Deaf Cruise Greece, Eastern Mediterranean & Egypt
April 26 - May 8, 2008

Mediterranean cruises are always a festival of colors, cultures and traditions mixed with history and distinguished architecture. Some of us extended their trip with a pre-cruise hotel stay in Rome. Our sailing started in Rome and the first stop was Mykonos a bustling island in the Cyclades. It is about a 30 minutes trip by boat to Delos, an island that was considered by the Greeks as sacred land. We could see the remnants of wonderful temples, sanctuaries and statues that once decorated this island. Our next stop was Kusadasi in Turkey where we went on a tour to Ephesus. In ancient times Ephesus was the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The ancient ruins are considered the most important in Turkey.

After our stop in the ancient city of Kamiros we visisted the old and charming town of Rhodes. During a walking tour, we saw the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Hospital of the Knights and down the Street of the Knights, its paths paved with well-worn cobblestones.

By coach we traveled to Nicosia, the largest city in Cyprus and the capital of the island. We started our exploration of the city with a visit to St. John's Cathedral. Next, we discovered the magnificent collection of Cypriot antiquities at the Cyprus Archaeological Museum. The village of Lefkara was scheduled for the afternoon. The picturesque village is famous for its silverware and handmade lace called "Lefkaritiko".

After a 3 hour ride from Alexandria, we arrived in Cairo, Africa's largest city. The first stop took us to the Pyramids of Giza followed by a visit of the Sphinx with its mysterious expression as it stands guard over the mortuary complex. Lunch was served during a river cruise on the Nile. After a stop at the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali we went to the Papyrus Institute. There, we watched a demonstration of the ancient art of paper making from reeds.

Our Taste of Athens tour featured major points of interest like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the National Gardens, the National Library, the Parliament Building, and the Panathinion Stadium constructed in 1895 for the first modern Olympics. The highlight of the tour was a visit to the Acropolis, the architectural masterpiece of the Golden Age of Greece.

The last port of this cruise was Naples. The majority opted for the Taste of Sorrento & Pompeii tour. After a beautiful drive to Sorrento, we went to a local farmhouse nestled in the hills. The family-owned farm produces mozzarella cheese, fresh vegetables, olives, lemons and wine. Then, we proceeded to the cliff-top town of Sorrento and had a few hours free time for shopping and lunch. Combining a visit to Sorrento with the moving archaeological ruins of Pompeii made this tour an unforgettable experience.

Thank you letter from James and Edelmira Raimondi

Contact Kerstin's Travel to book your next cruise by sending an e-mail to kerstin@kerstinstravel.com