Month long trip to europe1
Aug 21st, 2011, 04:42 PM
#21
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After our well needed sea day, the next port of call was Istanbul, Turkey. Our tour took us to the
Hippodrome: The former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II..
Blue Mosque: One of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from 17th century architecture is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarest..
Topkapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family..
St.Sophia: The magnificent Byzantine Church of all times; one of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world.
and The grand bazaar. The grand bazzar was cool to explore but we got tired of being endlessly hounded to buy this or that..
We spent teh night in the port and had the next day to explore as well. We took a boat ride on the Bosporus river, this was interesting. I cant imagine who would pay 100 mil+ for a house on this river. We disembarked on the asian side, so we have now been to asia! Then took a cab to the spice market. This place was interesting as well. Its amazing how different their culture is! We saw hundred of different spices, bought some turkish candy and went back to the ship.
I would not go back to Istanbul. It was nice to visit once, but we didnt find teh turkish people in Istanbul very friendly..
Hippodrome: The former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II..
Blue Mosque: One of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from 17th century architecture is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarest..
Topkapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family..
St.Sophia: The magnificent Byzantine Church of all times; one of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world.
and The grand bazaar. The grand bazzar was cool to explore but we got tired of being endlessly hounded to buy this or that..
We spent teh night in the port and had the next day to explore as well. We took a boat ride on the Bosporus river, this was interesting. I cant imagine who would pay 100 mil+ for a house on this river. We disembarked on the asian side, so we have now been to asia! Then took a cab to the spice market. This place was interesting as well. Its amazing how different their culture is! We saw hundred of different spices, bought some turkish candy and went back to the ship.
I would not go back to Istanbul. It was nice to visit once, but we didnt find teh turkish people in Istanbul very friendly..
Aug 22nd, 2011, 10:32 AM
#22
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Following our 2 days in Istanbul we had to sea days.
Our last port of call and day was Naples, Italy!
We disembarked the ship met our cruise critic group and took off. The first stop of the day was Pompeii. Our guide met us there. This was a very fascinating place. We had a little more than 2 hours here with our guide. After this it was back in the van to drive along the stunning Amalfi Coast! We drove to Positano had some free time, in which we walked through the winding pedestrian streets down to the beach and back up. There is this frozen limionda stand at the bottom! That stuff is amazing! WE then drove farther down the cost to the bigger city of sorrento. In sorrento we had a nice late lunch and had free time in which we shopped, wandered and go gelato. This is probably my favorite town in Italy! When our time was up we met our driver/guide and he took us to the ferry port, where we boarded the hydrofoil to take back to Naples. ( sure this cost more, but we didnt have to go back the way we came, thus enabling us to have more time in Sorrento instead of having to sit in traffic! We used ap tours and highly recommend them!)
We docked right next to the ship and hopped on for the last time!
The next morning we were off at 10 and on the way to rome at 1030!
Our last port of call and day was Naples, Italy!
We disembarked the ship met our cruise critic group and took off. The first stop of the day was Pompeii. Our guide met us there. This was a very fascinating place. We had a little more than 2 hours here with our guide. After this it was back in the van to drive along the stunning Amalfi Coast! We drove to Positano had some free time, in which we walked through the winding pedestrian streets down to the beach and back up. There is this frozen limionda stand at the bottom! That stuff is amazing! WE then drove farther down the cost to the bigger city of sorrento. In sorrento we had a nice late lunch and had free time in which we shopped, wandered and go gelato. This is probably my favorite town in Italy! When our time was up we met our driver/guide and he took us to the ferry port, where we boarded the hydrofoil to take back to Naples. ( sure this cost more, but we didnt have to go back the way we came, thus enabling us to have more time in Sorrento instead of having to sit in traffic! We used ap tours and highly recommend them!)
We docked right next to the ship and hopped on for the last time!
The next morning we were off at 10 and on the way to rome at 1030!
Aug 22nd, 2011, 11:27 AM
#23
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Oh glorious Rome! We arrived a tad before noon at our hotel. Colosseum B&B. 2 blocks from the Colosseum, metro and palatine hill. WE unpacked, got some lunch at a nearby restaurant and then went to the colosseum did a self guided tour before going to palatine hill. After that back to the hotel and dinner.
The next morning we were up early for our breakfast at a local cafe. Then it was back to the Colosseum to get on the hop on hop off tour. we rode the whole route before getting off at the at teh capitol building. From there we walked the 7 main piazzas which was fun. We then went to the Spanish steps and trevi fountian. We had to then go pick up our tickets for teh papal audience the next day. We got back on the bus and went to the roman forum. After that back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
The next morning we were at the Vatican at 7am! We got great seats! 10 rows from the front! St peters square was packed! Following the ending of the audience at 12 we left for lunch across the street from the entrance to the v museums. We had a 2pm tour of the Vatican museums our guide was exceptional! We saw tons of stuff. Including the Sistine chapel ending the tour in st peters basilica. We ended our day at the vatican in teh worlds smallest post office. Before going to our last dinner in Europe
we headed back to the hotel via metro to pack up.
The next morning our driver picked us up at 730 and we were at FCO airport by 810 for our 1030 am flight back to atlanta.
Overall we had a wonderful trip! So Glad we took our grandsons. Everywhere we stayed was nice, all our tours were great! never had a bad guide! Spent way to much money but still came in under budget! We are currently starting to plan a china/vietnam/thailand trip for this upcoming may!
Thanks for reading and bearing with my mistakes, hopefully ill get better at this
The next morning we were up early for our breakfast at a local cafe. Then it was back to the Colosseum to get on the hop on hop off tour. we rode the whole route before getting off at the at teh capitol building. From there we walked the 7 main piazzas which was fun. We then went to the Spanish steps and trevi fountian. We had to then go pick up our tickets for teh papal audience the next day. We got back on the bus and went to the roman forum. After that back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
The next morning we were at the Vatican at 7am! We got great seats! 10 rows from the front! St peters square was packed! Following the ending of the audience at 12 we left for lunch across the street from the entrance to the v museums. We had a 2pm tour of the Vatican museums our guide was exceptional! We saw tons of stuff. Including the Sistine chapel ending the tour in st peters basilica. We ended our day at the vatican in teh worlds smallest post office. Before going to our last dinner in Europe
we headed back to the hotel via metro to pack up.The next morning our driver picked us up at 730 and we were at FCO airport by 810 for our 1030 am flight back to atlanta.
Overall we had a wonderful trip! So Glad we took our grandsons. Everywhere we stayed was nice, all our tours were great! never had a bad guide! Spent way to much money but still came in under budget! We are currently starting to plan a china/vietnam/thailand trip for this upcoming may!
Thanks for reading and bearing with my mistakes, hopefully ill get better at this
