Mediterranean Cruise December 2013 Part 1 Greece

What a wonderful way to see some of the beautiful Mediterranean and it's wonderful countries and despite the negative press of late, Costa was a wonderful company to travel with. We were very impressed by this cruise line and will definitely travel with them again in the future. Their staff was always pleasant but professional, all spoke some degree of English and as much as possible although Italian as her native tongue the Costa Serena staff tried to include non Italian speaking cruisers. The food as with all cruise companies was always very good and in plentiful supply! Although not used by our family, they had a retractable roof so people could enjoy the pools even though the weather was at times less than could be considered "summer" like!

The highlights of our cruise were the exertions. On our 12 day journey we stopped at 5 ports which included, Athens, Olympia, Turkey, Israel, and Rome. Our favorite stop was of course Israel! What an amazing historical place to visit. (just wish the weather had been warmer!!)

What follows is a pictorial review of those highlights which were our favorites. I will make a brief account of each but will leave the images for themselves to tell the story!

The starting point to our visit to Olympia Greece

Olympia Greece is home of the original Olympic Games and the ruins there are from the times of Zeus and Hera. It dates back to the 8th century BC and continued to be home to the games until 393 AD. Archaeologists have spent many years uncovering the temples, bathhouses and sports structures buried there, for many years and continue to do so even today.

This is the site of an archaeological site being excavated at present. It is what remains of the bathhouses believed to be used by the Olympic athletes

What remains of the many arenas, living quarters and practise areas where the Olympic athletes spent their time preparing for the games.

This is all that remains of the circular Philippeion, built in 338 BC and  dedicated to the family of Philip the 2nd after his victory at Chaeronea. It was built of ivory and gold and the statues and  busts of his family which were contained within it's walls including those of Alexander the Great who completed the temple.

Some of the writings found in the village

The steps leading up to the Temple of Zeus

When the temple was destroyed by Theodosius the 2nd in 426 CE it is said that it took several men with horses to pull down a single column! It was further destroyed after an earthquake in 522 which partially buried the temple.

Entrance to the stadium

Brendan and I standing above the track and field area 

Behind John are stone and marble square blocks along the right side of the road....At one time there would be statues erected on  these blocks. These statues were of Olympians who disgraced their position and therefore were shamed for ever more in stone. Their name along with the names of their family members were placed upon the block! ( bet they didn't have the problems with doping that we have now!!)


We realized after having started this process that we have A LOT of pictures. So this is the first of 3 instalments!!! 

From Italia with Love!

Hard to believe that we've been in our new "home" for over 2 weeks! I look around this wonderful oasis and can't really take it all in. How in the world did we come to this place in our life! We most definitely are blessed. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this particular part of Italia you will not be disappointed. We are sitting in the central region of the country on the west coast where we are a 10 minute walk from the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The beach is pristine and empty! The locals are all inside because at 14 to 19 degrees it's considered very cold here. We very much enjoy that part of this wonderful paradise!! John and I aren't swimmers so it's not a big deal that the water isn't balmy and Brendan actually likes the temperature of the water, citing the colder than cold water in the lake which he frequents while at camp every summer!! 

We've yet to take in any of the big "tourist" places, choosing instead to stay close to the villa exploring local history and spending large swaths of time resting, reading, walking and enjoying the 400sq feet of villa that seems particularly large when set against the background of our 25 sq foot van which was our home on wheels for more than a month. Brendan has resumed a normal study schedule and has been diligently working to make up the time lost while travelling. He has been enjoying his runs here as it's so quiet and private, you barely see another soul while out on the streets. 

Brendan looks like a giant in our "little" space!

In the weeks to come we will be travelling to Livorno, Roma, Firenze and possibly Capri if time permits. At the end of February our van will once again become home as we make our way back up North to travel to Auschwitz, Munster, Berlin and Geneva. On our return trip we'll be back here in our lovely villa to host some friends of Brendan's for a few weeks over March Break. 

Our time here is almost at an end and while we're struggling to slow down time we are also quick to acknowledge that we all three long for home, our family, friends and our own beds!!! We will try to make our updates weekly so they are easy reads!

To coin a very old and once popular phrase;

From Italy with love;(OK it was Russia but it still works!!)

John Barb and Bren

THE EPIC ROAD TRIP - Part 2

Who needs airbags??

This blog is a bit of "living in the past" but better late than never!!! Where to begin..........!!! We were quite prepared for the inevitable immigration officers at various borders as we went along our journey

"Hmmm, the language on the signs just
changed again, must be in a new country?"

but soon came to realize that as part of the "European Union" there are no borders. The only indication you have that you have driven from one country into the next is that the language on the traffic signs change! You eventually see the "Welcome to..." signs but generally it's not right at the beginning! The sad part is that we would love to have all of these wonderful stamps in our passports but as yet we have none!

Once we left France and made our way into Germany the terrain changed almost immediately and the design of homes became much more Nordic looking. France was very fashion forward and the women were all immaculately dressed. In Germany we found it to be very tidy and ordered but more laid back as well. There were many little foothills surrounded by these lovely little valleys with their quaint old villages. And in every little village is a lovely old nondescript church. As it was Christmas time we were able to see all of the Christmas decorations. The homes weren't overly decorated as with North America. There were small trees outside of the houses all decorated and normally sitting on the front step of each home. In the center of the villages were almost always a town square and these were more ornately decorated with snowmen, trees and Christmas nativity scenes. As we headed into the foothills we began to see snow for the first time this year!!! Oh how I wish

we had Christmas music!!! The higher we climbed the lovelier the scenery around us. It was hair-raising due to the number of switchbacks as we climbed and at times there was only room for one vehicle so we were in major prayer mode!!! We were eventually surrounded by mountains with rock cliffs hanging over the road and mountain streams flowing right next to us amongst the tall pine trees covered in snow. Truly a winter wonderland. As dusk approached we started to see the lights from the villages below. It was so beautiful. The Gasthaus (guest house) we were staying in was almost at the very top of a major foothill and it had snowed quite a lot up there so driving became a bit challenging for us but we finally made it and were thrilled with the spot we had chosen to stay for  the next few days while in

Germany. The Pension Gasthaus Feldergblick is nestled into the hills of Southern Germany in The Black Forrest region. If we hadn't already made plans for our cruise we would have considered staying right through Christmas! Our hostess was lovely and her Gasthaus was just what we were looking for. Our room was large and open with a very up-to-date bathroom complete with heated towel rack (really need to buy one of those when we return to Canada!)

Over the next few days we did some touring and drove into Switzerland for the afternoon to see Zurich as

well as take in the hospitality of the local community. Our favorite restaurant was at the local brewery on top of the mountain in the village of Grafenhausen which makes some of the best beer in all of Germany! Each night it was a highlight of the meal try the beer! Rothaus beer has been in existence since the 1700's when a monastery up in the hills started brewing it. It has remained on the same site and is a wonderful tourist spot which houses the brewery, the restaurant, a hotel and gift shop. If you're ever in the region it's definitely worth a stop if for no other reason than to sample the local brew!! (and Brendan will attest to the fact that their Black Forrest Cake is nothing short of amazing!) http://rothaus.de/de/heimat_rothaus_grafenhausen_schwarzwald.

Our "little jaunt" into Zurich was wonderful. We all felt as though it is an elegant "Belle" of Switzerland. Its very ornate buildings and the waterways leave you feeling as though there should be women with parasols and synched waists and men in top hats with canes!! Very stately and proud, Zurich emits wealth as though it was one big Rolex watch!!!! The shopping district is incredible and there is even an "opera district" complete with hotels restaurants and spas all catering to the patrons who frequent the very old and beautiful opera house. As Switzerland is part of our journey after our time in Italy we only stayed a few hours in Zurich before heading back to Germany. On our way out of town though Brendan spotted a McLaren dealership, which was the highlight of his day (one of the most exclusive and expensive cars in the world!!)

Wow, travelling with these dudes can tire out a bear ...

Looking back on my journals I feel so truly fortunate and blessed to be making this journey with my wonderful husband and amazing 14 year old son. We have been travelling together for many months now, often in very small quarters and yet we still laugh, visit and continue to enjoy one another so much. It's been wonderful to have this time with them both. What an amazing life we have! We are truly grateful!

We were looking forward to our next stop which was Bavaria but also regretful to be leaving this wonderful haven in the mountains of Germany. We had a lovely leisurely morning visiting with the owner of the Gasthaus and took some pictures of her with her German dolls and of course with Pooh. Then it was

time to make our way on the road again towards Cinderella’s Castle -otherwise known as Schloss Neuschwanstein. John had been there many years ago when he was in the military and had always wanted to take me there so he was really excited for this part of our trip!!! We were later leaving than what we wanted but it was so worth it to have the time we had to visit.

Once again we were blessed with a crisp clear day and driving along the Swiss Alps was so breathtaking. We stopped several times along the way to take pictures so we were later arriving than what we had anticipated! (well worth it!!) When we arrived I can't even begin to describe what we saw. The castle is nestled high on a mountain cliff surrounded by trees and of course snow. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. Brendan was excited because to go to the castle you have to take a horse and carriage! (cool!!) We had only just missed the last tour so we booked tickets for the following morning and then made our way into town. We were booked into a Holiday Inn that John had found in Munich but decided

to stay in the village of Hohenschewangau next to the castle instead. It was very charming and the festival of St. Nicholas was to be that night so we were definitely curious about that!!! In Bavaria, and throughout Germany, December 5th is the night when St. Nikolaus comes to visit. The tradition states that all houses are to be spotless and that the children are to have cleaned a pair of boots or shoes thoroughly and then when the old saint with his long flowing beard and golden staff comes knocking he brings his book and notes all the good deeds the children have performed throughout the year. If they have been very good then he leaves treats and a note of praise, if not then he leaves twigs and no note! (shortened version)! The part of the festival that we participated in and would rather have missed was that of the "Buttnmandl run"! One of the odder traditions related to St. Nicholas is the annual run of the Buttnmandl in Bavaria.

The Buttnmandl are men clad from head to toe in straw who run through town on the evening of Dec. 5 clanging cow bells to ward off evil spirits. Typically they are accompanied by Krampus, men wearing scary fur masks carrying switches that they flick at the legs of people who get in their way, particularly young girls and men who are deemed not to have treated their women well enough. It’s believed this tradition goes back to pagan rituals among Germanic tribes related to fertility rites. In any event, two of the more notable Buttnmandl runs are in Berchtesgaden and Bischofswiesen, a small town on the Austrian border.

We had gone for dinner at the local Italian restaurant (I know right??).

We started to hear cow bells ringing in the distance and when we went to leave the restaurant we ran right into a group of men all dressed from head to foot in straw with long beards and scary fur masks!!! They took a particular interest in John and started "switching" his legs with their twigs!!! They finally agreed to let him be if we sang a Christmas song. So after regaling them with ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ we were allowed to be on our way. So aggressive were they that they stopped a car in the middle of the street and hauled the driver from the car to answer for his "deeds"!! Holy cow I do believe I prefer the North American traditions. Oh and by the way, Brendan was across the street the whole time laughing in the safety of the shadowy street!!! (smart kid!!) The rest of the evening was spent in relative quiet in our room at the Hotel Weinbauer. We did laundry, Skyped with Brendan's school teacher and settled in as we listened to cow bells and shrieking outside our room!! Eventually the bells faded into the night and we were all 3 able to sleep very well. (Another 5 star recommendation for a hotel if you're ever in the area.)

Best way to get to Schloss Neuschwanstein!!!

In the morning we woke to fresh snow and sunshine. Could we have asked for a more perfect day to visit the Castle?! We had a generous breakfast of cold meats, cheese, fresh fruit and pastries along with fresh coffee and juice. Then we packed up and made our way to the parking area where you catch the horse and carriage. The ride up to the castle was something out of a movie - fresh snow falling, horses and wonderful old pines enveloping the surrounding areas with their majestic heights and billowing boughs drooping with the heaviness of the snow. It was a busy day but we finally had our turn to tour the castle.

Now we have been in some great castles having just travelled through the UK, including Windsor. But Neuschwanstein Castle is by far the best preserved and displayed castle we have been to! The artistry, opulence and craftsmanship of the many different pieces of furnishings were beyond jaw dropping. It left the 3 of us completely mesmerized. We only wish that the tour, which lasts about 30 minutes, was longer. We requested a picture of our "travelling Pooh" in the ballroom and our tour guide was very kind and said he was suddenly ‘distracted’ by something he heard in the other room!!! We got to snap a few quick pix and slipped away. Eventually we made our way back down the mountain in our horse and carriage and

started our journey toward our final stop in Italia!

King Leopold II

Travelling through the Austrian Alps was such a picture perfect journey that our poor camera almost ran out of battery power! It is a piece of the world that everyone should see in their life. Just so beautiful. As we travelled on we finally made it to Italy and John and I both laughed when we drove past the tiny little sign on the road side that announced your entrance to the country. Again NO STAMP! Our passports are in no way indicative of our wayward travels!! As we made our way down through Italy we were still in mountainous regions but what struck us was that all of the villages we passed were way up in the mountains as apposed to Germany where everything was in the valleys. The other thing that became very apparent within minutes of entering Italy.....THEY ARE INSANE! They drive like they are all in a formula one race and if you're in the passing lane and not going 140 KM/hour they'll flash their high beams at you to let you know to move over. Holy crap on a cracker was I glad that John was driving!! When they go around you they often cut across the lane right by your left bumper. Oh BOY was I

grateful that John was driving!!! We arrived in Firenze (Florence) late b/c we were in 2 major traffic tie ups along the way but in the end that was a good thing b/c driving in Firenze is crazy! We were staying at the Hotel Chambia which was right down town in an old area of the city. It was so lovely to be surrounded by all of these old apartment buildings and shops. When we walked in we were uncertain about what we were in for based on the tiny little front desk area but it just goes to prove that first impressions aren't always a good indication. It was wonderful (I'm sure it seems as though I say that every time and I think I do but we have truly been blessed with the hotels with stayed in!). Our room was so incredible! We truly felt like we were spoiled! Beautiful high ceilings with painted frescos in the centre, lovely big king sized bed and a day bed for Brendan. Everything you could ask for in "home away". Once we were all settled in we asked the hotel clerk for a recommendation for a place to have dinner. Thankfully there was a lovely Italian restaurant just around the corner so we didn't have to move the van (extremely difficult to

"Ummm, grapes please??"

That's pops, falling with style!

find parking downtown Florence!) We had a wonderful server who allowed us entrance even though they were preparing to close. He pointed out options on the menu that would be both quick for the chef to prepare and enjoyable and then recommended a good house Chianti for John and I. (His English was impeccable) We had a really nice meal and felt like it was a good omen for our time

More bread than wine ... who runs this place??!!

here. Our server was kind enough to agree to have his picture taken with Pooh and even got into the fun of it, taking Pooh behind the bar and grabbing a bottle of their most expensive red wine named Barbie (no word of a lie!!) After lots of heartfelt thanks we made our way back to the hotel. It was so nice b/c the streets were quiet by then and it gave us the opportunity to really take in our surroundings. Knowing that we would be coming back to this area to live for a few months after our cruise was surreal!!

The next day we had hoped to see some of the sites of the city but unfortunately there was a really heavy inversion layer and a haze of smoke covered the city. At times you could barely see 5 feet in front of you so we were unable to discover many of the sites we had wanted to take a brief look at. We made an attempt at driving downtown but quickly realized that Florence is no place for foreigners in vehicles!!! We had wanted to see the Basilica but we could barely see it from across the street so we will see it when we return in January.

We headed for Savona first thing the next morning to prepare for our cruise on the Costa Serena. We packed up and made surprisingly good time leaving the city. Savona is on the North West coast of Italy so we had a 3 hour drive to make. It was a clear cool day so it was a perfect day for driving. We particularly enjoyed the quiet roads as it was a Sunday. We could only assume that all of the crazy drivers were in church asking for forgiveness for their putting so many lives in danger just so they could enjoy the pretense of being Formula One drivers! When we arrived in Savona we were

completely taken with the beauty and charm of this town which dates from before 180 BC. It was very quaint but also metropolitan for all of the (us) shopaholics! According to one taxi driver, it is the part of the Italian Riviera that "the stars frequent" all summer long.

Once we arrived at our hotel, the Hotel Zunino, we unloaded the vehicle and set about preparing for our departure the following morning. As with all of our stays since leaving France, John picked the best hotel! It is family run establishment that is welcoming and comfortable. It's been updated with European style showers and the rooms are large and spacious with free internet and wonderful barista style coffee! We had dinner in their restaurant and enjoyed an amazing meal complete with fresh pasta and a 1/2 litre of

wine (wine that cost us less than a bottle of water we had bought while travelling there)!!! We slept very well as the room was very quiet and had blackout blinds that made the room wonderfully dark. In the morning we had a very complete and filling complimentary breakfast that left other hotels in its dust!!! (Best coffee ever and so many wonderful pastries and fresh fruit it was impossible to choose just one!!!) After breakfast we made our way by taxi to the cruise terminal and that is where we leave you. Our cruise blog will primarily be pictures of our excursions and will be on the heels of this blog. Thanks for continuing to enjoy our blogs!!!

Seriously, my family CAN tire out a bear!!

A few more pix;

Who's the kid again ...?