Along the Grand Canal in Venice, aboard a Vaporetto, from St Mark's Square to Piazzale Roma

Passing the Port of Piraeus at Sunrise, on our way to Keratsini aboard MSC Armonia. Photos of mainly Queen Mary 2, directly into the sun - Piraeus 12 Aug 2004

Many Ships & Ferries, some on their last legs, some being refurbished, some good looking and others wrecked, in the Port of Keratsini near Piraeus, 12 Aug 2004

Katakolon, Greece, is a tiny sleepy port in the Peloponnese. The gateway to Olympia. Having visited Olympia in 2003, photos at http://public.fotki.com/Magwa/cruising/sanctuary_of_olympi/ , we just wandered around this delightful town. You can see it all in an hour, or less! Many souvenir shops and pavement cafes along the quay. There is a small beach on the opposite side of the pier to the town, and more beaches a short taxi ride away. - 13 Aug 2004

wandered around this delightful town. You can see it all in an hour, or less! Many souvenir shops and pavement cafes along the quay. There is a small beach on the opposite side of the pier to the town, and more beaches a short taxi ride away. - 13 Aug 2004

A few photos out the aircraft window during the flight from Stansted [easyJet], and the cruise ships in port as we landed in Venice - 8 Aug 2004

Views of Santorini, from the sea, on the island & of the caldera from Santorini. See separate album for views of Oia.

Santorini is one of the most beautiful & impressive islands in the world, with its craggy precipices, the legend of the lost island of Atlantis, the deep blue of the sea, the white of the pumice-stone & the black intensity of the lava.

3.600 years ago, the Strongyli volcano collapsed, creating the huge cauldron of the caldera we see today. The Santorini Island complex, Thira, Thirasia, & Aspronisi, are the fragments that remained above the surface of the sea after the collapse, while the rest, the greatest portion of the island, disappeared under the water. Not long after the caldera was formed, molten rock, viscous magma with few gases, again began to flow up in the center of it, solidifying in contact with the seawater and thus slowly building up a submarine volcanic structure which would eventually become the foundation of the Kameni Islets, Palea & Nea.

its craggy precipices, the legend of the lost island of Atlantis, the deep blue of the sea, the white of the pumice-stone & the black intensity of the lava.

3.600 years ago, the Strongyli volcano collapsed, creating the huge cauldron of the caldera we see today. The Santorini Island complex, Thira, Thirasia, & Aspronisi, are the fragments that remained above the surface of the sea after the collapse, while the rest, the greatest portion of the island, disappeared under the water. Not long after the caldera was formed, molten rock, viscous magma with few gases, again began to flow up in the center of it, solidifying in contact with the seawater and thus slowly building up a submarine volcanic structure which would eventually become the foundation of the Kameni Islets, Palea & Nea.

A walk through the Old City of Dubrovnik - 14 Aug 2004

Dubrovnik's intact city walls run uninterrupted for 1940 meters & up to 25 meters high. The whole City Wall complex was built from the 8th until the 16th century, consisting of an inner and outer section. Five fortresses, St. Lawrence and Revelin togather with another three incorporated in the city walls, Minceta Tower, Fort Bokar and St. John's Fortress give unforgettable views of the city.
Weddings are held in the small St. Lawrence's chapel or on Minèeta Tower. Performances and concerts are organized on Fort Revelin and St. John's fortress during the Summer Festival.

until the 16th century, consisting of an inner and outer section. Five fortresses, St. Lawrence and Revelin togather with another three incorporated in the city walls, Minceta Tower, Fort Bokar and St. John's Fortress give unforgettable views of the city.
Weddings are held in the small St. Lawrence's chapel or on Minèeta Tower. Performances and concerts are organized on Fort Revelin and St. John's fortress during the Summer Festival.

Views of Dubrovnik from MSC Armonia - 14 Aug 2004

Venice Cruise Terminal & Ships berthed at the Port of Marghera on our sailaway aboard MSC Armonia - 8 Aug 2004

Ferries at Piraeus Harbour 12 Aug 2004, the Eve of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games:-
Saronikos Ferries' ms Nefeli, ms Poseidon Hellas & ms Saronikos
Flying Dolphin X, Hydrofoil
Nel Lines' HSC Aeolos Kenteris
Minoan Lines' Knossos Palace
Hellas Ferries' Express Adonis
Anek Lines' ms Lissos, ms Kriti II & ms Prevelis
Euroseas - Eurofast I

Nel Lines' HSC Aeolos Kenteris
Minoan Lines' Knossos Palace
Hellas Ferries' Express Adonis
Anek Lines' ms Lissos, ms Kriti II & ms Prevelis
Euroseas - Eurofast I

A few photos of Piraeus, the Port for Athens.

Piraeus has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The settlement of Mounichia (the present Kastella) was created then. Themistocles, a political genius, later thought of utilizing this large natural harbour. He correctly noted the advantageous position of the three bays, existing in the area and convinced the Athenians to transfer their port from Phaliron to Piraeus.

After the Battle of Marathon- he built in 487 - 486 BC large fortification works and turned Piraeus into a military harbor.

The shipyards that were created then, built the mighty Athenian fleet, which distinguished itself at the Battle of Salamis.

The fortification of the harbor were completed by Kimon and Pericles with the construction of the Long Wall, by which Athens and Piraeus were joined. Its construction was completed in 456 BC. During its peak period the harbor of Piraeus contained 372 "neosoikoi" (sheds near the sea where ships were kept out of the water), "skevothikes" (the yards for the rigging of warships) and shipyards for the building of ships.

genius, later thought of utilizing this large natural harbour. He correctly noted the advantageous position of the three bays, existing in the area and convinced the Athenians to transfer their port from Phaliron to Piraeus.

After the Battle of Marathon- he built in 487 - 486 BC large fortification works and turned Piraeus into a military harbor.

The shipyards that were created then, built the mighty Athenian fleet, which distinguished itself at the Battle of Salamis.

The fortification of the harbor were completed by Kimon and Pericles with the construction of the Long Wall, by which Athens and Piraeus were joined. Its construction was completed in 456 BC. During its peak period the harbor of Piraeus contained 372 "neosoikoi" (sheds near the sea where ships were kept out of the water), "skevothikes" (the yards for the rigging of warships) and shipyards for the building of ships.

Oia, Santorini, an old-world village, 11km to the north of Fira, with unique little houses hewn out of the soft rock, some whitewashed, some painted blue or ochre, with neo-classical mansions, courtyards & narrow paved alleyways [ 41 images] - 11 Aug 2004

courtyards & narrow paved alleyways [ 41 images] - 11 Aug 2004

Athens, Greece, on the Eve of the 2004 Olympic Games, 12 August 2004. The streets were sparkling; Olympic fever everywhere.

Bari [Puglia in Italian] faces the Adriatic & is divided into 2 parts:- the old city, a network of medieval streets & monuments from the time of Greek-Byzantine domination, & the new city with its straight streets, from C19 onwards.

My photos are from a walk around the Old City - 9 Aug 2004

straight streets, from C19 onwards.

My photos are from a walk around the Old City - 9 Aug 2004

Views of MSC Armonia's Exterior 8 - 15 Aug 2004

About the decks MSC Armonia Exterior 8 - 15 Aug 2004

Photos from a walk around Old Corfu [Kerkyra] Town, the Capital of the Island. Corfu is located in the Ionian Islands with an area of 592 m², with approx. 107.600 inhabitants. 58 km long & about 27 km wide.

Built between the walls & two Venetian Fortresses , the Old Town is a maze of narrow streets "kantounia" , with tall buildings & old churches - 10 Aug 2004

wide.

Built between the walls & two Venetian Fortresses , the Old Town is a maze of narrow streets "kantounia" , with tall buildings & old churches - 10 Aug 2004

Ferries at the port of Bari, Italy - 9 Aug 2004:-
Artemis Lines' ms Orestes
Ventouris Ferries' ms Siren & ms Ionis
Blue Star Ferries' ms Blue Horizon
Tirrenia's ms Domiziana
Montenegro Lines' ms Sveti Stefan
Azzurra Line's ms Azzurra
Mistral [not Festival's ex Mistral]

Blue Star Ferries' ms Blue Horizon
Tirrenia's ms Domiziana
Montenegro Lines' ms Sveti Stefan
Azzurra Line's ms Azzurra
Mistral [not Festival's ex Mistral]

Ferries seen in Corfu [Kerkyra] Town 10 Aug 2004
Kerkyra Lines - Agios Spiridon, Agia Theodora
Express Lines - Pantokrator
Fast Ferries - Platitera, Ekaterini P
& others

Fast Ferries - Platitera, Ekaterini P
& others

The Sights of Venice when arriving by Ship. The Ferries, other Vessels & small boats - 15 Aug 2004