bennybear Posted July 10, 2022 #201 Share Posted July 10, 2022 @TLCOhio thank you for the great article! Love the off the beaten path suggestions. Greece is one of our favourite places in the world and we’ve been near of few of these but you’ve whetted my appetite! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted July 16, 2022 Author #202 Share Posted July 16, 2022 (edited) On 7/10/2022 at 2:40 PM, bennybear said: Love the off the beaten path suggestions. Greece is one of our favourite places in the world and we’ve been near of few of these but you’ve whetted my appetite! Appreciate this nice follow-up and shared visual from bennybear. Yes, many options to experience in Greece, around Athens, etc. From the London/UK Independent late this past week, they had this headline: “How to spend a day in Piraeus, Athens’ rejuvenated seaside neighbourhood” with these highlights: “Although you’ve probably been through Athens’ bustling waterfront, Piraeus’ once tatty and trashy backstreets have had a much-needed makeover, with art galleries, bougie hotels, hip tavernas and designer boutiques popping up all over.” Author Heidi Fuller-Love calls Piraeus "one of the city’s best kept secrets." Many options for food, drinks, entertainment, etc., are shared in this profile. If you have previously seen the top stars in Athens, this might be an options to consider before departing on a cruise from this port. Or, during a port stop here? Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/piraeus-athens-city-guide-neighbourhood-b2110385.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 70,159 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696 Edited July 16, 2022 by TLCOhio 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted July 16, 2022 Author #203 Share Posted July 16, 2022 From the London/UK Independent a week ago, they had this headline: “Greece Travel Guide” with these highlights by author Lucy Thackray: “Athens is a must-do city break. It comes with truly ancient, bucket-list sights, tons of archaeological and mythical nerdiness for Classics fans, and a fun, affordable bar and restaurant scene.” Here is a great summary for this wonderful country: "Greece is the Mediterranean family’s mellow, hippyish sibling. Its craggy islands topped with distinctive clusters of sugar-cube houses are the stuff of travel ads the world over" Full story and many ideas/options for the various island and other Greek location, check at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/greece/greece-country-guide-travel-holiday-b2103555.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,014 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted July 23, 2022 #204 Share Posted July 23, 2022 We keep going back to Greece for extended independent travel. Why.....travel in Greece is so easy and the people are incredibly friendly. Costs are reasonable. Our advice....visit Greece just after Orthodox Easter. Weather is good, spring bloom is in progress, and many types of accommodation are opening up on the islands. The owners are fresh, they are anxious for business and anxious to please. Not a crush of summer tourists. Or...go in mid Sept to late October. Better temperatures. Water is warmer. Far less crowds. The only downside is mid to late October. Those in the tourist trade are tired of tourists, some island establishments start to close and their owners return to the mainland. Best to arrange a Cyclades island hopping trip to end in Crete. Another option to consider is a short air hop to Cyprus. Inexpensive and lots of competition on the route. Last time we were there in late October it was in the high 20's every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted July 23, 2022 #205 Share Posted July 23, 2022 1 hour ago, iancal said: We keep going back to Greece for extended independent travel. Why.....travel in Greece is so easy and the people are incredibly friendly. Costs are reasonable. Our advice....visit Greece just after Orthodox Easter. Weather is good, spring bloom is in progress, and many types of accommodation are opening up on the islands. The owners are fresh, they are anxious for business and anxious to please. Not a crush of summer tourists. Or...go in mid Sept to late October. Better temperatures. Water is warmer. Far less crowds. The only downside is mid to late October. Those in the tourist trade are tired of tourists, some island establishments start to close and their owners return to the mainland. Best to arrange a Cyclades island hopping trip to end in Crete. Another option to consider is a short air hop to Cyprus. Inexpensive and lots of competition on the route. Last time we were there in late October it was in the high 20's every day. We agree that Greece is always a terrific country to visit. The various Greek Islands are always fun and interesting and most of them are not on any cruise ship itinerary. Greece has an excellent ferry system which makes getting between various islands a matter of designing an itinerary, going online to make some ferry and hotel bookings, and then having fun. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted July 23, 2022 #206 Share Posted July 23, 2022 10 minutes ago, Hlitner said: We agree that Greece is always a terrific country to visit. The various Greek Islands are always fun and interesting and most of them are not on any cruise ship itinerary. Greece has an excellent ferry system which makes getting between various islands a matter of designing an itinerary, going online to make some ferry and hotel bookings, and then having fun. Hank We have been returning to Greece for years. One thing that I would add is that for most islands we have visited one day is not enough. On some a week is good, others three or four days.. One unfortunate thing about a one day cruise stop is that one only sees those few islands through the lens of cruise ship crowds. Many of these cruise ship stops take on an entirely different personality and ambiance in the evening when the ships have departed. But...it does provide a look for a longer return visit. Our favorite way to experience the Greek islands is with nothing planned except our air to Athens, home through another city such as Paris or London, a reservation and on overnight reservation in Piraeus . Then we island hop at will with a very spontaneous agenda that is always subject to change based on how we like an island and what the ferry schedules s are for the day we wish to leave. Last trip pre covid was a week in the north, a week or so each in Corfu, Kefelonia, and Zakynthos, two three days in Athens, then we hopped over to Cyprus for two weeks. Home through London from Cyprus. Air can sometimes be as inexpensive and more convenient than ferry depending on the route. If we pick up a last minute Med cruise, which we sometimes do, just prior to leaving home or while in the middle of travel we can easily adjust our travel to include it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted July 23, 2022 #207 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Visiting an island for the first time always presents a challenge of "how many days." Last August we ferried over to Naxos (4 days) and Paros (3 days) after finishing a Greek Island cruise. In retrospect I think we would have been happy to spend a week on Naxos. And we both know that visiting a place like Santorini for a week is a completely different experience than on a port day (when on land we love the island after all the ships are gone). DW and I are also giving some consideration to booking a cruise on Variety Cruises. It has been decades since we did a small boat/yacht cruise in Greece and the fond memories linger. Variety is an outgrowth from our previous yacht operator (Zeus Cruises) and offers some interesting itineraries. Hank 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted July 23, 2022 #208 Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) Our first experience on Santorini was years ago. We spent four days on the island. We rented a motorcycle and toured each day. I think they did away with motorcycle rentals. While eating at 'Moma's she fixed us up to stay with her sister Kato Chania. Such friendly people. Second time was on a cruise ship. After an hour DW was suggesting going back to the ship...the place was a zoo. Very similar to our feelings about Dubrovnik. Last time we decided to pass Santorini by and not to bother get off the ferry. Perhaps we will go off season at some point. Might have another look at Mykonos. Been there once on a Crystal ship when there was no other ship in port! We were there until late evening. Naxos is a favorite of ours. Hoping to spend four of five days there in late September/October. Along with Milos, Folegandros, plus two others depending on ferry connections, and Crete. The trick with ferry hopping is to be flexible, spontaneous, and pack light IMHO. We have yet to do a small yacht cruise. On our list but we have not really shopped for one. I suspect we would do one from Turkey...perhaps from Bodrum, Marmaris, or Antalya. Saw a number at the dock area in Antalya when we were there. Our preference is to mix these longer independent trips with 10 or 14 day late booking Med or Adriatic cruises to break up the 'work' of independent travel. Edited July 23, 2022 by iancal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted October 31, 2022 Author #209 Share Posted October 31, 2022 On 7/23/2022 at 5:29 PM, iancal said: Our first experience on Santorini was years ago. We spent four days on the island. We rented a motorcycle and toured each day. I think they did away with motorcycle rentals. While eating at 'Moma's she fixed us up to stay with her sister Kato Chania. Such friendly people. Second time was on a cruise ship. After an hour DW was suggesting going back to the ship...the place was a zoo. Very similar to our feelings about Dubrovnik. Very good sharing above by iancal about Santorini. That location is still on our "to-do" list for the future. From the Associated Press/AP newswire and ABC-TV News over this past weekend, they had this headline: “Ahead of harsh winter, tourism roars back in Mediterranean" with this sub-headline: "Tourism is making a stronger comeback from the coronavirus pandemic.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Tourism around the Mediterranean has been booming. Helped by a strong U.S. dollar and Europeans’ pent-up demand to find a beach after years of COVID-19 travel restrictions, it’s been a stronger comeback from the pandemic slump than many expected, which led to long lines, canceled flights and lost luggage this summer at many European airports — though not in Greece.” Here is more from their story: "Greece is on course to beat its annual record revenue haul from tourism. Portugal also is eyeing a full recovery, while late-summer data suggested Spain, Italy and Cyprus will end the year just shy of pre-pandemic visitor levels. A blessing for Europe’s southern economies, the rebound is also easing the continent’s tilt toward recession brought on by rocketing energy prices, the war in Ukraine and enduring disruptions caused by the pandemic." Good news? Reactions? Full story at: https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/ahead-harsh-winter-tourism-roars-back-mediterranean-92333578 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 49,606 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted November 27, 2022 Author #210 Share Posted November 27, 2022 From the Frommer's travel publisher and in several newspapers stories earlier this month, they had this headline: “Best Places to Go in 2023.” Here are some of their highlights about Athens and Greece by writer Stephen Brewer: “Tourism-dependent Greece bounced back with a banner year in 2022, as visitor numbers topped those of pre-Covid years. While many sunseekers make a beeline for the islands, with Santorini and Mykonos topping the list of tourist favorites, there are more reasons than ever before to stick around in Athens for a while. Athens has some of the lowest big-city prices in Europe, helping the dollar go farther as travelers sample an ever-expanding roster of restaurants and nightspots, particularly in the popular Psyrri and Gazi neighborhoods. Appealing new hotels have opened—the Brown Lighthouse and Moxy bring urbane glamour to gritty Omonoia Square, while Monsieur Didot and the Modernist add sophisticated hideaways to chic Kolonaki. Recent additions to the city’s museum scene include the National Gallery, reopened in 2021 after an 8-year refurbishment with a focus on El Greco and the Greek artists who’ve followed him.” This profiles cites a number of excellent location options to consider. They noted several "silver linings", including: "the strong U.S. dollar means American vacationers will find more affordable prices in Europe, Japan, Mexico, India, and beyond." Encouraging for Greece and Athens? Full story at: https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848547 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 49,196 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted December 27, 2022 Author #211 Share Posted December 27, 2022 From MSN News earlier this month, they had this headline: “Best Time Of Year To Visit Greece For The Perfect Weather” with these highlights: “We have some great tips on which months will provide you with the most sunshine, the least amount of rainfall, and pleasant temperatures. As an added bonus, this time of year is also great for avoiding large tourist crowds, and overpriced accommodations. The summer months of July and August can be hot in Greece, but thanks to its position, and being surrounded by mass bodies of water, combined with the cool breezes. It's the spring and autumn seasons that are the best time of year to visit Greece. Visiting Greece during both of these seasons affords pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Generally, the spring months of April, May, and yes, even June, and the autumn months of September and October, offer visitors clear skies, loads of sunshine, as well as annual celebrations and festivals.” Here are their final, summary thoughts about this amazing area: "Greece is a magical country with amazing history and centuries-old mythology that captivates everyone." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/the-best-time-of-year-to-visit-greece-for-the-perfect-weather/ar-AA15qqr7 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 32,930 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted December 27, 2022 Author #212 Share Posted December 27, 2022 Although the Corinth Canal and the Peloponnese Peninsula are not in Athens, they are nearby. In 2006, before doing our cruise from Athens, we did a wonderful day tour of these interesting areas. From CNN, the cable news network, they had this headline last month: “The spectacular canal that was 2,500 years in the making” with these highlights: “The very first sailings through the Corinth Canal, one of the most significant infrastructural feats the world had ever seen, took place in 1893, fulfilling a vision that had been at least 2,500 years in the making. The canal cut through the isthmus of Corinth in Greece, linking the Ionian Sea with the Aegean, effectively turning the Peloponnese peninsula into an island, and creating an international maritime hub that transformed navigation in southern Europe. It saved ships the nearly 321-kilometer (300 mile) journey around the plane tree leaf-shaped cape, allowing them to reach ports further east much faster and safer. Now a hugely popular destination, it's the second most-visited tourist landmark in Greece today, attracting people from all over the world.” Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/corinth-canal-greece/index.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 31,695 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted March 19, 2023 Author #213 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Hotels?? From the London/UK Independent a week ago, they had this headline: “Best hotels in Athens 2023: Where to stay for culture, beaches and poolside luxury” with these highlights: “The city where democracy was invented back in 508BC is currently having a mega makeover, with once grubby districts such as Piraeus and Psyrri buzzing with innovative art galleries, cool new hotels, and gourmet food venues that are putting a spin on Greece’s age-old cuisine. Hardly any wonder then that this Parthenon-topped town has been described by Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte – co-founder of Beirut’s contemporary design gallery – as ‘the new Berlin’. Athens certainly is an exciting place to be right now, which is why we’ve rounded up the best places to stay. Whether you want to be in walking distance to ancient ruins or would prefer a more modern, contemporary look on Greek life, we’re sure we’ve found a hotel for everyone.” Yes, many hotel options in Athens with more variety and potentials these day. Our favorite, The AVA, has a great location and nice, person service/attention. Among their hotel potentials cited with details are: "Best for Acropolis views: Asomaton, Best for romance: St George Lycabettus, Best for luxury: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Best boutique hotel: The Foundry Suites, Best for foodies: Xenodocheio Milos." Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/greece/best-hotels-athens-culture-beaches-luxury-b2114018.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 21,675 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted April 1, 2023 Author #214 Share Posted April 1, 2023 (edited) From MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “10 Most Beautiful Beach Towns In Greece” with these highlights: “Ahh, Greece. Words alone aren’t enough to describe how magnificent this country is. To some, Greece is a historical destination, especially in Athens, also described as the birthplace of democracy. While to others, it’s an incredible tourist spot that attracts many with its dramatic landscapes, beautiful islands, delicious foods, and secret coves. The country also has beach towns that soothe the mind with their impeccable beauty. And these 10 are the most beautiful that travelers shouldn’t miss out on.” Their top ten listed were: Preveza, Agios Nikolaos, Kardamyli, Nafplio, Galaxidi, Nafpaktos, Parga, Asos, Symi and Mykonos. Mykonos is the only one of these we have visited. This profile notes it is "famous for its lively atmosphere". Plus: "Shoppers peruse boutiques and souvenir stores along Matogianni Street before sitting in one of the reasonably priced tavernas serving delicious souvlaki and gyro delicacies. Alefkandra, known as Little Venice, has restaurants opening up to narrow paths just beside the sea. As the sun goes down, lovebirds flock here for romantic dinner dates and admire the stunning sunset views, with the famous windmills catching the last golden rays." When we visited Mykonos, there were no other big ships in port and that made things much more enjoyable. Rented a car and visited some of the beaches, too. Plus, exploring around in the main town/village. Lovely!! Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/10-most-beautiful-beach-towns-in-greece/ar-AA19jmEj THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/ Edited April 1, 2023 by TLCOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennybear Posted April 1, 2023 #215 Share Posted April 1, 2023 Aghios Nikolas on Crete is beautiful, there is a land locked lake. Thanks for the list! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SUESEABE Posted April 3, 2023 #216 Share Posted April 3, 2023 @TLCOhio We are going to try your recommended restaurant in Plaka, Psarras Tavern. Are reservations required, if so, how far in advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted April 4, 2023 Author #217 Share Posted April 4, 2023 On 4/2/2023 at 8:59 PM, SUESEABE said: @TLCOhio We are going to try your recommended restaurant in Plaka, Psarras Tavern. Are reservations required, if so, how far in advance? Sorry, my memory is kind of foggy to go back that far. Not sure if we had a reservation or not. We dined outside. If you can make a reservation, it is good to do that. Glad you are researching and planning ahead. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted May 13, 2023 Author #218 Share Posted May 13, 2023 From this British Columbia newspaper in the past week, they had this headline: “Rick Steves: Enhancing the old with the new in Athens" with this sub-headline: "Today’s Athens is full of vibrant neighborhoods and spiffed-up ways to show off its ancient treasures — most notably at the thoughtfully designed Acropolis Museum.” Here is some of his reporting highlights: “A century and a half ago, Athens was a humble, forgotten city of about 8,000 people. Today one out of every three Greeks packs into this city of more than three million. Given that Athens has none of the astounding natural beauty that’s so abundant elsewhere in Greece, my advice had long been to see the capital’s big sights, then get out of town to explore the Peloponnese and an island or two. But in more recent visits, I’ve seen dramatic changes. The city has made a concerted effort to clean up and pedestrianize the streets, spiff up the museums, build a new airport, and invest in one of Europe’s better public-transit systems. And today’s Athens is dotted with trendy neighborhoods filled with edgy street art and creative eateries just a short walk from the famous sights and museums. At its center, the Acropolis (literally “high city”) is now lassoed by a delightful pedestrian boulevard. Winding up the hill you’ll find yourself in an ensemble of grand temples. Led by the visionary architect/sculptor Pheidias, the Athenians built this complex of supersized, ornate temples worthy of the city’s protector, Athena.” Great historic background and insights by experienced travel expert and author Rick Steves. He correctly points out this background for an area we enjoyed during our last visit in 2018: "At the southern base of the Acropolis hill stands the relatively new Acropolis Museum, which houses artifacts from the Acropolis. The striking, glassy building gives a postmodern jolt to Athens’ otherwise staid, midcentury-concrete cityscape, even as it echoes the ancient history all around it." Full story at: https://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/rick-steves-enhancing-the-old-with-the-new-in-athens-6960538 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted June 4, 2023 Author #219 Share Posted June 4, 2023 When doing Athens, you are also most likely to be sampling some of the famed Greek Islands, right? From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Outsmart the crowds in Greece: Swap sunbed wars on Crete, Santorini and Mykonos for quieter holidays on these lesser-known lookalike gems” with these highlights: “The country has plenty of hidden gems to discover - eye-catching lookalike alternatives to the overcrowded big hitters. Scroll down to discover eight of these stunning quieter beach destinations.” Lots and lots of wonderfully colorful pictures are including for this profile. Included in the eight cited are: Paxos, Folegandros, Mani, Naxos, Samos, Skopelos, Meganisi and Paros. Anyone have experiences to share from visiting these cited Greed islands and scenic locations?? They noted: "Paxos is 'unusually verdant and still largely unspoilt', according to Rough Guides, which says it is a 'particular favourite of yachting flotillas'." And: "Often compared to popular Santorini, nearby Folegandros is considered a quieter alternative in the Cyclades island group." Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12148673/Outsmart-crowds-Greeces-popular-isles-head-lesser-known-lookalike-gems.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted June 11, 2023 Author #220 Share Posted June 11, 2023 From Conde Nast Traveler in March, they had this headline: “Most Beautiful Small Towns in Europe” with these highlights: “Assos, Greece. Population: 88. The charming, bloom-filled village of Assos on Kefalonia is one of the most compelling reasons to visit the Greek Islands. The tiny hamlet sits at the bottom of a hill, surrounded by the strikingly blue Mediterranean Sea on three sides. Spend some time on the village’s pebble beach before loading up on Greek food in one of the traditional restaurants lining the marina. Seriously, do vacations get any better than that?” Yes, sounds and looks wonderful!! Many other excellent small towns to visit in Europe. Need to pack and go? Full story at: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/25-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-europe THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 256,594 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1362155-solstice-livefirst-timer-reportspix’s-italycroatian-june-7-19/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted July 16, 2023 Author #221 Share Posted July 16, 2023 (edited) From the AP/Associated Press this morning, they had this headline: “Tourists, mostly american, packing European hot spots” with these highlights: “Tourists are waiting more than two hours to visit the Acropolis in Athens. Taxi lines at Rome's main train station are running just as long. And so many visitors are gathering around St. Mark's Square in Venice that crowds get backed up crossing bridges — even on weekdays. After three years of pandemic limitations, tourism is expected to exceed 2019 records in some of Europe's most popular destinations this summer, from Barcelona and Rome, Athens and Venice to the scenic islands of Santorini in Greece, Capri in Italy and Mallorca in Spain. While European tourists edged the industry toward recovery last year, the upswing this summer is led largely by Americans, boosted by a strong dollar and in some cases pandemic savings. Many arrive motivated by 'revenge tourism' — so eager to explore again that they're undaunted by higher airfares and hotel costs.” Here is more from this report: "Tourism-dependent Greece expects 30 million visitors this year, still shy of 2019's 34 million record. Still, the number of flights are up so far, and tourist hot spots are taking the brunt. The Culture Ministry will introduce a new ticketing system for the Acropolis this month, providing hourly slots for visitors to even out crowds. But no remedy is being discussed for the parking line of cruise ships on the islands of Mykonos and Santorini on busy mornings." Full story at: https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/tourists-mostly-american-packing-european-hot-spots/article_28afbef7-e247-5651-904d-9543beb3812f.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 247,933 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/ Edited July 16, 2023 by TLCOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latimer Posted July 19, 2023 #222 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Can anyone recommend half day tour of Athens with pick up from the ship. all cruise excursions full. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marazul Posted July 20, 2023 #223 Share Posted July 20, 2023 16 hours ago, Latimer said: Can anyone recommend half day tour of Athens with pick up from the ship. all cruise excursions full. Thanks georgestaxi.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latimer Posted July 20, 2023 #224 Share Posted July 20, 2023 1 hour ago, marazul said: georgestaxi.com I am assuming you have used this taxi service. Can you give me a bit more info on what you did Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marazul Posted July 20, 2023 #225 Share Posted July 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, Latimer said: I am assuming you have used this taxi service. Can you give me a bit more info on what you did Thank you It is a transfer and tour company. I have been using them for nearly 20 years. The founder, George Kokkotos and his sons, grew his taxi service to a full service company. Sesrch this board for my, and others, comments. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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