Pearls of the Aegean

THOMSON CELEBRATION
Captain's Reception 27th June, 2009
Captain Roy Dearman

Having just returned from a wonderful cruise aboard the Thomson Celebration around the Greek Islands I am about to return to my regular blogging pattern. In case you may be interested I will tell you of some of the interesting places we visited on the cruise.

Having flown to Corfu to join the ship we sailed to Crete and visited Knossos, the most impressive and best known palace of the Minoan civilization. Famous from Greek Mythology as the capital of the Minoan culture, Knossos is inextricably linked to many thrilling myths and legends like the 'Labyrinth of the Minotaur'.

We sailed overnight to Kusadasi in Turkey and enjoyed a visit to Ephesus and The House of Mary. Leaving the port behind we headed up into the hills to the house of The Blessed Virgin Mary, recognised by the Vatican as a place of pilgrimage. The small chapel has been built on the foundations of a humble dwelling where Mary's believed to have spent her last days. One does not have to be religious to appreciate this very serene setting. From there we travelled to the world famous archaeological site of Ephesus for a walking tour of such wonderful sights as the Temple of Hadrian, the Marble Streets and Celsus Library. I could not help but cast my mind back to the days when St. Paul lived here for three years and told the Ephesians the good news of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. No less than 3,000 people received the good news and it is widely accepted by theological scholars that this was the place from where the Christian religion spread to Greece, Europe and the rest of the world.

We then sailed overnight to Santorini and visited the beautiful village of Oia which reminded us of the setting for the film Mama Mia although,of course, it was on a different island. We saw the cave homes once occupied by the original inhabitants. The village is perched on a cliff top and afforded breathtaking views over the caldera. On the return journey we visited a winery and spent some free time in Thira town before taking the cable car back to the ship's tenders on the harbour side.

Next we sailed to Piraeus, Greece where we took an excursion to the captivating city of Athens passing some of the main sights including Constitution Square, the Houses of Parliament, the Neoclassical-style university buildings, the Royal Palace and the Old Olympic Stadium of Athens. However, the real highlight of this tour was when we arrived at the foot of the magnificent Acropolis, one of the most famous and photographed ancient monuments in the world. After a steep climb in scorching temperatures we finally came upon the ancient temples of Athena Nike and the towering Parthenon. Again breathtaking views over the city of Athens down below.

Sailing on we arrived at the island of Katakolon where we experienced a visit to the famous site of Olympia, one of the most important sanctuaries of antiquity, dedicated to the father of the Olympian Zeus and birth-place of the Olympic Games. The sanctuary of Olympia spreads around the green wooded feet of the Kronion Hill, where the rivers Alpheios and Cladeos meet. We learned a lot of interesting facts about about Ancient Greece and the Games. After this we visited the Archaeological Museum, which is one of the most important of its kind in Greece and hosts an impressive collection of artefact's and treasures from its past.

The last day saw us return to Corfu still with time to spare before our flight home. We used this time to include yet another excursion visiting some of the most spectacular places in the north of the island. First we called at the island's Greek Byzantine Monastery set in fragrant gardens and still in use to this day. Following this we arrived at Paleokastritsa, a quiet resort nestled in a beautiful bay where we took a boat ride to view various caves around the bay. After this we headed up to Bella Vista, the most famous viewpoint in Corfu, to capture some magical views overlooking Paleokastritsa and the island's west coast. We returned to the ship via the village of Makrades,the Troumbeta mountain passage and a string of traditional Greek villages.

Special thanks to Captain Roy Dearman, his officer's and crew for making it such a truly memorable holiday. The service on board was first class throughout the entire cruise and one felt one was staying at a 5 star floating hotel. Well done Thomson Holidays for all your attention to every little detail which all added up to a perfect holiday.