Monday, November 17, 2008

Venice, Italy

Our cruise began in Venice, Italy. We went one day before the cruise. It was a beautiful, magical overnight stay. We were blessed with nice weather for November. No rain and temperatures in the 50s. However it was foggy much of the time, and with the shorter days, it was dawn or dusk much of the time.




Obedient dogs

Churches were lovely.


Venice is a beautiful city. We loved it!

Venice: The canals

Venice is a grand city with old world flavor. No cars are allowed in the city. The Grand Canal slices through the city and many smaller canals and bridges link the rest of the neighborhoods like watery roads. Boats take the form of taxis, buses and even UPS trucks.




My photos of the grand canal cover day and night. Most of our time in Venice was foggy.


We did not take a gondola ride. However we did cross the canal in a traghetto, which is a gondola for crowds to cross where there is no bridge. People stand in the boat as they go across.




Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dubrovnik, Croatia: Beautiful view from the city walls


The old city of Dubrovnik has heavy walls around it. A walk along the walls is a must-do highlight.

We were here for the morning. This city has an obvious maritime history.





There is a lot a old history and art here.

Recent history is about the attack and siege of the Croatian war of the 1990s.











On our way up the coast we saw many steep cliffs along the sea, and not a lot of towns. We were thinking how wild the land must be.

Cats of the Mediterranean

Everywhere we went on our cruise, I kept noticing cats running around. I started taking a couple photos in Venice. But every place we went, there were the cats. So I decided they'd make a nice photo collage. The move in and out among ancient ruins. They help shop keepers sell their wares. And they scrounge for tidbits from kind strangers.
Venice, Italy

Katakolon, Greece

Santorini, Greece
Rhodes, Greece had cats EVERYWHERE!


Dubrovnik, Croatia

Shopping in the Mediterranean

I have found in our travels that taking a photo of shopping treasures is almost as enjoyable a memory as buying all the stuff. So enjoy with me a few fun pieces of tourist shopping in the Mediterranean!
From Luxury to kitch



Open flea markets

Cookie treats

Masks of Venice
















Shop for art




And of course t-shirts and post cards