Redwoods

We tried to get over our jet lag by hiking---what were we thinking???? The Oakland Redwoods at 6AM in the fog were amazing.

The Mediterranean

We have been having a blast for the last two weeks in the Mediterranean. It was wonderful to relax in some of the most beautiful places with great friends, amazing food, and no cell phones!

Venice, Italy

We started our trip in Venice, Italy. We arrived and were totally jet lagged, but our amazing "tour guides" Staci and Doug were ready to show us around. We walked through the city the first night all the way to St. Marks Square (this was a sureal experiece). If we wouldn't have taken pictures I doubt we would remember anything.

Venice, Italy

The Water Taxis
I had to tie a scarf around my waist to enter Saint Marks Cathedral because my shorts didn't cover my knees.
The Doges Palace

After a day of walking in Venice, we were ready for water taxis. We enjoyed Doges Palace, and fireworks in St. Marks Square in celebration of the end to the Plague.

Croatia

We spent a day in Dubrovnik, Croatia. "Old Town" is surrounded by a medieval double wall and other fortifications. We walked through the quaint neighborhoods, and around the wall to the Adriatic Sea.

Argostoli, Greece

Drogarti Cave

The Island of Cephalonia is one of the most beautiful destinations in Greece. It is the resting place of Odysseus from Homer's "Illiad and Odyssey", and it is the setting for the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". We went to the mythological Melissanni Lake (La Grota della Nimfe) and Drogarati Cave. The caves have amazing acoustics, and the hold concerts in them during the year. After a few tries we found a place that would rent us a car with our American licenses and we drove around the island. While in Argostoli we had the most amazing Gyro!!! It was the best food during our entire trip. When we returned our mini car Staci asked the lady where we should go for a gyro--pronounced Yeeroe--not Euro--She sent us to a little hole in the wall that had the best food ever. They put french fries in gyros---I am still mad that I only ate one.

Melissani Lake

The Water was so clear and blue

More Argostoli

They do not have sand beaches--ouch

Myrtos Beach

This beach is one of the top 5 in the world. You have to drive through the mountains to get to it, but when you come around the bend the veiw is stunning. We could not get in because the 10 foot waves were breaking on the beach from the storm they had the week before, but it was still amazing!!!! After we left the beach I navigated us inthe wrong direction and we ended up driving through little villages back to Argostoli---woops.

Santorini, Greece

The only way to get to Fira is by donkey or ski lift---we chose the ski lift, and this is the view from the town.
You can tell this was before the beach because Ty's legs are so white:)
We are not breaking the law because we are in arabesque
Red Beach

Santorini is the most ruggedly beautiful place on earth!! What was once the island of Thira sank to the bottom of the caldera in the apocoliptic explosion in 1450 BC. The lagoon-like caldera is 32 square miles, and 1312 feet deep. Perched high atop Palea Kamini and Nea Kamini is picturesqu Santorini. The sugar cube houses and churches with brilliant blue domes are set againtst the deeper blue skies and Aegean Sea. This was our favorite port. We rented a dune buggy and went all over the island. We spent the morning in Ia and had amazing gyros. We then went to three amazing beaches--Kumari, Red Beach, and Perisa. My favorite was Perisa--it had amazing black lava sand beaches.

More Santorini

This is a little town named Ia--it is about 15 minutes from Fira

Perisa Beach---so amazing

Catania, Italy

Famous Elephant fountain

Yummy peach granite

The City of Catania sits at the foot of one of the most brilliant volcanoes and is on the coastline of the Ionian Sea. Mount Etna is notoriously ferocious and has destroyed Catania several times. We spent the day on our own here because Staci and Doug had ship duties. We had amazing food and granita and had a great time.

Naples, Italy

Just off the boat in Capri

Going into Blue Grotto
Wow what a little hole---watch your head!!

Naples is the home of Pizza, so of course we ordered four and took them back to the ship for dinner---it was perfectly simple. We took jet boats to the Isle of Capri and spent the day touring the island and shopping. We went to the Blue Grotto--the entrance was so small you had to duck to get under it.