Two of our Cruise Specialists hosts, Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer, have returned with stories from the 2015 Holland America Grand Mediterranean Voyage and we wanted to share a few of their spectacular moments with you!
A travelogue by Steve and Wendy…
“We have a bunch of new ports coming up, so there is always anticipation about the unknown. We attend the port lectures to try and get a feel for each new place, but you never know until you get there if it will be what you expected and hoped for.”
Spain
Every so often, we get to have the unique experience of a port that has not been on any of our itineraries before. So it was with Castellon de la Plana on the coast of Spain.
This is not a tourist town and although it is a city of almost 200,000, only one cruise ship is stopping this year – us. We were greeted with a band playing on the dock and entertained by local folk dancers when we left. The town officials came to present a placque to the Captain, because it was the first time our ship has called here. It turned out to be a delightful place.
Every visit to Barcelona is a new experience.
It is an amazing city and remains our favorite. There is so much yet to discover. We were fortunate to have an overnight stay so there was time for a few new adventures.
We headed out to explore the hill of Montjuic. This is the raised green space that sits next to the port and is home to an amazing array of attractions – quite a few we didn’t even know were there. This is the home of the Olympic Stadiums used for the 1982 Olympics.
Turkey
We loved Bodrum,Turkey. It is one of the most popular resort towns on the Mediterranean. It’s known for it’s nightlife, shopping, and beaches.
Here we were able to walk from the port the two kilometers into town along a pleasant promenade filled with outdoor cafes and restaurants. The main attraction in town is the Castle of St Peter or just Bodrum Castle. It is a huge presence in the harbor and a must see for the tourists. It is remarkably well-preserved and almost all the towers and walks are open for guests to wander through.
We enjoyed a leisurely walk and found the only geocache within any reasonable distance in the city inside the walls. We even made friends with several security guards, who were curious about what we were doing climbing on their rocks – we thought they were going to throw us out of the property.
We did not share the language but were able somehow to explain that we were looking for something hidden. One in particular decided to help us look and seemed genuinely happy when we ultimately found it. Hugs were exchanged and pictures were taken of all.
Greece
As you approach {Santorini} from the sea, it looks like snow covered islands, but as you get closer, it’s the stark white buildings that are on the top of the volcanic outcroppings.
There are no docks here, so all the ships that visit must pause in the harbor. It’s even too deep to drop anchor so the bridge team spends the day keeping the ship in place. The island provides large tenders that hold about 150 people to get our guests back and forth.
Once you arrive at the pier, you must get up to the top where the villages are. The choices for transportation are: the cable car which is quick and efficient, but may have a long line; the donkeys – which climb the steps and have a mind of their own to get to the top; foot power to climb the 600 steps on the same path as the donkeys take.
It’s quite beautiful as you serpentine your way up the side of the cliff, being careful to avoid the donkey droppings along the way. It looked rather daunting from the bottom, but it actually only took about 20 minutes at a reasonable pace.
Italy
Our first of two Italian ports was Taormina on the Island of Sicily. As we sailed into the bay, the sights were spectacular.
First was Mt Etna, snow covered and looking close enough to reach out and touch. It is the tallest active volcano on the European continent at almost 11,000 feet high. We clearly could see smoke coming from the top and then trailing away like a long narrow cloud to the horizon.
Then there is the town of Taormina itself, set out on a natural terrace part way up the slopes of Mt Tauro. Even higher up is the village of Castelmola, also perched on a peak. Both of these towns have narrow winding streets and roads and lots of charm.
The pedestrian-friendly piazzas are lined with cafes and many people could be found sampling local pizza, gelato, and cannoli. There are several trails that connect Taormina with Castelmola and other high points like the old monastery. We walked up and were rewarded with amazing views of the villages, the coastline, and of course Mt Etna.
