GONDOLA RIDE

The gondola ride was very interesting.  There were six of us plus the gondolier.  I don't think the canals were more than 10 feet wide in most places.

 A view of the Grand Canal.

 Turning off of the Grand Canal back into the neighborhoods.

The Gondola ride ended in front of the Hard Rock Cafe, so I went in and bought a pin from Venice to go with my collection from Athens and Prague.

The next stop on the tour was a visit to the Murano Glass factory for a glass blowing demonstration and a shopping experience.  The glass blowing was fascinating and the shopping was an experience.  The finished products were beautiful, expensive and something that I didn't need.  However, I did buy a Christmas bulb for 30 euros.  I figured I can hang it on the Christmas tree once a year.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CITY

In Venice I opted for the tour which included the Doge's Palace, a gondola ride  and a tour of the Murano glass factory.  It was a very interesting day.  Venice is a fascinating city and one where I would like more time to explore on my own.

 The Bridge of Sighs.  For the story behind the name go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs
During the Doge's Palace I got to walk across this bridge.  It was an experience to imagine this happening 400 years ago.

 Court yard entry into the Doge's Palace

 Closer view.

 View of St. Marks Square in front of St. Marks Cathedral.  Going inside St. Marks wasn't part of the tour.  I'm sure it was because of time constraints.  The line to get in the cathedral was massive.

 A view of the fresco above the entrance to St.Marks.

 St. Marks Square.  I was very surprised. There were very few pigeons

 St. Marks Zodiac clock.  For more info go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark's_Clock

The Campanile and St Marks Square.  The Campanile is the bell tower.

SAILING INTO VENICE

These photos were taken as we sailed into Venice.  It was around 1:00 p.m.

ATHENS

I enjoyed Athens much more this time than I did on my first visit.  This time I had a half day in Athens and then a visit to the Temple of Poseidon.   I had lunch in a very nice hotel and had some shopping time in the old section of the city.  I bought some Ouzo and a pin from the Hard Rock Cafe.  The only drawback was the "tour guide from hell".  She was very well informed but gave a 10 minute dissertation on a subject and then we would walk 50 ft and get another 10 minutes.  I finally wandered off on my own and actually got to see the Acropolis.  All in all it was a good day.

A temple as seen from the Acropolis

A view of Athens

Part of the Acropolis

Other ruins

 Another view of Athens

I thought that this door was very unusual and looked neat.

Ruins of the Temple of Poseidon.ens   The temple is located on Cape Sounion which is 43 miles SSE of Athens on the southern most tip of the Attica Peninsula.  It was a scenic drive along the Aegean coast.

EPHESUS

Ephesus is one of the best preserved archaeological sites  in the world.  I was there in March 2010 and again in May 2012 and there has been a lot of progress in those two years but there is still much to be done. These are photos that I took as I walked through the ruins on the old Roman road.

This road was built over 2,000 years ago.

The public Latrine.

The Library

A billboard for the oldest profession on earth.  Look closely and you will see a figure of a woman in the upper right, a heart in the middle, a left foot in the middle right and a plus sign above the foot.  2,000 years ago Ephesus was a seaport.  Sailors would get off their boats, visit the bathhouse,and walk up the road to this billboard telling them where they could find a little love.  What is says is 'For women walk up to the crossroads, turn left and you will find what you are looking for.

The arena

This is the road the road the sailors walked up from their ships.

MARY'S HOUSE

Jesus entrusted Mary into John's care.  There was a large Christian community at Ephesus so John brought Mary there.  Fearing for her safety, John had a house built on Mt Koressos which is near Ephesus.  More information can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Virgin_Mary
It is a very quiet, beautiful and peaceful place.

 The grounds to Mary's House.                                  

The entrance to Mary's House.                                      
                                       

   You exit here and then follow the path down to the spring and past the wall where pilgrims write their intentions on paper and place them in the wall.                                  

APPROACHING KUSADASI

Kusadasi is the gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus and a seaside resort on the Aegean sea.  I took these photos as we sailed into port.