Judy resting on a wall in Corinth
In 2007 I took my last 'big' cruise with a group of mostly WELS folks from around the nation, most of them from the West Coast. It was on this trip that I officially met and became friends with Judy Rusert and her husband, Jerry. It was more memorable for them since they never got their luggage the entire trip---eventually did get it once back home in MN, a week or so later! The others shared with them as best we could, plus the gift shops provided the needed items they were lacking.
The daughter of our tour organizer, Vicki, took this photo from the roof top bar/restaurant of our hotel. See the cross which shows up in the doorway? We stayed in such lovely hotels on this trip, when we were off the ship. Also had a first-class guide who made the entire adventure that much more wonderful. Thanks to the Internet, I am yet in contact with many of the fine folks met on this trip, and still exchange greeting cards with Marion, the lady who traveled alone to Athens, celebrating her 80th birthday! This year she will be 87 and still going strong!
This photo was taken looking up at Santorini from the dock. The trail snaking its way to the town is the one which the donkeys walk up, carrying passengers. Folks can also walk on this path, at their own risk, because the donkeys have the right-of-way and don't care where they drop their dung. It might be a bit slippery, and more than a little stinky! I have always opted for the tram which travels the hillside nearly vertically to the top.
Whenever I have spent time in Mykonos, I would get my photo taken at this same boat. Note the octopus hanging from the ropes above the boat.
Before I left Mykonos, I managed to find a music store which provided me with a Sarah Brightman CD to enjoy in my ship's cabin. On the path back to the ship is this wonderful ice cream shoppe where Justin and I have enjoyed a treat on previous visits. I had to do it this time, too, even though he wasn't with me. Note the can of soda next to the bottle of soda. The bottle went back to the ship with me for another time. Look at that marvelous ice cream treat!
Later, the above mentioned Marion came to my cabin to listen to the CD with me, and when I played "Con te Partirò" for her, she said she never wanted to hear it again. It moved her in a such an amazing way. The song, its English title being "Time to Say Good-Bye", was first enjoyed by Justin and me on our cruise in 2004. We were swept off our feet, both of us, by Sarah Brightman and her version of this song. Marion, however, was swept in a different way, moved by the haunting melody. In fact, so much so that she can't bear to hear it again.
