Southern Europe
June 17-27, 2012: Italy, France, and Malta on the Seabourn Legend
You are invited to join Linda and Stephen Young on an idyllic cruise on the deluxe ship, the Seabourn Legend. If you have cruised a lot, and are looking for new places to go, and enjoy relaxed, fine dining experiences, this could be the one for you. Out of the way places in France and Italy, and the relatively undiscovered country of Malta are the destinations offered here and this itinerary promises a plethora of unspoiled places.
Cappadocia, Turkey
They call them the "fairie chimneys." Such is the introduction to Cappadocia, the land of the Bible. This ancient city was often besieged, and the dwellers therein escaped all their foes by going into the caves. They had a huge underground city with many miles of caves camouflaged by cleverly devised ground covers that were carefully pulled into place by the last escapee.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne, France, is the city of antiquity, dating back as far as 3500 BC. The Romans were here, and the Celts, the Visigoths, and much later Charlemagne may have passed this way. The fortress was almost impregnible, and today it boasts the largest walled city in Europe. It looks more like Cinderella land today, but a thousand years ago it was the scene of the bloodiest battles between the Cathars and the men of the Pope who were fighting in the only "domestic" Crusade to drive out the heretics who resided in the city.
French Riviera & Tour de France
One day our Seabourn ship anchored in Monte Carlo and it was the first day of the Tour de France, with the opening ceremonies in Monaco. We docked and set off to find the festivities only to discover that all the teams were based in the harbor just a few yards from our ship! It was closed to the public -- save the teams, the dignitaries (including Prince Albert), the officials, the press, and those of us on the ships in the harbor!!
Greece
Greece is full of wonderful places such as Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Thessalonoki, Corfu, Rhodes, Delphi, Corinth, Olympia, and Athens. Greece has the most beautifully crafted jewelry in the world, especially the reproductions of the Byzantine and ancient designs. The archaelogical sites are fascinating, with Mycenae boasting one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Crete, with its palace of Knossos, is another wonder. Fresh fish and salad are staples of the Greek diet, along with many sweets made with honey and nuts. Shopping is a must with many choices of ceramics, furs, jewelry, ikons, and handcrafts.
Istanbul: A City of Energy
Istanbul is one of our favorite picks and is a city that many people find extremely fascinating. The people are kind and friendly, the summer nightlife on the Bosphorous is unlike no other, and the pastries, salads, baklava, lamb, and fresh fish are to die for. There is also so much history and numerous sights to see. The Grand Bazaar — known for thousands of mini shops and store owners wanting to negotiate or show you a Turkish rug — is a place to visit while you are alive, as is the Blue Mosque with its hundreds of lights and beautiful blue stained glass, the Hagia Sophia, the underground water cistern with an upside down Minerva's head where a James Bond movie was filmed, the spice market, and many other attractions.
Italy: Bellagio & Como
Located in the Lake Como region, Bellagio is a fantastic city to visit for a day or to stay for a few nights. Nestled into the mountain, there are lots of little shops and boutiques, many places to get a prosciutto pizza or a cone of gelato, and great people watching. Most of Bellagio is on a hill and there are old stone steps to climb to get from the water to the top where many of the shops are located.
Italy: Cernobbio
Cernobbio is located in the Lake Como Region on the opposite side of the lake as Bellagio. Boats to Bellagio run several times a day, including one boat that transports vehicles in case you want to boat over and take a scenic drive back. Cernobbio is a small town with very few American tourists and is what I would consider a sleepy town. It's very comfortable and relaxing and our meals were outstanding.
Italy: Milan
Milano is the hub of commerce for Italy and very different than the other large cities, such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. What makes it unique is its focus on fashion, shopping, and business. The city doesn't have as much of the Italian lackadaisical laid-back "whenever" feel that you get in Amalfi or the Tuscany region but more so it possesses a sense of big city, commerce, and hustle bustle. Milan is in a good location and is easy to fly into and out of, and the train system makes it easy to reach other cities in a few hours time as well.
Italy: Tremezzo & Lenno
Tremezzo is located in the Lake Como region, about a 30 minutes drive from Cernobbio and a short boat ride across the lake to Bellagio. It is conveniently located and the lake activities are a big part of the daily agenda. It is also a good place to relax. One of our favorite ventures in this area was a trip to Lenno to see the Villa del Balbianello. From Tremezzo, you can take a ferry to Nello, and from Nello, you walk a few blocks to catch a small boat to the villa.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is part of the beautiful northern paradors of Spain. This region is known for authentically restored castles, palaces, and monasteries in stunning settings. You'll love feasting on seven-course meals in medieval castles and enjoying cultural entertainment. This area is rich with history and can be seen first-hand in nearby Bibao at the world-renown Guggenheim Museum or by following in the footsteps of the pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela known for its magnificent Cathedral which contains the relics of St. James. A stop in Porto is a must — it is known for Port Wine and Coimbra where you can visit it's famous university which was founded in the 13th century.
Spain
Spain is flamboyant and boisterous, vibrant and pulsating; it reveals its varied history of conquistadores, Moors, and barbarians who occupied it. Spain is a sensuous place that is filled with delicious scents, vivid colors, and rich fabrics. The shapes and textures of the architecture are full of angles and curves, and variations of color. The aroma of tapas and dark red wine follow as you wander down medieval streets, and the strains of music float in the air as you turn a corner and happen upon an impromptu concert. The shop windows are laden with the bright golds and reds and emerald tones that the senoritas favor in their swirling skirts, and the glint of silver jewelry will also catch your eye. It is truly a feast for the eyes, for the stomach, and for the soul that awaits you in Spain, for that was the land to first welcome the Christian, the Jew, and the Muslim in peaceful harmony. Spain is also a land of passion, and you will not be unaffected if you venture forth into this glorious Espana.
St. Tropez
St. Tropez is one of the best places I know if you are looking for any of these things: the most sophisticated individuals strolling, painting, and sailing along the waterfront, gorgeous harbour filled with incredible yachts, the most expensive sports cars per square metre outside of a Lamborghini sales floor, countless boutiques featuring tres chic merchandise, and perhaps the best looking canine set around sporting the very latest in fashionable collar and chain ensembles. Add a few coquettish children to the mix, and, well, you can have a fun-filled day sight-seeing at the docks.
