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Adriatic and Med. Cruise
  • Bob And Brenda Kerr
  • Patty DeGroodt
  • Bill DeGroodt
  • Bob And Brenda Kerr
  • Patty DeGroodt
  • Bill DeGroodt

Adriatic and Med. Cruise

A 31-day adventure by Bob And Brenda, Patty & Bill. Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 6, 2025
    Adriatic and Med. Cruise

    Seattle to Istanbul

    October 5, 2025 in the United States ☀️ 17 °C

    We were so happy to have Rob drive us and the DeGroodts to the airport!

    Our flight to Istanbul departed a little after 7 PM. This was our first experience on Turkish airlines. The food was really good and I thought the service was good. But the seats did not fit the Kerrs at all...especially Bob. They were way too short and had little room for one's feet. In comparison. Delta's seats were much better.

    The flight was about 11 1/2 hours.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    View from Restaurant
    View from RestaurantHagia Sofia MosqueBlue Mosque

    Arrival in Istanbul

    October 6, 2025 in Turkey ☀️ 22 °C

    We arrived at about 4 PM. Passport control had long lines but we made it through fairly quickly.

    We made our way to meet our driver for about a 45 minute drive into downtown Istanbul.

    We liked arriving in the afternoon because it meant that all we had to do was get to the hotel and find a place to eat.

    We got a recommendation for a restaurant from the concierge at the hotel. On our walk to the restaurant, we passed by the Hagia Sofia Mosque and the Blue Mosque. It was located on a roof top terrace overlooking the Sea of Marmara. It was a beautiful location.

    We headed back to the hotel and were really ready for bed!    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Entrance to Hagai Sofia
    Entrance to Hagai SofiaHagai SofiaDome of Hagai SofiaBooked marked marble in Hagai Sofia3Hagai SofiaFace of Cheribum Not covered my MuslimsByzantium Mosiac1Amazingly Detailed MosiacMosiac of JesusMosiac of John the BaptistBlue MosqueBlue Mosque1Dome of Blue MosqueElevated area from where Imman teachesSofia Hagai Taken from Blue MosqueBob

    Istanbul First Full Day

    October 7, 2025 in Turkey 🌧 17 °C

    After receiving a couple of phone calls in the middle of the night and not sleeping much, we met Bill and Patty in the hotel's restaurant for breakfast.

    We then made our way to met our guide who is with Context.

    After a brief walk during which our guide, Suleyman, gave us history of Istanbul. Our first stop was the Hagia Sophia. It was built by Constantine in the sixth century, this architectural and artistic wonder reflects the essence of Istanbul through the ages, having served over the years as church, mosque, and museum, before converting back to a mosque in 2020.

    Next we made our way to the Blue Mosque. Here we entered through the gate where Muslims enter instead of the visitors gate because the line was so long for the visitors gate. Prayers begin at noon and no visitors are allowed in at that time so had we had to enter through the visitors gate, we would have been standing in line forever. This just confirmed that having a knowledgeable guide is so important!

    The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or Blue Mosque is a UNESCO World Heritage site, we learned about the principles of Ottoman architecture as we admired the thousands of blue Iznik tiles after which the mosque takes its name.

    We had a brief coffee break before making our way to the former location of the Hippodrome. We toured these 4th-century ruins of the Roman Empire. The Hippodrome was the focal point of social life in the Byzantine period.

    Next we made our was to an underground cistern where we were shown models of the Hippodrome.

    Above this cistern was a Turkish rug store. We had a lesson on rug making and were shown many beautiful rugs. So far, the Kerrs have managed to keep their credit cards in their pockets.

    We then made our way back to the hotel.

    I made inquiries about travel insurance for a trip we are planning in 2027 and updated this blog.

    We had dinner at a restaurant recommended by our guide.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    2Spice Market
    2Spice MarketGarment District1Tea Shop1Yummy TreatsRustum Pasha Mosque1Iznik TilesIznik TileIznik TileAlley with WorkshopsBack Alleys With WorkshopsWorkshopWorkshopSuleyman, Our Fantastic GuideTea House in Workshop AreaBob in Eirene Tower/Arthur GalleryEirene Tower Roof1Gate to Topkapi PalaceEunich Quarters1Sultan’s Bath21Mother of Pearl and Tortoise Shell InlayFountain By Windows Used To Cool Room

    Spice Market, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi

    October 9, 2025 in Turkey ☁️ 13 °C

    Since we are traveling with Bill and Patty and Patty does a fantastic job of summarizing our trip. She sends out her daily reflections via email, I have decided to plagiarized her emails while adding a bit of mine own impressions. I am hoping that this will result in both a better blog and having it completed in a more timely manner. I also will add my pictures because it will be a challenge to import her pictures.

    Istanbul is a city of 16 million. Our experience is that it is clean and orderly. There has been no sign of homelessness. We have felt safe during our 5 mile walk in the historic district today.

    Our walk began through the garment district. This is an area of shops which are a combination of wholesale and retail selling. Merchants from around the country come to this area of Istanbul to buy items in bulk to sell in their stores in other areas of the country.

    We have noticed that shops selling similar items are located next to each other. On the drive from the airport, we noticed a similar arrangement. One area sold flowers and another sold lightening etc. In the garment district, shops selling socks were next to each other. There were a sections of business suits, children's clothing, under garments etc.

    We then strolled around the periphery of the Spice Market to discover plants, pet food and animals for sale.

    The Spice Market was established in 1664 as a place where merchants came together to sell goods and materials. We strolled through an incredible market filled with every kind of spice, tea and tea blend possible. It was overwhelming to see so many choices in one place.

    The merchants would offer samples of their wares. Bob and I (Brenda) got carried away in a tea shop and bought a lot of tea. This will necessitate us purchasing an additional piece of luggage. As most of you are aware, this dilemma happens quite frequently. As a result, our luggage closet at home is about at capacity.

    We toured the Rustum Pasha Mosque which is located above an area of the market. This mosque is purported to be one of the most mosques in Istanbul due to its abundance of Iznik tiles. These tiles are very rare because of the fact that they have multiple colors. The knowledge of the technique of firing tiles with multiple colored glazes had been lost. It wasn't until recently that tiles with multiple colors have again been able to be produced.

    We then journeyed through the back streets between the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar. This was a fascinating area of workshops. We were once again thankful for our guide, Suleyman. Without him, we would never have explored this area.

    We journeyed the Eirene Tower which is a refurbished and renewed tower that was built in the 8th century. It was used as a watchtower, prison and treasure house. It has been reborn as a workshop for artisans and art galleries to display the work of local artists. The dome of the tower is constructed as a rib dome, a technique that was thought to be difficult to accomplish. It was amazing to be walking through a tower complex of such great age.

    Our last stop in the morning was at the Grand Bazaar. It is a huge complex with 3500 stalls selling everything you could possibly need or want.  It has a very large gold market where things are sold by the gram. Handmade carpets abound, as do scarves, leather goods and clothing. It was an overwhelming place.

    Bob and I (Brenda) have been in many market areas. This was by far the largest and cleanest market that we have ever seen. In fact we have found all of the historic area of Istanbul to very clean and surprisingly quiet.

    Bob and I made a couple of purchases.

    We had a quick lunch at a restaurant located next to our hotel.

    Our afternoon was spent at Topkapi Palace. This is a large palace complex located at the tip of the peninsula at the confluence between the Sea of Marmara, Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. The palace grounds consist of three courtyards and a series of buildings including the Sultan’s living quarters, administrative and government buildings, massive kitchen facilities and a large harem. It was built in 1465 and expanded on through the years.

    The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived in a separate area of the palace next to the area where the concubines lived. We had quiet an enlightening lecture on the life of the Sultans, concubines, and Eunichs.

    The interior of the palace is covered with Iznik tiles. mother of pearl and tortoise shell.

    There are numerous museums now in some area of the palace. Suleyman asked which museums we wanted to visit. All four of us said we were satisfied with what we had already seen.

    We bid Suleyman goodbye and journeyed back to our hotel for a quick dinner and we all went to bed early as we have a 3 AM wakeup tomorrow in order to fly to Cappadocia.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Van to Airport
    Van to AirportEsentepe Panorama vista point of GoremeStray CatCaves at Goreme Open Air MuseumNunnery at Goreme Open Air MuseumChurch at Goreme Open Air MuseumFrescoes in Church at Goreme Open Air MuseumLove ValleyPasabag Fairy ChimneysPasabag Fairy ChimneysPasabag Fairy ChimneysDeGroodts and Kerrs at Pasabag Fairy ChimneysWhat animal does this rock formations look like to you?What does this rock formations look like?Pottery ShopHotel Room at Fresca Hotel

    Cappadocia

    October 9, 2025 in Turkey ⛅ 12 °C

    Bob and I were awake before our 3:15 AM alarm so we were able to call Rob and check in on things at the home front. I also got some work done and Bob fired our landscaper.

    We met Bill and Patty in the lobby at 4:20 AM.

    Our driver, who was to take us to the airport, was late. We walked to the corner and waited for a bit. Patty was in contact with the tour company and we were finally able to connect with the driver but we were almost 30 minutes past our original time to depart the hotel.

    We drove to the airport and made it to the gate as they were boarding our flight. This was the closest I have ever been to missing a flight. Anyone who knows me, knows that this stressed me a bit.

    We had a pleasant flight. I am glad that I was able to upgrade us to seats with more legroom as even these seats were cramped. Turkish people are small! Bob and I are NOT!

    We were met at the airport and whisked off by a pleasant driver with a spacious 14 passenger van...and there was only the 4 of us.

    We had an hour long ride through the countryside to our tour starting point just outside of the city of Goreme.

    Our first stop was at a viewpoint where we had coffee and discussed the plans for the day with our guide. While having coffee we also enjoyed watching puppies chase a cat. I haven't mentioned that there are more cats living on the streets than dogs but theu are both very numerous. These animals are all very well taken care of by the population. There are food and water bowls everywhere for the stray cats and dogs.

    The landscape in this area was influenced by centuries of volcanic activity. As a result, there are layers of pumic and ash that have been sculpted by the wind and weather into fantastic rock formations. There  have been dwellings, churches and storage niches all carved into the volcanic hillsides.

    A great example of the is the Goreme Open Air Museum. This site was used by Christian monks and nuns from the 10th to 12th centuries. They built chapels and dwellings along the sides of a valley, carving out the sites and then decorated with frescoes depicting Biblical scenes.

    We also walked through canyons full of tall slender rock towers. This place was called the Pasabag Fairy Chimineys which are mushroom shaped rock formations.

    We even stayed in a "cave hotel” where the room was carved into the hillside.

    The geology and the history of this area is amazing. Everywhere you turn there are carvings in the stone. People have been living here for millennia. This is the true crossroad between Asia and Europe. If you want to go from one continent to the other by land you must come this way. Its hard to believe we are here!

    Other areas which we toured were: Devrent Valley which is well known as imagination valley with animal and human shaped rock formations, a pottery workshop, and the Love Valley which has pillar shaped rock formations.

    Tomorrow is ballon ride day, and more sights to see.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    12Bill At Kaymakli CavesRaising Stone at KaymakliStone Used to Block PassagesKaymakliKaymakliKaymakliUchisar CastleLunchPigeon Houses at Pigeon Valley

    Balloon Ride And Day of Touring

    October 10, 2025 in Turkey 🌙 6 °C

    Bob and I were both awake well before our 4:30 AM alarm as we had to be ready to meet our driver who would take us to the location of our balloon ride...hopefully. I say hopefully because our guide said that the balloon rides are very dependent on weather conditions and could be cancelled right up until it was time to get in the balloons basket.

    We met some lovely people in the lobby. One couple was checking out and said that their balloon ride was cancelled yesterday. The other couple was schedule for the balloon ride with us. Incidentally, they will also be on our cruise.

    Soon our driver arrived and we were off. He was an excellent driver knowing many short cuts and detours. He had a bit of difficulty locating our balloon because he came in a totally different way to avoid a traffic jam and it was pitch dark. You would not believe the number of cars, vans, and busses everywhere!

    Finally our driver parked the van and said to follow him. Most of our van was part of an Asian tour group with the exception of the four of us and the couple who will be joining us on the cruise. This was lucky for us because we knew that we could easily see over their heads.

    The Asian tour guide called all of his group over to himself. The rest of us were wondering what we were to do. Soon, our driver called us over and loaded us into one of two basket containers on the very end. We were so fortunate because this location gave us expectional views.

    The Captain then explained the landing process. We were to face away from direction of travel and duck all the way down in the basket. This is not as easy as it sounds because the Kerrs are BIG people. We were lucky to be in a compartment with the DeGroodts. I do not believe that they felt the same way about us since we took up more than our fair share of space.

    The Captain then fired up the heating mechanism and after some adjustments by the ground crew, we were released and quickly swayed up in the air.

    There were balloons everywhere. We were told there would be 600 balloons in the air.

    We soared over many of the attractions that we saw yesterday. The Captain would lower the balloon almost to the ground and also very near the rock formations.

    The sun soon came up and spectacularly shown on rocks and balloons alike.

    After about an hour we started to descend. The ground crew had driven the trailer to our location. We watched in awe as the Captain perfectly lowered the balloon basket right on the trailer. No ducking down in basket, just an amazingly soft landing right on the trailer. We all our jaws dropped to witness this feat.

    We were then given refreshments before being driven back to our hotel.

    We will remember this morning as one of the most magnificent of our lives!

    We had breakfast at the hotel, went back to our room for a couple hours to shower and pack. I got caught up working and we were almost late to meet our guide at 10:30 AM.

    We stopped at the Kaymakli Underground City which is the largest and best restored shelter. It is surmised that Christians may have used these shelters to hide from enemies. This location has 7 levels but only the top 4 are available to be toured. We saw where they kept animals, a church, living quarters, kitchen, ventilation and water shafts. This was fascinating but not for those who are claustrophobic.

    We did a bit of shopping outside of the Underground City before heading to our next stop.

    We stopped for a coke at a restaurant overlooking the Uchisar Castle which is the biggest rock formation of Cappadocia.

    We continued on to the Pigeon Valley which affords one a terrific view of pigeon houses. The people of this region built theses houses into the cliffs to house pigeons and protect them from predators. In return, the pigeons supplied fertilizer for crops.

    As many of you know, I have been at war with pigeons in Arizona. They served no purpose in my life but to damage our roof. As a result, they are my least favorite birds.

    Next was a fabulous lunch at a restaurant built in a cave. We had a meat stew cooked for 4 hours in a sealed clay pot. The waiter then heated the both the bottom of the clay pot and a knife then banged around the top of the pot until the top broke off. It was very delicious.

    We had asked our guide if we could go to a spice market. He found a wonderful market and we again made more purchases which will necessitate us buying an even bigger duffel.

    Our guide asked us what we wanted to do next. We opted to go to the Pink Lotus jewelry shop to learn about Zultanite. Jewelry may or may not have been purchased.

    Sadly, it was then time to say goodbye to our extraordinary guide, Omar.

    We were driven to the airport only to find out that our plane had been delayed by an hour. It has been a long day and this will make it even longer. We have an hour drive when we get back to Istanbul.

    We finally made it to bed around 1 AM making it an about 20 1/2 hour day.

    Luckily, we have nothing planned for tomorrow except to get to the ship.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise

    Boarding Viking Jupiter

    October 12, 2025 in Turkey 🌙 10 °C

    We arranged a ride to the port last night. We decided to leave the hotel at noon.

    I didn't set an alarm because I could not fathom sleeping past 9 AM. I woke up at 11:20....and the chaos began!!!

    Makeup quickly done as Bob was throwing things in suitcases. My heartbeat probably reached 190 beats per minute. I asked Bob to call and get the time for the ride to port changed...he said we will make it. By now, I am sweating like a pig as I began throwing everything within reach into suitcases with absolutely zero rhythm or reason.

    We made our way to the lobby to be greeted by Bill and Patty who were all relaxed and calmly reading. Bob and I looked like we had just been through a CAT 5 hurricane. But we were not late....we had blown into the lobby at 11:59!

    We made our way to our cab and took the short ride to the port.

    I couldn't find my luggage tags but after this morning, I was not going to sweat the small stuff. The Viking crew were able to make tags for our luggage.

    We were through the embarkation quickly and had lunch. During lunch an announcement was made that our stateroom was ready.

    We were now faced with the task of unpacking and organizing the mess we just made a short time ago.

    Fortunately, we didn't seem to have forgotten anything at the hotel.

    The unpacking process took a little longer than normal.

    We met Bill and Patty in the atrium before going to the restaurant for dinner.

    We are glad to be unpacked for the next few weeks.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Market
    MarketMosqueSynagogue with Barricades/PoliceCommunal GardenHouses

    Touring Asian Side of Istanbul

    October 12, 2025 in Turkey ☀️ 13 °C

    We had a lovely breakfast in the World Cafe before we walked to the Peninsula Hotel which was about a 15 minute walk from the port.

    We met our guide outside the hotel. She is of Jewish heritage and has been living in Istanbul since she was 16 years old. She had a very strong personality and opinions about Turkish Politics and it's leaders. She is a documentary film maker and has had many friends put in jail due to their political stance.

    We took the ferry across the very busy Bosphorus. There were ferries, cargo ships, fishing boats and private yachts sailing in all different directions.

    The city of Istanbul is divided into the European and Asian sides by the Bosphorus.

    When we reached the Asian side, we made our way to a mosque which was unique because it was built by a female who was the daughter of a Sultan.

    The mosque was closed for cleaning so we walked through a small market and then viewed another mosque from the outside before heading back to the first mosque where the cleaning had been completed.

    After touring to interior of the mosque, we hopped in a very small cab-there was 6 of us in a car the size of a Ford Focus-it was hilarious!

    The cab dropped us off in a residential area where there was a synagogue surrounded by barricades and policemen.

    We walked through the neighborhood viewing churches, houses and a communal garden.

    We stopped by a tea shop before catching a public bus which took us back to the ferry.

    We took another ferry across the Bosphorus and walked back to the ship.

    This was a very interesting tour which gave us an alternate viewpoint of politics and culture in Turkey.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Trojan Horse at Troy Site
    Trojan Horse at Troy SiteTrojan Horse Used in MovieClay Pipes Uses at Troy

    Troy

    October 13, 2025 in Turkey ☁️ 19 °C

    Troy is located in Turkey. To get from Istanbul to Troy we went from the Bosporus through the Sea of Marmara in the area of the Dardanelles.

    We walked into the ancient site of the city. We learned that there are 9 major levels of Troy layered on top of each other. Each layer represents a city that was constructed over the previous one. Often they reused the material on the site to change and improve each version of the city. The first city was constructed in 3600 BC and the most recent level is dated 500 AD. After 500 AD the city fell into a “twilight zone” and was no longer a major city for trade or any other use.

    The myth/history of Troy is based on Homer’s Iliad. There is no real archeological proof that the Trojan Wars actually happened, but it is clear that there was an ancient and important city, whether the story is true or not.

    It was interesting to see the site of ancient Troy. Our imagination was churning as we learned about the history of the many different people and cultures who lived here.

    Narrative written by Patty.

    I have come down with a cold so when we returned to the boat, I immediately went to bed and skipped dinner.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Bath House
    Bath HouseMosiac PavementCommunal ToiletsAgora/Market PlaceAmphitheater

    Kusadasi/Ephesus

    October 14, 2025 in Turkey ☀️ 13 °C

    We had an early morning arrival at the port of Kusadasi, Turkey. This town of 90,000 people is the gateway to the historic site of Ephesus.

    We met our private guide and set off to visit one of antiquity’s best preserved cities. Ephesus was founded in the 10th century BC. It is a huge site covered with the remnants of bath houses, temples, administrative buildings and two agoras or market sites

    The most memorable structure is the library of Celsius. This library once held 12,000 scrolls and was one of the largest libraries in the ancient world.

    We walked through ruined temples and along market places where it was easy to imagine what life might have been like in ancient times. We appreciated the cultural and Christian heritage of this beautiful site. Both St. John and St. Paul spent time here and Ephesus played an important part in the spread of early Christianity.

    The city was destroyed by the Goths in 263. It was rebuilt but declined in importance as the harbor was silted up by the surrounding river. (Wikipedia)

    Narrative Again Thanks to Patty

    I once again went to bed upon arriving back on the boat.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise

    Rhodes

    October 15, 2025 in Greece ☀️ 20 °C

    Rhodes is known for its ancient medieval fortification built by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century.  It’s historic old town is the largest active medieval town in Europe. We wandered down the narrow streets and marveled at the thick stone walls.

    From Rhodes we travelled to Lindos. Lindos is the site of an acropolis dedicated to Athena. It was built in 300 BC on the site of an earlier temple. Perched high above the ocean it has an impressive 360 degree view of the Aegean Sean and surrounding countryside.

    After our tour, Bill and I strolled along the waterfront enjoying the beautiful day and admiring the medieval town walls.

    Narrative By Patty

    After we toured Rhodes, I did some ironing and then took a quick nap.

    We had dinner at the Captain's table with Ronald-General Manager who we know from the last WC, Verity-the Cruise Director, Karin-the Excursion Manager and Richard-the Assistant General Manager.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    House of Wealthy Individual Near Palace
    House of Wealthy Individual Near PalaceRecreated FrescoVessels to hold Wine, Olive Oil or Grain4Throne Room

    Heraklion/Crete, Greece

    October 16, 2025 in Greece ☀️ 20 °C

    Crete is the largest island in Greece. It was the home of the Minoans, Europe’s earliest recorded civilization.

    Our tour today consisted of exploring the Palace of Knossos and getting a more detailed look at  Bronze Age relics and frescos in the Heraklion museum.

    The earliest parts of the palace were built in 1900 BC. At its height, it was a sprawling complex of administrative, religious and royal residency. We were able to see outlines of foundations, recreations of walls and pillars and got a good sense of what the palace looked like.

    The walls were decorated with frescos. These frescos were restored in the early 1900s by an archeologist named Sir Arthur Evans.

    Other artifacts included large pottery storage jars used for storing grain, olive oil and wine.

    This was a truly magnificent place. At the museum we were able to find out more detail about the culture and craftsmanship of these creative people.

    The museum held many examples of the art, pottery and jewelry created by the Minoan people. The skill and intricate attention to detail was incredible. We were lucky to be able to see these incredible things.

    Narrative By Patty

    After our tour, we rushed back to the ship to grab our QuietVox and head to the Atrium for Behind the Scenes Tour. I left the tour early to grab a seat in the Restaurant with our favorite waiter.

    As a side note, Patty found our tour guide through Context. He is an archeologist, professor and author. We thoroughly enjoyed him and his vast knowledge. He was also very personable. He is one of the best guides that we have ever had!

    Patty worked for months researching tours and guides. She has done an amazing job! Our trip would not be nearly as good without all her hard work!    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Stone Church
    Stone ChurchHigh Speed FerryInterior of Stone Church1Hill with Numerous Stone ChurchesTemple of Aphaia

    Athens

    October 17, 2025 in Greece ⛅ 16 °C

    Since the four of us had all been to Athens, we tried something a little different than the usual Athenian tour.

    We boarded a high speed ferry for a 40 minute ride to a small island named Agenia.

    After our short ride we disembarked and met our tour guide. Since we had never heard of this island, we did not know what to expect. To our surprise, this island played major role in ancient and recent history.

    The Island was named for the daughter of a river god. She gave birth to the first king of the Island who was the grandfather of Achilles and Ajax, the heroes of the Trojan war.

    The island was a hub for trade around 2000 BC. It is also the first place in Europe to make coins.

    In recent times it was one of the sites considered as the capital of Greece and the location where the current constitution was drafted.

    We drove out of town to a hilly area. We walked up a rocky pathway where we found pieces of terra cotta pottery everywhere. We were the only people hiking here. As we walked we passed low stone walls and small stone buildings.

    The first stone building we visited was built in the twelfth century and had housed the head of St. George. This small church was decorated with frescoes and is still used today for services and celebrations such as baptisms.

    We soon realized that there were many small churches on this hillside.

    Each place is a small gem of an Eastern Orthodox  place of worship. The local community takes care of these places and you can visit many of these churches. They are built with the remains of ancient ruins and are a hodge podge of  pieces of carved marble, columns, hand cut stones and bricks.

    Our next stop was the Sanctuary of Aphaia. Founded in 500 BC, it is an amazingly complete temple.  There was a small, fascinating museum on site that described the temple in detail with a reconstruction of some of the sculptures from the pediment.
    We returned to town where we found pistachio ice cream that Bob christened “the best ever”. 

    We are so glad we ventured off the beaten path. We feel like we experienced what Greek life is like away from the big city and learned a lot more about Greece.

    Narrative By Patty

    When we got back to our stateroom, I (Brenda) pulled up Facebook only to see that my cousin, Rae, was in Athens today also. It would have been a hoot to connect with her in Athens! Moral of the story is that we need to keep in better contact.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Pantheon From Plaka
    Pantheon From PlakaGuide2Coffee2Phyllis Dough with Sweet Cream Cheese1Magical Frothing Machine2Charcuterie BoardGyroDessert1Pub

    Athens Day Two

    October 18, 2025 in Greece ⛅ 18 °C

    Today we enjoyed a food tour. We met our colorful guide Blossom and started out to try traditional Greek food.

    Our first stop was for a traditional Greek pie. Ours was filled with spinach and feta cheese. The fillo dough is made every day by hand. The pie was delicious and a great way to start our tour.

    Our next stop was for coffee and a triangular shaped filo pastry filled with sweet cream. The coffee was topped with a dense froth of non-fat milk that was just like whipped cream. Brenda and I are going to try to find the frother that makes such a magical topping.

    Our next stop was for a marvelous charcuterie board ladened with olives, olive oil, figs, three varieties of cheese, three smoked meats and local capers. This was paired with local wine and a Greek grappa.

    We then stopped for a traditional pork souvlaki or gyro.

    We then moved onto dessert. It was warm "donut holes" covered with honey and cinnamon.

    Finally we had a after dinner drink which was to help with digestion. We all needed it after eating this much.

    Narrative By Patty with additions by myself.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Temple of Zeus
    Temple of ZeusMosiacOlympic FieldFlowersHermesSculptures That Made Up Pediment of Zeus' TempleSculptures of Zeus' Temple's Pediment

    Olympia

    October 19, 2025 in Greece 🌧 17 °C

    Since we had only a few hours in port today we took the included tour to the site of the Original Olympic Games. This site was a religious sanctuary where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.

    The games were dedicated to Zeus. A very large temple was built in his honor. The statue housed in the temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. Today the temple is in ruin but the site is very impressive.

    There are many ruined buildings on this site. They include gymnasiums and other training sites, bathhouses, many temples and treasury buildings.

    The stadium was a flat rectangular area surrounded by a sloping hillside. Spectators would stand or sit to watch the athletic competitions, including running races, wrestling, boxing, javelin throwing and discus throwing.

    There was a fabulous museum on site where we learned more details about the games and their participants. Many of the statues, ritual offerings and pottery from the site were well preserved. It helped us better understand the ancient games and the spirit of the culture that created the games.

    It was a wonderful day. I didn’t realize that the ancient Greeks were so dedicated to human competition for such a very long time. It was eye opening and gave me a deeper appreciation of the legacy of the Olympic Games.

    By Patty

    Interestingly, Michelangelo used the statue of Hermes as model for his statue of David.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Fort
    FortChurch on Grounds of Old FortChurch InteriorBob and Myself By Canon at FortClock Tower at FortLighthouse at Top of FortUs at Top of FortView from Top of FortPassage to Top of FortCorfu City Street

    Corfu, Greece

    October 20, 2025 in Greece ☀️ 16 °C

    We were on our own today. We thought we would catch a ferry to Albania to recreate a trip Bob and Brenda did a while ago. We found out that it is the end of the season and the ferry schedule could not accommodate our schedule.

    A change of plans found us in a taxi on our way to the old down town area. We had a great visit to the old fort.

    There have been fortifications on the site since the 6th century AD. The Byzantines expanded the fort in the 12th century and the Venetians replaced the work of the Byzantines in the early 15th century. We were very impressed with the thick walls of this massive structure.

    Today the fort is home to a small museum, an Orthodox Church dedicated to St.  George and a Public Library.

    We hiked to the top to see the lighthouse and enjoy the expansive view of the Ionian Sea.

    We had visited this place years ago with Bill’s grandchildren Will and Emily McKenna. We relived those happy memories as we explored this citadel again.

    After climbing back down the fortress we did a little shopping and found our way back to the ship.

    This stop again reminded us of how long people have lived here and how many different cultures have influenced this country. We have enjoyed our visit in Greece very much.

    On to Montenegro.

    Narrative By Patty    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Sunrise Sail In to Kotor
    Sunrise Sail In to KotorChurch from Viking Neptune During Sail InB & B, Guide and CaptainMonasteryChurch on Rock IslandInside ChurchChurch CeilingChurch AlterSubmarine CaveSubmarine CaveInside Cave Used to Hide Submarines & Other BoatsConcentration Camp/Beach HotelBlue Cave1Communal Water FountainInterior of Church in KotorHalf way up to Fort on HillChurch on way to FortressGoalKotor StreetKotor ChurchKotor Clock TowerKotor Street After Crowds Departed

    Kotor, Montenegro

    October 21, 2025 in Montenegro ☁️ 10 °C

    Today we ventured out in a private small boat to explore the whole Kotor fjord.

    Our first stop was Our Lady of the Rocks Island. This is a small island off the coast of Montenegro. It was built stone by stone around a rock in the sea where an icon of the Madonna and Child was found in 1452.

    After every successful return from a voyage, rocks are added to the growing island. Today a Catholic Church is located on the site that was renovated in 1722. There is also a small museum.

    We next explored submarine tunnels. These structures were used to hide submarines and small surface boats during World War II. The tunnels were connected to more internal tunnels in the mountains that sheltered soldiers, arms and ammunition.

    From the submarine caves we headed out of the Bay of Kotor into the Adriatic. We passed by Marmala Island. This small island has a fort built in 1853 as part of a contingency plan to protect the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. During World War II it was used as a concentration camp. Today it is a luxury beach hotel.

    Our last stop was at the Blue Cave. This is a cave deep inside the rocks along the coastline. The water is crystal clear. The coral on the bottom reflected blue in the sunlight. Brenda went swimming. The water was cold!!!

    We enjoyed our hour long return trip to Kotor.

    After a short city walking tour, Brenda and I decided to hike to the top of the fortress. It was a journey of 1500 steps. The views were amazing and well worth the effort.

    We enjoyed our day here very much. It was not crowded.  We loved getting out on the water in a small boat, seeing Kotor and climbing to the top of the hill.

    Dubrovnik tomorrow!

    Narrative By Patty    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Watercolor AreaFlowers in Cavtat GardenFlowers in Cavtat GardenView of Dubrovnik From HillsideTower-Part of Dubrovnik's Defensive WallsChurch Within Dubrovnik's City WallsNarrow Residential Debrovnik StreetLooking Down From Tower Which Patty & I ClimbedMonasteryBackyard Between City Wall and HouseBuilding Damaged in War Not Rebuilt

    Dubrovnik, Croatia

    October 22, 2025 in Croatia ☁️ 18 °C

    Today we stopped at the port of Dubrovnik.

    We met our tour guide and headed toward Cavtat. Cavtat is located on a peninsula and surrounded between harbors. It is an ancient town founded by Greeks and taken over by the Romans in 228 BC. Today it is a lovely, small tourist town.

    We spent an hour walking through quiet narrow streets and along the water. We were the only tour group in town and we felt so fortunate to have the place to ourselves.

    As we walked we learned about the break up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s and the effect it had on current day Croatia. This recent political upheaval changed many lives, borders and economies.

    Dubrovnik was attacked by the Yugoslav Peoples Army in October 1991. The city was under siege until May  1992. During this time 56% of the city was damaged.

    The only remnant of the destruction we saw were the walls of one house.

    The entire city has been rebuilt following UNESCO guidelines. You have to look hard to see reminders of the damage that took place so recently.

    We were dropped by the main entry gate of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is an amazing medieval town completely  surrounded by a fortified stone wall. A statue of St. Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik and protector of the town  greeted us from his perch over the town gate.

    We walked along streets paved in cobblestone surrounded by buildings that were four stories high. Apartments are vertical so that there are some rooms that get daylight. The rooms on the bottom floors remain dark as the buildings are so close together.
    We walked around the town on the stone ramparts, enjoying the sight of the city roofs and church spires.

    Narrative By Patty    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise

    Split, Croatia...Or Maybe Not

    October 23, 2025 in Croatia ☁️ 18 °C

    No report today. As we were finishing breakfast the Captain announced that it was too windy to dock the ship. We are proceeding directly to Venice and will arrive there early tomorrow morning

    I ran and did threw 2 loads of laundry in the wash. Between loads, I got some work done.Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Boat from Ship to Venuce
    Boat from Ship to VenuceConstant Dredging of Channels in LagoonFirst Vires of VeniceClock Tower at St Marks SquareOne of Many CanalsBridge of SighsPillars at Entrance to St Marks SquareSt Mark's BasilicaDeGroodts/Kerrs on Rialto BridgeGrand CanalGrand CanalSide StreetFlooding of Restaurant off Grand Canal

    Venice. Italy

    October 24, 2025 in Italy ⛅ 10 °C

    Today we did the included tour primarily so we could get a ferry into Venice as our ship is docked in Fusino. The city of Venice no longer allows cruise ships to dock along the city piers. They have had 2 incidents where ships have hit the pier. In addition, the city of Venice claims that the cruise ships are damaging the foundation of the city.
    As a result, we had a lengthy boat ride into Venice. This made it tricky to get in and out of the city for those of us with independent tours.

    Venice is a city built on 118 small islands connected by 438 bridges. There are no cars, bicycles or skateboards allowed in the city. The city is built on a foundation of closely spaced piles of alder tree trunks topped with limestone. The original inhabitants were fleeing barbarian invasions on the mainland. The “official” date of the founding of Venice is March 25, 421 when the first church was dedicated.

    After our included walking tour, we wandered through the city getting our bearings and enjoying the sights.

    We did some shopping and enjoyed pizza for lunch.

    Our first day was an orientation with more  detailed exploring to come.

    Patty/Brenda    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    2Huge, Colorful Chandelier
    2Huge, Colorful ChandelierEugeneBurano's Colorful HousesBuranoLace Making1Amazing ChurchQuiet Venice Canal

    Murona, Burono, & Venice

    October 25, 2025 in Italy ☁️ 12 °C

    We met our driver outside of the ship and picked up our tour guide on the way to the water taxi.

    These water taxis are traditionally designed wooden boats and are incredibly charming.

    We were whisked away to the island of Murano. Murano is an island of glass production and glass fine art. In 1295 all glass furnaces were transferred from Venice to this island. This was to remove the threat of fire in the city and to sequester the art of glass making thereby controlling the secrets of Venetian glass blowing techniques.

    We were guided through the elite glass blowing factory by an elderly Italian gentleman named Eugene. We watched the master glass blower create a striped plate while we sipped on a cappuccino.

    The showroom was gigantic and we admired the many chandeliers, plates and other creations. We did not buy anything.

    We caught another water taxi and proceeded to the island of Burano. This island is known for lace making and brightly colored houses.

    We enjoyed walking around the quiet streets peeking into the shops. We saw a demonstration of the lace making. The pattern is printed on paper that is layered onto fabric. The stitches are minuscule. The result is amazing.

    We took another water taxi to downtown Venice. We had lunch near the Rialto bridge.

     Since we knew tomorrow 's schedule was going to be challenging due to the Venice marathon, we walked to Fundementa Nuevo which is the location where Viking's water shuttles were to depart tomorrow.

    On our return walk St Mark’s square, we stumbled upon an amazing church. We find that some of the most interesting time is when we are just wandering through city streets.

    We met our water shuttle for the return ride to the Viking Jupiter.

    We are definitely getting our steps in each day.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Hospital with Amazing Marble Facade1Facade of Hospital Showing PerspectiveChurch Adjacent to HospitalGrand Canal From GondolaRialto Bridge from GondolaBuilding Along Grand Canal From GondolaOne of the Oldest Buildings on Grand Canal From Gondola1Ceiling of Stairwell/Entrance to Doge’s PalaceCeiling in Doge’s PalaceThrone and Painting in Doge's PalaceCeiling in What Had Been Largest Room in EuropeExterior Staircase at Doge’s PalaceGlimpse into St. Mark's BasilicaInterior St. Mark's Basilica1Photo by Bob...He Snuck in Farther Than Others

    Venice, Italy

    October 26, 2025 in Italy ⛅ 11 °C

    It is our last day in Venice and it will be a full one. We have booked a 6 hour tour to enjoy the highlights of Venice. The city should be chaotic with the addition of the Venice Marathon changing walking routes and the flooding that is occurring in St Marks Square.

    We met our early morning minivan for transport to the City. Our original driver had an accident with his van but sent another person to pick us up. So far, so good.

    We enjoyed another quiet early morning walk through the city to the place where our tour began. A very energetic young man led us through neighborhoods and campos (community squares) regaling us with historical facts and stories.

    We wandered through the local market full of fish and vegetables.

    We enjoyed a gondola ride from one of the side canals to the grand canal. The tide was high and they had to tip the gondola so the boat and gondolier could go under the bridges across the small canals.

    We walked through now crowded streets to St. Marks Square, tiptoeing through flooded walkways and dodging people.

    After lunch we visited the Doge’s Palace. This was the seat of power and governance of Venice from 810 until Napoleon occupied the city in 1797. The Palace became a museum in 1923.

    We entered the Palace through the grand stairway. This long, marble stairway is decorated with a painted arched entryway created to impress visitors.

    We spent an hour with the guide learning about the complex form of government that ruled Venice for centuries. The founding families maintained a political system that was designed to distribute power rather than invest power in one person. It was a complex system. It included a series of mailboxes where you could anonymously report the transgressions of your neighbors, friends and enemies.

    After our time in the Doge’s Palace it was time to go to the St. Mark's Basilica. Due to the marathon we had to circumvent the plaza and go around the back of the Doge's Palace and the Basilica.

    Our guide took us to a side entrance of the Basilica and asked that we be allowed to enter. The guard at the doorway wouldn’t allow it. But since the Kerrs were close to the guide, we got a glimpse of the interior.

    We went to the front of the Basilica. It was flooded and people were removing their shoes and wading up to the front door. Several people were doing a brisk business selling plastic bags to use to wade through the water. As a side note, the water that floods the city is very filthy because the sewer system of Venice is questionable at best. There was no way we were wadding through almost knee deep water!

    As we were at our time deadline to return to our minivan, a 30 minute walk away, we said goodbye to our guide and made our way through the maze of streets.

    When we arrived our van wasn’t there. We had no idea how bad traffic would be and we thought that we were cutting it pretty close. We really didn't want to miss the ship. Patty and I brought all of our passports just in case we missed the ship. We waited for the to arrive while watching other vans come and go. By 3:30, we gave up on our driver. Bob found another van willing to take us to the port. The van driver practiced his racing skills and delivered us to our ship just in time. Whew.

    We were glad to spend time in Venice. This one of a kind place.

    By Patty/Brenda    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Nature!!!
    Nature!!!Boat we took from FallsTown on Banks of RiverBob Having a Great Time with PedroBill in Traditional Sibenik Hat"Frank" Our GuideQuiet, Cleaning StreetsOh...so good to be in a small townCathedral in SibenikHeads on Exterior of CathedralDoor With Images of ApostlesView of Sibenik Used in Game Of Thrones

    Sibenik, Croatia

    October 27, 2025 in Montenegro ☀️ 12 °C

    We met our guide and set out to explore  Krka National Park. This area became a National Park in 1985. It protects the Krka river. There are a series of boardwalks that wind through a beautiful landscape full of waterfalls.

    We took a boat trip on the river and enjoyed the swans, the craggy hill sides and the beauty of this place.

    Our guide took us to a great local restaurant where we enjoyed a local wine marinated beef dish  and black ink risotto.  We were entertained by Pedro who taught us a Croatian song and knew all the words to Country Roads.  He is wore the traditional hat of this region.

    The old town has two main streets and was refreshingly quiet and deserted. The travertine limestone that is so abundant here is used to pave the streets and build the buildings. When it weathers it looks like marble.

    We have really enjoyed our experience in Croatia. The history is thought provoking when you consider that in one lifetime a person could live in six countries without moving from your home. The history of conflict is so very recent history. The people are warm and friendly. There is a lot to see and do. What a nice time we have had here.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Trulli
    TrulliTrulli ChurchInterior of ChurchInterior/Ceiling of Shop in TrulliSnackBrenda Getting Her Dog Fix

    Bari, Italy

    October 28, 2025 in Italy ☀️ 17 °C

    Today we stopped at Bari, Italy. Bari is a large port town on the Adriatic. We did not explore this town because we had booked a tour to the village of Alberobello. 

    Alberobrello is known for its conical buildings called trulli. These buildings were traditionally cylindrical buildings built of stacked limestone slabs without mortar. Historically they were peasant homes and storage sheds. Today they serve as shops, restaurants and residences.

    There was a church built in the same style. The interior mirrored the simplicity of the building and the people of the town. 

    We were glad to see the buildings and the town. The trulli are unique and fascinating.  The town was relatively quiet and it was nice to be able to walk without crowds. 

    We visited a farm for a taste of focaccia with local vegetables and local wine. 

    It was a lovely low key day in the Italian countryside.    Read more

  • Adriatic and Med. Cruise
    Santa Maria Della Roccella
    Santa Maria Della RoccellaSanta Maria Della RoccellaSanta Maria Della RoccellaHarvesting OlivesRealistic Portrayal of Man Who Suffered a StrokeStatues With Incredible Detail1Details!!AmphitheaterAmphitheaterOlives Ready for PressElectric Oil GrinderOil PressesOil SeparatorLarge PressCastillo de Squillace

    Crotone, Italy

    October 29, 2025 in Italy 🌙 15 °C

    Today we docked in Crotone. It is a port town in the region of Calabria. We are going to visit the Scolacium Archeological Park. 

    The park is located in a large olive grove.   The first thing we saw was an incredible red brick Norman style church. It is called Santa Maria Della Roccella.  The church was built in the 11th century but was never finished.   It is huge and the walls are very thick but questionable engineering. It was damaged by a severe earthquake in 1783.

    We continued into the park and encountered 3 men who were harvesting olives. One was in the tree shaking the branches. The others were picking the olives up from the tarp spread under the tree. This is the way that olives have been harvested for centuries. The olives were placed in a large container waiting to go to the olive press.

    We proceeded into the small museum where we found rooms of treasures found on this site. This included marble statues, columns Roman glass and jewelry. The details in the garments of these statues is amazing.

    Also located on this site is a Greek theater that held 3000 people. It is built into a hillside and has very good acoustics.

    In 1960 the Roman forum and surrounding city complex was discovered during a sewer construction project. This resulted in excavation of part of the olive orchard to reveal terra cotta pavers which formed the rectangular forum plaza. The forum was surrounded by administrative buildings on one side and merchant stalls on the other. You have to use your imagination to appreciate this Roman site.

    The last and incredibly interesting exhibit was an old olive oil processing facility. The factory was an early electric facility with huge mechanized grinding stones and olive presses.

    Our next stop was at Castillo de Squillace. The castle was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. After being held by many families it was passed to the Borgias in 1485. The Borgia family crest is over the entrance portal.

    We enjoyed seeing these two sights in the Calabrian countryside. Once again we were reminded of the many civilizations that have left their mark and the complex legacies they have left for us to see.    Read more