Monday 5 October 2009

The Cruise!

Our Ruby wedding anniversary was coming up in September so I decided that this time around I wasn’t conforming and having the party everyone expected. I’d done that first time around with the wedding. I’m not one for fuss so a wedding was quite stressful for me especially as my Mam was seriously ill at the time.

I decided that this time we were going away, just the two of us and doing something extravagant. So I booked a Mediterranean cruise, I’d always fancied a cruise but had never been able to justify the spending. Eric almost had a heart attack when I told him but he soon came around to the idea.

At the beginning of September we flew to Athens via Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and contrary to all the publicity it’s absolutely brilliant. We spent the night in Piraeus and then on Friday 4 September we boarded the ship. Wow I was amazed at how fantastic the ship was and they showed us to a lovely open air restaurant on the terrace at the back of the ship for lunch. Note I don't use the correct nautical terms! I have to say I was surprised at how fantastic the food was for the whole of the cruise, needless to say I didn’t skimp for the whole time.

I was looking forward to taking some really great photographs on this trip but when we got back I was disappointed at the quality of a lot of the photographs and I have no idea why. You’d imagine that given the wonderful Mediterranean light the pictures would be better than ones taken at home. Some were excellent but others weren’t and I haven’t a clue why. Maybe I need to take some photography classes!

The first morning, Saturday 5 September, the ship was at Delos.

Delos

The light was wonderful and the sky was a fantastic shade of blue. It was a great view to look out on and eat breakfast. Come to think of it we ate lunch looking out there too

Delos is an uninhabited island in the roughly circular ring of Greek islands called the Cyclades.

It had a position as a holy as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. In 1990, UNESCO inscribed Delos on the World Heritage List, citing it as the "exceptionally extensive and rich" archaeological site which "conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port".

However I’m a bit of a Philistine, not desperately keen on ancient history so I decided to give it a miss. In addition it was scorching hot and there was no shelter at all on the island. I saved my strength for Mykonos later that afternoon!

So I've cheated and borrowed some photos from Wiki Commons to see what I missed.

Ancient Delos, Greece

House of Dionysus, Delos

Delos lions

Yes, I know, I really should have gone on that visit!

Post 119

9 comments:

  1. Looks like a great place. I would have loved it.

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  2. I see nothing wrong with the quality of the photo. I wish I could learn how to enlarge mine the way you have been doing. I really enjoy looking at them that way. I don't have to click to enlarge to see them better. A cruise sounds so wonderful and I have never heard of anyway that has been disappointed in them. I am still chicken to do it though...not sure why because I love the water and can swim just fine. Hope to see more of your trip and hear more stories. By the way...Congratulations on your Ruby Anniversary!!!

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  3. Most likely, your photos don't match your memory of colors and subject matter. They're probably duller in comparison to what in your mind is still sharp. Give it a few months and your photos will be treasures.

    So far, I give your trip an A+. I can't wait to see what comes next!

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  4. The photos I'm posting are the better ones. The ones I'm dumping are blurred. Worst were in Valetta Harbour, Malta which was so sad as it's a fabulous place.

    I can send you the instructions I got from Carmon if you like. It's a bit of a longer way to do it but I don't have the text jumping about now so in the long run it's quicker.

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  5. Congratulations on your Ruby Anniversary. And, what a great way to celebrate it. I look forward to the pictures of the cruise and the many places you visited. Welcome home!

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  6. I sure missed your post . Glad your back.
    Patsy

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  7. I hope you will be posting more about the trip as time goes on. I've missed you these past weeks when you haven't been able to get online.

    Glad you gifted yourself with such a wonderful anniversary present. And, belated Happy Anniversary.

    ~hippo hugs~

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  8. Wonderful way to celebrate your wedding anniversary.

    Congratulations!

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  9. What a great trip. Did you know that photography is much b etter ona dull day that a bright sunny one. The colours are more true.

    Congrats. on your 40th anniversary. We will be celebrating our 50th before the end of the year. Our children are arranging and paying for a party so at least we don't have to do anything.

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