Last blog from Europe

All dressed and ready to make the trek to the elevator. For some reason the hotel does not like wheelchairs in the elevator. Of course we r on the 6th floor so we can smoke. For a smoking room though it doesnt smell bad. Narain washed my hair in the sink so I finally got the grit & blood out . I have my favorite Hawaiian dress on and my stylish Athenian sandals. Thanks to Bev for the dress and also for arranging a town car ride home, direct from Jfk to Hampden Rd. I am extremely grateful for that! So ciao & adio & goodbye.  It's been a great trip of a lifetime but it will b good to b home

Ok no new pix

Stuck in a chair or in bed but its ok. Watching bbc news german sports channel  (minicar racing or snooker) german mtv greek soap operas dubai idol singing competition french (nothing.pah). CNN  and Italian documentaries. Right now the big news is following the Olympic torch from Athens to Moscow and the lady who was shot driving in DC. So I am making lemonade and am delighted there are so many different options. Also narain bought some pink chewing gum thinking it was cinnamon. It is rose and delicious
Oh ew just found dried blood in my hair. Forgot to say my right hand and chin were scraped up in the crash. No chance to use the big tub or shower here. Grr

Athens sofitel

Nice 5 star at Athens airport.  The insurance co has reserved 2 business class tix for us yay! This because I need assistance but not a nurse. So Narain gets star treatment too.  We arrive in JFK tomorrow afternoon on a direct flight. Im bummed I am stuck in the room and cant snoop around to hang by the pool and get a mud wrap at the spa or have a cocktail on the rooftop bar. Wah

We planned to swim

Too cold & windy to hit the ocean hot springs.  Akritiri archeological dig also closed. Beaches here are black from volcano

Before the fall

Had a nice cruise around santorini before accident. Not as crowded as the first time. saw the back slopes of vineyards snd churches.

Birthday update

Had a massage climbed out on the bowsprit netting to nap . Drank tons of booze and danced til 2; 30. I snuck out of the dinner beforr all the waiters could sing yo me.  They delivered the cake to the cabin which I had gor bfst

In a 5 star hotel at the Athens Airport

Leg is better can get around with crutches. Managed to get off the ship on my own this morning.  I am glad we have travel ins so they r flying me business class tomorrow to Boston.  Cast is on for 2 weeks to let my leg heal without popping all the stitches.

Santorini was a bust

Am lying in the cabin jacked up on pain meds with a full leg cast. Narain crashed the bike into a stone wall and i ended up with a split knee. I am lying in the cabin wishing someone bring me lunch. N is trying to figure out whst we r going to do since I cant fly with my leg like this. More later sleepy now

Golf

They have come around and now I see it is a hockey puck hit with a field hockey stick. They drew holes and hazards on the teak decks. Just in case anyone was interested. ..

I had a great birthday yesterday

Sitting in santorini after we rented a small motorbike and drove around exploring off tje nes tough en track today. We will drop it off soon. Update on all of the big day later

I had a great birthday yesterday

Sitting in santorini after we rented a small motorbike and drove around exploring off tje nes tough en track today. We will drop it off soon. Update on all of the big day later

At sea

Yay happy birthday to me. I am now a geezer. The ship is flying all sails and is heeled over. There is a stiff breeze and whitecaps but we are just gently rocking not slamming like the other day.  At 11 I go for a massage and then at 3 is a class on knot tying. Oh boy. I am looking forward to that. In between I suppose I will be drinking and smoking. A perfect way to spend the day. They have a golf tournament going on but I don't see how it is possible with the angle of the ship. Beautiful sunrise this morning over the Pellopenise. (Sp?)

Finally ashore

Have to find another cafe.  Wifi in greece is dodgy. At least the gale has stopped and now we just have scattered thunderstorms.  Sigh

Storm pix

Sewing torn sails

Lousy day

Slept thru lunch. 45 mph headwind has made us miss Corfu.  Gale winds have kicked the sea into huge swells which go in all directions. The ship received a distress signal right between the heel of Italy and Albania. A guy was floundering in his sailboat in the high seas. Just as we arrived the Italian coastguard did too so we sailed away. The wind has died down but the seas are very rough snd we will  get to Katakalon tomorrow. Slept almost all day. Its midnight now and a bit better. Still having ankle swelling problems from too much salt in everything I eat but the food is fantastic here.

Kotor3

Kotor2

Kotor

Montenegro

Left Dubrovnik after a night of watching local folk dances on board.  I even danced too. Ha. Got up at 4 to watch the sail into Kotor. It was dark but you vould see how narrow it was. We walked around a bit and tried to make it up to the fortress but it was too long & steep.  We hit a headwind and storm and r now 13 hrs behind schedule. The boat is pitching and rolling. I am surviving with Marilyns antinausea medicinee and ginger we got in Turkey. It makes me sleepy tho so I have gone back to bed

Great little square

Now everyone is singing

Oh cool wr get yo watch a wedding

Yow

Dub2

Dubrovnik 1

Farmhouse

Finally wifi in Dubrovnik

Found a nice cafe here off the tourist track where kids are playing in the square.  Dubrovnik is totally cool, an old walled city which was bombed by the Serbs during the 91-92 war. Since is is an old city eith eorking drawbridges and tons of history hoing bavk to the ancient greeks and Romans, Unesco gave them $$ to rebuild. Its a great town. Earlier we went on a bus tour into the mtns to see an old farmhouse where they make olive oil & wine. I slept most of the way

Sailing into Dubrovnik

Dead calm sea and no wind has forced the captain to turn on the engines. This also gave us a chance to drop the tenders for a photo shoot of the ship. I have lots of pix, even one of me and the captain. This afternoon we go on an excursion into the hills. We are staying here until late tonight so we will sightsee this evening

The hike in Hvar

Hvar hike

Yesterday we had a great walk down a valley with an excellent local guide who showed us tiny villages where they grew lavendar. We also got a taste of all the wild herbs there. We stopped for a huge lunch cooked in a wood oven and had lots of wine to wash it down. We ended in town where Narain and I had a beer with our German buds Horst & Pietra.  We went to bed early and skipped dinner.

In Hvar

The beach

First Croation port

Tall ship crownest

Me & the capt

Up high

I climbed the mast

Having a glass of champagne to celebrate. It was 40 ft up the main mast on a rope & cable ladder (RATLIN) The last bit was hard as it narrowed to nothing and then you had to hoist yourself through the hole. But way worth it. Now we are in Hvar and heading out to hike the mtns. I think I like Croatia even more than Greece and I Love this ship

Omg this ship is amazing

A long day yesterday getting from Marradi to Venice. After a nice lunch on one of the canals we boarded tjis amazing sailing ship. They feted us with drinks & food then we settled in for a departure from Venice. The ship was in full sail, all 4 masts with Russian music blaring. It was outstanding to sail past st marks. I found out the sound track was from sean connerys submarine movie red october something. But it could b nabucci opera.  It was otherworldly.  Today we sailed into a little Croatian island.  We walked alot & tried to find a place to snorkle. The water was too cold for me but Narain managed to go in just to see nothing.  Now we are on our way to Hvar another Croatian island. We will hike there in the mtns. Oh Narain just told me the island er wete at was Mali Losenj.  Cool spot. We came back from the beach (all rocks) thru a huge campground resort for Germans. Everyone thought I was one of them. Right now I am drinking beer and watching Zumba in the tropical bar deck

Hvar town

The ship

Ship

Sunrise over hvar Croatia

View from my hike

Sleep room

Oh I forgot to add that first a dr checked our hearts & blood pressure. Mine was a little high. I blame it on the high salt diet in Greece

Spa room

Terme spa

Ok first put everything you know about spas away. This is a medical spa all tiles snd no dark rooms with soft music.
I got glooped with hot mud with ice cold mud on my knees and ankles. After 2 ladies helped me into a jacuzzi where I soaked in mud water. A guy came in to change the mud bed I had been in and then pulled the plug on the tub and held a big sheet up for me to wrap in. He led me to another bed where he wrapped me in a blanket.  I stayed there awhile before getting dressed. I still had mud between my toes.  Very strange but relaxing

More monastary

Pharmacia 2

Pharmacia

Beautiful wood carved doors

The monastary

Mtn view 2

Mtn view 1

A long day driving

Whew It was a long day on switchbacks. Poor Susy. She keep it safe & slow but even so I ended up taking half a seasick pill. We were looking for an old monastary where they made plant extract medicine. The map showed it down the street when it was about 60 miles away. We had some great mtn views tho and bought some herbal booze which was delicious. We ended the day in a local restaurant and had wild boar venison and truffles. Yum

Narain eats tripe

Trippa is popular here. ew.

Riding 4

Riding 3

Riding 2

Riding in the mtns

Yesterday we rode for a few hrs then spent the afternoon drinking wine before we went out to eat. It was a tough day but I actually have my first hangover of the trip despite sleeping an unusual 9 hrs.  We had planned to go to Ravenna across the mtns on the Adriatic side but think we will explore the national park instead.

Another farm pic

Not sure if you can tell how long and steep this is

Narain has started the oven

Pizza tonite

They grow grapes & kiwis

Farming in the mtns

This is for Calvin

Mtns

A day in the appenines

Took a drive today up the street to get into the national park. It is gorgeous!  We just hit a corner of it before turning back so we could stop at the mineral spring spa. I have an appt for a mud wrap and soak for Monday.  It is more of a medical treatment facility than what you usually think of for a spa. It will b interesting. 

Florence 4