Woodbury Island Adventures: Greek Isle Cruise

On Tuesday, October 18th we boarded our ship in Civitavecchia, Italy for a 9 day cruise of the Greek Isles. If you ask the kids it was one of their top trips that we took, not to mention that Grandma Woodbury came along.
The kids were amazed on how big the boat was and all the things they could do. They enjoyed many games of table tennis, the pool, mini golf, kids club (Abby's favorite thing), small cinema, exploring and many family games in the evening. The kids made friends with one of the bar tenders and he would give them puzzles to do everyday. Once they solved the puzzle he would make them a fruity non-alcoholic drink or milkshake. They couldn't wait for the next day. Our server that we had every evening in the dining hall was named Nikko and he and the kids loved to tease each other and challenge each other with puzzles as well.

At Civitavecchia Port

Enjoy our Pina Coladas and getting ready to set sale.

Here we go!

Day 2 - At Sea

We enjoyed our day at sea. Abby enjoyed kids club, the boys explored and hung out, Randy read, I went to the gym and we all played some games together as well as enjoyed the pool.

It was neat to sail past Sicily, Italy as my brother and his wife were stationed there several years ago and we never got a chance to visit. Just sailing past felt like I shared part of them with me.

Pictures of Sicily:

Randy and Abby participating in the poolside dance party. What you will do for your daughter!

Abby enjoying the water as much as she can with a cast.

Abby and Kaden enjoying the hot tub.

Nikko, our server, loved her and gave her a huge serving of ice cream.

We loved our little animals left in our room.

Day 3 - Chania (Souda), Greece

Souda is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. It is an important ferry and naval port at the head of Souda Bay. The town is a relatively new settlement, built on what used to be salt beds and marshland. Chania is restored and rebuilt to its Venetian charm. We walked along the historic and colorful waterfront, strolled the narrow streets and enjoyed lunch at a cafe.

Sea Turtle we watched for a bit.

Day 4 - Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos was one of our favorite ports. It is one of the smallest islands belonging to the Cyclades, an island group in the Aegean Sea, with an area of just 33 square miles. Its population of 5,000 residents is out-numbered by an annual pilgrimage of 900,000 visitors that swarm the streets and beaches. The town is appealing with its winding streets and whitewashed houses. Browsing the shops is like walking through a maze. The city is beautiful and the people were welcoming!

Colin & Abby, we like the cute little doors.

Kaden & Abby

Abby & Colin enjoying crepes!

Colin being silly!

Our ship

Luis, the bartender

Day 5 - Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

The Ancient City of Ephesus is the best preserved ancient site in the Eastern Mediterranean. Associated with the ministries of Paul, Timothy and the apostle John, the city played a significant role in spread of early Christianity. Ephesus and its inhabitants are mentioned more than twenty times in the New Testament.

Two of our friends from Iowa have moved to Izmir, Turkey and they were able to join us for the day. We greatly enjoyed their company and knowledge of Turkey. We toured Ephesus, went to a rug factory (where we saw their process for making rugs), visited a pottery place (we were able to try making some) and went to where the Temple of Artemis once stood. The Turkish people are so hospitable and we greatly enjoyed our day there!

Ephesus

Various Baths

Basilica

Abby sitting in the Odeon.

Odean

Greek letter in a stone.

Doorway in the Odeon.

Prytaneion

Catie & Abby being silly.

Fountain of Trajan

Memmius Monument

Looking down Kouretes Street to the Library of Celsus.

Our guide, Randy's Mom and our family on Kouretes Street.

Jason & Catie Funk with our family.

Gate of Herakles

Mosaic flooring, can't believe how preserved it is.

Temple of Hadrian

Terrace Houses

Room in the Terrace House.

A soldier etched into the wall.

Perystyl and the Room of the Muses.

Mosaic flooring was beautiful.

Mosaic flooring

Looking down into of the the Terrace House rooms.

Library of Celsus

Harbor Baths

Gate of Mazes and Library of Celsus in back.

Grand Theatre where Paul preached.

Grand Theatre

Rug Store

Silk balls, soaking and stringing.

Silk

Catie helping make the rug.

Abby is going to give it a go.

Abby mastering it.

Lunch in the garden, traditional Turkish meal. So delicious!

Pottery Place

The pottery guy showing us how to do it.

Catie giving it a go.

Colin giving it a go.

They found out it was Abby's birthday so they gave her a cake with our drinks. Turkish always offer tea, coffee, soda or water when you enter their shop or home. We all loved the apple tea!

Abby with her cake.

Standing pillar from the Temple of Artemis.

Site of the Temple of Artemis.

Papa Hamami, from our port.

Kusadasi Port

Day 6 - Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a vision of whitewashed villages and bright blue sea. The island of Santorini is probably the most intriguing island of Greece. The active volcano of Santorini erupted in the 50's and ruined many towns of the island. Santorini is also called Thira and its capital is the town of Fira. It is a very touristy island and therefore rather expensive. The island of Santorini was formed out of the lava from the volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano sank into the sea leading to the emergence of Santorini itself and the tiny neighboring islands. Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera in the world. The island is very beautiful and pictures don't do justice.

You can see the zig zag road that the donkeys take you up and down the island. We however, chose to take the cable car.

Watching the donkeys go down to get more people.

Our ship

Our beautiful princess.

Day 7 - Athens, Greece

We spend the day touring the Acroplois, Theatre and Forum, visiting the Panathenaic Stadium (The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. One of the main attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium built entirely out of marble. The Panathenaic Stadium hosted the 1st Olympic Games of the modern era, in 1896. However, its history goes way before the 19th century AD.), strolling the streets of Plaka and shopping, Hadrians Arch and watching the change of the guard.

Propylaia

The Mycenaean tower with the temple of Athena Nike.

View of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

The Erechtheion

View from atop Acropolis.

View from atop Acropolis looking at Mount Lycabettus.

View from atop Acropolis and looking down to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch.

View from atop Acropolis and looking down to the Temple of Hephaestus.

Parthenon

Panathenaic Stadium

Looking up to the Acroplois from the Panathenaic Stadium.

Greek Parliament building.

Changing of the Guard.

Colin with a guard.

Abby with a guard.

Hadrians Arch

Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Selfie with Hadrians Arch.

Our towel animals at the end of the day.

Day 8 - At Sea

After many long days exploring ports we enjoyed a day sleeping in, playing games and enjoying the pool.

Day 9 - Naples, Italy

Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It was the most bombed Italian city in WWII. Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, it covers 4,200 acres and enclosing 27 centuries of history. It is also where pizza originated from. The day we arrived it was very cloudy and misty so we decided to just explore for a couple hours in the city. Someday I hope to go back and do Pompeii but we were so exhausted by the 9th day that we just hit a few highlights and headed back to the ship. We had a fantastic trip and would definitely recommend!