Aggies’ Mediterranean Adventure

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Today was an easy day with a nice breakfast at our hotel followed by a quick cab ride to the port. The next phase of our adventure is a seven day Greek Island cruise on the NCL Jade. Boarding was very easy and we were let loose on the ship just after noon.

We checked in at our respective muster stations and then headed to the pool deck to lounge until our cabins were ready. Soon enough our luggage was unpacked and stowed away. Linda and Glenda brought glasses of bubbles to celebrate sail away on our balcony before dinner in one of the main dining rooms. The girls had an early night and I headed to the casino to try my luck at cards. Lady Luck was not feeling overly generous so I headed back to the cabin to get some zzzs before our excursion to Lindos tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another day. Adventures await …

Monday, October 16, 2023

Rhodes is the first stop on our Greek Island Cruise. Rhodes has a rich history replete with ancient myths and was once home to the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In April of this year, I had the chance to visit the city of Rhodes and explore the labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets in the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site but today we’re boarding a bus to Lindos, an ancient Doric town, known for its clifftop acropolis. St. Paul is said to have landed in Lindos in 58 A.D. so we’re in good company.  

After our bus ride, we are treated to our first views of Lindos, perched on a massive rock hill overlooking the bay. We make our way up through the shops and houses in the labyrinthine village to the famed archaeological site above. There was an option to take an alternate route up to the fortress by torturing one of the cute donkeys we passed in town but I am glad to report that no animals were abused in support of this blog! On the pedestrian route, there are no handrails or side rails and I’m just glad that I managed to keep off the cliff side of the path and that it wasn’t raining. Yikes, safety first people!

At the top, 5000 years of human history and life await exploration. We are greeted by the ruins of a majestic walled fortress built by the Crusaders (completed in the 15th century) on the remains of earlier defenses, both Byzantine and ancient.

Continuing up we reach the summit of the Lindos Acropolis and the remains of the small ancient Temple of the Lindian Athena from the 4th century BC. The temple is consecrated to the goddess Athena and also named for Lindia, a pre-Hellenic divinity.  The summit also boasts the Propylaea, the great Hellenistic Stoa and the Byzantine chapel of Saint John. There is also a great view of the heart shaped bay from the temple. STORY …

On the southwest side of the hill, below the Temple of Athena, is the theatre. The circular orchestra and the auditorium for the 1800 spectators were hollowed out of the the side of the hill. 

We make our way back down the path (slowly, slowly) and spend a bit of time window shopping in the little shops in the town before heading back to the bus.

On our way to the ship, we had a stop to see how the local pottery is made and buy some if we liked. Having more than enough dust collectors already, I manage to resist though the idea of having a hand painted greedy cup is quite tempting.

Back at the Old Town, Glenda, Linda and Elaine opt to explore the walled city but I’m back to the ship for a bit of lounging time as I had visited in April. After their explorations, the girls returned to the ship for a bit of lounging time before getting cleaned up for our dinner in Le Bistro. 

Tomorrow is another day. Adventures await…

October 17, 2023

Our second port is Bodrum, located in the Aegean region of Turkey. Bodrum is a beautiful port city with stunning bays, ancient historical sites, a variety of museums and some great bars and restaurants. The traditional houses are painted white with flat roofs, and nearly all of the houses in Bodrum are built in this style. The government has imposed a rule that no building can be built higher than two storeys without their permission. Because of this, the city has kept its traditional charm. Many of the houses have blue door and window frames and dating back to an old superstition that the colour blue kept scorpions away.

Bodrum is famous for the annual sailing event, The Bodrum Cup; an international event for classic sailing yachts. About 80 yachts sail 5 legs in 5 days in this sailing regatta. Many people come to the city to sail and the waterfront was a happening spot.

The focus of my excursion today is the the Castle of St. Peter located in the heart of Bodrum. The Castle was built in the 1400s by the Knights of St. John from the marble, stone and other materials from the tomb of King Mausolos, or Halicarnassus Mausoleum. The Castle boasts seven gates embellished with coats of arms and inscriptions with a variety of nationalities represented. 

The Castle is home to the Museum of Underwater Archeology. The museum contains a number of wrecks that were discovered in the Aegean, as well as a collection of ancient items from those ships, including amphora and large, copper ingots recovered from a shipwreck just offshore.

Following the castle and museum tour, the tour guide gave our group some free time to explore the market and buy things I didn’t need before heading back to the ship to lounge around the pool with a book. 

Met the girls on the pool deck before heading back to the cabin to freshen up before drinks and dinner. We’re off to see Blazing Boots tonight in the theatre before calling it a night!

Tomorrow is another day. Adventures await …