Lesbos
is just one of the many sunny, tranquil islands of Greece. It
would probably be a good place to spend some time but we only stopped
there briefly. It has been in the news lately due to all the
Middle East refugees landing there.
Lesbos from our ship.
The church towers over the town.
KUSADASI (EPHESUS),
TURKEY
Settled
in 3,000 BC, Ephesus was not to be missed -- the Greek
temple,
the ampitheater (where I slipped on the marble steps but fortunately
didn't break anything), the Virgin Mary's house, and the Library of
Celsus. Ephesus was once a port but it is now
several miles
from the sea.
The house where the Virgin Mary Lived
The amphitheater where St. Paul preached.
Library of Celsus.
Art work from centuries past.
Columns once crowned with statues.
This was my third trip to Mykonos and it has greatly changed in 50
years. The town is brilliant white. I was amazed at all the
new homes now scattered over the hills. We were only there for
one day but I remember the wonderful night life.
Windmills but no wind while we were there.
The city is so very clean.
Flowers and handicrafts of brilliant colors.
The main town on the island..
New houses everywhere.
Crete
is the largest of the Greek Islands and is the site of many of the
Greek myths. We took a tour around the city but after
non-stop
touring the week before, we didn't venture very far.
Another cruise ship in the harbor.
The Venetian fortress is the city's symbol.
Iraklion is a bustling city.
Everywhere folks were relaxing and chatting.
Our Crete tourbus.
Paris
does get more beautiful every year. We spent a week there and
saw
things I had missed on earlier trips. We had a tour of the
Opera
and wandered around there for hours. We went to the top of
the
Arc de Triumph which was fortunate since the Eiffel Tower was
closed. We cruised down the Seine. We had plenty of
time to
explore the Louvre and seveal other museums. We had an
express
pass for everything which saved us hours in long lines.
Is there any more recognized symbol in the world?
The National Opera is stupendous.
Arc de Triomphe.
Entrance to the Louvre.
Inside the Louvre.
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
de Montmartre.
Enrique met John-Paul 23rd and
Mother Theresa
at a wax museum.
at a wax museum.
The sarcophagus of Napoleon.
Enrique
had never been to Disneyland so we spent a day there.
It
was a lenthy train ride there and it was packed on the return but well
worth it. I say that Disneyland is really for adults and we
proved it that day. The Space Mountain Mission 2 is known as
the
fastest one of all the Disney parks and we were almost unable to walk
after tackling it.
The castle is the centerpiece of
the park.
Yes, someone is VERY happy.
This could be Main Street USA :)
Enrique cools off under a constant rainshower.
A balloon ride above the park.
Walt Disney Studios Park.
Yes, we saw Mickey, Minnie and Donald Duck.
The park closing is worth the wait.
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Finally
I got to see the Palace of Versailles. It was built by the
Sun
King, Louis XIV, and is opulent beyond believing. The Hall of
Mirrors is dazzling and the huge paintings of the French battles reveal
an ego larger than Donald Trump's.
The palace
is immense.
The Hall of Mirrors.
Chandelier, chandelier, chandlier.
The Queen's sitting room.
Corridors filled with paintings of Napoleon.
