B54: Three Continents Cruise 2001

15/6/2021

Pyramids - Giza, Egypt

I’ve always been fascinated by historic places. I can almost hear the resonance of footsteps and voices of those who have walked those paths before us. In 2001, (I can’t believe it’s 20 years ago!) I decided to go see the Holy Land and Egypt with Peggy and chose a cruise on-board the Olympic Voyager. Sadly, after booking, we were informed that the itinerary had been altered due to tensions in the Middle East so the Holy Land was taken out in favour of an extra night in Egypt. We were still excited to be heading off to see the Pyramids and Sphinx of course.

I remember so well that when we finally got to Giza (and got past the hassle of the hawkers), it felt very surreal to be finally standing beside these ancient man-made constructions: the Great Pyramid of Khufu (constructed c. 2580-2560 BC) and the Sphinx (built during the reign of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, Khafre c. 2558-2532 BC!!).

As we stood there in awe, we were greeted by a local man of indeterminate age and very few teeth. He took a shine to Peggy and offered me seven camels for her as he needed a wife. Having considered briefly how I could house 7 camels in the underground carpark of my Gardiner Street apartment…not to mention what to do with all that camel dung….I had to politely decline his generous offer. Peggy’s response was “at least find me a fella with his own teeth”! 😊

So this blog covers where we went and what we saw. I hope you enjoy!

Day 1 - 15 June 2001 – Dublin to London Gatwick

t was necessary to get our Athens (Greece) flight from London Gatwick airport so we flew over with British Airways the previous evening which took an hour and 20 minutes …and stayed at the Holiday Inn. This was perfect as it was so handy to get our early morning flight the following morning.

Day 2 – 16 June 2001 – London Gatwick to Athens &
Transfer to Piraeus Port to the Olympic Voyager

Our Ship for the Week

We took the included transfer to the airport terminal to catch our four hour 0825 British Airways flight to Athens. As Athens is 2 hours ahead of London we arrived there shortly after lunch. From the glimpses of the city of Athens en-route we got to see the Acropolis and Parthenon…..I would definitely like to return.

Our first impressions of the Olympic Voyager were really good…she looked more like a large yacht. She had only been delivered by builders Blohm & Voss to Royal Olympic Cruises for her maiden voyage the previous year and at that time was the fastest cruise ship afloat…..so everything was new and sparkly. The Master of the ship was Captain Kostas Skourlis…who we got to meet on the second night of the cruise.

Each night we received “The Voyager” news-sheet under our door to keep us abreast of what was going on around the ship. See them HERE.

The vessel was able to reach high speeds with minimum propulsion power due to the design of its hull – the fast monohull. The interior of the Olympic Voyager was designed on a Greek theme. We had a lovely outside cabin, No. 5003, at the starboard bow of the ship.

Our Dining Companions for the Week

The main dining room had a 470 seat capacity…so quite small, while breakfast and lunch was also available in the garden lounge. We were delighted to be seated with the writer and anthropology/archaeology professor, Dr. William Doonan and his partner, who was on-board to give enrichment presentations and lectures on ancient Egypt. We really enjoyed their interesting and friendly company for the week.

(Sadly, after the 9/11 attacks in the US later that same year and the war in Iraq, the cruise business of Royal Olympic Cruises was irreparably damaged and it collapsed in March 2004 – less than 3 years after our cruise).

Day 3 – 17 June 2001 - Santorini (Greece/ Europe)

Oia, Santorini - 17 June 2001

After a great night’s sleep and delicious breakfast, we arrived into the Greek island of Santorini shortly after 7 am. Santorini is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing. It is only about 29 sq. miles in area. It was formed from the rim of an ancient drowned volcano that exploded in about 1500 BC and it is thought that the disaster may have been the basis for the writings of Plato about the lost continent of Atlantis.

Peggy in Santorini - 17 June 2001

At 7:30am we started our tour of the island and Oia village. The latter is the island’s crowning glory of peace and tranquillity. Built on the northern part of the caldera rim, it is here where many artists have been inspired due to its magnificent location with its superb views of the Caldera, the rest of the island itself and the azure-blue Aegean Sea. We took a short trip first by boat to Athenios Harbour where we met up with our motorcoach and guide. We were driven along the rocky sides of the Caldera and passed through many beautiful traditional villages to reach the unique village of Oia.

Here the architecture is typically Cycladic and the house resemble “birds’ nests” tucked away into the dramatic cliff-side. Accompanied by our guide, we walked through the village along cobble-stoned streets marvelling at the wonderful panoramic views and admiring the traditional architecture.

We enjoyed several hours there on our own, where we wandered into some of the many art galleries. I bought a print of a painting in one of the galleries. I had it framed when I got home and now it hangs in my hallway….where I am reminded of that beautiful day whenever I pass by it:

My Hallway Oia Print

We then visited the Church of Panagia Platsani; undoubtedly the most famous and impressive church in Oia and the entire northern part of the island. It is located in the heart of the village, on the main square. The origin of the original church dates back to 1820 or earlier, the current church was built in 1965 – which just happens to be the year that I was born!

Peggy outside Church of Panagia Platsani - 17 June 2001

According to legend the icon of the Holy Mother placed in the Temple of Panagia Platsani was found in the sea. While fishing, the fisherman saw a light resembling a lit candle in the middle of the sea. Heading towards it, he found the icon of the Mother of God, but he could not pick it out. So he informed the local priest who, together with the inhabitants, while praying and carrying torches, went down to the sea, fished the icon and with great respect moved it to the local church. The next day the icon disappeared. After a long search, she was found by the wall of the Castle in Oia. She was placed in the local church again, but the next day she was not there again. This happened for many days, until the residents understood that the icon chose a location where to build a church – a place from which she could see the sea and the sailors sailing that she could bless. The name of the church “Platsani” comes from the sound of waves hitting the icon floating in the sea (“plats – plats”).

Peggy and I had coffee there before meeting back up with the guide and heading to Fira, the picturesque capital town of the island. We did a bit of souvenir buying here before returning to the small pier at Scala by cable car where we took a boat back to the ship. (We had the option of taking a donkey down, but Peggy said she’d had more than enough of stubborn donkeys growing up so we gave that a miss!) 😊.

Meeting Captain Kostas Skourlis - 17 June 2001

After the party and dinner we went to the Alexander the Great Main Lounge to see the musical show “Wonderful World”…it was very enjoyable. The After-Dinner Drink tonight was Irish Coffees – Peggy’s favourite – so after one or two we headed off to bed…looking forward to Egypt.

Day 4 & 5 – 18 and 19 June 2001 – Alexandria, Cairo & Giza (Egypt/ Africa)

I got a bit of a shock when I looked out of the window that Monday morning at the Egyptian port of Alexandria. All I could see were army and guns and chain link fences. We had been warned that security was tight around the port and security officials were on high alert. We weren’t sure if this was a specific threat or if this was the norm ever since the Luxor Massacre 4 years earlier.

We had booked the full day “Cairo & The Pyramids of Giza” trip so we left shortly after 7:15 am. As we proceeded at speed along the desert highway to Cairo, a distance of 220kms, our 7 coach convoy had army escorts at the front and rear. It was difficult to ignore the sullen stares and rude gestures as we passed many groups of men in pick-up trucks on their way to work. We learned afterwards that an edict had been passed obliging them to pull to the right of the highway to leave tourist buses pass. It made us all feel very uncomfortable.

Arriving in Alexandria - 18 June 2001

Anyway, we arrived safely in Cairo where we had an orientation drive. We then visited the famous Egyptian Museum, also known as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or Museum of Cairo. This is a must see if in Cairo; filled with priceless collections from the days of the Pharaohs including the world famous treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun, known as the ‘Boy King.’ This museum currently has the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world! I’ve been really fascinated with Egyptian history since I was a child so this was a serious dream come true! While the Egyptian Museum is historic, the long awaited Cairo Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is going to be truly epic when it opens later in 2021.

After a buffet lunch in a hotel, we continued on to Giza to visit the Pyramids (from the outside) one of the seven wonders of the world still in existence today. The Pyramids of Giza were on my bucket list for ages…I mean, Egypt as a whole is a serious bucket list destination! I knew that in this cruise tour I’d only get a small taste but it was still something unmissable…to get a chance to soak in the culture and get a first-hand sight of a place with such a rich and dynamic culture was truly unforgettable.

The Great Pyramid, Giza - 18 June 2001

There is no way around it, once you are inside the Giza Complex, people are going to be hassling you. If they see you’ve got camera gear, they can get pushy in their attempt to bring you to the best spots for photos. They are just there for a bit of cash. A few of our group were unfortunate enough to get up on camels and then be held hostage up there until they handed over 50 dollars to get down. As I said at the intro we were lucky to meet a friendly guy who good-humouredly offered me 7 camels for Peggy but many of the group felt very pressured to buy stuff. So, suffice to say that Egypt can be a bit of a culture shock, especially if you’ve never visited this part of the world before.

With Peggy's "Would-Be Suitor" at the Sphinx - 18 June 2001

Next stop was the world famous Sphinx with its adjoining alabaster temple. We spent a short time at a store nearby for souvenir shopping. Leaving Giza and Cairo behind, we headed north passing cultivated farmlands and villages on the banks of the Nile on the return to the Ship that was anchored for the night in Alexandria.

Alexandria, a Mediterranean port city, is the second-largest city in Egypt. It is about a 2.5-hour drive from Cairo and is well worth the trip. Alexandria has a rich Roman history and is a stunning location. Here, you can visit the Roman catacombs, explore the temple complex, and visit the Pompey’s Pillar.

Especially fascinating is the Library of Alexandria! It existed long ago, for over 2,000 years, and housed the most important recordings of human history and research. Today we have no idea what happened to it—where the scrolls went, or where it was located…

Day 6 – 20 June 2001 – Rhodes (Greece/ Europe

Philerimos, Rhodes - 20 June 2001

The following day, we sailed into Rhodes mid-day and had time to have a lovely early lunch on board before our 1:40pm tour of the Old City of Rhodes and Philerimos. We drove along the medieval walls to the summit of Mount Smith, the Acropolis of ancient Rhodes. From the tumbled massive pillars of the Temple of Athena, the view encompasses the nearby Temple of Apollo, the Stadium of Diagoras and the port, once protected by the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

The drive continued across the island to Philerimos. The summit of Philerimos was the site of Ialysos, one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes. Later sites include the restored Byzantine Church of Our Lady of Philerimos, a chapel with 15th Century frescoes, and the ruined Castle of the Knights. We younger women were handed scarves to hide our knees and shoulders if needed; Peggy was aggrieved that she didn’t have to… thinking that her knees were obviously not “an occasion of sin” and so not requiring coverage!

Fresco from Philerimos - 20 June 2001

After the visit and some free time, we returned to Rhodes town and began a guided walk of the old walled city to the Porte d’Amboise. It was a pleasure to stroll the street with its medieval buildings, winding alleys, towers, turrets and emblazoned façades. We then visited the impressive Grand Master’s Palace and had the chance to see the superb mosaics. The pleasant walk then passed through the Marine Gate before our return to the ship.

We sailed out of Rhodes heading the 436 nautical miles to Istanbul (Turkey) just after 6pm as we were sitting down to dinner.

The church we visited

Day 7 – 21 June 2001 – Istanbul (Turkey/ Europe & Asia)

We arrived in Istanbul at around lunchtime on Thursday and looked forward to a great 7 hour stay. Peggy and I signed up to do the Ottoman Tour of Istanbul which was expected to take 5 ½ hours starting at 1:15pm.

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the fifth-largest city in the world by population, is considered European, yet it occupies two different continents. One part of Istanbul lies in Europe and the other part lies in Asia. Istanbul’s European part is separated from its Asian part by the Bosphorus strait, a 31-km-long waterway that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and forms a natural boundary between the two continents.

Where Europe meets Asia - Istanbul. Turkey - 21 June 2001

Two suspension bridges across the Bosphorus—the Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also called Bosphorus Bridge II—connect the two sides, we saw both. The European side is the city’s commercial centre with banks, shops and businesses and two-third of its population. The Asian side felt more relaxed, with wide boulevards, residential neighbourhoods and fewer hotels and tourist attractions.

Leaving the port with a short drive through the old city we crossed over the Golden Horn, to begin our tour of the Blue Mosque (also referred to as Sultan Ahmet Mosque) one of the premier attractions in Turkey and an important Islamic monument. Built during Ottoman rule under the direction of Sultan Ahmet, we admired the six minarets that tower over the dome structure. Then, we observed the main chamber’s 20,000 Iznik tiles that are illuminated by 260 windows.

Inside Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey (Above)

Next, we headed to Topkapi Palace, the illustrious pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire. This is one of the world’s oldest and largest palaces full of elegant chambers and heirloom treasures. We strolled with our guide and delved into the interesting history of this palace that sits along the coastline of the Golden Horn.

We continued to the former heart and soul of Constantinople's sporting and political centre, the Hippodrome. We learned about this lively area which for 500 years was home to Ottoman sports and even riots! Now a city park called At Meydanı (Horse Grounds), we heard how it drew its name from former chariot races.

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul (Above)

The last stop was the Grand Bazaar, the very famous shopping centre from the 15t century with its 4,000 small shops. We spent free time here picking up souvenirs before we had a Turkish carpet making demonstration complete with sweet tea. Heading back to the ship we all agreed we had a memorable day in the Turkish capital.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul with carpet demo (Above)

We sailed out of Istanbul around 8pm heading for Kusadasi (Turkey) followed by Mykonos (Greece). The dress code tonight was blue and white; the Greek colours:

Greek Night Back On-Board - 21 June 2001

Day 8 – 22 June 2001 – Kusadasi (Turkey/ Europe) AM
& Mykonos (Greece/ Europe) PM

Kusadasi
We sailed into beautiful Kusadasi on a gorgeous sunny Friday morning. From the top deck of the ship we could see the town overlooked by the statue of Atatürk on the hillside.

Kusadasi Harbour. Turkey - 22 June 2001

We had the option of visiting Ephesus & The House of the Virgin Mary on a 3 ½ hour trip at 9:35. The tour started with a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. In the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the most magnificent city in Anatolia. Once in the ancient city, it was possible to visit the Library of Celsus, Forum, Temple of Hadrian, Odeon and the Great Theatre where St. Paul preached but is still noted for its remarkable acoustics.

Ephesus, Turkey (Above)

The trip then proceeded to the nearby House of the Virgin Mary that includes a house and garden and the place where Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her final years.

House of the Virgin Mary, Turkey (Above)

Before returning to the ship some free time was spent in Kusadasi admiring the carpets, jewellery, local souvenirs, leather goods and Turkish delights. We all had to be back on board for 2pm before we sailed off again; this time for Mykonos (Greece) 98 nautical miles away.

Mykonos
We dropped anchor in the bay here shortly after 7:00 pm and were ready to go ashore by tender for our “Mykonos By Night” evening. Leaving the port by motorcoach, we drove inland through the magnificent landscape at dusk to one of the leading hotels on the island. Here, we were served a Greek gourmet buffet dinner whilst at the same time being entertained by Greek music and folk dancers performing dance sequences. Peggy and I really enjoyed this and got our photo taken with two of the musicians…one of them playing a gaida, bagpipes made from sheep hide!

We headed back to the ship after a great few hours of craic before sailing away at 11pm …heading back to Piraeus.

Mykonos Musicians with Gaida - 22 June 2001

Day 9 – 23 June 2001 – Piraeus (Greece/ Europe) & home to Dublin

We arrived back in Piraeus after 5 am and after breakfast on board we said our goodbyes to everyone and disembarked after 8am. After clearing Customs we met our taxi in the hall to bring us to Athens airport and our BA flight to London Gatwick. It wasn’t departing until 15:25 so we whiled away the time eating lunch and reading magazines. We got to London shortly after 17:45 (allowing for the 2 hour time zone difference) and had no problems connecting with our short 20:40 flight home to Dublin.

Homeward Bound, Athens Airport - 23 June 2001

We enjoyed this trip so much and believed that the cruise line was well-named as ROYAL Olympic Cruises….as both of us had been treated like QUEENS!

Bucket List Items Ticked Off in the above Blog 54
Number 34 - Eat/ Drink Regional Food and Drink

Greek food and drink at the Traditional Greek Night in Mykonos, Greece.

Number 57 - Travel - 7 Continents

Europe
Africa
Asia

Number 58 - Travel - 80 Countries

Greece
Egypt
Turkey

Number 59 - Travel - 80 Hotels

Holiday Inn, London Gatwick Airport, UK

Number 60 - Travel - 80 Cities/Towns

Athens, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Alexandria, Egypt
Cairo & Giza, Egypt
Rhodes, Greece
Istanbul, Turkey
Kusadasi, Turkey
Mykonos, Greece

Number 61 - Sail the Seven Seas

Aegean - Olympic Voyager

Number 71 - Travel - Manmade Wonders

Explore the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Number 76 - Experiences - 80 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Other Blog Posts
Blog 11 - Sydney, Australia
Blog 12 - Hong Kong, China
Blog 17 - Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai, China
Blog 19 - California, USA
Blog 27 - Scotland
Blog 28 - Barbados
Blog 29 - Canada
Blog 30 - Alaska
Blog 31 - Everglades, Florida

Have you ever visited these places? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.

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