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The Ackos European Adventure
  • Darren JoJo's Travels
  • Darren JoJo's Travels

The Ackos European Adventure

Our first trip to the Northern hemisphere. Read more
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  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Athens...underwhelming

    August 25, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Arrived in Athens in the wee morning hours after a very delayed flight from London. The hotel is glorious, but I got the impression, once leaving its beautiful walls, that tourists are a burden that Greece must tolerate, and only just tolerate.
    The beaches of the Greek Riviera are stunning, but Athens itself, while offering many historical sites that you gaze at in awe, the rest of the city is a mix of crumbling ruins. Dilapidated buildings and modern cosmopolitan structures with branding of name brands. Beggars are everywhere, even approaching cars stopped in the traffic for a few Euro. It is a city of opposites, with gracious people who are happy to assist, while many who inflate prices and are openly rude to the tourist. Kind of a European version of Noumea, that anyone who has sailed to the Pacific port will agree.    Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Still laundry to be done.

    August 26, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    It's just not fun. 2 klm uphill walk to the laundromat. No magic holiday fairy to do the drugery jobs. It's very hot and overcast in Athens today and its only 8.30am. Will be boarding the ship Celebrity Infinity at 2pm today...Yoowho they have BINGO eyes down......Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Sailing the warm water of Greece

    August 26, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Heading to Mykonos from Pireaus Athens. Very hot day that cooled down quickly when we boarded 3 hours early and settled in to watch the Broncos win over Canberra. Who would have thought that the NRL would be on TV on the cruise ship Celebrity Infinity while docked in Greece. WINNING. Great win for the boys on Oatsies 200th game. Sailing along now in calm seas while sitting in a quiet corner, taking it all in.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Mykonos...blown away

    August 27, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Literally 😃 not figuratively. The sun was glorious, but we got a full body sand exfoliation (not in the nudist part of the beach hehehe) so we can cross that off the Spa treatments 😃 Mykonos is a very rocky and rugged island, dotted with beautiful white rendered structures that seem to rise and erupt from the hills in no particular fashion. Not much, really no flat land, so everything is terraced down, gazing out across the azure blue sea. Heading back to the ship for more rest and relaxation in the Persian spa area of the ship....oh and, of course, more food and beer.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece

    August 29, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Χαλάρωση και Ειρήνη
    (Relaxation and Peace)
    Dinner late last night at one of our Specialty dining nights. Indulgence at Luminere. Escagot for me and Yellow Corn Soup for Darren, with Lamb for main course. Very romantic, candlelit, windows table for us. We both enjoyed a very strong Rum and bitters drink that made us both a bit wobbly, while enjoying the ambience of the Rendezvous lounge. Today we are enjoying Peace in the Solarium as we are docked in Zakynthos in the Ionian Islands of Greece. Our tour to Shipwreck Beach and the blue caves was cancelled due to earthquakes causing the Greek Government to restrict access. Oh well. Enjoying some very quiet time on board.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler
    1

    Kotor Montenegro

    August 30, 2023 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    добродошли и довиђења из Црне Горе
    What a stunningly beautiful place that surrounds the water. Ancient walls protecting the city still serve as homes and shops. High above can still be seen structures from centuries ago. It's has been a lovely day, albeit rainy and stormy. So "добродошли и довиђења из Црне Горе" Welcome and Goodbye from MontenegroRead more

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  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Croatia ... Dubrovnik Part 1

    August 31, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Our morning started with a trip on a cable car to the top of the mountain overlooking Dubrovnik "old town". Surrounded by Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 Montenegro 🇲🇪 Italy 🇮🇹 and the Adriatic Sea. The long history and, more recently, war ravaged region was told to us by our most amazing tour guide, as we ascended in the cable car, and on our walking tour around Old Town. Many locations from Game of Throne were clearly identifiable. An amazing day in Dubrovnik Croatia.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Croatia - Dubrovnik Part 2

    August 31, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    They say rubbing the nose of the statue of Marin Drzic on Old Town Dubrovnik will ensure that you return one day, so we rubbed. Poor fellow, there was a long line of people waiting to rub his already golden nose.
    "Walking from Stradun to the Cathedral, you’re bound to pass by the bronze statue of the writer Marin Držić. Lovingly called Dubrovnik's Shakespeare, he is today best known for his comedies which shed a light onto the social realities of the Renaissance period. The statue is the work of Croatia’s eminent sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Note the bullet hole in his neck.
    The statue’s shiny spots are the result of a trend for rubbing its (considerable) nose for good luck and taking photos seated in the lap, but beware: the custom is frowned upon by local heritage aficionados" courtesy of Lonely Planet.    Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Croatia still....in Split today

    September 1, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Goodness me. Croatia 🇭🇷 is the most amazing place. We are just loving our time here. Will definitely come back again.

    The Mosor Mountains is a part of the Dinaric alps, stretching from Split to Omis. They are a beautiful backdrop to this beautiful seaside town. A mix of historic and modern seems to blend seamlessly here.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Benvenuti a Firenze

    September 2, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Sono arrivati ​​gli Atkinson

    Well, the train ride was fast, and we have already done one circuit on a hop on Hop off bus. The view from our small balcony is spectacular at Hotel Della Nazoni. More photos once we have done our ebike tour of Firenze this afternoon. Until then, arrivederci xxRead more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    pomeriggio giro in bicicletta per Firenz

    September 2, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    What an amazing afternoon. We ended up having a private bike tour around Florence. 3 hours cycling to all 4 major areas and up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the most amazing view. Benji, our guide, was an encyclopaedia of Florence history, and great fun as well.
    The evening ended with a lovely meal at Il Giardino Tratoria.    Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Pisa, San Gimignano & Siena in one day

    September 3, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Tuscany, you sure are awesome inspiring. A morning stop at Pisa to take in the beautiful Duomo and Leaning tower. Then, back on the bus to the fortified mountain top Citi of San Gimignano. A beautiful lunch and wine tasting at Poggio Ai Laghi. Amazing wines, vinegars and oils that paired beautifully with the prosciutto, salami, piccolo cheese, and breads. I enjoyed the white wine, and then Darren enjoyed my red wines, as well as his own. Up into the city walls, we walked to have the most amazing gelato at Gelateria Dondoli, world champion gelato makers. And again, We are back on the bus to Siena. WOW... even with tired feet, this place puts a spring in your step. Siena Cathedral is just astonishing. The frescos and sculptures are breathtaking, as is the entire building. How did they do it? Is a question asked more than once today.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Siena and Duomo Di Siena

    September 3, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Siena and Duomo Di Siena

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Daytrip to Cinque Terre

    September 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Morning train ride from Firenze via Pisa to La Spezia for a day trip to Cinque Terre. First stop - Manarola for a Pesto class, wine, and lunch at Nessun Dorma. Fantastic experience and it got very messy with the mortar and pestle as we made our own Pesto. Fresh basil, salt, garlic, pecorino cheese, and olive oil...Bellisima. This went perfectly with the prosciutto, breads and Cheeses, not to mention, the perfectly matched wines.
    Now at Montorossi El Mare for a swim and sun time. 30 Euro for an umbrella and 2 chairs for the day. Nowhere near as many staps as yesterday in Tuscany....more relax and foodie time.    Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Trip to Rome

    September 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    An early morning train trip to Rome, then onto a hop on Hop off bus to get ourselves around. Rome is a bustling, busy, congested, crowded city that lives in the shadows of pre Christian historical sites on one hand, and in the shadows of the centre of Christianity on the other being the Vatican or The Holy See.
    There is so much to see and do. We will have to visit again later on our trip when we return again in the final stages on our way to Milan.    Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Vatican City and The Colosseum Rome

    September 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Huge day in Rome with early train from Florence, then hop on - Hop off bus to travel from Vatican City to the Colosseum and all places in between. Beautiful bustling city with a mix of BC ruins and AD antiquities. Dinner in Rome was at a Muslim Pizzaria for a Halal potato pizza ( new one for me ). Late train back to Florence for our last night before heading to Venice.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    The Vatican

    September 5, 2023 in Vatican City ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    The Vatican is emmence, ostentatious, flaunting its wealth and riches at every turn. The Museums, St Peters Square, the Sistine Chapel, and St Peters Basilica are enough to take away the breath of the most fervent non-believer. The collections are varied and astounding, from tapestries to animals, pottery and ceramics, Egyptian artefacts, historical maps, paintings, and statues from the old masters like Botticelli. Michaelangelo and Da Vinci, the list is endless. The buildings soar with such grandeur that it is hard to imagine, even today, just how they were constructed. Awe-Inspiring, even for a lapsed Catholic.Read more

  • Darren JoJo's TravelsThe Ackos European AdventureTraveler

    Venice Italy

    September 6, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    It's not hard to get lost in Venezia. We did, and a lot!!!!! Lost on a Vaporretto at midnight. Lost in the beautiful narrow alleys that connect amazing squares. Venice is beautiful and crowded, and you can walk for hours and discover something new with each crossing of another bridge.Read more

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