Europe 2024

A 95-day adventure by Wendy Read more

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Trip start
July 30, 2024
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Day 1
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
☁️ 32 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Singapore Fort Canning Hill 1.290394, 103.8454241°17’25” N 103°50’44” E
30 July Singapore
July 30, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
The journey begins. We were stung for excess baggage for $60 per case. Lesson learnt make 1 case heavy & the other within the limit as 1 kg over is still $60.
Great seats on the plane with more than 2 meters standing & leg room but cold draught from the door was concerning.
Arrived in Singapore & headed out to the river boats just across the river from our hotel for a cruise looking at all the lights. This was a different part of Singapore we had not done before. Settled into 1 of the many restaurants along the river for dinner & found they had happy hour buy 2 get a 3rd free was about to back up for another round when it dawned on us we had been up for 22 hours - time to call it a nightRead more
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Day 2
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit 1.28941, 103.8631251°17’22” N 103°51’47” E
31st July Singapore
July 31, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Spent some time at the pool & caught a bit of sun. Then headed out to our Singapore free walking tour & learnt lots of history about Singapore. Unfortunately towards the end the heavens opened & torrential rain descended. Hadn't packed the coats but did have umbrellas still got soaked. After the tour finished & we had dried out we made our way to the Singapore flyer to view the city & lights a different way. We headed back to Clarke Quay & once again found it happy hour with a late dinner.Read more
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Day 3
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 7:48 PM
☁️ 29 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Singapore Marina South City Park 1.281652, 103.8643541°16’54” N 103°51’52” E
1st August Singapore
August 1, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Headed to Gardens by the Bay for the day went up the Super tree observatory & walked the Skywalk. Let Jeff have a nana nap in the shade for a while. Did the laser light show at Marina Sands & the light show at Gardens by the Bay before heading home to bed but not before 1 last happy hour stop.Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 1:04 AM
☁️ 27 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Singapore Sungai Tanah Merah Besar 1.364133, 103.9895451°21’51” N 103°59’22” E
2nd August Singapore
August 3, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Ticked off our bucket list with High Tea at Raffles Hotel. Lovely once in a life time experience (mainly due to the price). Returned to our hotel to play the packing shuffle only to discover when doing on line check in we had a 30kg baggage allowance. Said our farewells to Singapore & spent some time at The Jewel at Changi airport & the rainforest vortex & light show before heading to our flight to Istanbul & onto AthensRead more
TravelerGreat work
8/4/24Reply
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Day 6–10
August 4, 2024 at 12:23 AM - August 8, 2024
4 nights
🌙 29 °C
Altitude: 139 m
Greece Gizi 37.98961, 23.74700537°59’23” N 23°44’49” E
3rd August Athens
Aug 4–8, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 29 °C
Left Singapore & 11 hours later arrived in Istanbul for 2 hours then 1 1/2 hours on to Athens. Settled into our hotel only to find the toilet leaked all over the floor especially when sitting on it. This meant a change of room so had to hastily repack & move. Joined an evening food tour which was great visted about 8 different restaurants & ate & drank to excess in them all. We ended up with 1 last drink in the bar of our hotel & I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.Read more
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Day 6
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 10:51 PM
🌙 30 °C
Altitude: 137 m
Greece Gizi 37.98951, 23.74691537°59’22” N 23°44’49” E
4th August Athens
August 4, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 30 °C
Walked to the Presidential Mansion to see the changing of the guard- think we missed the main event but felt sorry for the poor guys in the heat about 37 degrees. Headed back to the hotel to catch up on the washing then spent some time at the pool.
Joined a tour to Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon to watch the sunset. Great tour ended back in Athens about 10.30pm & grabbed a late dinner & home to bed pretty shattered.Read more
TravelerWe have got pretty much those same photos. Only saw the changing of the guard because we followed them down the street. Keep hydrated
8/5/24Reply
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Day 7
Monday, August 5, 2024 at 9:11 PM
🌙 30 °C
Altitude: 254 m
Greece Lykabettus 37.98202, 23.74356337°58’55” N 23°44’37” E
5th August Athens
August 5, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 30 °C
Took the cable car to the highest point in Athens for some amazing views. Spent the afternoon catching up on some chores & at the pool before meeting the group on our greece globus tour for drinks.
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Day 8
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 9:04 PM
🌙 29 °C
Altitude: 71 m
Greece Panathinaikon stadium 37.969793, 23.73992337°58’11” N 23°44’24” E
6th August
August 6, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 29 °C
Our tour took us to the Acropolis we made it to the top - probably once in a life time as thousands of people go through it each day so the crowds are huge.
Also saw the 1st Olympic stadium built out of white marble. Did a major repack so as to leave 1 suitcase in Athens & had some time by the pool before the day ended. Our tour group has only about 20 people.Read more
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Day 9
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 6:37 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 60 m
Greece Gefyra Isthmou 37.927995, 22.99592937°55’41” N 22°59’45” E
7th August Nauplia
August 7, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
We left Athens today, our 1st stop was Corinth Canal before the canal was built a roller system was in place to roll the ships across the land & back into the water the canal is 6km long 23m wide & 18m deep. This joins the Aegean Sea to Ionian Sea. We visited the ancient ruins of Corinth fascinating that the city had running water & sewage. Then we climbed to see the ancient city of Mycenae & how the city was able to defend itself. Last stop was the amazing Epidaurus Theatre still used today. Then a quick look at the lovely town of Naupoli. Huge dayRead more
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Day 11
Friday, August 9, 2024 at 2:50 AM
🌙 22 °C
Altitude: 56 m
Greece Fanarás 37.658538, 21.6227737°39’31” N 21°37’22” E
8th August Olympia
August 9, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
Traveled to Olympia & visited all the artifacts in the museum of the Temple of Zeus. Then walked around the massive area of the excavation. Saw the spot where the Olympic flame is lit & the original Olympic track which is not oval shape but the athlete's would run up & down the track. The men would have separate games to the women & competed naked to show off their beautiful bodies. We had a run off between members of our tour group on the track & Jeff managed to win the mens section ( his only competitor was a guy with 2 knee replacements). After freshening up in the pool we learnt how to make tziki before dinnerRead more
TravelerJeff is still the athlete. All the practice from running to the toilet
8/9/24Reply
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Day 11
Friday, August 9, 2024 at 6:26 PM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 26 m
Greece Ráchi 38.10889, 21.48777338°6’32” N 21°29’16” E
9th August Delphi
August 9, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Traveled through some quaint little towns today, spent some time in 1 town as the narrow roads with parked cars didn't allow the bus to pass through. This meant lots of horn honking & many gestures with Greek language being used- some I suspect might have been somewhat rude. Visited the Temple of Apollo 2 1/2 thousand feet up also saw the belly button of the earth (centre of the earth).
Tonight we learnt some Greek dancing & drank Ouzo (needed that to keep up with the dancing.Read more
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Day 12
Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 5:59 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 1,250 m
Greece Alatariés 38.57, 22.50674838°34’12” N 22°30’24” E
10th August Meteroa
August 10, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We traveled to 5000 feet above sealevel on the Greek Alps to Meteroa to see the monesteries built on the top of the massive rock formations or in caves in the rock. The monesteries only have between 1 & 30 monks or nuns in them now. They used to pull robe baskets up the cliffs with people or supplies in. 40 degrees temperature today & we had to dress in long pants & skirts but was the most amazing scenery & such a different history to what we had seen up to now. Splash in the hotel pool was greatly appreciated at the end of the day.Read more
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Day 13
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 9:40 PM
🌙 29 °C
Altitude: 135 m
Greece Gizi 37.989505, 23.74673737°59’22” N 23°44’48” E
11th August Athens
August 11, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 29 °C
A little later start this morning although we were awakened at 4.45am with Sarah & Dean checking our water at home due to a very excessive bill. Think we might have a faulty meter.
Headed back to Athens on the last day of our Greece tour with just the 1 stop at Thermopylae battle fields. Great roads in Greece with tunnels through the hills & all roads are tolled. Also passed by the 2002 Olympic Stadium. Reshuffle of bags tonight ready for our island cruise but not before a swim. Dinner at a local restaurant love the size of the drinks in Greece & they come with nibbles.Read more
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Day 15
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 4:46 AM
🌬 25 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Greece Little Venice 37.444698, 25.3256737°26’41” N 25°19’32” E
12th August Mykonos
August 13, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
We were awakened this morning at 4am with emergency alerts going off due to the fires on the outskirts of Athens where we had traveled through yesterday. The alerts kept happening all morning. We escaped the smoke & boarded our Celestyal cruise. After about 5 hours & a few drinks later we arrived in Mykonos & wandered around to Little Venice & the windmills before returning to the ship for dinnerRead more
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Day 15–17
August 13, 2024 at 7:40 PM - August 15, 2024
2 nights
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Turkey Efes 37.952101, 27.3300237°57’8” N 27°19’48” E
13th August Kusadasi & Patmos
Aug 13–15, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Very early start this morning with our excursion start at 6.45am, to Kusadasi to the house of the Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus which covers 640 acres, we also visited a carpet factory but no purchases. We then sailed onto the little island of Patmos where we wandered around the town before heading back to the ship & more food & drinks. Such a tough life.Read more
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Day 17
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 2:20 AM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Greece Liménas Ródou 36.447708, 28.23269236°26’52” N 28°13’58” E
14th August Rhodes
August 15, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Arrived in Rhodes this morning got to sleep in as didn't need to be off the ship until 7.15am. Went on an excursion to Lindos & the Acropolis only 300 steps up so was good to do it before the temperature got too high. The view from the top was well worth the climb. Also walked through the old castle area of Rhodes before heading back to the ship for more food & lunch drinks. Had to take a couple of hours in the afternoon to catch up on some domestics before more food & drinks for dinner & back to our favorite bar for some evening entertainmentRead more
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Day 17
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:10 PM
🌬 28 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Aegean Sea 35.506148, 25.1601635°30’22” N 25°9’37” E
15th August Crete & Santorini
August 15, 2024, Aegean Sea ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
Woke up in Heraklion, Crete today for a few hours so had a leisurely breakfast & strolled off the ship to find it was a public holiday so there wasn't anything much open. Jumped on a hop on hop off bus for an hour just to have a drive around. Next stop Santorini got up the cablecar in about 15 minutes had a wander around Jeff thought it was a good idea to take the lower path back towards the cablecar & ended up half way down the hill only to climb back up. Fortunately there was a bar at the top. Decided not to watch the sunset as had to que for the cablecar & didn't need the stress of not making it back in time will be back in Santorini in a few weeks so can spend more time thenRead more
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Day 18
Friday, August 16, 2024 at 8:40 PM
🌙 30 °C
Altitude: 86 m
Greece Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport 37.937584, 23.94912337°56’15” N 23°56’57” E
16th August Naxos
August 16, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 30 °C
Another early start to leave the ship & transfer to Athens airport for a flight to Naxos incurring more excess baggage . Had a few hours to kill at the airport but had the best coffee since being in Greece. Fascinating watching people taking their dogs on the plane. It took nearly as long on the bus out to the plane as the flight was to take, finally boarded & our large backpack would not fit in the overhead lockers nor under the seat, the hostess said she would put it in an empty seat but never came back for it which wasn't a problem unless we crashed. Apparently we were delayed due to heavy runway traffic & finally took off about the time we were due to arrive in Naxos & didn't run out of fuel. Had a swim then the lens fell out of my prescription sunglasses but found an optician about 5 minutes from the hotel & fixed them in a flash. Turned our deck into a chinese laundry & just about caught up on the washing again. Found a mamas family Greek restaurant had a great meal & now sitting in our chinese laundry enjoying a rose.Read more
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Day 20
Sunday, August 18, 2024 at 1:43 AM
🌬 25 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Greece Agios Georgios 37.100702, 25.37755137°6’3” N 25°22’39” E
17th August Naxos
August 18, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Had a slower start this morning, then took a walk around Naxos town & waterfront also to the beach area. Returned to the hotel as the temperature increased after visiting a very busy patisserie for a filled roll & muffin to share back at the hotel. Caught up on some emails etc before spending some time at the pool.
We had sn evening walking tour & sunset booked which got delayed then after chasing them up it finally got canceled so went down to the waterfront for a wonderful (somewhat expensive dinner). Headed back to the hotel for another wine some turkish delight & some people watching from our balconyRead more
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Day 20
Sunday, August 18, 2024 at 8:33 PM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 262 m
Greece Damalas 37.054977, 25.46757537°3’18” N 25°28’3” E
18th August Naxos
August 18, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Had a tour of the island today - started on island time with a man waving us towards a bus. We hopped on & crossed our fingers it was the right bus. Turned out ok, had a pretty greasy Greek fella for a guide but off we went. Saw the Temple of Demetrius, then saw how 300 years ago they made olive oil. Visited a pottery place - not sure how the guy can make the pots without looking at what he's doing. Stopped at a pretty mountain village then onto another village for lunch. From there we headed back to the coast & stopped at another pretty little town, brought the most expensive ice cream I have ever would have been cheaper to have a cocktail. Returned to our hotel for a cool off in the pool before dinner at a local restaurant where Jeff made friends with the owner, as he does & got us a free wine.Read more
TravelerGood to see that Jeff still hasn't lost his touch
8/19/24Reply
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Day 21
Monday, August 19, 2024 at 11:02 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Greece Agios Georgios 37.100705, 25.37731637°6’3” N 25°22’38” E
19th August Naxos
August 19, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Had a bit of a lazy day today. We climbed up to Naxos Castle to a little cafe with spectacular views found our way up the steps to find there was a lift we could have used, then returned to the hotel for some pool time & some washing in preparation for packing. Had time to continplate how yesterday's bus driver got us home safely when the roads were so narrow & you met in coming cars or busses someone had to back up, travelled up the hills taking up the whole road - some hairy moments, was very pleased we did not rent a car. Went to the Portara - Temple of Apollo to watch the sunset as we had missed this on the tour that never happened.Read more
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Day 22
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 9:54 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Aegean Sea 37.334931, 25.29903937°20’6” N 25°17’57” E
20th August Paros
August 20, 2024, Aegean Sea ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
First experience of the chaotic ferry system in Greece queue in the hot sun with people passing out around you- ferry comes in rush like hell to get on dragging your suitcase up the vehicle ramp which was bloody steep- got a push from some guy to hurry me up. Find a compartment to lift your suitcase into then get upstairs to a comfy seat & breathe a sigh of relief. Same thing in reverse to get off - you have to be quick or the ferry leaves with you on it. Made it to the hotel & wandered along the waterfront to buy some supplies then took a swim at the beach. Had a lovely seafood dinner & now a wine on our deck.Read more
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Day 23
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 9:08 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Greece Livadia Beach 37.089193, 25.15730237°5’21” N 25°9’26” E
1
21st August Paros
August 21, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Pretty lazy day today, took a walk along the waterfront of Paros, then spent the afternoon on the beach was pretty hot & no shade so spent more time in the water than on the beach. Had a cocktail before heading back to the hotel, then shared a seafood platter for dinner & a drink on our patio before bed.Read more
Traveler Nice
8/21/24Reply
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Day 25
Friday, August 23, 2024 at 5:47 AM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Greece Livadia Beach 37.089274, 25.1573537°5’21” N 25°9’26” E
2
22nd August Paros
August 23, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Big day today with a tour starting with a walking tour around the castle & the old town of Paros. A short bus ride took us to the ferry to a small island Antiparos this was also a car ferry you walked on with the cars up the vehicle ramp but no where near as steep as the main ferries. A short ride saw us in the town that is meant to be the main place to have Octopus. We walked around the small but picturesque town then thought we should try the Octopus - really not a fan - maybe it was the cooking.... back on the ferry & then the bus to a village in the mountains which was also very beautiful our last stop was the very touristy town of Naoussa where we lost our bus to come back - fortunately we weren't the only ones as even the tour guide couldn't find it - think the driver had gone for a nap somewhere. Finally got back to our hotel so hot so took a swim before heading out for a wonderful dinner on the waters edge.Read more
Traveler Keep your finger off the lens
8/23/24Reply
TravelerI know it seems to get in the way sometimes
8/24/24Reply
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Day 26
Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 2:10 AM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Greece Livadia Beach 37.0892, 25.1573337°5’21” N 25°9’26” E
23rd August Paros
August 24, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Had a pretty quiet day as had some washing & emails to catch up on before leaving Paros. Had a few hours on the beach & a nice dinner where the waiter talked us up to an expensive fish - good job Jeff was able to debone it & eat the eyes. Picture shows same setting on the sea & sunset as last night but different restaurant & different coloured wine.Read more
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