TLCOhio

From London Telegraph Italy travel expert Anne Hanley, she also had this profile titled: “The best restaurants in Venice” with these highlights: “Venice is famously a minefield of overpriced, tourist-trap restaurants offering depressingly mediocre food. Happily, for those in the know there are also some wonderful authentic local finds, and dazzling fine dining establishments, confirmed in 2022 by a dusting of new Michelin stars. Our expert shares her favourite places to eat in Venice – from intimate Michelin-starred canal-side establishments offering delicately presented seafood dishes; to old-school Venetian trattorias where punters can savour delicious seafood pasta and a carafe of local wine while watching the world go by.” Among those suggested are: "Osteria San Marco is a rare exception – an oasis of quality in a sea of menù turistici, a good-looking contemporary osteria with a simple but creative seasonally changing menu (pacchetti pasta with prawns, aubergine and liquorice butter, duck breast with paprika and acacia honey) and a serious, well-priced wine list, including several by-the-glass options. Quadri: Chef Massimiliano (aka Max) Alajmo is a creative genius who delights in sleight of hand party pieces such as his cappuccino di laguna starter – an exquisite seafood mix posing as a breakfast beverage. Ai Mercanti: It's a little hidden away, but once you find it this 'gastrosteria' provides what is so often lacking in Venice: high-level cuisine in an ambience of contemporary elegance, at prices that will not leave you feeling fleeced. Alle Testiere: A single, soberly elegant dining room is the venue for this ever-popular seafood restaurant where chef Bruno and sommelier Luca are an excellent double act." Do these mentions of great, fresh seafood make you hungry? Many more options are detailed in this lengthy profile. Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/veneto/venice/articles/venice-restaurants/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 240,748 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

From the London/UK Telegraph last year, they had this headline: “How to spend a weekend in Venice" with this sub-headline: "An insider guide to the city on water, a trove of historical treasures, fine dining and vibrant culture.” Here are a few of their reporting highlights by Anne Hanley from her thirty years of experience living in Italy: “There are days when visitors to this exquisite jewel box of a city outnumber locals two-to-one, and when getting from the station to St Mark's square is a battle. But despite this, Venice never loses its capacity to enchant: stepping out of the station to be greeted by a glittering canal with the dome of San Simeon Piccolo beyond remains heart-stopping, whether you're doing it for the first time or the 100th. Even at peak visitor periods, the worst excesses can be avoided and you're never more than a bridge away from secluded Venice with its quiet campi (squares), churches concealing luminous Madonnas, handsome Gothic palazzi – and bustling neighbourhood hangouts.” Here are a couple of good tips to consider: "The wondrous, mosaic-studded interior of Venice's mother church, St Mark's Basilica doesn't open to visitors until 9.30 am, but anyone is welcome to attend morning mass. Take your pick between the 8 am and 10 am slots. The advantage of the latter, apart from the lie-in, is that it's sometimes a sung Lauds mass. Enjoy a morning stroll along the scenic Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront promenade and hop on the number 2 vaporetto at the San Marco – San Zaccaria stop. Get off at the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, and take the lift to the top of the church's 18th-century campanile to enjoy a spectacular view of Venice and its lagoon." This Venice thread is now over 100,000 views. Appreciate all who have dropped, made comments, shared info, asked questions, etc. Keep it up!! Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/veneto/venice/articles/venice-travel-guide/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 245,853 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

From the London/UK Telegraph last summer, they had this headline: “How to spend a short break in Dubai" with this sub-headline: "From audacious architecture to glittering glamour, an insider guide to the City of Gold.” Hear a few of their reporting highlights: “Dubai is often described as Las Vegas without the casinos. It certainly likes to do things on a grand scale. Supersized hotels, buffets, malls, amusement parks, aquariums, designer cars and luxury yachts are all commonplace. Expect to crane your neck looking up at the world’s tallest building — the Burj Khalifa — and then score a dizzying number of Instagram likes with a photo taken in front of the world’s largest flower arrangement (five million blooms set in the shape of an Airbus A380 plane, thanks to the Dubai Miracle Garden). Don’t be afraid of the heights, mega brunches or the 16-lane Sheikh Zayed Road that is the spinal column of Dubai. Indulge in the emirate’s excesses; put that elastic belt to the test, skydive out of a plane, spend like no one is watching and enjoy the year-round sunshine on more than 10 miles of wide sandy beaches. Moderation doesn’t suit this place. Go big, and then go home.” Many options, tips and ideas are outlined in this long profile with many visuals, etc. Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/dubai/articles/dubai-travel-guide/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,564 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

From US News, they had this headline: “Best Times To Visit Istanbul” with these highlights: “The best times to visit Istanbul are from March to May and between September and November. That's when crowds at the city's attractions are manageable, room rates are average and daytime temperatures generally sit in the 60s and 70s. Peak season – from June to August – sees temps soar into the low 60s to low 80s. December through February, meanwhile, are the cheapest months to visit, but Istanbul's rainy, snowy and chilly conditions (temps are in the high 30s to high 50s) mean you'll have to don cold weather attire and lug an umbrella during your stay.” We visited there in June 2006 and the weather worked fine. Full story at: https://travel.usnews.com/Istanbul_Turkey/When_To_Visit/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 70,784 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

From the London/UK Daily Mail two days ago, they had this headline: “Dubai is the No1 destination in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards” with these highlights: “Dubai has been ranked as the most popular destination in the world for the second year running by the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards for destinations. The winners for the 2023 awards were identified based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings specific to several award subcategories from travellers on Tripadvisor for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations worldwide over the 12 months between November 2021 and October 2022. Tripadvisor says of first-place Dubai: 'A favourite with celebs and influencers, the 'City of Gold' continues to attract tourists from all over the world seeking out their very own slice of luxury.' ” Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-11643547/Tripadvisor-ranks-Dubai-2023s-No1-destination-London-Europe-NYC-USA.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 70,784 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Appreciate these kind comments and this follow-ups from this NZ traveler. Great to hear that I have "hooked" you on the Med. We have not exactly moved on from Celebrity. The challenge with Celebrity is that most of their cruise liners are fairly large and they are limited as to being able to visit certain smaller, more-interesting ports. For us, it is about the itineraries!!! Where can we go that is unique, different and special? Just visiting ports we have already done is not as attractive and appealing. Trade-offs?? Pro-con factors?? Cruise lines such as Silversea tend offer a wider variety of more creative schedules and locations to visit. It is good to have many, variety travel options. From a key travel news website this morning, they had this headline: “Delta Air Lines unveils 1st-ever route to New Zealand” with these highlights: “Delta Air Lines will land down under later this year with its first-ever service to New Zealand. The carrier announced on Friday that it's adding a nonstop flight from its hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Auckland Airport (AKL) starting Oct. 28. This new 6,504-mile nonstop flight will operate daily using an Airbus A350. The new route will be available to book starting on Saturday, Jan. 21, and there's no telling how many SkyMiles a business-class ticket will cost.” More airline options to New Zealand is good. But, however, it is still a long, long flight to reach super scenic NZ. Full story at: https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-air-lines-new-zealand-paris-routes/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,564 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Appreciate this sharing of these visuals from our friend in Maryland. Yes, recognize many of these locations from our visit there. Fortunately, we had a little more sunshine and blue skies during our time there. If you enjoy Tallinn, below is round three of more "eye-candy" from our 2008 Baltics/Russia trip that included a visit to Estonia. On this Saturday, a local festival and parade was happening. That added to the "FUN" and excitement for visiting here and sampling a little of their local cultural. These visuals also offer a wider sampling of the architecture and building styles. Look like a "good time was had by all"?? Have added tips, memories, pictures, etc.? Add and share them here. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 100,049 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

If you like Tallinn and/or have an upcoming trip planned for there, below is round two of more "eye-candy" from our 2008 Baltics/Russia trip that included a visit to Estonia. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 240,748 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139 At Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, here is a view of its unique exterior and then a close up for one its mosaics on the outside of this historic Orthodox church.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is a Tallinn street-shop vendor with various woolen items at her stall near the famous Viru Gate as you entered the lower walled area. This area is commonly called the “Sweater Wall”. Very charming and interesting. Good values and buys.: At lunch, we enjoyed Tallinn’s local beer. This is the most popular beer in Estonia and the oldest operating brewery. Their slogan: "it's about the taste". We agree!!!: In the lower area of Tallinn, here is an older, back street with historic stone buildings.: From our ship, here is a view of the main, historic town area with the many towers and excellent architectural features.:

Appreciate these great follow-ups and comments for Tallinn with its many charms and great character. For those who have not been there, yet, below are just a few of my visuals as "evidence" as to what makes Tallinn so super wonderful. Might share more later. Just have to dig out of my historic files. Does this pictures bring back any nice memories for those who have visited Tallinn? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 255,727 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474 At the top of Tallinn’s Toompea hill, this shows part of the Estonia Parliament building in the historic Pink Baroque Palace and the old Pikk Hermann watchtower with their flag on top.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is an inside view of Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the Orthodox style 1894–1900. This church crowns the hill of Toompea. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.: Inside of Tallinn’s historic St. Mary's Cathedral Lutheran church with parts of the building dating back to the 12th Century. The main church was built in the 14th Century: Dancers marching in Tallinn’s festival parade near the stone towers of the famous Viru Gate. So much charm, character and history in this somewhat hidden treasure of a town!! Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its history goes back to the 1100's and it was an important port for trade between Russia and Scandinavia. In 1285, the city became the northern-most member of the Hanseatic League, a famed trading and military alliance of German-dominated cities.: Shopping is great in Tallinn. Here we are inside a nice linen shop near the City Hall.:

Appreciate these additional details and follow-up. To some, it might be "too much information", but it alerts us to consider carefully your health plans, approach and strategy. Sometimes on forms, you can disclose too much. At other times, it is important and vital. Hard to strike the right/best balance? When we did the Amazon River sailing in 2015 on the Silver Cloud, we needed to get certain added shots and vaccinations. BUT, my wife has a type of immune deficiency and could not take the yellow fever live vaccine. We had a letter from her doctor detailing that situation, why and how if an issue/question came up. Doing this planning and prep is important. It requires some serious advanced research to be properly ready for such travels. Enjoy Rio, South America, etc. Keep us posted as to how this adventure goes, your top highlights, etc. Good luck!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Great comment and follow-up about airline fares being up, UP and UP!! Whether using points, cash and/or through Silversea, the costs have risen fast. If you are paying super premium prices, that "lack of value" definitely does damper any hoped travel fun. From the Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, they had two different headlines making these points: “Stocks Fall After Weak Economic Data Revive Recession Fears" with this sub-headline: "Retail-sales figures raise concerns about growth; Treasury yields slide.” Plus this other major WSJ headline: "U.S. Retail Sales Fell 1.1% in December" with this sub-headline: "Sales see biggest monthly decline of 2022 as consumers cut back at height of holiday season." Among the reporting highlights/details were: “Stocks fell Wednesday after a fresh batch of economic data offered worrying signs of how the economy is weathering the Federal Reserve’s tightening campaign. A Federal Reserve report Wednesday found economic activity was relatively flat at the start of the year and businesses are pessimistic about growth in the months ahead.” Today, Royal Caribbean's stock was down 3.02% in just a one-day trading period. Carnival was down 4.14%. Overall today, the S&P 500 was down 1.56%. Is this good or encouraging news after the cruise stocks and market had been positive since the first of January 2023? Full stories at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-markets-dow-update-01-18-2023-11674043955?mod=hp_lead_pos1 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Agree above with R&T's great comments and follow-up regarding Silversea's "all-inclusive" offering/pricing. As noted on these SS board for Lois' latest sailing, it really hit when she shared that she only went on one excursion during her entire cruise. WOW!! She did not get the best "value" offering from Silversea. As the economy tightens, Silversea might need to re-evaluate as to if this higher excursions-including prices sell best. From the below-connected financial website, they had this headline: “Small Ships Are Making Big Waves: The Growing Demand for Luxury Cruises” with these highlights: “You won’t find waterparks or mega theatres on small cruise ships. Instead, small cruise ships like award-winning Silversea’s Silver Cloud can pull up next to a glacier in Alaska and pluck some ice for an authentic Alaskan cocktail hour. Luxury small ship cruising is surging in popularity, with the number of ships set to double by 2030. Small ship cruise lines typically offer up to 50% more personal space per person compared to their mega-ship counterparts. Service levels are significantly higher with one-to-one service levels or nearly double the amount of crew per passenger. But perhaps the biggest draw for travelers considering a small ship cruise: adventure. Small ships can easily navigate remote harbors of coveted destinations that typical cruise ships can’t get anywhere near.” As we who have done Silversea know, smaller ships have some advantages. Sales are going well now and larger ships require big, BIG number to keep them filled up. But, what happens, even to customers with more cash reserves, as the economy gets more challenged? Full story at: https://247wallst.com/investing/2023/01/10/small-ships-are-making-big-waves-the-growing-demand-for-luxury-cruises/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 21,541 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups by Hezu and Hallam about the Northern Lights. When visiting in the summer, when it is light mostly 24/7, then it will not be dark enough to see the Northern Lights. Right? Also, on a cruise ship, the schedules might have you in port only from 8 am to 6 pm, limiting your evening opportunities. To share more from our 2010 visit, below are some visuals of the Arctic Cathedral and from on top of the mountain top reached by a cable car. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 240,387 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139 For Tromsø highlights, below are exterior and interior views of their Arctic Cathedral. Not an old, traditional church, but interesting and well positioned. Next was doing the Fjellheisen Tromsø cable car that provided great views over a large portion of their downtown and the surrounding scenic areas. The top is at an altitude of 421 meters above sea level. We also visited a local museum with polar and community history.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate ALL of these great comments and follow-ups regarding Lois' Caribbean trip. Wonderful sharing in many ways!! On the question of Silversea shifting to things being "all-inclusive" including excursions, Lois' experience raises a legitimate and an important question, IMO. If Lois only did one ship excursion during her cruise, for at Dominica, then did she get her "money's worth" in value since those ship tour were basically added into the overall price tag?? Personally, I would rather pay the lower price and not have the so-called "free" excursions included. Right or wrong? As for Dominica, it is one of super favorites. It is not a typical, over-developed Caribbean island, too crowded with cruise ships and failing to offer any feel for the people and the island character/charm there. Need proof for Dominica? Below are just three visuals from there. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 70,772 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696 Dominica's "natural charm" is wonderful. So green with heavy forests, flowing waters, etc. Below is from our rubber-tube float we did in a very scenic, wooded area of the island. Second are two visuals from the "festival" that we were lucky enough to observe during our day there. Lots of old, historic buildings in the main downtown, etc. Love Dominica, the music, people, etc.!!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Great to learn, Lois, that you will be soon heading to Istanbul and other great locations. Do carefully review ALL of the Silversea tour options and seek to maximize your efforts while in this historic city. Istanbul is not just a "one-trick-pony" like in some Caribbean islands. The options and opportunities are so, so many in Istanbul. Amazing architecture, history, culture and character. Appreciate Lois' kind comments on my pictures. It's fun to share!! Below is more about one option to see there in Istanbul. It's the Dolmabahce Palace. Not the highest, top priority in Istanbul if you only have a part of one day there to tour. But, it is interesting to see how with this structure they picked up more of the European-style in building this one palace for the Sultan. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 99,785 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226 In 1856, Sultan Abdul Mecid I moved his court to the newly-built Dolmabahce Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Located on the European side of the Bosporus, it served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922. Fourteen tons of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings. It is the largest palace in Turkey. The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is in the center hall of the palace. A gift from Queen Victoria, it has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tons. Dolmabahce has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world and one of the great staircases has bannisters of Baccarat crystal. Second is the changing of the guard.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Is your home bathroom decorated in this manner? The Sultan had a carved Alabaster bath with this example for one luxury area in the palace.: Below is a portion of the large entertainment room at this palace. Fairly lavish with super tall ceilings? Second is a small portion of the outdoor gardens and art work, etc. Could you be comfortable here?:

From our northeastern Ohio friend visiting Manaus right now, below is a picture she sent as they were visiting the Manaus Opera House yesterday. Looks good!! Also appears that there is plastic up in part of the lower seating area as I assume some "re-doing" is happening to maintain this historic structure. Should have more information and background later when they return as to her impressions and experiences for the Amazon River and Manaus. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 245,784 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Good luck to our New England neighbor with your upcoming Lima to Rio adventure on the Moon. Sounds exciting and interesting, especially on the Silver Moon. Great, challenging questions given your recent Covid situation. Yes, it is not easy know the best "rules" to follow as everything is always changing and evolving. Keep us posted as to how it all plays with Silversea, etc. In those countries of South America, there are some uncertainty with conditions there. Hope it all works out. Hope you share more as you travel as to what you see, do and enjoy. Yes, was busy last week with some work-related items. Was back and busy posting a number of items over this past weekend. Still trying to figure out our travel options for later this winter and into the Spring and Summer. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 21,541 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Don't, Lois, be too negative. But, you are being "realistic" as the Chiefs are very good in playing at home with their super-charged crowd of active fans. My wife's brother lives nearby to Kansas City, west of that city. We therefore have more than average interest in following Kansas City, especially with their great quarterback and recent NFL successes. On your cruise, with stops at St. Thomas, San Juan, St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica and St Barts, did you do much in these ports? Any special excursion highlights? Have been to Dominica and San Juan, but not to these other ports. Which islands got the most "buzz" from others on your cruise as to their best highlights? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 245,784 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Here is part three for the visual highlights and options to consider for Istanbul. More later. As mentioned, if you are there for only one cruise-day stop, you will get frustrated as there is so much to explore and consider in Istanbul. Research and plan ahead!! Hopefully, you might have a private guide who can customize for your highest personal interests in this large, historic and diverse city. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 240,387 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139 For visiting inside Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, be prepared and check their website: www.grandbazaaristanbul.org. It is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewelry and the like. The bazaar has been an important trading centre since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens (domed buildings), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is a custom item being made for our daughter-in-law being made at the Grand Bazaar from pink stones.: On the right is my wife as we were in a shop having a ring customized for her. Were we happy?: At the Topkapi Palace, it was the official and primary residence in Istanbul of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. It was the setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. Below is just one of the many building within this large complex. Plus, one of my visuals showing the Topkapi Dagger set with three large Colombian emeralds. Look impressive?:

Below is part two from Istanbul and its many scenic sights/experiences. If you have some Istanbul visuals and/or fun background, please share here. Don't be shy! Am especially interested to hear from those who have recently been to Istanbul. Given Covid and other "issues" in Turkey, Istanbul is now re-opening and gaining more cruise ship visits. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 245,784 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 Hagia Sophia, the former patriarchal basilica, later Mosque, then a museum and now back as a Mosque in Istanbul. It is a mix of both Christian and Islamic visuals on the inside. From its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. There is great artistic value in its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed, "Solomon, I have outdone thee!" In the final picture at the bottom, my wife and our guide were talking and sharing information about this historic site.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Ready for some Istanbul "eye candy"? There is so much to see and enjoy there. We were fortunate to have two full days with a private guide in Istanbul as we finished our sailing from Athens, exploring the Greek Islands and the Turkish Coast. This was our first cruise and we super loved the experience. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 255,727 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474 Here was our first view of Istanbul in June 2006 from our just-docking cruise ship as we smelled the sweet blend of this historic Turkish city. YES, you could really sense how very “special” is this unique city with so much culture, charm and interest! Istanbul has such a wide variety of history, culture, architecture, people, food, charm, etc. It’s the total experience here that is so amazing.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built from 1609 to 1616. It is still used as a mosque and is one of Istanbul's most popular tourist attraction. The design is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture. It is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect aimed for overwhelming size, majesty and splendour. It has six minarets along with eight smaller domes and one main large dome.: Remember the 1963 James Bond "To Russia with Love" film? Here are the underground cisterns of Istanbul shown during a portion of this classic movie.:

Super appreciate these great comments, insights and follow-up from the savvy cruisemom42. Excellent, key questions and helpful link/background. Before our visit in 2006 to Haghia Sophia, I was aware as to how In 1935, the first Turkish President,, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, turned the building into a museum as a way to balance out the "debate" over how to use this former Greek Orthodox Christian and Islamic religious facility. Tangled, unique history there. And in other ways for Turkey under its current leadership. Now, it is back to being a Mosque. Will share some of my visuals soon from Istanbul. Such great architecture and history there. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 49,756 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

There were some exciting, thriller games on Sunday in the NFL, including the Cincinnati Bengals beating Baltimore. That was exciting down to the last seconds. Potential good game tonight Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay to face Tom Brady, etc. Then, next week, many more big games, including Cincy visiting Buffalo with all of the hype from their recent unfinished game with the health challenge for the one Bills player. The upcoming Jacksonville AFC Divisional Playoff will be Saturday at Kansas City, 4:30 pm on NBC-TV. Fasten your seat belts, it will be fun!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Cruises and money?? From the Washington Post this morning, they had this headline: “Love that cheap cruise price? Don’t forget the boatload of fees" with this sub-headline: "Taxes, port fees, tips, drinks and activities can quickly add up.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Colleen McDaniel remembers being on her first cruise more than 20 years ago when someone offered her a drink of the day. 'I was like, great,' she remembered, and didn’t think about it when they asked for her room card. Only later did McDaniel, now editor in chief of Cruise Critic, realize that she had been charged for the drink. Cruise executives love to tout the value of a cruise: Pay one price and your lodging, food, entertainment and visits to multiple ports are included. But there are a host of added fees — some optional and some mandatory — that can come as a big surprise to new cruise travelers.” The good news with Silversea and certain higher-priced cruise lines is that there is less of these extra charges for drinks, etc. But as all of the cruise lines are looking to pay back the billions and billions of dollars borrowed during the Coved shut-down, be on the look out for these somewhat, maybe, hidden extras. This story notes: "Several cruise lines in recent months have announced they are increasing automatic gratuities, hiking prices for WiFi or charging more for room service delivery. A cruise is not just about the ship, of course — but going out and about on port visits can cost extra." For excursions with Silversea, our past experience has been that many of the tours through them have not been marked up as much compared to what other lines such as Oceania does. Any recent experiences as to how Silversea handles these tour fees? It seems now that a group of "basic" excursions are included in the price, but added fees are charged for some of the "better" ones. Right or wrong? How is the pricing for the "Selected Shore Excursions"? Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/01/15/cruise-drink-package-port-fees/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 31,720 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Super appreciate the great follow-ups from cruisemom42. As always, you bring important and helpful background and insights. Excellent added sharing by the Green Family. Yes, timing can be debatable and bit of a "roll of the dice". Then as noted below, the weather can be a factor, too, for Venice to maximize the experience. From the London/UK Telegraph yesterday, they had this headline: “If you’re visiting Venice in summer, you’re doing it all wrong" with this sub-headline: "Make the most of the Floating City’s innermost corners when the winter weather closes in.” Here are some of their reporting by Nick Trend highlights: “When the sun shines, it’s glorious. The alleyways, quaysides and canals are quiet; the locals are relaxed. The low slanting light glitters like diamonds on the surface of the water and reflects on to cracked marble and weathered brick, infusing dilapidation with beauty. On a good day, winter is the most wonderful time to explore the world’s most beautiful city. But when the rain comes, or the fog descends, or the icy tramontane wind whips down from the Dolomites, the damp and bitter cold of a Venetian winter eats into your bones. The views are gone; beauty sleeps. Cheer up. In Venice, bad weather simply presents an opportunity. What makes this such an extraordinary city is not just those near miraculous views of stone-encrusted palaces and churches shimmering like mirages on the water, but what’s inside them. And the fascinating thing about indoor Venice is just how much the decorative aesthetics of the opulent ballrooms and painted salons, the glittering mosaics and airy frescoes, have changed over time.” One key point? Don't forget the interiors: "Confidence infused the Venetians in the 16th century – it saw itself as a cultural rival to Rome and Florence, aggrandising its palazzos and championing artists such as Titian and Tintoretto." Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/veneto/venice/visiting-venice-summer-wrong/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 255,727 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474