Postcard from the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas October 2013

I had a good flight, even if BA did not impress with their squashed Club Class seats on this aircraft.  I had a very nice lady travelling companion which helped the journey!  On arrival in Istanbul, I was lucky and got through Passport Control in ten minutes, some took two hours!  I was lucky too at dinner with some interesting people and we had a few mutual friends!

The next day was glorious so I spent it on board lying in the sunshine.  After a Safety Drill,we sailed for Kusadasi at 1900.  That evening I dined with my friend Jane Maslen, who has just lost her husband, and the next day was spent relaxing in lovely sunshine except for a brief interlude of a drinks at the party for those travelling alone.  In the evening it was the Welcome party – not the most exciting but I had a small interesting table.

                                   

On Sunday we arrived in Kusadasi very early in the morning.  Having been there many times before I spent the day on the top deck in glorious weather.  The next day we anchored just off Kas, a pretty little town where I have never been before.  I took a tour to the ruins of St Nicholas Church with many frescos, and to the amazing Lycian tombs at Myra, where they also had a wonderful Roman theatre.  On Tuesday, again in glorious sunshine, we arrived in Antalya early in the morning.  Here I took an afternoon trip to a small archeological site at Phaselis, after which I had a lovely swim in the Med!  That evening we sailed for Greece.

After a day at sea we anchored off Gythion at 8am and I took a coach tour around Mani, the most southern area of Greece.  It was absolutely wonderful to drive around, if very windy at the tip!  In the evening I had three friends to drinks in my cabin and then we all dined together.  Early on Friday morning we sailed into the Santorini Caldera.  I went ashore independently and did a bit of shopping, then bumped into some Swan friends so we finished up having a glass of wine and a light lunch looking out over the Med.  In the evening I dined with some old friends and then caught up with the Swan

Hellenic staff for a nightcap or two!

On Saturday we dropped anchor at Nisyros and I went ashore for a short walk around before returning to the top deck as we were enjoying glorious sunshine once more.  That evening I was invited to a party in the suite of some friends and then I dined with them afterwards.  The next morning I went to Epidauros to see the magnificent theatre there, and afterwards returned to spend another afternoon on the top deck!

On Monday morning we anchored off the delightful island of Paros and I went on a scenic drive around the island, stopping for a walk in one of the main towns.  Met up with some friends for a drink ashore before returning to the ship and that evening we had the Farewell dinner.  Very early on Tuesday 22nd October we arrived in Piraeus.  Having been to Athens many times I stayed on board to start my packing and to enjoy another day in glorious sunshine before flying home the next day.