Last night we sailed through the Dardanelles from the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. I’m up early on a very brisk morning as we approach Istanbul.
The first stop is Topkapi Palace, a place I’ve want to visit ever since seeing the 1964 heist film Topkapi with Robert Morley, Maximillian Schell, and Peter Ustinov.
From Topkapi we walk to Hagia Sofia …
… stop for lunch at Buhara Restuarant, and then on to the Blue Mosque.
Next we tour underground Istanbul and see the Basilica Cistern, built in the 6th century to store rain water.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, so at midnight aboard the Louis Cristal we attend Greek Orthodox Easter Mass.
It’s an early start to board the Louis Cristal – our home for the next week. The Louis Cristal departs at 11 a.m. …
… and the Port of Piraeus fades away in the distance.
Donna and Mickey are ready for another travel adventure.
We’re at sea all day, so there’s time to unpack, do the walk-a-thon, go to happy hour, play bingo, have dinner, and see a show.
After flying overnight from Dulles to Frankfurt, and this morning from Frankfurt to Athens, I arrived at the Hotel Triton in Piraeus round 4 p.m. Dr. Craven’s group is traveling from from Boston, so I’ve got some free time before they arrive. I check out the view of the city from my room.
Then I take a walking tour of the city, stopping at the harbor …
… and a market filled with fresh vegetables …
… and fresh bread.
I’m up early to spend Sunday in Paris. After a taxi ride to London’s St. Pancras train station, I board the Eurostar train to the Gare du Nord train station in Paris via the Channel Tunnel. By Noon I’m at the Musée du Louvre to join the crowd viewing Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa.
Every trip has good moments and bad, and exiting the Louvre I discover that my camcorder isn’t working. This is bad – but I am in Paris! There just won’t be much video. I walk through the Jardin du Tuileries, past the Grand Bassin Rond, and the Fontaine des Mers.
Then, after a walk beside La Seine, it’s on the the Eiffel Tower …
… and the spectacular view of the city …
After a fantastic four day trip it’s time to head home. I make my way back to Gare du Nord …
… on the Paris Metro (not as easy as the London Underground!) for the trip back through the Chunnel. Tomorrow I fly home to Fairfax and start planning for the next adventure.
After U2 last night, I get a late start today. First it’s back to Westminster for a “flight” on the London Eye. The view from 400′ above the city is amazing!
Then it’s a walk across the Golden Jubilee Bridge …
… to the Lyceum Theatre for The Lion King matinee.
Afterwards it’s a quick trip to the Tate Modern Art Museum (unfortunately, not much to see) and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Tomorrow is a big day so I’m back at the hotel in Kilburn Park early.
Michael S. Liberman
