Upon arrival in Rome, we were met by a Norwegian Jade representative and guided to our bus for the 1 hour trip from Rome to Civitavecchia. Lunch was served aboard ship while our bags were delivered to our room. After lunch, we unpacked, gathered for the usual “lifeboat drill” and after two weeks of cold temperatures on the river, settled down to enjoy warmer friendlier skies
ALANYA TURKEY
After two days at sea, Tuesday April 9 we arrived at our first port of call, Alanya Turkey, a beach resort city of approximately 250,000. Tours offered from the ship failed to catch our “fancy” so we decided to explore the city on our own. As we walked down the dock and entered the street the usual “wanna be” guides, taxis and “hawkers” solicited our attention but we ignored them.
Ken stopped to take pictures and as we prepared to resume our walk, a taxi driver approached us and asked if we would like a tour of the city. After discussion (his English was severely lacking) we decided, why not? We enjoy seeing as much of the countryside as we can. I am not a big “museum” person. I like to “feel” a locale. So, we climbed into the taxi and were off to “feel” the city. 
We drove through the city, up a mountainside to an overlook for outstanding views and stopped for photographs. Our return took us through the countryside and back into the city center and through a residential area. We were puzzled (and a “bit” nervous) when the driver stopped the car in front of a residence, honked his horn and waved to a lady in the window above us. 
She beckoned him in and he invited us to accompany him. A little uneasy, we followed him Inside where he introduced us to his wife, son and mother. The son spoke some English which helped in our attempted communications. Our guide’s wife served us a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice from the orange tree outback accompanied by fresh baked cookies, The home was clean and comfortable, its modern furnishings reflected a US middle income lifestyle and exuded welcome warmth and genuine hospitality. As we left, I purchased a beautiful hand made scarf from the Grandmother as a reminder of our brief but delightful peek into a lifestyle that seemed to reflect the simple goals of family, health and happiness shared by people world wide. Our visit to our guide’s home provided a lasting and favorable memory of our visit to Turkey. 
Our tour concluded with a visit to the harbor, shipyard, city center and Keykubat Beach on the East side of the peninsula. On the West side we visited Damlatas Beach and Ken toured the Cave. From there we drove up the winding road through narrow streets to the Castle for photos overlooking the beautiful Coast line before returning to our ship. I believe that a visit to a city reveals an existence. A visit to someone’s home reveals a lifestyle thus, a museum is history, a city is today and a home is tomorrow.
LIMASSOL CYPRUS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10
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This day we chose a ships tour of Limassol highlights which included a drive through scenic citrus plantations to Kourion and a visit to the ruins of this important ancient city-kingdom destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century AD. Perched on a cliff-top with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and bay, the ruins corroborate that a theater, the House of Eustolios, mosaics, Roman baths, basilica and an Agora once existed there.
After our visit to Kourion, we visited the Kourion Local Museum located in a private home before proceeding to the old town for a guided walk through the city center and the exterior of Limassol Castle where Richard the Lionhearted married Berengaria in 1191. During his exploration and shopping venture, Ken found a stall that intrigued him which I found abhorrent. I will make no further comment.
ISRAEL APRIL 11
Thursday April 11, Ken was excited as our ship navigated into the Port of Haifa. We knew that two days would not be enough time to “feel” the Holy land, thus, we looked upon this visit as “preparing the stage” for a broader future undertaking.
We concluded that the two day Red Sea tour was too ambitious for us. We opted for one day in Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee and for the second, a leisurely tour of Jerusalem. Both were 10 hour days filled with interesting sights, scenery, history and doctrine (some Christian, some Jewish).
Our first days excursion took us through the Jez”rel valley to Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus; We visited the Church of the Annunciation, built on the site where Mary is “said to have lived”; the Church of St Joseph where it is believed that Joseph’s carpentry workshop stood and drove by Mary’s well, a modern stone structure set in a small garden.
Our tour continued on through the Muslim area
of Nazareth and past Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding by turning water into wine. We then dropped approximately 600 feet to the Jordan Valley where we visited the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus gave his sermon on the mount and visited the beautiful gardens overlooking a panorama of the Galilee, the valley and the Golan Heights. From there we continued on to a local kibbutz, where we were served a delicious buffet lunch. 
After lunch we continued on for a closer view of the Sea of Galilee where many of our group waded into the sea and savored their brief encounter at this site of Biblical history. From the sea, we proceeded on to Capernaum, St Peter’s village, where Jesus found refuge after leaving Nazareth. There we visited the remains of the 1st century synagogue where Jesus taught and performed miracles and the 5th century synagogue that was built on top of the old one. 
We crossed over the River Jordan, where Jesus was baptized and stopped in Yardenit, the official baptismal site. The River Jordan is small but its history is large. Yardenit was our last stop and from there we made our way back into the city via a scenic drive along the sea and the border of Syria only a few miles away. Being there provides a perspective on just how venerable Israel is to its “unfriendly” neighbors. Thus, concluded our first day of our Israel experience. 
I think that an experience in Israel varies by perspective My sense is that our Jewish friends see Israel as fulfillment of their dream for a homeland, the source of their roots, expression of their faith and a tribute to the accomplishments of a special people. It is all of that. However, I think that Christians see it as a holy land once traversed by their savior, sacred with his spiritual presence and the roots of their faith. Thus, I glean two Israeli perspectives. An Israel of Judea and Jewish tradition and an Israel of Christian faith, reverence and faith. The two are compatible and in harmony in spite of their diversity of creed.
LEISURELY JERUSALEM APRIL 11
We departed Haifa at 730AM for our approximate two hour trip through Tel Aviv and into Jerusalem.. Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and the largest metropolitan area. Ken was disappointed to miss the Red Sea, I was disappointed that I did not get to visit Tel Aviv but alas, our two days were full.
At our first rest stop, soldiers were gathering with their military equipment in preparation for an independence day celebration the following Monday (April 15) and the display was impressive. 
Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel and the center of power. We drove past the Knesset (Parliament), Shrine of the Books and Supreme Court, en route to our first destination, a panoramic view of the old city and Temple Mount atop the Mount of Olives. After a brief shopping stop, we enjoyed another delicious lunch at a local Kibbutz.
After lunch we continued on to Mar Elias Monastery for a photo op of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, in the distance. We stopped at the Sherover Promenade for a spectacular view of the holy city and the great wall before driving around the walls and entering the old city
Our final stop of the day was the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where we commingled among many gathered at this holy site of prayer and expressions of faith that transcends labels or doctrine. Reverence permeates the air and exudes a peace that the region seeks but seems unable to achieve.
En route back to the ship, our guide provided us with his insight into Israel. 60% of the Israeli population is Orthodox with the men devoting their life to the study of Hebrew and Judaism. They spend their time in study of the Torah and prayer. They do not contribute to either the security (military) or economy (work). He said a wife is chosen by the man and once they are married, she is expected to support the family, maintain the home and have children. Our guide said that an average Orthodox family is expected to have 17 children. He further stated that the family receives approximately $1,100 per month as a living allowance which is inadequate to meet the barest of minimum standards.
Our guide said that his wife’s family is Orthodox and he seemed well versed in both the Orthodox and more progressive views as well as knowledgeable in Christian principles and faith. He stated that Israel’s political establishment recognizes the current “system” cannot sustain the growing number of Orthodox dependency. He said that the political establishment seeks to develop a way that the talents and skills of the Orthodox may better assimilate and contribute to society without compromising their personal faith. He acknowledged that the transition will not be an easy one. On the surface, it seemed to me that the goal appears counter to a personal commitment to the religious principles and search for truth, knowledge and God’s will that is the foundation for traditional Orthodox thinking. Compromise does not come easy in this part of the world.
Monday April 14 Iraklion Greece
Sunday April 13 was a day at sea and Monday, April 14 we arrived in Iraklion, the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece with a population of approximately 150.000 people. It is a popular tourist location and receives approximately 15% of the total tourist traffic of Greece. There are daily ferry trips to and from Peiraeus (Athens' port) and many weekly ones to and from other islands and towns in Greece.
The terminal at Heraklion port is within walking distance of the town's center. Once again we decided to do our own thing. As we walked the “gangplank”, the usual taxi’s and “wanna be” guides beckoned negotiation but we resisted. Seeing a “hop on” “hop off” kiosk we decided that would be a good way to see the city and permit us to get off and on as we chose. This type of “do it yourself” tour can be good but our experience in Iraklion left a lot to be desired. The guide’s commentary was uninteresting and lacking in substance.
From the port we proceeded along the Venetian walls that meet at the old port and the fortress that dominates the old harbor of the city. We passed from the Harbor through the town centre, past businesses, the central market, the cathedral and Museum. Snow capped mountains loomed high above as we approached the archaeological site at Knossos where we departed the bus and did a walk about. Ken explored the site while I waited outside and people watched. We did not visit the museum that houses most of the Minoan findings in Crete. Did I already tell you that I am not a museum person? 
After our tour and visit to the archaeological site, we returned to our ship for lunch. At this point, my personal evaluation of this stop was rather low but after lunch, Ken did a walk along the harbor to the Fortress and the town center. He came back and reported that the city center was dynamic and lively with cafes, stores and restaurants dominated by the fountain of the Lion. He was surprised with the number of young people and families in the plaza after our morning tour through empty streets and businesses. It was Sunday, and perhaps, a day for late starts? 
Ken was favorably impressed with the views and charm of the city and reported that it was undoubtedly a lovely place to visit or spend a vacation. I enjoyed my afternoon from the balcony of our stateroom and appreciated the quaint beauty of the town which I found better to look at than to see from a “hop on or hop off” bus. Sometimes an idea is a good one and sometimes there is room for improvement.
TUESDAY, APRIL 16 NAPLES ITALY
April 15 was a sea day and on Tuesday, April 16 we arrived in Naples, our last port of call. Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. After an aborted visit to Naples in 1993. We were anxious to see what we had missed. We selected a Sorrento on your own and Naples with Pizza excursion which included a panoramic drive along the coast from Naples to the quaint hilltop city of Sorrento.
The views were spectacular and the winding narrow roads, an adventure to remember. We visited a shop where wood carving has survived in a single family effort and admired the beautiful workmanship on display. Ken is enchanted with good wood working skills and I often sense that he could barter me for a beautiful piece of carved wood.
After our brief interlude into “wood”, we enjoyed a walk through the streets of Sorrento, stopped for a drink and relaxed in the peace and tranquility of Italy’s hospitality. After our brief fling about town, we joined our tour for pizza at a local restaurant and re boarded our bus for the drive down the hill in awe of the nerves that one needs to maneuver a big bus on those tiny winding roads engineered for buggies eons ago. 
About our visit to Naples in 1993. I had chosen Naples to celebrate my 60th birthday. We got up early in the morning and drove from our resort in Roddi Garganico to Naples. After a stressful and chaotic entry into the city with Italian drivers yelling, blowing their horn and flailing their arms at us, we parked someplace near the water.
My sister was traveling with us and by the time we arrived, neither my sister nor I wanted to venture out onto any street, let alone the streets of Napoli. We just wanted to get out of “Dodge”. Ken acquiesced and after 3 passes at the same toll booth where we paid the same fare three times and developed a “I know you” familiarity with the toll operator, we were finally able to get on the right road and escape to Bari.
Our experience in Bari was not much better. After we parked the car and went into a store, a nice sales lady cautioned me to remove my necklace because someone might try to steal it. With that information, we decided to forget the planned birthday dinner and returned to our resort town. There, we found a wonderful hilltop restaurant that prepared the most sumptuous and memorable birthday meal of my then 60 years!! A day of missteps ended in true celebration.
Our ship left Naples during the night and the next morning we awakened in Civitavecchia and prepared to disembark for our trip home. 
Our "jaunts" out and about are becoming a little less exciting in our old age. We do not always appreciate the fun that we are having while we are experiencing it. Sometimes we are inclined to ask, "are we having fun yet?" When we get home, view our pictures, compile our memories and share our adventures, we realize it is time to start planning again. Until then, we hope you enjoy sharing our adventures.
AND THAT IS A WRAP
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