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2019 Italy to Singapore Cruise
  • Richard n Sheila Travels
  • Richard n Sheila Travels

2019 Italy to Singapore Cruise

This holiday started with a week in Sydney. Then flights to Milan and a train to Genoa where we cruise to Singapore via Dubai. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 1, 2019
  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Views of the City from accommodation unit
    As the sign says ... MortuaryExample of lower class facilitiesMass showers used for treatment ... but not now, just a ghost or twoTranquil beauty today ... in the 1st class areaCome on in! 1st class dining room in the day

    Q Station Sydney

    November 3, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Presently a unique visitor accommodation facility, this was originally Sydney's Quarantine Station where any inbound arrivals carrying illness were accommodated and treated. The early 1900s saw many ships disembark many or all of their passengers at the station. It catered for the same passenger classes found on the ships - officers, 1st, 2nd, 3rd class etc with segregated facilities, and operated as a self contained village. Very close to Manly, on the north side of the harbour entrance, it is set in about 30 hectares of native bush, and the entire station today is tranquil, beautiful and just a little haunting.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Hello Koala sculptures throughout the Botanical Gardens
    "I'm in Love"Harry's Famous Diner and piesCarnivorous plants just waiting quietly...We missed feeding time

    A Day out in central Sydney

    November 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    A trip on the famous Manly Ferry landed us downtown Sydney to enjoy a day with school-wagging grandees Sienna and Sam and family. 15km later we had walked the harbour waterfront as far as the famous Harry's Diner then lunched at the very excellent Italian pub Sienna Marina and explored much of the Botanical Gardens. Then back to the ferry and Manly.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Pete and Sheila having fun
    Yep it's water ... not glassHistoric Tram now a mobile restaurant

    I Navigli, Milan

    November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    Caught up with nephew Pete for a drink and pinsa in this rather picturesque area. Pinsa is similar to pizza with slightly fluffier dough and something special about the flour used - the usual pizza toppings. Delicimo! Used the very excellent public transport ... €2 lasts 90 mins on any mode. Underground metro and above ground tram was fun. Just 6deg outside but just buzzing with happy people socializing.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels

    Duomo Milano

    November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We've seen many churches in our travels but few rival this one. Incomprehensible what it took to build a structure like this. First pic is courtesy of Wikipedia as weather and extreme crowds made a good shot impossible. Stained glass galore, marble by the 100 tonne, and a live religious ceremony while we toured through.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels

    Ferrari Factory

    November 11, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    What better place for a couple of car crazed lads to spend an hour? No pics allowed inside on tour but these confirm where we were today! A couple hours drive from Milan, the factory is in Maranello where it seems there is little other than Ferrari on locals' minds! Started with a look inside Pista di Fiorano, their own race track.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Its Huge. Check the size of people under the arch
    Inside is just as impressiveBullet trains ....

    Station Centrale Milan

    November 12, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Magnificent building to house the city centre transport hub. Beautiful in and out from the grand stonework outside to the marble inside, it's a truly timeless place that now connects a most impressive and modern network of trams, train and metro with pedestrians, buses and cars. Photo 3 is the fast train we took to Genoa today. Travelled at up to 165kmh so smoothly that a bottle of water on the table just didn't move.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Queen's Room. Remarkably preserved
    Ruins of Minoan town belowStepped terrace from where standing audience watched live showsStorage room and jars ... olive oil and the likeUrns around the central courtThe buildings were complex and labyrinthine

    Palace of Phaistos ruins, Crete

    November 16, 2019 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We love ancient ruins ... these from as early as 2000 BC atop a hill maybe 150m high. Originally a town/city, the royals of the time evicted the owners and built a palace of some 9000 sqm. It's an excellent look at Minoan culture and architecture. Some amazingly well preserved parts. Over the years it was demolished and built on top of at least 3 times and finally destroyed by Romans. So incredible walking on the same paved terraces and steps that have borne human footprints for so long and now have a smooth lustre from the incessant polishing of bare and leather clad feet. The city folk relocated to the foothills and those ruins are visible from the area we visited.Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Early morning fishermen...El Qantara ... town along Suez CanalCar ferry dockFerry loaded and readyKeeping us under observe

    Suez Canal

    November 18, 2019 in Egypt ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Part of this trip is traversing the Suez Canal. I marvel that I'm not sure whether my father and my grandparents passed this way when journeying to New Zealand in 1953 and 1921 respectively...note to self, look this up!

    We entered the canal at night so saw nothing until the next day. And a very interesting vista it is. Sand sand sand as far as the eye can see, and plenty of evidence of humanity settling and living near the water. The canal enters what is still called a lake, now salt water of course. The surrounding city looks luxurious and idyllic in the warm sun.

    We pass numerous connections between the two banks, as both sides are in Egypt. An exceptionally high bridge starts some Kim away in the desert. Another floating bridge swings aside for ships like ours. There are several ferry services operating. At times we encounter local fishermen who wave as we pass.

    A fascinating excursion...more pics next footprint.    Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    Aqaba port ... those hills are just large rocks, no vegetation
    Eliat/Elath, Israel in the distance (high rise buildings)Barren or what...

    Aqaba, Jordan

    November 19, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We docked at this port where excursions will take most passengers off our ship to see Petra and/or Wadi Rum. The port looks stark and mysterious against the clear blue sky, but it's quite chilly. One pic gives an idea of where we are located on the ship ... that "building" on left of pic 2 is the glass elevator that rides to the pool deck far above! A Norwegian Line cruise arrives with us ... it is to be a record day for visitors to Petra at about 7,000.
    What looks like the city of Aqaba is also the city of Eliat in Israel. Jordan allows a max of 5 storey buildings so all high-rise buildings in the distance are in Israel (pic from bus window).
    We enjoy the 2 hr bus trip to Petra taking in the barrenness of the terrain, while our guide reminds us that Moses traversed the same area during his exodus from Egypt.    Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    McCamel the guide called this, apparently a place food was prepared.

    Petra - we're full of anticipation

    November 19, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    On arriving at Petra we are already fidgety and excited about this visit. This lost city was discovered in 1812 after being abandoned some 1500 yrs earlier. Evidence suggests it may have been inhabited as much as 9000 yrs ago, but most of what is visible was built between about 400 BC and 300 AD. It was the capital city of the Nabateans around 350 BC and they were responsible for much of the architecture.
    We arrive at the visitor centre with hundreds of other visitors and the atmosphere is expectant to say the least. Our guide supplies entry tax and off we set. He is very knowledgable with two related degrees in archeology and history. Along the way he points out the ancient structures carved into solid rock and explains their function. He can name the builder of each and even compares some to modern buildings (e.g. a McCamel joint! See pic 4).
    Horses, golf carts and horse buggies are available for those wishing a less strenuous day, but we walk (eventually clocking up 11km on this day).    Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels

    The Siq at Petra, Jordan

    November 19, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    Entry to the ancient lost city from the visitor centre is via the Siq, essentially a 1.5km slot between towering rocks. The siq is not created by erosion or weather, rather it is right on a geological fault line between the Asian and European continents. A bit narrow in places (2m) it meanders along with new wonders around every turn. The sound of hoof-beats frequently signal the next horse or buggy coming through and the masses part ...
    Along this walk we ho deeper and deeper into the earth until the walls are more than 100m high. It's cool and dark in places, but dry and well paved for us walkers.
    At one point there's a partly constructed arch that appears to have never been finished. Steps curve up rock faces to rooms and homes cut into the bare rock. There's a marital station where we were ceremoniously "married" again by our multi talented guide! No pics unfortunately, it happened without notice and we hadn't the chance to set up a photographer...
    After an hour or so he had us all assemble to the right, wait for tragic, then move to the left of the siq. What we saw was breathtaking (see next footprint!)    Read more

  • Richard n Sheila Travels2019 Italy to Singapore CruiseRichard n Sheila Travels
    First Glimpse of what is to come
    A little closerIt's huge!Carved out of sheer rockRecord crowd today...including us!Check out the scale of the Treasury.

    The Treasury, Petra

    November 19, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Around one last bend in the Siq and we see our first glimpse of The Treasury. It's breathtaking in the afternoon sun!

    Built/carved in the sheer and solid rock, it stands around 30m high and has elements representing "time" throughout. 7, 12, 24 and 31 all feature in the count of various parts of the building.

    It was a functioning Treasury in its day ... Petra was located very close to the trade and commerce routes making it easy for citizens to bring their taxes of animals, food and the like to the Treasury where the taxman would collect the agreed portion. Elsewhere in this labyrinth of the Siq there are Royal dwellings, Monastry, tombs, and much more. Many are partly completed and appear abandoned when the Nabateans left.

    We are not allowed inside but understand the excavation is extensive in there.

    We don't have time to go to the next major building, so look around this rather large open area, still 60-odd meters below the ground above.    Read more

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