Malta and a bit more of Santorini

VALLETTA - MALTA

This morning was a Tug and Dock entry to Vallette and its dizzying limestone cliffs, sparkling seas - 7,000 years of habitation.

This city has massive fortifications of honey-colour limestone.

We docked next door to the "Sea Cloud" a wonderful  4 master, who actually boarded late afternoon, and met us the next day in Sicily!

The old buildings around this port of Valetta are magnificent

Including the Port side Warehouse Buildings

We caught the Red "Hop on - Hop Off" Bus up to Mdina

It is called the Silent City

It dates back to Roman times

Very quiet and rather nippy to say the least.

The Carmelite Church

Malta has been overrun by every major Mediterranean power - Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, Normans. Swabians, Angevins, Arogonese, and the Knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, the French, and the British.

And of course now we Tourists!

Like the Brig and I!

Cruising out of Valetta

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MORE OF SANTORINI

It was a "tender" day.

Did not do these stairs below.

Many colours, and just so clean

Cruising away from Fira, Santorini - after an incredible day

Santorini, Santorini

What a wonderful day in Santorini, I took 111 photos, but as the WiFi on the Wind is so slow, I have basically given up trying to download photos onto the blog, after an hour or sorting these out.

The sun was shining, and the Silver Wind was the only ship in, and it was pre season, so hardly anyone in town - our first stop was the beautiful village of Oia.

This little one below was with a group of children on their way to church holding a

little basket of painted easter eggs with a little rabbit.

Everything has charm, houses on sides of cliffs

Blue and white seems to be Oia's colours

Looking down at the Silver Wind from one of Santorini's wineries

Back in the town of Fira where the Silver Wind is at anchor

A cold lemonade was waiting for us after catching a cable car back down to where the tender would pick us up.

A truly delightful place

The Silver Wind

Caught a taxi from the Ava to Port Piraeus - fixed price, but horrific experience , but didn't make for fixed nerves. Small ship - 280 passengers - 200 crew. Quiet entry, then met our "Butler"

Bo is our Butler - supposedly just for us, but we know through the cabin gossip he looks after a few - and he is good. When we first arrived he sat us down with a full bottle of champers - he was pouring it quickly while explaining it all.

Anyway on our second night on board, we had a long long lunch after a wonderful few hours in Santorini with a couple from Brisbane! Lois and Glenn for you, this guy worked for Sheraton and managed the Ularu/Ayers Rock facility one year after we did our 4WD thing to the Sheraton in 1985, via every corrugation in the Yellow Lady!!

We then went back to relax and ordered some room service, you see we did not bring the "Black tie stuff" - our Butler, Bo, was quite confused about it all, and requested that we leave our cabin for half and hour after room service, We did, as ordered, went to the piano bar, stayed far too long, and relaxed while Ramon played and sang "Frank Sinatra" music for "moi". Another point about this Cruise, Vino and gratuities are all included, so you don't say NO!! - Went back to our cabin - yes, there were 6 balloons - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, easter eggs, chocolate gateau cake, candles, and of course champagne - how wonderful. Of course the real thing is on 24th April, but we won't tell our Bo the Butler we share any different dates. Have no idea where the information came from!!!!

Wonderful day in Santorini yesterday, at sea today en route to Valetta in Malta - a bit rough, but doesn't worry us, even though the Brig spent this morning with the Italian Capitain on the Bridge this morning, I had coffee with the "entertaining staff". Have had a long an interesting lunch in one of the 3 restaurants today, tonight Black Tie, but we will ignore - done too much of that over the years, room service amongst the waves - I would suggest.

Athens - Day 4

Up early, got permission to leave our bags at the Ava, then wandered early through the Plaka up to the Acropolis, cats and dogs everywhere - in shop windows with antiques - just amazing really. The sun was shining, so we boarded the Red "on and off bus" to see the town again - got off near the President's residence and basically hoofed it from there. but not before checking out his very still warriors at the front gate!

Walked back to our hotel through Athens National gardens - in bloom

to the Temple of Zeus

and the Hadrian's Gate

Looking up the street where our great hotel was - the Acropolis at the other end.

Now it's Day 3 in Athens

This morning was a bit overcast, went down for our breakfast and a bit of help on a few things we needed to accomplish today. As usual the staff gave us all the info we needed, and we headed off for the Acropolis, not far from the Hotel really.

The streets are lined with flowering blossom trees, or orange trees.

Now to find the easy way up to the Acropolis.

A reasonable climb, but well worth it.

The Acropolis's stunning theatre.

wandered around - still amazed how they did it.

Views from above

Everywhere you go, there are big gentle dogs just lying around, we were told yesterday that they do not euthanise dogs in Greece - they are fed by all and sundry. Same rules for cats as well.

We boarded the red "hop on, hop off" bus from the bottom of the Acropolis, it started to rain, so I just took photos of the Greek Guards doing their change of guard en route past "Parliament House", where the unhappy people are.

We travelled around on the red HOHO bus, got off at one of their department stores, Hondos, bought all the things I had left at home - hairbrush, lipstick etc. etc. Boarded the bus again and spent more time travelling around with a group of english people (one was born in Reading and follows Reading footy) who are on the final part of a World Cruise on the Aurora Ship -we knew all the same places, a very fun hour or so. We then decided to head back to our Plaka area, and go out for a late lunch - which again was great - back home to the Ava, get the blog done, and prepare for our move to the Silverwind tomorrow.

Another great day for us.