Join us on the Azamara Quest for a cruise visiting Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, and Russia. Best to reserve your stateroom for this 11 night sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen soon.
Contact me for more details.
February 27, 2013
Cruise the Baltics in June
February 5, 2013
Fascinating Naples
Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit.
During my late January visit to Italy, I was priviledged to be one of ten American guests invited to partake in a 4 day educational program highlighting the history, arts, culture, and cuisine of Naples. It had been many years since I had visited Naples with locals and I was rewarded with a renewed enthusiasm for this magical city that is rich in history, traditions, art and breathtaking views, not to mention the culinary highlights. Mayor Luigi de Magistris and Antonella Di Nocera, head of Tourism and Culture, and her welcoming staff prepared an incredible ‘Grand Tour of Naples’ for us and personally joined in on much of the agenda.
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January 31, 2013
Dining with the Mayor of Rome
I just returned from a tourism symposium in Rome. The first evening, after a day packed with informative meetings, Mayor Gianni Alemanno of Rome hosted a gala dinner for about 60 of us. The event took place in the Palazzo Esposizioni Museum after hours, which meant we were treated to a private viewing of the ‘On the Silk Road’ exhibition.
Rome never fails to lift my spirits and make me feel priviledged to be there. To walk past ancient structures mingled with the new, the many beautiful piazza’s, fountains, and historic buildings and monuments in this very ‘lived in city’ is a joy.
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December 27, 2012
Ancient Capitals Journey – Israel
Our Middle Eastern Voyage of Discovery continued…. Israel and Palestine, the heart of our Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, docking in Ashdod and Haifa. We walked in the footsteps of the founders of the worlds great religions, on paths dating back several thousand years. We visited ancient holy places; Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Gethsemane, Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, the Way Of The Cross, Nazareth, and Cana. We boated the ‘David’ for a tour on the Sea of Galilee, and visited churches built at the request of the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s mother in 325AD at the sites of the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and the tomb of Jesus. Lunch in the ‘old city’ near the Via Dolorosa…fascinating architecture.
We experienced the walls that separate the Israeli and Palestinian states, and the difference in the two cultures. It is truly amazing to see the transformation from a desert region to an oases that has been accomplished by the Israeli people in just over sixty years. In Jerusalem the beautiful architecture, the modern transportation systems, and the wonderful living spaces built along side ancient history with such careful consideration to antiquity is an example for all the world.
December 12, 2012
Next stop on my Ancient Capitals journey – Egypt
After a wonderful visit in Athens, it was time to board our Oceania cruise ship, the Nautica for the next 11 days of our Ancient Capitals journey. Our congenial small group is prepared for a very port intensive experience, spending eight full days ashore exploring the highlights of Alexandria, Cairo, Jerusalem, Behtlehem, Nazareth, Rhondes, Ephesus, and Istanbul. The Nautica warmly welcomed us ‘back home’ after our extensive explorations from each port. Our personal knowledgeable guides and their attention to detail helped us to be able to appreciate and see a great deal in each of our days ashore.
It is a truly amazing experience to follow in the footsteps of King Tut, Cleopatra, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, King Richard & the Crusaders, Saladin..the savior fo the Arab world, St Paul, Suleiman, the Romans, the Ottomans, the Turks, the Israelites and the Byzantines.
It is mind-boggling to see how advanced these civilizations were from 4500 years past. From the Antiquites Museum in Cairo, the Solar Boat at the Giza pyramids, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Acropolis in Rhodes, the Parthenon of Athens, the Terrace Houses in Ephesus, the St Sophia Basilica in Istanbul to mention only a few of teh fifty historical sites we visited. To see their beautifully designed cities, their architecture and art…just leave one in awe at the brillance and sophistication of the times.
Upon arriving at Giza, our visit to the Pyramids, the Valley Temple, and the Sphinx did not disappoint. We then visited a relatively new Pharaonic discovery, the Solar Boat, housed in it’s own museum, just near the pyramids, where it was uncovered. The storage pit had been airtight and the boat was in a remarkable state of preservation, arranged in thirteen neatly piled layers, complete with ropes for rigging and pieces of matting. This 4500 year old boat built primarily of cedar, was fully reassembled – all 1200+ pieces. A very remarkable sight! The Pyramid Texts clearly state that at the end of the pharaoh’s life on Earth, his soul ascends to the heavens in the solar barque to join his father Re. And hence the vehicle. On to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquites, where a few of the highlights include the treasures of the Tomb of Tutankhamen and the extraordinary Mummies Room with incredibly well preserved 3000-year-old faces !
To read the next installment of my Ancient Capitals Journey check out Ancient Capitals Journey – Israel
Journeys Viaggio 