It all happened in 2015, because our vacation home at Lake Havasu wasn’t being used enough. After having had the place for almost fifty years, it was difficult to part with, but the expenses weren’t worth the one or two times a year the house was used. So I sold it and did well on it financially. My daughter suggested that instead of adding the income to the family trust, I should enjoy it with the family. It sounded like a good idea, so I invited kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and shirt-tail relatives, adding up to a party of twenty. A cruise of the Greek Isles was chosen because of its calm waters, in deference to my son-in-law and anyone else in the group who might suffer from sea sickness. We would all fly to Venice, Italy, the embarkation location. With twenty people planning to go on a trip, I was fearful that someone would get ill and need to cancel, but that didn’t happen. We all made it! My daughter Jeannette did the planning and worked with a travel agent, so all I had to do was hand over the credit card.
Some of us spent several days in Venice, Italy, a place that is now one of my favorite cities. I loved traversing the canals via water taxi and found it exciting to enter our hotel from the water. Of course, there were many places within walking distance, e.g. San Marcos Square and the gelato stand we visited daily. We picked up souvenirs at Murano, known as the Glass Island, and Burano, the Lace Island.
We boarded the cruise ship on May 2nd. Our cabins were all on the same deck. I had booked a suite for myself so we would have what I referred to as “Party Central.” I love company, so was always happy when my doorbell rang, even when I had planned to nap (I never did get a chance to nap). The cappuccino maker turned out to be an invitation for visitors. I know nothing about making cappuccino, or any form of coffee, for that matter, so every time someone dropped in for a cup, I’d summon my grandson to come and satisfy these requests.
Of course, I realized that we wouldn’t all be together all the time. Everyone went their separate ways during the day, some in small groups and some in large groups. But each evening, we all got together for dinner, where we had reserved two tables for the entire cruise. Most evenings we would all go to my suite after dinner for various activities, among them a family trivia game originated by my grandson and his wife.
The first stop on the cruise was the island of Corfu, which I would call “The Kumquat Island,” because everything imaginable is made from kumquats: liqueur, candy, cake, jellies, and much more. This beautiful island is a favorite vacation destination.
The next day we went to Santorini, a beautiful sight to see as the cruise ship approached, with all the snowy white buildings perched atop a hill. When we went onto the island we were told we could get to the top “By tram or by donkey – same price.” When one envisions Greece, this is probably the island that comes to mind. Many movies were shot there, “Zorba the Greek,” “Mamma Mia,” “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin,” to name a few. My grandson and his wife rented a boat and invited me to join them. We took the boat to a lovey beach with black volcanic sand. My grandson and his wife cavorted in the clear blue water. I hadn’t worn my bathing suit, so couldn’t join them. After the boat ride, we rode the gondola to the top of the island and had lunch while looking out over the ocean.
The next island we visited was Mykonos, known for its beautiful beaches and its pristine appearance, and it’s also known for its confusing streets that twist and turn, following no particular pattern. They were created in this fashion to confuse pirates, and tourists are confused as well, including us. All the houses and places of business are white, which is a requirement, the penalty for non-compliance being inaccessibility to the city’s water, sewers, or electricity. The exception to the rule is that doors, shutters, and trim may be painted in bright colors – blue, green, or red. With its underwater beauty, this island is also a scuba diver’s paradise. Some of our party took a ferry to Delos, an island of ancient ruins, off the coast of Mykonos. One of my daughters felt her Greek trip wouldn’t be complete until she had some feta cheese. This goal was accomplished in Mykonos when she had some feta on her salad.
The last port of call was Katakolon, where we visited Olympia and were able to see the original Olympic stadium and walk where Olympic athletes had performed. We saw the spot where the torch gets lit for all Olympic games. We also visited a farm where there were several crops, primarily olives of many varieties. We had a typical Greek dinner, after which I was conversing with the captain of our ship and his wife, who happened to be sitting across the table from me, when I heard the strains of a Cretan song that promised the dances I had hoped to see from the moment I arrived in Greece. Sure enough, several of the waiters and waitresses began an authentic Greek dance. Soon they summoned some of the guests to join them and, before long, there was a line of dancers snaking its way around the room. Now that I’d finally seen an Anthony Quinn/Zorba the Greek-type dance, my Greek Isles experience was complete and I was ready to leave this beautiful place.
