LIVE! Oosterdam 12-Day Greek Odyssey

[*Miss G*]

DAY 16 - SANTORINI

Thurs, Oct 13th

 

We arrived in the caldera just before the sun came up over Santorini.

 

 

 

 

There are two other ships in port with us, today, and another arriving later.  This is why it is a good idea to attend “Ask the Captain” because he tells you what time to go to beat the crowds.

 

 

Our tender awaits.

 

 

Our plan was to take the ferry to Oia (pronounced Eee-yah) but we lost one another and missed it.  (This was our second visit.)  While I waited for my sister to discover I was no longer on the ship, I took a picture of its back end.

 

 

Plan B was the cable car up to a very busy city centre.  We had Greek Salad and mussels for lunch at this restaurant because the bougainvillea invited us in.

 

 

There were HUGE crowds to catch the cable car back to the tenders about 2:00pm.  We waited 70 minutes in a snaking line.  Others did not have that long a wait because they were special.  One lady’s modus operandi was to chat her way up the line thinking no one would notice.  Everyone did, but it didn’t phase her.

 

Here is the long walk down if you don’t want to wait for the cable car.

 

 

Or you could take a donkey.

 

 

We are finally back on the ship.

 

[*Miss G*]

Oooh oooh!!  I just found a USB port behind my pillow!  Now I don’t have to sit at the desk to post.  Looks like there’s one for each side of the bed should you have it configured as a queen as opposed to two twins.

 

On 10/14/2022 at 6:54 PM, worldtraveller99 said:

Loving your report *Miss G*, plus loved the river cruise report too - we are on the Rhine in a few weeks time for the Christmas markets. Hope your trip is brilliant!

 

Thank you so much, @worldtraveller99!  That is so awesome that you are doing the Christmas Markets!  I hope to do that too, one day!  Would love to hear and see all about it.

[worldtraveller99]

Will do a report - sadly not day by day as you are doing. 

 

I would have considered the donkeys rather than a 70 min wait. Was that not looking good?

 

[*Miss G*]

7 hours ago, worldtraveller99 said:

Will do a report - sadly not day by day as you are doing. 

 

I would have considered the donkeys rather than a 70 min wait. Was that not looking good?

 

 

I cannot even begin to count the ways in which I would not sit my butt on a donkey and zigzag my way down a cliff for 35 minutes at four times the price of the cable car which is 32 minutes faster. Not to mention how the poor donkey feels about that.  😭

[*Miss G*]

DAY 17 - KUSADASI, TURKEY

(EPHESUS)

 

Today we are in  Kuşadası, Turkey.  That little squiggle on the first “s” gives it a “sh” sound.  (Kusha-dassy).  I love the colours around Fred Olsen’s Balmoral as the morning sun rises.

 

 

Today we took an excursion to the ruins of Ephesus, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 262 AD.  There are many free-range dogs and cats there.  Just after I’d put my camera away we had a canine gladiator fight join our group.  That was exciting.  Sorry I didn’t get a picture.

 

 

 

The public toilets.  No thanks!

 

 

The library.

 

 

Follow the leader.

 

 

Do not mess with this guy.

 

[*Miss G*]

Then it was on to the Archeological Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

Money found in this clay pot.

 

 

The draping on these sculptures is amazing.

 

[*Miss G*]

Our tour guide took us to his “Uncle’s” Carpet Factory.  (Standing joke.)  It was informative.  In order to get us to sit through an entertaining sales pitch they fed us stuff I didn’t eat.  I took the glass of red wine for research purposes.  Analysis showed it was distilled raw alcohol with a red tinge to it.  I discreetly searched for a place to leave it.

 

We return to the ship and I wander the shops.  

 

 

 

Then it’s all aboard and a fun exchange of toots from each of the ships as Fred Olsen leads the way.

 

 

Next it’s us.  I love the rainbow of colours of the flats onshore.

 

[puppycanducruise]

Loving your reports.  Thanks.

[*Miss G*]

DAY 18 - HERAKLION, CRETE

Saturday, Oct 15th

 

WOW.  What a crazy day in Crete.  I don’t know if you heard about it in North America but this deadly storm made the news in Europe.

 

At 9:00am a water spout signaled the beginning of what was to come.  My sister got a good pic off our balcony.

 

 

Then the rains and wind started, which began to churn up the sea in port.

 

 

Here’s a stream of it by the Lido pool.  If you turn up the sound you can hear it falling.

 

 

 

Through the Crow’s Nest window.

 

 

 

[kochleffel]

6 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I cannot even begin to count the ways in which I would not sit my butt on a donkey and zigzag my way down a cliff for 35 minutes at four times the price of the cable car which is 32 minutes faster. Not to mention how the poor donkey feels about that.  😭

 

When I was at Santorini with NCL, the daily newsletter warned strongly against either walking down the stairs or riding a donkey, saying that both were very dangerous. I didn't have a long wait for the cable car.

[*Miss G*]

Here is the Captain calling for all hands on deck and the gangplank to be closed.  High winds caused so much strain on the lines we pulled a bollard straight out of the pier.  All staff and crew were amazing as they worked to keep everyone safe and restore order.  I am glad none of the crew were hurt during a very dangerous situation.

 

 

 

Hail falling on the Lido pool roof.  Thunder and lightning near the end if you can wait that long. 

 

Okay, maybe not.  Having a hard time uploading videos.  I’ll try again later.

 

[puppycanducruise]

Wow, what an awful storm.  Glad you are safe.

[*Miss G*]

19 minutes ago, kochleffel said:

 

When I was at Santorini with NCL, the daily newsletter warned strongly against either walking down the stairs or riding a donkey, saying that both were very dangerous. I didn't have a long wait for the cable car.

 

I saw an elderly man slip and fall on the steps as we were coming down the cable cars.  Others picked him up and dusted him off so I am hoping he’s okay.

[*Miss G*]

Sometimes we come up with dumb ideas.  Our dumb idea was to walk into town.  We got as far as the terminal.  There is free WiFi here so all is not lost.  Here is a picture of a picture in the terminal.  

 

 

Dinner during sailaway was a little bumpy as we followed the tail end of the storm to Athens.  I only saw one worried person, who kept looking around at the rest of us to see if anyone else was scared.  We weren’t; she drank wine; I hung onto mine; all was well.

 

After bouncing around the main dining room, we finally found a great table with great servers.  If you find yourselves in Andika and Ady’s section, you will be properly taken care of.  Thank you, Andika and Ady.  You’re the best.

[BlackJack2]

Are there covid test every couple of days on your cruise? 

[*Miss G*]

10 hours ago, BlackJack2 said:

Are there covid test every couple of days on your cruise? 

 

No covid tests unless you want to have them done by the medical centre or you bring your own.

[*Miss G*]

DAY 19 - ATHENS

Sunday, Oct 16th

 

Arrived before sunrise in Athens (Piraeus).  I counted five other cruise ships: Norwegian, Viking, Oceania, Seabourne, and Ponant.

 

 

We took one of the HOHO tours around Athens.  Traffic was horrendous as we did circles around the same squares from every direction imaginable.  I think our driver was trying to find a way through the gridlock.  

 

Sometimes the road to hell is worse than being there.

 

 

We had lunch at Dionysos Zonar’s restaurant at the foot of the Acropolis.  Their Greek Salad couldn’t have come any closer to perfection and I finished it off with a Greek coffee.  

 

 

View from the restaurant.

 

 

 

The Panathenaic Stadium was built in 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games.  It is made entirely of marble.

 

 

This is why we didn’t get off the bus except for when we had to change lines to get back to the ship.  I don’t do crowds and gridlock well.

 

 

I was sad to see graffiti covering everything imaginable, including road signs.

[*Miss G*]

DAY 20 - NAFPLION

Monday, Oct 17th

 

It was a gorgeous day in Nafplion.  This was probably one of my favourite ports so far.  I didn’t really expect much as we tendered in but, wow, when you walked down into the back streets it was amazing.  The peacefulness and beauty was a welcome change from all the crowds and dirt at other ports.  

 

 

 

This guy said to go this way so I did.

 

 

I loved the clean narrow streets full of wonderful boutique shops and tavernas.

 

 

 

 

Our port stop is done and we enjoy a scenic sailaway.

 

[VMax1700]

We love Nafplion too!  As you say, it is so peaceful after the chaos of some of the other ports.  It is really a lovely walkabout.   We found a small cafe that had the most wonderful Orange Drizzle cake and coffee.

Enjoy your next port!

[puppycanducruise]

I've never been to Nafplion.  I want to go now.

[*Miss G*]

DAY 21 - KEFALONIA

Tuesday, Oct 18th

 

Today we are in Argostoli, Kefalonia, the largest Greek island on the Ionian Sea.  There is a large prom along the waterfront and lots of shops.  This was the second day in which we were the only ship in port and that makes a huge difference to your (my) enjoyment.

 

 

Lots of loggerhead turtles around.  Those things are huge!!

 

 

 

 

Dis my chair.

 

 

Heading back to the ship.

 

[Dunmore2]

I’m enjoying your report and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[StLouisCruisers]

6 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

DAY 20 - NAFPLION

Monday, Oct 17th

 

It was a gorgeous day in Nafplion.  This was probably one of my favourite ports so far.  I didn’t really expect much as we tendered in but, wow, when you walked down into the back streets it was amazing.  The peacefulness and beauty was a welcome change from all the crowds and dirt at other ports.  

 

 

 

This guy said to go this way so I did.

 

 

I loved the clean narrow streets full of wonderful boutique shops and tavernas.

 

 

 

 

Our port stop is done and we enjoy a scenic sailaway.

 

 

Beautiful photos of Nafplion!  Thank you!

[StLouisCruisers]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

DAY 21 - KEFALONIA

Tuesday, Oct 18th

 

Today we are in Argostoli, Kefalonia, the largest Greek island on the Ionian Sea.  There is a large prom along the waterfront and lots of shops.  This was the second day in which we were the only ship in port and that makes a huge difference to your (my) enjoyment.

 

 

Lots of loggerhead turtles around.  Those things are huge!!

 

 

IMG_7771.MOV 15.57 MB · 3 downloads  

 

 

Dis my chair.

 

 

Heading back to the ship.

 

 

Equally lovely pics of Kefalonia!  There must be as many cats in Greece as people, honestly.😉

[bennybear]

Oh such adventures!  The storm in Crete was deadly,  scary hearing all hands on deck.  We loved Kefalonia, spent several days there.  It has gorgeous beaches and scenery.

I’m glad you’re doing well,