An opportunity to travel is always welcome so when I was offered a cabin onboard Azamara Journey for their 5 night shakedown cruise from Pireaus (Patmos, Mykonos & Crete) – I was ALL in. Since it was a short cruise I opted to add 3 night before the voyage in Athens and this was just the most perfect getaway a girl could have imagined
Greece and this part of the world is old. And I mean an old that is darn near beyond my ability to wrap my head around. Yes I have visited these places before however as you get older, more experienced and knowledgeable the lens changes and the travel experiences get richer and deeper. At least that is what I tell myself! 🙂
About the time the Greeks were building the Parthenon (450 BC) the Jews had only just returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple – and Ester had just become queen of Persia after stopping a holocaust.
Then there is the Minoans’ a (bronze age) civilization on Crete that predates the Greeks.
Ever heard of the lost city of Atlantis??
SO old!
My few days in Athens visiting the Parthenon and roof top bars of the city were just perfect and gave me a great historical base from which to explore our three cruise ports.
I walked, walked and walked some more and after a couple of guided tours I am reminded that these ‘ruins’ are only a pile of rocks until you have a guide to tell you the stories and make it all come alive. Plus the guides take great photos and know the best places to explore…..
Greece really isn’t a place you can do on your own, you need local perspective.
Just sayin’…..
I am a small ship kind of gal and LOVE the size and classic style that is Azamara Journey. No more casino, this space has been redone into a public areas and I had no trouble finding a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and a quiet corner.
One of the things I really like about this size of ship is the open seating and options for dining, including room service; and the caliber of the crew.
You know that place where everyone knows your name?
Balcony for late night star gazing and early morning breakfast? Yes please.
Laps around the outdoor deck as the sun is setting? You bet!
A cocktail in the Living Room as we sail from port. Yup, for sure.
Frankly it felt more like a yacht than a cruise….and it was perfect in every way.
Traveling alone but never lonely
We spent a day in Patmos; an island in the Aegean Sea (off the coast of Turkey) and a bucket list stop for me.
As a believer and bible enthusiast I was thrilled to visit the cave where it is said the apostle John received the visions that would become the book of revelations. How fascinating it was to see this small space and the indent where it is said he laid his head; the hand grip which is where he would have put his hand to help himself up. There is a smooth part of the rock where the writing likely occurred….and the ceiling with the split into three.
On our way to Mykonos the Captain took us sailing through the caldera of Santorini; a volcanic island with a collapsed caldera and undisputed one of the most famous (and expensive) islands in all of Greece.
It was so pretty to approach at sunset with the sun glimmering off the tops of buildings perched high atop the cliffs. If you didn’t remember where you were you would swear it was snowcapped peaks!
Ah, the advantages of small ship cruising; love it when they do this kind of stuff!
Mykonos is also crazy famous; the night life is outrageous and there is a pretty much ‘anything goes’ kind of vibe and a number of beaches.
Lindsay Lohan Beach Club, anyone??
Mykonos is also the jumping off point for a visit to the island of Delos, a major cult center between 900AD and 100AD the island that is said to be the birthplace of Artemus and Apollo.
Crete, the port city of Heraklion and the palace of Knossos going back to the bronze age is called Europe’s oldest city. Crikey.
I told you everything here is old!!
Truly it is the whole entire atmosphere of Greece that is so darn appealing.
The white washed buildings, bougainvillea clinging to trellises, the beautiful blue painted doors and narrow alleys – the cafes, the people and the food.
Somehow the sky is bluer in Greece, the clouds are fluffier, the sunsets brighter and without a doubt the sea is clearer
I can’t wait to go back!
