Mediterranean Cruise

Paul and I returned yesterday after a wonderful week cruising the Mediterranean Sea.  We started off from and returned to Civitavecchia, Italy (near Rome), and stopped in Messina (Sicily), Kusadasi/Ephesus (Turkey), Athens (Greece), and Chania (Crete).  We enjoyed sunshine, warmth, relaxation, sightseeing, and eating way too much!  My favorite stop was Turkey- great sights, nice shops, and friendly people.  Here's some pics from the week!

 Paul just after we boarded our ship, The Navigator of the Seas

Our first stop- Messina Sicily

The Church of the Annunziata dei Catalani 

The bell tower of the Cathedral of Messina

At 12:00 everyday the statues move and music plays 

After dinner on formal night at one of our favorite spots on the ship-

the bar on the 14th deck 

Our second stop- Kusadasi/Ephesus, Turkey

This is where Mary, the mother of Jesus, is believed to have lived

the last years of her life, near Ephesus 

The Library of Celsus, Ephesus 

Shops in Kusadasi- beautiful rugs 

The 14th deck bar again! 

Next stop, Athens, Greece

Looking up at the Acropolis 

The Parthenon on the Acropolis 

Our last stop- Chania, Crete 

On the hop-on, hop-off tour bus in Chania 

 Mini-golf on the ship.  I won by a stroke!