A Fortnight on the Med., 2009
Late in 2009 Ron and Carol toured Costa
Brava in Spain for a few days, then cruised the Mediterranean
Sea visiting a total of 5 countries.
Our cruise was 4075 miles (6520 km) and took us to 6 ports and 5 countries. This does not include the distance by auto up the Spanish coast. (Note it is only 2880 miles from Boston to Ireland.)
Cap Roig "Red Cape" in Platja de Aro, Costa Brava, Spain. The view from our hotel balcony. On Carol and Ron's first evening they went down and walked along the beach. (41.826343, 3.083955)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/01/09/ for more details.
Across the ruins of the old Greek town at Empuries, Spain. (Began 6th century BC.) The name comes from "Emporion" which is Greek for "market." Behind is the Bay of Roses, looking toward Punta Grossa. (42.133618, 3.120742)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/10498.html for more details.
The Roman town ruins in Empuries, Spain. In the 2nd century BC the Romans arrived and took over Iberia [Spain] from the Phoenicians. It was first a military camp, then it became a prosperous Roman town with villas, baths and amphitheater. It is up the hill from the 'old' Greek town.
Pals, Spain - Gate of the medieval town. Still in Costa Brava, but up a hill from the plains and seashore. Carol and Ron were the only tourists there. (41.971161, 3.144899)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/01/18/ for more details.
Pals, Spain - Ron sits on the below the Església [church] de Sant Pere.
Gothic with later additions, but-- alas-- locked.
Pals, Spain - Sant Pere's rose window is reflected in the window of a residence. From what one could tell, the town is occupied by old money in the large houses and apartments carved out of others.
Carol dressed up for our first formal dinner.
Here are descriptions of our first days on the ship:
http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/01/19/
http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/01/20/
http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/02/02/
Valletta, Malta – Entrance to the harbor. Old fortifications everywhere. The city is the most famous for the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 where 10,000 Christian knights held off a 30,000 man Ottoman invasion. (35.8976, 14.518196)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/02/03/ for details.
Valletta, Malta – Steps up to the Valletta city center from the Victoria Gate.
Valletta, Malta – Building on a side street.
Valletta, Malta – National Museum of Archaeology. A small Neolithic statue of a Sleeping Lady. No one is sure what the statue was for. Ron and Carol bought a copy and Ron kept it in his office to remind him of Carol, as seen in the bottom picture. 2011 update: We returned to the museum and they do not sell the Sleeping Lady anymore. It is now a collectible!
Valletta, Malta – National Museum of Archaeology. Very large stone container in the shape of a coffee-cup. Even Neolithic people had a sense of humor.
Valletta, Malta – A typical side street.
Valletta, Malta – St. Paul waving at us from the front of the St. Paul ‘Shipwrecked’ Church. It looked small from the outside, but was large with many side chapels once Carol and Ron got in.
Valletta, Malta – Iron bars which make room for flowers. Carol and Ron have found this in many places
Athens, Greece – The Athens Acropolis from Filopappou Hill. (37.969047, 23.720241)
Ron thinks this view was the highlight of the trip for him.
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/2010/02/09/ for details.
Athens, Greece – Carol at the Erechthion. The statues here are copies. Ron and Carol had just viewed the originals in the brand new Acropolis Museum. (One statue is in the British Museum.)
Athens, Greece - National Archaeological Museum – Gold death mask known as the ‘Mask of Agamemnon’. (16 century BC!)
Athens, Greece - National Archaeological Museum – Large bronze statue of Poseidon. (460BC)
Athens, Greece - National Archaeological Museum – Life size ‘Horse and Boy.’ (140BC)
Athens, Greece - National Archaeological
Museum – The Antikythera Mechanism - an ancient
mechanical computer designed to calculate astronomical positions. Built about
100 BC, the mechanical sophistication is comparable to a medieval astronomical
clock. It is now considered the world's first [analog] computer. Discovered in the Med in 1900.
Rhodes (town), Greece – Port. The city is a wonderful example a walled town in every way. The ship nearly runs in to the town wall when docked. Ron and Carol really like the city and island of Rhodes. (36.446334, 28.229507)
Lindos, Greece – 29 miles (47 kilometers) from the city of Rhodes is the village of Lindos. The Acropolis of Lindos has a Crusader fort, a Byzantine church, and an ancient Doric Temple to Athena Lindia! (An UNESCO World Heritage Site.) (36.091631, 28.088677)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/10990.html for details of Lindos.
Lindos, Greece – 4th century BC Temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Lindos.
Lindos, Greece – Carol looking over the wall and cliff from the Acropolis. It is a long way straight down. St. Paul’s Bay is at her knee.
Lindos, Greece – Carol showing the way north. The walkway is small black and white stones set in place. Typical of the area: black and white mosaics are Greek style.
Rhodes (town), Greece – One of the gates to the city.
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/11010.html for details of the city.
Rhodes (town), Greece – The breakwater. Carol and Ron's ship would be to the right.
Rhodes (town), Greece – Icon made of tiles.
Paphos, Cyprus – A Roman era mosaic. Several Roman villas were discovered in the town. This really put Paphos on the map. (An UNESCO World Heritage Site.)
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/11330.html for details.
Paphos, Cyprus – A Roman era mosaic. Although a Roman god, he has a halo!
Paphos, Cyprus – Roman era columns.
Paphos, Cyprus – Looking the other way. (34.756356, 32.404359)
Alexandria, Egypt – The Alexandria cruise ship terminal. Even more spectacular on the inside.
See http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/11585.html for more information.
Alexandria, Egypt – The Ras al-Tin Palace as seen from the ship. (West harbor.)
Alexandria, Egypt – A trolley on a side street.
Alexandria, Egypt – Pigeon and rabbit vendor on a side street.
Alexandria, Egypt – On a side street, a lovely mermaid on a children’s swing.
Alexandria, Egypt – Fishermen near Qaitbay Fort. (East Harbor)
Alexandria, Egypt – Fishing boats parked on the sidewalk.
Alexandria, Egypt – A unique fishing boat parked on the sidewalk.
Alexandria, Egypt – Typical side street off the Corniche.
Alexandria, Egypt – A bronze of an Egyptian god done in the Greek style. The finger at the mouth indicates a child. (In the Alexandria National Museum.)
Traditional Egyptian style of a child. (Also in the Alexandria National Museum.)
Alexandria, Egypt – View from the Tikka Grill of the East Harbor and the Corniche. Ron and Carol had a great lunch there. (31.205162, 29.88554)
Buti bread from the Tikka Grill. Like funnel cake, but not sweet.
Alexandria, Egypt – View of the Tikka Grill from the beach.
Alexandria, Egypt – Fishermen working their nets. The 19th century Qaitbay Fort is in the distance.
Alexandria, Egypt – A Bedouin family helping their grandfather to the water. A group of about 10, there was a lot of playing in the water, running and laughter as the entire family got soaked. They took many pictures, including of Carol and Ron. The ladies kept their veils in place through all of this.
Carol thinks sitting on this beach visiting and talking with the people, was her best moment of the trip.
Carol trying to play miniature golf in gale force winds.