Catching up with a number of ports, but we've visited the first three already in this cruise. A slight period of repeats.
Since the summer is still HOT on changeover day we didn't go into Athens but rather stayed in the port city of Piraeus. Exiting the port there was a large sign showing a one hour walking loop through downtown, so we gave it a try. Very near the port was the Church of St Nicholas.
Holy Trinity Church
After a sea day -- the first of this trip -- we again visited Dubrovnik. This is Fort Bokar.
An ominous looking entry into the city through the Pile Gate.
Onofrio's Fountain
Placa Pedestrian street
The clock tower with digital display
We exited through the Fishmarket gate and re-entered through the Ponde Gate.
There's a cable car to the top of the mountain overlooking Dubrovnik.
Back again to Kotor, this time with a scenic excursion to the top of the hill overlooking Kotor. First, there's the beautiful sail-in.
At our anchorage there's a church(?) located inconveniently for the town below. It appears to have fallen into disrepair.
We take the bus to the top of the hill, where we get a great view of the bay on which Kotor is located.
This is indicative of the road that we traversed to get to the viewpoint. Twenty-five hairpin turns, plus many others not quite as severe, were part of the journey. The road's architect was quite enamored with the queen, whose name began with an 'M'.
On the other side of the mountain is the airport.
A panorama from the viewpoint
At the very top of the mountain was a restaurant where we had a snack, and photographed this art placement along the road.
The trip back was miserable. We did not return on the single lane hairpin laden road but instead went down the eastern side on a two lane road with many fewer turns. But the road was under construction, delays were everywhere, and a trip intended to take 1.5 hours took 3. And it wasn't scenic, just SLOW.
Leaving Kotor that evening, here's the turn by the church and monastery. Aquaculture in the background.
And just above it a couple hundred feet up is this watchtower to protect the entry into Kotor.
A new port for us was Bari, near the heel of the boot of Italy. The shuttle bus dropped us off at Piazza del Ferrarese.
The old town is a warren of narrow, winding streets.
Bari Cathedral, St. Sabinus
Castello Normanno-Svevo was originally built in 1132, rebuilt in 1233.
Entry into the "little ears pasta" street.
Little ears pasta offered for sale all along this street.
Basilica of St Nicholas
Captain Ressa of Nautica grew up in this area. He asked us if we had visited Santa Claus in town. He explained that the bones of St Nicholas are in a crypt below the altar, and of course St Nicholas, originally from Turkey, was the prototype for Santa Claus.
Just think how that would affect your six year old on seeing the bones of Santa Claus.
Beautiful ceiling
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