Day 11: Heraklion, Greece

Or more commonly just known as Crete.  I had planned to go on my own today.  My thought was to catch a ride to the places I wanted to go and not book an excursion.  Then I noticed there was an on your own excursion with a pass for the Hop On Hop Off bus.  It was only $59 and I had a $50 credit for every excursion I booked with the cruise ship.  I mean there was no way I could get round trip transportation for only $9, so I booked it.  Before I got off, I grabbed a quick breakfast of bacon and a bagel which became my typical early morning breakfast. 

Shore Excursion:  Hop On Hop Off Bus. 

The excursion was a bit confusing with communication.  It shouldn't be that difficult.  We had a ticket to do the bus on our own but for some reason the lady was not being clear with her information.  I got on the bus and figured out my stops and off I went. 

First Stop: Knossos Palace

                 

The Royal Road of Knossos is said to be one of the oldest paved road in Europe that you can still walk on.

Again, I really have noticed how cruise ships are over running cities.  I am not sure there is a solution but it seems like tours should sort of split up and not all start at the same site!  I have traveled a lot and sometimes our groups do this.  It works but for some reason this trip it seems we all start at the same museum or site. 

Second Stop:  Archeological Museum of Heraklion

The museum was full of Minoan artifacts.  I really liked all the animal statues which are actually used to store libations.

 

The beads and jewelry were amazing too!   

I was in the city center so I just took time to wander the streets and popped into a few places on my list. 

Next Stop:  Cathedral Holy Temple of Saint Titus

I noticed several people coming in kissing and kneeling before this hat in a glass dome.  I don’t know what they were doing, but I turned to the internet to find out.  

The relic is believed to be the head of Saint Titus, a disciple of St. Paul and the first Bishop of Crete. It was returned to the church in 1966 after being held in Venice for nearly 300 years following the Ottoman invasion of Crete. Visitors and the local Orthodox faithful show deep devotion to the relic. People performing various genuflections, touching lips to the glass cover surrounding the jeweled helmet that contains the skull, conducting other rituals, including bowing. These actions are part of the Greek Orthodox tradition of venerating saints' relics, which is a common practice in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

 So now we know!

The weather was amazing so it was so good to just walk around to find the other places on my list.  I found myself at my final stop, Koules Fortress.

The ship seemed close so I walked back along the water.  I loved looking at all the boats in the harbor.

It wasn’t a super close or super far walk but it was a hot walk back to the ship.  This port does not allow you walk to the ship.  You must take a bus from the entrance to your ship which slows things down but that’s the rule.  I grabbed a quick lunch . . . I gave the Tapas place a try . . . small bites.  Oh my goodness I might have a new favorite! The dates con almendras were amazing! Bacon wrapped dates with Marconi almonds and blue cheese.

I found an outdoor lounge chair to relax on deck being lazy waiting until my next meal. I gave the Indian place, Tamara, a try tonight. It was good and of course ending with my usual plus a new addition!

Of course, you know I had to end with my favorites before calling it a night!

Day 10: SEA DAY

I went to bed at 10pm last night and woke at 640am. It was the first time this trip I woke at a decent hour. I am looking forward to having a day of nothing!  Deek 4 viewpoint check.

Today I’m giving the main dining room, Hudson’s, a try for all three meals. It’s so pretty with all the windows and hands down the prettiest main dining room on any ship I’ve been on.

I headed to deck 4 and walked a few laps out the outdoor deck. I stopped to look at the art sculptures.

 

 

I loved looking through here even though we were in the middle of the ocean

, , , and might of had an ice cream cone. NCL allows you to make your own cone and isn’t monitored by a crew member.  Then it was up to deck 18 to check out the fun zone . . . all these activities cost extra. 
miniature golf . . .

 

race cars . . . this has to be the coolest experience I have seen on a cruise ship!

 

 

I ate all my meals in the main dining room, Hudson’s.  No, I don't usually eat three meal a day!

All the food was good, but I liked my Indulge Food Hall vibe better so I headed there to top off the day for pineapple for dessert!  I got a double order. 

Took a few laps outside to walk off the food and watch the sun setting.  Sunsets at sea are the best!

Day 9: Cairo, Egypt

Today is the day I have been most excited about and it was a super early start!  I knew it would be a long day so I had to grab a quick breakfast.  The ship common areas are so empty at the crack of dawn.  I'm on deck 8 looking down on deck 7 and deck 6.

Anyway, I grabbed my bag and headed out to the meeting spot at 530am.  We have another armed guard on board today.  It is a long trip with a lot of busses headed to Cairo.  I mean anyone not going to Cairo is a bit crazy to me.  Why go on this cruise and not go see the pyramids?  So that’s what I am doing today.  One thing some might not notice about cruises is they stop in ports that aren’t necessarily close to what you want to see for example we are in Alexandria, Egypt, which is 135 miles or at least a 3 hour bus ride to Cairo.  This isn’t uncommon so be sure you check your actual port stop to the city the cruise is claiming to stop in . . . cruise lines will usually put the major city you are wanting to visit in parentheses. 
Shore Excursion:  Classical Cairo

We are leaving Alexandria which is 2nd largest city in Egypt.  Now to settle in for the long drive from Alexandria to Cairo.  Scenes from bus window.

Those weird shaped tall things are pigeon houses.  They are made of mud bricks and and pigeons are raised for food and fertilizer.  They are very common.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

This is where I started to understand some countries complaining about over tourism.  I think every person on our cruise ship showed up at the same time and it was a mad house!  Absolute disaster and difficult to even see the exhibits much less enjoy them.

  

Since our tour was so long we took a lunch break at the Helnan Dreamland Hotel.  It seemed like it would be a nice hotel to stay but we were here for a hotel catered lunch . . . honestly, it was like a banquet room type set up. I would have a preferred a quick box lunch and have more time to see something around Cairo.  We departed for the real highlight of the day, The Pyramids of Giza.  It was so windy but super cool to see.

. . . and ME living my best life! It was so windy!

 . . .  and The Great Sphinx of Giza . . .

You know it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.  Crowded?  Yes, but it was much easier to spread out in the open area outside.  Scammers?  EVERYWHERE!  We had been warned by our guide to hand our phone or camera to no one because they would demand a lot of money to get it back!  Before we left Cairo it was time for our let’s stop at our friends’ shop. At least they did show us the papyrus making process which was interesting, but I quickly exited and found the bus. As we left town I noticed the traffic was insane . . . pedestrian and car . . . seems like no rules and people just walk when they wish.  My heart stopped a few times thinking I was about to see someone get hit.  Groups of people would just stand in the middle of traffic and have a little chat as if it was no big deal.

It was a long trip back to the ship.  I thought I would sleep but nope!

A quick shower never felt so good after being outside all day and then a quick meal at The Local for a Coney Island Hot Dog which was good!

And of course pineapple at Indulge Food Hall

I find it funny that my best day so far and hardly any photos.  And now it is pjs time!