While in Greece, we took a 3-day cruise of some of the islands. Wow - we absolutely loved it! Here are a few pictures. OK, more than a few.
The muster drill on the first day.
Of course, there was plenty of food! We loved the fruit sculptures.
The kids loved how we'd come back to our rooms and have towel sculptures as well.
Cruising the Aegean Sea onboard the MV Aquamarine!
Our first stop was Mykonos. Little did I know that it would soon be my most favorite place!
On the waterfront at Mykonos. The white-washed houses are something to see!
An adorable little church we found tucked down a side street.
This was the view from my table at dinner -- awesome!
And here was my dinner! The shrimp were huge, and the feta cheese that comes on the salads is in big blocks!
We rented mopeds to see more of the island. Natalie was a grinning fool the whole time!
Sunset at Mykonos. Our visit ended too soon.
The next day we arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey. Instead of taking the shore excursions planned by the ship and feeling like cattle, we hired a taxi to take us to Ephesus. The driver was adorable. His name was Habeeb.
Ephesus was AMAZING! Holy moly, any other ruins pale in comparison. This was just one small example of the amazing art there.
Here's one of the amphitheaters at Ephesus. Shannon and Kevin are staging a swordfight for me.
Taking a rest on a 1000-year-old column (don't tell the tour guide!).
Amazing! Ephesus was a place the Apostle Paul visited, and of course we have the letters to the Ephesians as a result. We also walked down an thoroughfare that Marc Anthony and Cleopatra rode a chariot down! So cool!
Rachel and Shannon at the library of Ephesus. This was the highlight for me. Such an impressive building!
Me at the library of Ephesus.
After Ephesus, we stopped at a factory for Turkish rugs. These are silk worms which are soaking to get them soft so they can get silk threads from them.
We were fascinated by the weavers and how fast they can work.
We came away with a real appreciation for Turkish rugs and the dying art that it is.
Our next stop was the island of Patmos, where we again rented mopeds to see the island.
Kevin and Rachel seeing Patmos!
I love these windmills that are everywhere in the Greek islands!
Here's our destination at the top of the island of Patmos -- the Monastery of St. John -- believed to be where John was held prisoner and where the book of Revelation was received by him.
The spectacular view from the top of the island!
We climbed to the top of the monastery and found these wonderful bells!
Kevin's helmet says "BYE." He thought it was funny.
Once again, beautiful Patmos!
We stopped for snacks at a little restaurant called Jimmy's Balcony. We got talking to Jimmy, who it turns out is from Iowa!
The next day, we made it to Heraklion, Crete, where we headed for some more ruins -- this time the Palace of Knossos. It was built by the ancient Minoans. It was destroyed by a tsunami from a nearby volcanic reaction.
Pretty impressive architecture.
Ancient garbage cans. Kevin says that his rubbermaid may be worth something in 1000 years.
Protecting delicate skin.
Ancient Minoan art. I know, the kids look terribly excited. The ruins were cool, but this was probably our least favorite stop on the cruise.
Two cuties at the Palace of Knossos.
Our last stop was the island of Santorini. It's built on the rim of an extinct volcano; you can only reach the top by cable car or donkey. We chose the cable car :).
Awesome place, Santorini! More white-washed houses, trimmed with every shade of blue imaginable!
Going up in the steep cable car. See the ship in the distance?
We are VERY high up.
Natalie with a picturesque clock tower.
Three-wheelers this time. The only way to see an island! (Plus, teenagers love it!)
At the top of Santorini. So beautiful!
Just like in the postcards! I want to STAY!!!
OK, that's it. I'm finally done with Greece pictures! My next post will be far less exciting! Love ya!
