Memories on this Date

[Cruising-along]

A year ago today we were in Kotor, Montenegro.  A favorite port of mine -- beauty, history, and LOTS of cats to pet.  I broke my "no more magnets" rule and bought one that day.  

[sailingdutchy]

We also have very fond memories of our cruise last year on the Koningsdam and we had a marvelous day in Kotor on Oct 21, 2019 , with everything happening this year it seems all so long ago ! 

 

[bennybear]

@rafinmd we were supposed to go to that port last year but they switched it a month out, so really appreciate seeing it!

  @sailingdutchy@Cruising-along Great Kotor photos!  You must have done a similar tour to ours with that little island.  We were there last fall on the Koningsdam,  so I’ll share those photos as on this date we were at sea! 

 

 

 

[sailingdutchy]

6 minutes ago, bennybear said:

 

  @sailingdutchy@Cruising-along Great Kotor photos!  You must have done a similar tour to ours with that little island.  We were there last fall on the Koningsdam,  so I’ll share those photos as on this date we were at sea! 

 

 

 

Yes we did a Kotor Private Tour whish started by going along the coast to Sv Stefan , that little Island and than we went lad inwards into the mountains to Cetinje to see the former Kings private residence after which we went to a farm and had some wonderful prociutto , cheese homemade bread and wine and grape brandy  all produced on the farm . On the way back we had this great view over the inlet from way above .

 

Great day 

Tony 

[Dismomx5]

A year ago, we were in Corfu, Greece. We had booked a taxi tour with another couple. The company had no record of it when we got there, but quickly sent out a taxi. It was a teeeny tiny car, and with 2 people with knee issues just wouldn't work. Then the company sent a small mini van. It was an excellent tour once we got started! I really loved the monasteries we visited, but we were getting quite tired by this time. It's hard not to go-go-go when you never know if you'll ever be back in that part of the world again. 

[bennybear]

@sailingdutchy   Sounds like a great tour,  would love to visit the king’s home and that charcuterie!  Another time! 

@Dismomx5you’ve given me a great idea for another visit!  

 

[Cruising-along]

One year ago today we were in Split, Croatia with the Koningsdam.  We went to Vela Luka and a winery in Smokvica.  Of course the main attraction for me was the winery kitties who were super friendly.  🙂  Oh, I did buy a couple bottles of wine!

[bennybear]

I need to visit that winery next time in Split!  

Post cruise four years ago in Rome.  One of our favourite restaurants near Campo Di fiori

[Cruising-along]

9 minutes ago, bennybear said:

I need to visit that winery next time in Split!

Super friendly kitties.  I'm holding and feeding "Jill" in this photo.

[StLouisCruisers]

 

Stairs in Kotor with 7 cats.  Some of them blend right in.  Except for the two on the actual stairs, the group decided to be socially distant. 

[Roger88]

One of the reasons I visit this thread from time to time is to see places and food that I havent been to or have not tried yet. I wish I could also post something similar to this but unfortunatly I am stuck at home... 

 

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Stairs in Kotor with 7 cats.  Some of them blend right in.  Except for the two on the actual stairs, the group decided to be socially distant. 

Love!!  

[rafinmd]

I'm going to take some liberties here for the next couple of days.  The Amsterdam was at sea October 22-23 but I'll report on October 22 at sea tomorrow.  We were actually supposed to be in Inchon October but the Chinese got into a bit of a snit about us going from Korea to China so we extended our time in Japan instead.  These memories come from a 2014 World Cruise medley where I combined Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity, and Amsterdam Bali-Singapore-Cape Town-Ft Lauderdale.  My best flight to Bali was Korean Air, and I took advantage of the opportunity for a stopover in Seoul and my tour on the 22nd was to the DMZ(actually, a "Civilian Control Area at the edge of the DMZ).   We stopped at Imjingak, just outside the Civilian Control Area where our guide got our entry passes and we got our first glimpse of the border fortifications:

 

 

When we entered the Civilian Control Area we first got a look at a model of Panmunjon where the armistice hammered out:

 

 

The armistice did not mean peace.  The north has made several covert attacks including trying to dig tunnels under the DMZ.  We got a look at one, discovered in 1978:

 

 

We visited "Dora Observatory, although it was quite foggy.  I did get a glimpse of North Korea but could not pick it up with the camera.  Here's the tower:

 

 

Roy

[Dismomx5]

Last year, today, the Nieuw Statendam berthed in Katakolon, Greece. We did a countryside tour and visited an olive farm/packager. Very interesting. After the tour of the processing rooms ,we had an olive oil tasting. Who would have thought that there was a way to taste the oil properly? The lemon olive oil was scrumptious. Then on to Olympia. Seeing the Olympic village, and learning how many people participated each time was mind-boggling.

 

[VintageGeo]

In 2017 we visited Newport, RI and did the tour of the Vanderbilt "cottages". It never ceases to amaze what can be accomplished when one has more money than they could ever spend and aren't afraid to try.

 

Marble House

 

The entry gates weigh ten tons...

 

The Breakers

 

Lori & George

 

 

 

 

[mckgreg]

I was in the South Pacific with my son, Greg. Greg passed away in 2016 so our cruises are treasured memories.

[VintageGeo]

46 minutes ago, mckgreg said:

our cruises are treasured memories.

Absolutely! So sorry for your loss, and thank you for sharing those memories.

 

[bennybear]

4 hours ago, mckgreg said:

I was in the South Pacific with my son, Greg. Greg passed away in 2016 so our cruises are treasured memories.

Making memories is so important!  Sorry for your loss!

[VintageGeo]

Three years ago this morning our Canada/New England trip came to an end with a foggy morning sail-in and a flight out of Newark. It was our only cruise outside of HAL (so far), and we had 15 wonderful days.

 

 

Thanks again, bennybear, for starting this thread and leading us down memory lane.

Have a great day!

 

Lori & George

 

[rafinmd]

I'm going to play fast and loose here with the date here.  The Amsterdam was at sea October 22-23 (2017) but the 23rd was pretty routine.  We had a HUGE storm on October 22.  Pretty much everything had to be tied down:

 

 

The sun did come up to a clear sky most of the day but the seas remained choppy.

 

 

Salt was caked everywhere:

 

 

It was a day to adapt to a practice I had developed crossing the Drake Passage several years earlier for descending stairs, grabbing the handrail well before reaching the first step and maintaining contact all the way to my destination:

 

 

Roy

[Cruising-along]

A year ago we were in Omis, Croatia and we took a riverboat cruise.  Oh my, I'll never forget the beauty around us as we sailed slowly along. It was heavenly and so calming.  One of my fondest memories.  And of course there were cats to pet too.  🙂  

[StLouisCruisers]

Cats seem popular on here lately.  I don't have any myself, but do like to take photos of them.  

 

This next cat family was seen while we walked the streets of Athens near the port where we were docked (Piraeus).  Pacific Princess December 2018.  This was a step or two below the sidewalk level at someone's doorway.  Gotta watch your step while traveling - no OSHA regulations!

 

 

 

[bennybear]

Oh I have never seen the Purcell dispensers tied down! 

Last evening in Rome post cruise,  so I will be watching your memories for the next few weeks, until later in November.  

[rafinmd]

@bennybear, that last picture looks like it would fit in with all the social distancing decals we have today.

 

Roy

[Dismomx5]

Last year, we couldn't get into Piraeus and we docked at Heraklion instead. DH wasn't feeling well, so I did the HOHO bus on my own. I wanted to actually get off at Knossos  but told DH that I wouldn't be but a couple of hours-next time I'll know better. As an aside, there were a lot of disgruntled passengers because we didn't dock in Piraeus, but other ships did. The Captain listened to them in the Captain's talk two days later, giving his reasons. My thoughts are that the Captain makes the best choice for THEIR ship, not caring about what other ships do.

@mckgreg, I'm sorry about the death of your son. I'm sure your cruise memories make you smile through your loss.

My goodness! Your evening Rome pictures are gorgeous @bennybear! We stayed a a B&B at the gates of St. Peter's. Looking at those pictures made me miss that! Maybe that coin in the fountain will someday get me back to Rome.

@rafinmd that looks like a wicked storm!