Oman
08/12/16 20:51
Today was a full day in Oman - a country where there are no taxes, and if you are willing to move away from the city (only a few kilometres away) the government will give you a 500 square metre block of land and build you house.
Apart from being an oil rich country, Oman has pretty much all the worlds supply of frankincense. Frankincense trees will live for 200 to 300 years.
The country also has magnificent beaches although we're not sure it is the ideal 'getaway's as it is very hot and manly desert.
In a couple of day we will be in Dubai, and soon after that our trip will sadly come to an end!
Apart from being an oil rich country, Oman has pretty much all the worlds supply of frankincense. Frankincense trees will live for 200 to 300 years.
The country also has magnificent beaches although we're not sure it is the ideal 'getaway's as it is very hot and manly desert.
In a couple of day we will be in Dubai, and soon after that our trip will sadly come to an end!
The Suez
06/12/16 06:08
We are currently in the Red Sea and tonight we leave the Red Sea for the Gulf of Aden. Today and tomorrow we are at sea then we will be in Oman. The passage down the Suez Canal was interesting, seeing different landscapes and towns/cities along the way. The past 4 days at sea have gone remarkably quickly with many things/activities to keep us busy. I will endeavour to label some of the photographs today so they will make more sense, and all being well will upload them late today.
Israel
03/12/16 14:00
We arrived in Haifa, Israel to rain and wind. The weather forecast was so bad the Captain decided against leaving Haifa that night (1/12) for Ashdod, but rather staying docked in Haifa. That meant a very early morning today (2/12) to go to Jerusalem by bus. Our time in Jerusalem was cut short as the ship had to leave Haifa before 3.00pm to be at Port Said by midnight for the trip down the Suez.
On Thursday we went to Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Jordan river, Mount of the Beatitudes and Capernaum. It is an amazing feeling walking where Jesus walked.
Today, Friday, we went to Jerusalem where we met a guide we had made arrangements with prior to leaving home. Given our shortened time in Jerusalem (because of a two hour bus trip each way) we were so pleased to have Gila, our guide, as we saw far more than any of the folk who had ship organised guided tours or those who did their own thing.
Today we ran where Jesus walked! It is quite breathtaking to see walls that are nearly 3000 years old, olive trees with trunks that have a girth of probably 3 metres, tombs where biblical characters are entombed etc.
We firsts visited the Western Wall where we spent some time in private prayer. Then a taxi to Mount of Olives where we overlooked the Kidron Valley and the Old City. After that we began the walk along the way Jesus took on Palm Sunday. After that we got to the Garden of Gethsemane, very moving and emotional. We then walked some of the Delarosa - the path Jesus was taken on to be crucified.
And more, but I won't write it all here.
On Thursday we went to Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Jordan river, Mount of the Beatitudes and Capernaum. It is an amazing feeling walking where Jesus walked.
Today, Friday, we went to Jerusalem where we met a guide we had made arrangements with prior to leaving home. Given our shortened time in Jerusalem (because of a two hour bus trip each way) we were so pleased to have Gila, our guide, as we saw far more than any of the folk who had ship organised guided tours or those who did their own thing.
Today we ran where Jesus walked! It is quite breathtaking to see walls that are nearly 3000 years old, olive trees with trunks that have a girth of probably 3 metres, tombs where biblical characters are entombed etc.
We firsts visited the Western Wall where we spent some time in private prayer. Then a taxi to Mount of Olives where we overlooked the Kidron Valley and the Old City. After that we began the walk along the way Jesus took on Palm Sunday. After that we got to the Garden of Gethsemane, very moving and emotional. We then walked some of the Delarosa - the path Jesus was taken on to be crucified.
And more, but I won't write it all here.
Greece
30/11/16 17:00
We had a tour of Athens visiting the Acropolis, the Pathenon, an original Amphitheatre and an Olympic venue. Spent some time shopping and having a coffee before boarding the bus to head back to the ship.
The Dolomites
26/11/16 07:30
We had a full day yesterday touring the Dolomites. It was zero degrees in some of the spots we stopped at for photos, yet it didn't feel all that cold. The scenery is amazing and beautiful. The towns are very much like our mental picture of Austria, and given we were less than 30 kilometres from Austria that makes perfect sense.
Off to breakfast now, and then check out and move to the ship. Not sure what will happen in respect to Israel given the fires - it is a wet away so anything could happen.
Off to breakfast now, and then check out and move to the ship. Not sure what will happen in respect to Israel given the fires - it is a wet away so anything could happen.