Mediterranean Cruise

We returned this week from a very interesting and exotic 2 weeks through countries along the Mediterranean.  We flew to Malin and then on to Venice which we loved.  All the images of  that serene and beautiful city of canals (118 to be exact) are "right on".  We rode through the streets in a gondola and walked over many a bridge on the cobblestone paths to plazas,  villages and neighborhoods. 

Our next port was Cairo, Egypt which has similarities to India.  We took a bus out to see the pyramids and the Sphinx and take in the local sights.  It was perfect weather and no sand storms.  While in Egypt we also went to Alexandria and went down into the catacombs and visited the King Tut museum.

We visited a papyrus museum and learned how papyrus is made into paper and colorful pictures.

Next stop, and probably our favorite was 2 days in the Holy Land.  The day walking in old Jerusalem, where Jesus walked and ultimately died was very educational and inspiring.   We saw the sights believed to be Golgotha, the city walls and gate of Damascus and Mt. of Olives.  We spent a time that  evening contemplating Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane  and felt the powerful spirit that permeates that holy place.

We went to the "temple square" inside the old city where the Muslims, Jews and Christians all claim entitlement and worship there.  The "wailing wall" was most interesting.

The following day was spent in and around Galilee and Nazareth where Christ did so much work and preformed miracles.  We visited the sights of Sermon on the Mount, River Jordan, Capurnaum and walked IN the Sea of Galilee.  We took a wooden boat out on the Sea, but no one was able to walk ON water !!

Next stop, Athens, Greece.  Once again everything was TOTALLY different from what we had seen at our other stops.  We visited the Acropolis, Panathinion Stadium (1st Olympics), and the Dionysos Theatre (can hold 17,000).  All of these stone structures have been preserved and rebuilt quite well.

Our last port was Splita, Croatia .  This was a really beautiful port city with a very European flavor.

This was a GRAND once-in-a-lifetime adventure to that beautiful part of the world.  We were able to get the flavor of a lot of places and once again are in "awe" at the Lord's huge and diverse world and the beautiful people that live there.