Category: Mediterranean

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the second largest in the Mediterranean. It’s history is rich and full of invasions and conflict. It now remains as a lovely island with about a one third of its population living in Iraklion, or Heraklion, the capital of the island. This is where our cruise ship docked.

We purchased a “Hop-on, Hop-off” bus tour experience through the cruise company (Norwegian Cruise Line,) since they had provided a $50 shore excursion credit which essentially gave one of us a free tour. Our excursion included an hour walking tour and provided bus reserved for just the tour passengers, that we were bussed directly to. This made the experience much nicer.

The walking tour was interesting and led through the main shopping area and the town square. The shops were plentiful and varied. There were plenty of cafes where one could stop for a coffee or snack. They all offered outdoor seating with a great chance to people-watch and enjoy the Greek experience. We were introduced to several historical buildings that contained interesting history. We abandoned the tour at the locals’ shopping street, went into a few shops and made a few purchases. The bus tour itself drove us through the city where the sights were of buildings and apartments. Other than seeing the what the city looks like, that part was not really interesting. The stop at the Minoan Palace offered, for an additional price, a walk through the site with a look into the archeological reconstruction, and part of the area was closed due to Covid. I think that if you were a real archeological buff then you would spend a lot of time walking through the site. We however, are not. So we spent about 45 minutes walking through the area reading some of the signs and then headed back to the bus. It wasn’t worth the price of admission, other than to say that we came and we saw. The area across the street did provide some shopping entertainment while the husbands waited in line to purchase the tickets. Turned out that the area provided some of the cheaper souvenirs of the islands. So, shopping there was more economical if you are looking for Greece items, not specific to the islands. The area is a more modern city type of environment, the charm of the Greek islands you are expecting isn’t found in Crete’s capital.

Several years ago, we visited Istanbul for two partial days on a cruise ship. We found it to be fascinating place with really friendly people. We enjoyed our time there so much that returning was definitely on the list, so when faced with five days between cruises in and out of Athens we looked at our options. It turned out that there was a quick non-stop flight to Istanbul, and we decided to spend the time there. We were very glad we did.

The most amazing thing about Istanbul is the variety. Being the only city that is in Asia and Europe, the diversity is wonderful. As you walk down the streets you see all kinds of people from all different places. The languages spoken here come from every corner of the world. We met a man that spoke five languages besides his native and uses them all for business. That certainly made me feel inadequate as a world traveler and very under-educated and reminded me how lucky I am that the one language I can speak is English.

Walking down any street in Istanbul can be an adventure. The city has lots of hills with winding streets and alleys, and you may find anything from a 300BCE ruin to a modern hotel. We went in search of a historical marker and discovered that the entire area had been fenced off. When talking with a local about it we learned that in the process of updating the area to be more tourist friendly they found the ruins of a Turkish bath believed to be from 600CE. You just never know what you will see as you walk through the city areas.

The Sultanahmet Square was originally a chariot race area. They have a few markers to explain how that happened and there are several obelisks from those ancient times as well. At one end is the Blue Mosque, and at the other end is the Hagia Sophia. We stayed very close to that area and found it incredibly convenient as we were within walking distance of anything we needed, including the tram and public transportation. Even if you are not staying in the neighborhood, plan a day in the area. The Blue Mosque is a must see as is Hagia Sophia.

In that area you will also find the Basilica Cisterns, be sure to look for the head of medusa, and the Topkapi Palace which has many rooms buildings to explore that will illustrate what life was like for the royalty of the 16th century. The Istanbul Archaeological Museum offers a collection of mummies and sarcophagi that is unrivaled, and for the science geeks, be sure to stop at Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam to learn about early inventions and that will amaze. You will also find several other mosques, shopping, and food well worth the stop. If you are a fan of Dan Brown and have read The Inferno, you will recognize several of the locations from his book.

On another day, venture to the European area on the other side of the river where you will find the shopping district of the city. If you are looking for the latest from Louie Vuitton or H&M, you will find it here. You will also find the Galata Tower, where you can ride to the top and see the city view that is unforgettable. You will again find mosques to visit, museums to spend time wandering, and food to enjoy.

The Asian side of the city offers a beautiful view and some towers and bridges that are worth the visit. Take the public ferry across for quick, cheap transportation. From the landing you can walk down the river side or hop on a bus to anywhere. If you walk along the river, you will find another beautiful old mosque. At one point, we had six mosques all within view. It was so cool, during the prayer call, to hear the prayers coming from each of the mosques sequentially. Very neat experience. A 10-minute bus ride will drop you at the Beylerbeyi Palace. Walking through the buildings and gardens is delightful and you will want to be sure to get there before about 4pm, since everything closes at 6. Walking the streets, we found many local places that offered a glimpse of life in the area. We enjoyed an amazing lunch for less than $10. The people were kind and helpful and a few enjoyed practicing their English on us.

Another “can’t miss” is the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. The Grand Bazaar is picturesque and enormous. The Spice Market is also a huge, covered bazaar containing countless little shops and stalls that sell Turkish Delights, teas, and spices. If you like to cook and enjoy trying new recipes, bring home some spices. They have some of the very best seasonings for meat and vegetables I have ever used. The fish spice is a must for me, I am not a huge fish eater, and this spice will make any fish taste wonderful. I also enjoyed the tea shops immensely. They have types of tea you’ve never heard of, and the fruit teas are not like anything you have ever tasted before. The fruit flavors are not overwhelmed by tea and the way they get the flavor to come through is amazing. The apple and pomegranate are my favorite, but the others are nice as well. If you like tea at all, you will come away a fan. Be sure to purchase some, since the prices are really cheap compared to western prices, and the tea is much better than anything we get here in the States. At the Grand Bazaar, you can find any tourist item you could possibly want and a lot of others you won’t. It is a shopper’s delight so plan on leaving with lots of bags even if you are not big on shopping.

I thought that upon my return to Istanbul I would get it off my list and feel no need to go back, but I was sorely mistaken. This city has been added to the list of “always a good idea” along with London, New York, Puerto Vallarta, Budapest, and Munich. Istanbul offers ancient and modern, museums and shopping, food and friendly people. It’s definitely a must see for anyone.