Deaf Cruise Exotic Mediterranean & Black Sea
October 27 - November 10, 2007

During our 3-day stay in Rome we had a great time while we were exploring the city during extended walking tours. Vatican City and the Basilica St. Peter impressed us because of its size and marvelous artifacts. But this was just the beginning of a wonderful time in the eternal city. We learned a lot more about Rome, its history and culture during a one day guided tour in ASL. Even Italian signs were taught. The focus of this tour was the old city. The third day, we strolled along the ancient ruins including the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum.
Then, it was time to embark Celebrity's Galaxy for our 14-night itinerary with the first stop in Mykonos (Greece). A boat took as to the ancient island of Delos that is considered the birthplace of Apollo. The next day, we reached Rhodes (Greece) and traveled via coach to the ancient city of Kamiros. A thriving city in the 5th century BC, Kamiros retains much of its historic past. The tour ended with a walk within the old city wall of Rhodes.
Santorini (Greece) located in the Cyclades, Aegean, has a spectacular landscape. Most of the villages are built on tall cliffs. They offer a breathtaking view over the volcano.
Istanbul (Turkey) is both the nearest Asian city to Europe and the nearest European city to Asia. The city was the center of Byzantiums' life for 1,000 years and afterwards for another 400 years the center of Ottoman life. The tours during our 2-day stay in Istanbul allowed us to see world famous landmarks like the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the exotic Grand Bazaar with its maze of streets and lanes.
In the 19th century the pleasant Crimean South Coast climate was discovered by famous Russian physicians and highly appreciated by Russian czars. Nobility began the construction of their residences all along the South Coast. First, we head for Alupka (Yalta, Ukraine) and its main attraction - Palace of Count Vorontsov. The palace has an outstanding decor and an remarkable collection of arts, marble sculptures and paintings. Afterwards, we visited Livadia Palace, the famous summer residence of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The Livadia Palace is well known as the site of the Yalta Conference, 1945.
While going on a city tour in Odessa (Ukraine), we saw the Potemkin Steps, the Tolstoy mansion, the music school, the monument to Potemkin Sailors and the Opera House. We continue with a stroll along Primorsky Boulevard passing elegant buildings and monuments built in the nineteenth century.
Ephesus (Turkey) is one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. The Open Air Archeological Museum allowed us to see the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastika, the temple of Hadrian and the impressive library of Celsius. The Grand Theater, where St. Paul preached, is one of the largest theaters in antiquity with 24,000 seats.
After our arrival in Athens (Greece), we saw sights like the the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest Corinthian style temple in Greece and Hadrian's Arch before we stopped at the Panathinion Stadium, built in 1895, the site of the first modern Olympics held in 1896. Then, we visited the Acropolis.
The last stop during our 14-nigh journey was Naples (Italy). Most members of the group went to Pompeii another world famous excavation. 1,900 years ago, it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD when 30 feet of volcanic ash and pumice stone covered the city	Pompeii

Thank you note from my clients

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