue dome church and the Three Bells of Fira as our first stop. Because we had 3 other cruise boats also docked, both Fira and Oia were crazy busy with people everywhere.

    Thankfully our guide who has lived on the island for 23 years had plenty of experience getting us to our stops, knowledgeable about how the islands were formed by a volcanic eruption, and provided great recommendations. Once in Oia, we walked to another famous blue dome church and walked around the northern city checking out the shops, patisseries, and restaurants. The streets were crowded with other tourists, some lugging their bags to their hotels located just off the cobblestone streets. We would stop every so often to catch more amazing views of the caldera.

    From our guide, we learned that Santorini was originally one island, but is now five separate islands due to a volcano eruption in 1615 BC which was the biggest eruption in history. This went on for 3 days and it is believed that an earthquake caused eruption. I wish we had more time to go to the museum to learn more about this, but we were limited due to our time ashore.

    We spent some time walking in the streets of Oia and Sydney found an amazing spot for baklava and I was able to sample a beer from the Santorini Brewing Company.    Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    Insane winds = Crazy HAIR!
    Kamari BeachAuthentic gyrosR Hotel - we need to come back for a vacationRestaurants, cafes, and shops lining the boardwalk

    Santorini Summit and Kamari Beach

    July 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We drove from Oia to Profitis Ilias and took in the island views from Santorini’s highest point. From here you get a 360 view of the entire island. Also at the top of this mountain, is the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah where 9 monks live.

    The wind was pretty fierce all day and we learned that an island slogan is “Santorini, where everyday is a bad hair day.” Being at the highest point and the fierce wind gave us our crazy hair pictures.

    Our final tour stop was at Kamari Beach which is at the southeastern side of Santorini. Because of the volcanic ash, the beaches have black “sand” which to me doesn’t really qualify as sand like our beaches back home. This “sand” as they call it is more like black rocks, and I’m not sure how people were walking around barefoot on it. Although it was a hot day, the water felt chilly and because it was so windy, there were whitecaps and strong waves.

    We spent some time walking on the boardwalk where every restaurant had a view of the beach serving an array of fresh seafood. The boardwalk was filled with various shops, restaurants, and hotels. This would be a great place to stay for a beach vacation.    Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    2
    Some of these vineyards are 200 years oldNewer vines - each arch represents 1 generation of winemakersCrazy how the vines stay on the groundWith the expansion, the 8 arches are for each generation of winemaking.Beautiful, modern tasting roomWhere the magic happensVats holding the wineExample of the "Vine basket"Most common grapeThis wine was our favorite, so we took a bottle home.It was closed 🤦‍♀️

    Estate Argyros Winery

    July 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Our guide recommended the 8th generation winery called Estate Argyros Winery not far from the Kamari beach area and right beside the Santorini Brewing Company…which, unfortunately was closed today, a Sunday. She dropped us off at the winery where we enjoyed a wine and food pairing tasting with a tour. This winery prioduces 400,000 bottles per year and exports 60% of it. Most of the grapes they grow are white grapes, about 80% versus much fewer red grapes. The tasting room was extremely modern and had incredible lightning. The winery is undergoing an expansion, and this location started in 2014 and was completed in 2018, with more construction to increase wine production.

    We tried 4 wines today:

    1 - Assyrtiko - the most popular grape with 100-120 yr old vines, recommended to drink w food, this wine can hold for up to 10 years which will reduce the acidity

    2 - Athiri - an aromatic grape, easy to drink and ready to drink now, this is our favorite and we ended up buying a bottle to take home

    3 - Vinsanto - sweet dessert wine

    4 - Rose - blend of white and red varietals

    We also took a short tour to learn more about the unique wine production in the area. The guide shared the 2 different ways they grow the grapes. It’s very unique in that the grapes are on the ground versus hanging down. The grapes don’t grow in soil, but in volcanic ash. Because it’s in volcanic ash, they don’t have to use pesticides. The main way of growing the grapes is twisting the vines into a circular formation that looks like a bird’s nest. The “vine nest” traps the morning humidity providing the perfect climate for grape growing. Because there are fewer red grapes, they are trying to find new ways of growing them to increase production.    Read more

  • Darlene RodilloTravelerMediterranean Cruise and Rome
    New friendsEnjoying some sunshineFirst formal night!

    From the Aegean to the Adriatic Sea

    July 18, 2022, Aegean Sea ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    Our first day at sea leaving Santorini on the way to Montenegro. We enjoyed time on the ship in the evening when we returned from Santorini and met new friends and then spent some time the next day getting some sun, planning for the other ports, and catching up on reading. It was also the first formal night, so we got all dolled up for dinner at the Crown Grill, known for its seafood and steaks. We left feeling stuffed, so we had to do an outfit change into more comfy clothing.Read more

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