21 day Lisbon to Anthens Part 2

]Sea day October 21

Today I had a cooking class in the culinary center with KarlisCelms for Greek tonight, We started with Stuffed Kalamata figs, Corfu summer salad, Chicken and Zucchini shish Kebobs, Cretan rose drink and Rhodes Yogurt

Rhodes yogurt.

The seas became very rough in the afternoon. Thank goodness we still have no issues with seasickness. We realized people would be canceling
due to rough seas and took advantage of polo opening.

Power bowl for lunch. black rice, beluga lentils, peas, cumin roasted cauliflower, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and tzatziki.

Polo for supper

Second sea day much calmer

October 23 Ashod Israel

Today is why we booked the cruise. The next two days will always be something I will cherish. There would be times I would get goosh bumps and strong emotional feelings experiencing some of the places Jesus had been.

It was on both Jim's and My wish list to see and experience Jerusalem. This is the only place I booked through Oceiana for the tour. Our guide Lori was wonderful. our day started early with breakfast at Wave at 530. We had to be at Customs at 645 with our passports. We then took a bus to the terminal. This port is an extremely busy export port.

There was a lot of chaos in getting the bus it seems like guides had to fight to get the bus and driver. Our guide was experienced and we were soon boarding for the hour's ride to Jerusalem. The infrastructure just can not keep up with all the people coming to this sacred area. Jerusalem's Old City is one of the world's foremost pilgrimage destination

Jerusalem is a surreal and vibrant city, holy to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. We would find it unique and just as special as we had imagined. I had to pinch myself to believe we were really here. This is where one experiences living history applies. You walk in the footsteps of prophets and pray in sacred buildings. It was a sensory and spiritual experience like no other.

Jerusalem is a city located in modern-day Israel and it is considered by many to be one of the holiest places in the world. It is most important to Christianity because it is where Jesus Christ was brought occasionally as a child, preached to the poor in his adult life, crucified at the end of his life, and resurrected by God.

Our tour was called A day in Jerusalem

Our first stop was King Davids Tomb

The Cenacle also known as the Upper Room is a room in Mount Zion in Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls, traditionally held to be the site of the Last Supper, the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus held with the apostles. It is also the site where the Holy Spirit alighted upon the eleven apostles on Pentecost.

The Western Wall also known as the Wailing Wall or the Kotel is the most religious site in the world for Jewish people. Located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the last remaining wall of the ancient Jewish Temple. Thousands of people of all faiths journey to the wall every year to recite prayers. These prayers are either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks in the wall. The wall splits into two sections one area for males and the other for females.

====

Jewish Quarter

The Cardo is given to the name of the main road around the Roman Empire. It is the most enchanting street in Old City. Life and action were always present in this area.

Via Dolorosa often translated as way of the Suffering is a processional route in the old city of Jerusalem. It represents the path that Jesus would have taken forced by Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is marked by 14 Stations of the cross.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the church built on the traditional site of Jesus' Crucifixion and burial. or the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

We then went to an overlook

Our guide beat the traffic and we were back to ship around 6. Supper was in the main dining room had steak tartare and rack of lamb.

Our second excursion with Oceania was definitely disappointing. Our Guide was the worst we have ever had. We still saw wonderful places and made the best of it. The ship moved to Haifa port. It is still over an hour's drive inland to Nazareth
where Jesus spent his early years. After overlooking of the city of Haifa

Nazareth

Our first stop was the Basilica of the Annunciation.

It was established over what the Catholic tradition holds to be the site of the house of the Virgin Mary and where the angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would conceive and bear the Son of God, Jesus an event known as the Annunciation

The upper church serves as the local Roman Catholic parish, church

The lower church is centered around the grotto which according to the tradition was the home of Mary and the site of the Annunciation. The remnants of churches from the Crusader and Byzantine area were seen around the grotto.

Lower Church centered around a grotto which according to tradition was the home of Mary and the site of Annunciation

photo shows the grotto’s interior, with the beautiful 18Th-century altar dedicated to the Annunciation On the right of the altar – an ancient column, probably placed there in the fourth century to mark the place where the angel appeared. Behind it are stairs that lead up to a small cave (called “Mary’s kitchen”) and an exit to the yard.

On the Altar the words "Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est" the word was made flesh from John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

Luke (1: 26-38)

In this text is the story of the Annunciation:

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind… See more

We then went To Tagbha the church of the Multiplication of the Bread and Fish

Next was Capernaum where Jesus's ministry was.

.

Yardenit baptismal sight where the
Jordan River separates from the Sea of Galilee,

Last stop Mount of Beatitudes

. Ended up being a 13-hour day. The infrastructure is just not made to handle the huge amount of people.

Supper tenderloin and Jim Had apple tart

Tuesday, October 25th

The third day in the Jerusalem area we decided to take it easy. Honestly, we were worn out after 2 12-hour days in a row. We left the ship and took a bus provided by Oceania to German town. Hafia we walked around for an hour. We watched them harvest olives from a tree by shaking it.

Wednesday Alanya Turkey.Oct 26

What a pretty port. Taurus Mountains in the
background, Fort to left

Many Turkish wooden boats set sail against the crystal blue water of Alanya bay we sat on our balcony and watched at least twenty tours go by.

We had researched and wanted to go to Alanya castle, When we got off we asked the tour hagglers what they would charge. they said 120, REALLY?

We kept walking along the sea boardwalk and saw a little train that said would drop off at the cable car all for 2 euros. Years ago we would of climbed the way up today we took the cable car up and still did a lot of walking. We enjoyed the ride and got off at the cable car. Beautiful sunny day and was surprised that Alanya Castle ended up being one of our favorite of trips.

The Alaanya Teleferik

Castle

When we took the cable car down to wear train picked up we had time to grab lunch. The aromas from the Turkish outside Cafe we enticing, We only had 145 Lira left. The waiter gave us two options. We each had a beer and the best chicken Curry all for 7 dollars and 80 cents. He brought us this yummy flat bred with olives and trimmings on the house.

Rhodes Greece

We took bus from the port to the Old Town of Rhodes a maze of cobbled streets that will spirit you back to the days of the Byzantine Empire,
One of the best-preserved medieval settlements in the world, the Old Town of Rhodes has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Protected inside its imposing walls – a boundary between past and present – is the island’s coat of arms. Every stone tells a story.

The most famous road in the Old Town of Rhodes is the Street of the Knights, restored just as it was in the Middle Ages. Here you’ll find the inns of the ‘tongues’, or national guards, that made up the Order of the Knights.

At the highest point in the road is a significant attraction: the grandiose castle known as the Palace of the Grand Masters, with its enormous towers, now a wonderful museum

.

Ephesus Kusadasi Turkey, 28th

I love following other people's travels. Someone said when in Turkey you have to try a Turkish Bath, I had booked a Turkish bath for today. They picked us up at the dock. What an experience! First, you have to decide to remove it all or leave it on. They give you a little cotton wrap. I asked for a bigger one and he laughed.

Unless you have the luxury of going regularly to a hamam and know what you are doing opt for the full service traditional style, It includes warming up in a hot room, a very thorough scrub and soapind , and an optional massage. It was simply an amazing experience.

Beautiful morning in Istanbul October 29

We took a break for Turkish coffee and pastry

Our first day started off crazy because it was the 99 National Republic Day. We got in port at 2. The Cruise terminal is new and huge to get out of. We met our guide Gem we would have for two days. It was extremely crowded due to the holiday. He got us tickets for the Metro. You had to push yourself on and Jim had to push our group to get us off before the door closed. A harrowing experience

We saw the Blue Mosque, Haifa Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Gem had arranged for us to go to dinner for Tapas where a Jazz band was playing. Michael was a talented drummer and he played a set for us. day one ended late

Bridge


Interesting fact The card game Bridge got its name from the Galata Bridge, a bridge spanning the Golden Horn and linking the old and new parts of European Istanbul, where they apparently crossed every day to go to a coffee house to play cards.

Turkish coffee and Baklava

My first encounter with a squat toilet. My eyes bugged out but I really had to go. I took a deep breath and thought I can do this. In all reality they say it is a healthier position. Most of the public places had a toilet, Our guide had taken us to a nontourist spot.

Off to the spice market.

Sailing away

Tonight we went up dancing in Horizon to the big band before supper.

Kavala, Greece Monday, October 31

Our last port was a do-on-your-own. We walked in the old town. Went to the aqueduct, and took the train up to Castle. The last stop for Greek Pastry we saw in every bakery. Bougatsa is a greek cream-filled phyllo pastry.

Nov 1 Athens, We have been here before so was just flying home today.