Patmos

Biblical historians believe the Book of Revelation was revealed to John on the island of Patmos.  Situated not far from Turkey, it is one of the many Greek Isles that dot the Aegean Sea, east of the Greek mainland.  It is a relatively small island, and is much longer than wide.  The highest point of the island is crowned with an ancient monastery.

The harbor, used for centuries by fisherman, was too shallow for even the Pacific Princess, so we were tendered to land.  Our tour bus took us to the grotto where the Book of Revelation was revealed.  The is a shrine built on the location and looks like a small church.  After re-boarding the bus, we continued to the monastery.

The location was incredible.  But when it was built, it was also a fort, place strategically on the highest point, commanding a 360 view of the surrounding area.  Once inside it was a maze of hallways and courtyards.  The chapels contain icons from the middle ages.  On one of the upper levels is a museum with artifacts of the monastery, and many religious items.

We then explored the adjacent hilltop town.  They winding streets lined with white-washed houses was the idyllic Greek Isle.  The various owners painted the front doors individual colors, and bouganvilla draped over garden walls added additional color.  One of the stops was a private home that has been in the same family for centuries.  The owner was a charming older woman with family stories of Russian trips, European vacations and times past..

The final stop in Patmos before the required shopping was at a family owned tavern.  We had a delicious snack of local food and the staff did traditional dances.  The family across the table had met our dinner table mates.  The mother had been in a ladies restroom when E arrived.  She proceeded to enter and Out of Order stall and get locked in.  She did not pay any attention to the LARGE sign warning of difficulties.  So she is in the stall pounding on the door and screaming.  Does not surprise me.  The name derived for them was Special Gems of the Sea.

Back at the port, we wandered around the streets with various shops.  It was very quaint and the shop owners were not pushy, always a benefit.  Besides the tourist shops there were some small cafes that catered to the locals.  They were enjoying the sunshine with a small afternoon snack.  After a few little purchases, we boarded the tender to return to the Pacific Princess.

At dinner we discussed our day's adventure.  Since the island is small most of the excursions overlapped.  But the interesting event was that E tried to get on a different bus, she claimed hers had no a/c.  She had taken the bus as a shuttle, and not a tour, so she was asked to leave.  Then J revealed that back in town E got on a scooter with a man she had only met once and rode off for 45 minutes.  CRAZY

Relaxing Sea Day....Sort of....

Since the distance to our next port is so far, we got to enjoy a day at sea.  These are great for catching up on postcard writing, reading or even napping.  About the Pacific Princess and the rest of the Princess fleet, the have the Princess Patter a listing of the day's activities.  These activities range from lectures to trivia games, art auctions or wine tasting and many more options.
The other couple from our dinner table and I liked playing trivia so we were at all of the matches.  We won a few, came in second  some, but was always in the top finishers.  Prizes were Princess gifts, pens, water bottles, etc.
Back to the dinner table.  We are now on DAY 4 of the cruise, and as always the LA women are late.  I'll just use initials for them E & J  The have been late every night, a trend that will be a constant for the cruise.  As usual, they wold order, then mid course make another suggestion, and it was becoming tiresome.  The waiter got to the point of bringing and extra soup for E so there was no need to go back to the kitchen.  At least they got to the point of sharing entrees, instead of just ordering an extra.  But that too was strange..  On night J ordered a beef dish, medium rare, like she wanted it.  After finishing her fish, E cut into the beef, called the waiter over and complained it was not medium.  The waiter replied it was ordered medium rare, BUT I don't like it this way, I want medium.  But you did not order it, J did and it was medium rare.  So E turns to J, why did you order it medium rare, I like it medium.
Listening to the stream of conversation was always interesting.  The story would go off on so many tangents, it was hard to remember what started it.  Conversations about pricing condos would go past martinis, tree house restaurants, Hollywood mansions to hand thrown pizza in the kitchen with the security guard.  But the one common thread was it was about E.  During one conversation, E was talking and J asked a question, E replied...don't ask me things while I am talking, I cannot do two things at once.
At one point during the meal, E asked me to call her travel agent when I got home and get the refund process started for the flight they missed.  I told her the agent would have to speak to her, since I was not her client.  She started over again, and I interrupted her.....BIG mistake.  LET ME FINISH!!  So she asked again and when she was done I looked at her turned to the person beside me and just started talking to her.  At least she did not ask me again.

Table for 6

So, all settled on the Pacific Princess.  One nice thing about traveling with a Virgo is that if you leave the cabin to wander around, the luggage gets unpacked in your absence and neatly stowed.  Since the Pacific Princess in one of the 'small ships' it does not take long to do a tour.
With the next port only a short sail, and the fact that Venice requires a connection, the ship does not depart until late.  This would allow anyone arriving on departure day to get a quick tour of the city.  Since we had been in the city for two days, we just remained on the ship.
On all of out past cruises, we have always opted for the traditional seating option.  All of out table mates have been friendly and interesting.  This would elevate INTERESTING to a whole new level.  Upon our arrival to out assigned table at appointed time, there was already a couple sitting there.  They were from Pennsylvania and decided to take a last minute vacation.  After the usual first night chat, we ordered our meals before the remaining two people arrived.  An action that would be repeated each night of the cruise.
Sometime during the second course, the last two people made an entrance.  Two women from the Los Angeles area, and polar opposites.  Introductions are made and the first night questions are repeated.  Then comes the first hint of their personalities and how dinner would be for 11 more nights.

They had only been friends for about 6 months and had only traveled once to Hawaii together.  This was a last minute trip which they booked through a travel agent.  With last minute flights expensive, they had a double connection in Dallas and in London before arriving in Venice, which is not unusual.  BUT.....
They missed their connection at London Heathrow.  One of the companions had gone to the ladies room while the other remained with the carry-on luggage and waited for the gate to be announced.  The bathroom trip resulted in getting lost.  Once the gate was posted, the other took only HER carry-on luggage and went looking for her travel partner.  After a search of the nearest facilities, she heard her name paged and went to the departure gate.  There the duo was re-united.  It was last call for boarding, BUT one passport was in the abandoned carry-on so they were denied boarding since there was no time to retrieve it and make the flight.
The lonely luggage was retrieved and so began the process of re-booking the flight.
Here is where it gets interesting.  I had by now tuned out the story, but a certain word piqued my interesting.  Now being in the travel industry, I know that if you miss your flight because of your fault, the airline really does not have to do anything, but most will want to keep a customer satisfied.  Well, I guess the 'luggage watcher' was not getting satisfactory service, and when the gate agent walked away, out came the ONE word that if you call a female, they will NEVER, EVER speak to you again.  The other agent heard it and that was it.  Excuse used....she was walking away and I needed something from her, I did not call it to her face.
Books closed on this help from the airline.  You missed the flight, it was your fault, get your own way to Venice.  This involved a transfer to Gatwick and purchasing a new flight.  But to a point this is good, since while waiting at their new flight, they borrowed another traveler's iPad to book a hotel room in  Venice.  I know, most people do fly to Europe and book hotel stays in the airport while waiting for a connection.
I got a little confused here.  Since the hotel booked for two nights, but they missed the first night, not sure where that lost night went or where they stayed.  Maybe it was just a premonition that would play out....Don't ask for details!!!
They did eventually make it to Venice, had a discussion about the missed night at the now sold out hotel which gave away their reservation as a No Show.  We were told they stayed at a nice place convenient to a 'riverwalk' and was the best place to stay.  Biggest drawback to me about the hotel, it was on the MAINLAND!.  Stupid me for booking a 400 year old hotel located walking distance to San Marco.  I find it amazing they found the ship on time, but more on this in a subsequent post.
The best way to book a trip is to rely on a travel professional, whether local or on line.  Travel Themes and Dreams specializes in cruise packages with hotel stays to extend the cruise.

Venice

Okay, so after an overnight flight to London then a connection to Venice, finally made it.  Of course very tired since sleeping in a cramped coach seat is not something that I have been able to do.  The airport in Venice is not too large and located on the mainland, tickets for the shuttle to San Marco in hand, we head out to the terminal.  A nice walk outside bring us to the various shuttles, a cute little dockside coffee shop beats the familiar chains back home.
After getting of at the wrong stop and wandering through Venice, and over a few bridges, we find our hotel, the Hotel Ala.  It is located on the Piazza Giglio and is very charming.  Originally built in the 17th century it has been updated, though the elevator is not for people with claustrophobia, but better than walking up 4 flights of stairs.

Our room was on the 3rd floor(4th for us Americans) at the end of the hall.  It had the standard place for the room key to keep the power on while in the room.  The room itself was good sized, and the bath was very clean.  The original beams had been exposed which added to the charm.  And as a bonus the window opened and offered a view of the little square and the top of the Camponile at San Marco was visible above the roof across the square.

After a brief nap and some freshening we set out walking.  The hotel was less than a 10 minute walk to the Piazza San Marco.  Once you have a sense of which way to go, Venice is not that difficult to get around.  The stores along the way featured Murano glass, the latest fashions and stationery.  The Piazza San Marco was almost deserted since we were off season, so it was great.The large arcade surrounding the plaza was lined with more high end shops and also those for tourists.
The inside of the basilica was beautiful.  The Doge's Palace next door was impressive.  The tour went through the various chambers where the Doge lived and where the various bodies of government met, and then to the prison across the canal by the Bridge of Sighs.  Unfortunately it was being restored and was covered in scaffolding.  The view from the top of the Camponile was impressive, but mostly red tiled roofs.
During our two days before the cruise, we also observed the everyday life in Venice.  Of course there are the gondoliers with their striped shirts, but also the delivery of goods and removal of trash.  To be a gondolier takes years of schooling and practice.  They need to be able to navigate narrow canals with other boats and not collide.
The green boat is the Venice version of a garbage truck.  There is a small crane located at the rear that picks up the full dumpster, then dumps it in the middle section to be taken away and disposed of.  Venice is a city of canals, so that is how things taken for granted are delivered and removed.  Hand trucks are loaded off a barge, sometimes double parked then trundled to its destination, often over small bridges over lesser canals.  If you notice, the man in the blue jacket has thrown a box to the man on shore, it is mid-air over the grey boat.

Of course the food was delicious.  Lots of pasta and fresh seafood.  There is the Rialto Market which is held almost daily offering the freshest seafood.  There is all kinds of fish and shellfish available along with fresh vegetables and fruits.  When I say fresh, the shrimp  and crabs were still moving as they were placed in bags and sold.


After two great days in Venice, we took the water taxi over to the port area and boarded the Pacific Princess.  Venice is definitely a place to visit, between the canals, the architecture and the food, it has no equal.  Now on to a 12 day cruise to the Holy Land.  Bon Voyage!!
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