Day 14 11.1 thru 3rd Vouliagmeni Greece

The Greek Riviera! 

Just minutes from Athens

This beautiful coastal town was a fantastic place to relax the last few days of traveling!

The Sanctuary of Poseidon in Tinos Greece, Cyclades: One of the most important sanctuaries of Poseidon in the ancient times was located in Tinos, in a walking distance from the beach of Kionia. In fact, Tinos was the only island of the Cyclades that has dedicated an entire temple to Poseidon, the god of the sea.

Here Fishy Fishy!!!!

Day 10 10.27 Corfu, Greece

3300 islands make up the Greek Islands. Corfu Is a pretty amazing place!

Day 13 10.30-31 Athens, Greece

Athens Greece! A busy city with ruins throughout!

Day 12 10.29 Santorini Greece

Santorini, Greece! The beautiful white city on the cliff!

Santorini [1] is a volcanic island in the Cyclades group of the Greek islands. It is located between Ios and Anafi islands. It is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from Oia town, the strange white aubergine (eggplant), the town of Thira and naturally its very own active volcano

Day 11 10.28 Olympia, Katakolon

Birth place of the olympics! https://www.katakolon.org/

We got to the port and saw the famous Christina O Yacht! 

Onassis Yacht...right next to ours Christina O....one of the Top 45 yachts in the world parked right next to our ship. Read more here: https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/christina-o-story-famous-yacht-world/

Visit Ancient Olympia from Katakolon

Katakolon Port serves as the main sea-gate to Olympia, one of the most important sites in Greece. With all the pine and olive groves, the imposing remains of the temples and the stunning stadium of the Games, Ancient Olympia stands as one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

Ancient Olympia and Olympic Games

Known as the birth place of the Olympic Games, Olympia hosts and receives thousands of tourists every year; tourists eager to see the actual spot where the most important games where born and held.

And still today every four years, Olympia becomes the epicenter of attention, when the Greek priestesses invoke God Apollo to send his divine light to the world – the Flame of the Olympics.

Day 9 10.26 Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor, Montenegro.

Kotor is a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, in a bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen. Characterized by winding streets and squares, its medieval old town has several Romanesque churches, including Kotor Cathedral. It's also home to the Maritime Museum, which explores local seafaring history. Sveti Đorđe, one of 2 tiny islands off the ancient town of Perast, features a centuries-old church.

Montenegro is a country located in South-eastern Europe. It covers a total area of 14,026 km². It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and borders Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north-west, Serbia to the north-east, and Albania to the south-east. Its capital and largest city is Podgorica.

Day 8 10.25 Dubrovnik, Croatia

An amazing place with some Hollywood history too!

But first a morning tour of the cruise ship as we arrive in port!

One of the most interesting ports so far! This walled city is a pretty amazing place with some recent Hollywood connection.

The video shows the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik and above the city is a fort that Napoleon built many years ago. This fort became the main point of protection to field off the battling Yugolslovian's that wanted to take over the port city in the 90's.

Day 7. 10.24 Cruisin' to Koper, Slovenia

Our first port of call from cruise ship the Viking Star!

Koper (Slovene pronunciation: [ˈkoːpəɾ] is the fifth largest city in Slovenia. Located in the Istrian region in southwestern part of the country, approximately five kilometres (3.1 miles) south of the border with Italy and 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Trieste, Koper is the largest coastal city in the country. It is bordered by the satellite towns of Izola and Ankaran. With a unique ecology and biodiversity, it is considered an important natural resource. It is the oldest recorded urban settlement in Slovenia.The city's Port of Koper is the major contributor to the economy of the eponymous city municipality. With only one percent of Slovenia having a coastline, the influence that the Port of Koper also has on tourism was a factor in Ankaran deciding to leave the municipality in a referendum in 2011 to establish its own. The city is a destination for a number of Mediterranean cruising lines. Koper is the main urban centre of the Slovenian Istria, with a population of about 25,000. The city of Koper is officially bilingual, with both Slovene and Italian as official languages. Sights in Koper include the 15th-century Praetorian Palace and Loggia in Venetian Gothic style, the 12th-century Carmine Rotunda church, and St. Nazarius' Cathedral, with its 14th-century tower.

Day 6. 10.23 Boarding the Viking Star

Our cruise ship is beautiful!

The Viking Star has five stateroom categories, all with private verandas, and 14 Explorer Suites. Up to 930 passengers can be accommodated in her 465 staterooms and suites, all of which are spacious for a cruise ship.

Day 5. 10.22 Venice by Gondola!

Venice by Gondola!

This city and surrounding islands are beautiful and surreal! 

How Venice’s canals were built

To make the islands of the Venetian lagoon fit for habitation, Venice’s early settlers needed to drain areas of the lagoon, dig canals and shore up the banks to prepare them for building on. They began by digging canals and lining them by driving closely spaced wooden stakes – many of them made from water-resistant alder wood – through the sand and mud to rest on the harder clay beneath. On top of these stakes, they placed wooden platforms and then stone, and this is what the buildings of Venice are built on.

Of course, with no forest in the lagoon, this wood had to be imported by boat on a vast scale from forested areas that now form parts of modern Montenegro, Slovenia and Croatia. It may seem surprising that the wood on which Venice is built has withstood the test of time, but this is because it’s submerged in oxygen-poor water that doesn’t create the conditions needed for microorganisms to flourish and decay the wood. Not only that, but because it’s saltwater, salt and other minerals have, over time, seeped into the wood and hardened it to an almost stone-like state.

Day 3 and 4. 10.22 thru 10.23 Venice Italy

Rodda to Venice on 10.22

What a relaxing few days in the wine country in beautiful Rodda, Italy!

Our travels today will be from Rodda to Florence. Park our car and head to the train station then take the train to Venice!

day 2 and 3. 10.18 thru 10.21 Florence to Tuscany

10.18 thru 10.21 Florence to Tuscany

Long day of travel for us! Landed in Florence and went straight to the car rental at the airport. Good news...we got upgraded! An Audi a 3! Nice car..although i really wanted to drive an Italian sports car...Lambo...Ferrari...but this car did us well through Tuscany!

Our resort hotel in Radda was an amazing relaxing place that included breakfast each morning and had a restaurant that we enjoyed dinner at. The town had quaint shops and restaurants throughout.

Here's some info about that awesome little town which is known as the capital of Chianti wine!
https://www.chianti.com/radda-in-chianti/intro-to-radda.html

We would take day trips into siena and surrounding countryside duomo's and castles. So much catholic history here from the 12th century! https://www.discovertuscany.com/siena/

There was so much to see in the few days we had there...Drove through San Gimignano Duomo...https://www.sangimignano.com/en/ WOW! Didn't have time to park and walk around. We ended up traveling to a castle instead that was also a winery!

Becky and I enjoyed an intimate cooking class. Catch the fun on this video!

1. Travel Itinerary for our 30th Anniversary Trip!

After lots of planning (thanks Beck) and researching thanks friends and Rick Steves guides and our lovely friend Helen we we going on the trip of a lifetime to celebrate our 30 years!

Looking forward to it all!
10.17.19 travel day
10.18 thru 10.21 Florence to Tuscany!
10.22 thru 10.23 Venice Italy
10.23 on Viking Star Cruise Ship
10.24 Cruise to Koper, Slovenia
10.24 Zadar, Croatia
10.25 Dubrovnik Croatia
10.26 Kotor, Montenegro
10.27 Corfu,Greece
10.28 Olympia, Katakolon
10.29 Santorini, Greece
10.30-31 Athens, Greece
11.1-3 Vouliagmeni, Greece
11.4.19 return to the U.S.

Take a look at some of the fun during our travels!