We spent 7 days visiting the tourist attractions from the cities visited on our cruise trip from Venice, Italy to Izmir in Turkey.
Link to still image montage of our cruise from Venice in Italy to Izmir in Turkey visit:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/5Xp_piaF358
Venice to Izmir
In July 2013 the extended family went on a seven night cruise from Venice to Izmir in Turkey, preceded by a three night stay on the Lido in Venice. A cruise is ideal for a large family holiday as it caters for all ages and tastes, and also appeases the US side of the family who wanted to “see Europe”.
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus video and still image montage of our July 2013 Venice trip, when we visited Venice again for the second time on a cruise:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/CsyMOV1s9X8
Venice
Venice is a magical place, like nowhere else you have ever been. We never grow tired of Venice, and every time we visit, we discover something or somewhere new. Venice is the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region and is build on more than 100 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges, all located in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
We pre-booked a half day private tour for our group which commenced with a boat tour of the Gems of the Venetian Lagoon, followed by a walking tour of the main attractions – Piazza San Marco; Doge’s Palace; Saint Mark’s Basilica and the fish and vegetable markets – which showcased specimens never before seen in Ireland. We even managed to get a ride on a gondola with cornetto in-hand.
On the second day, Art and I visited the Peggy Guggenheim gallery, where the works of Picasso, Pollock and Dali are well represented. In our opinion this gallery is one of the most important cultural attractions in Venice and a great way to spend a few hours……. the café is wonderful as well.
You can’t go to Venice and not attend a concert. Our favourite is the ‘Interpreti Veneziani : Vivaldi in Venice, which is held in the main hall in the Chiesa di San Vidal. A few hours of joyful exuberance and Italian brio is enough to lift your spirit to another level.
Our cruise
Our Celebrity ship offered every comfort and a wide selection of culinary experiences. We took in Dubrovnik in Southern Croatia, docked in Piraeus near Athens, Izmir in Turkey and then back to Split in Northern Croatia before returning to Venice and then home to Dublin……with the yanks heading back to the States.
Each day we disembarked at a new city and headed off on our various tours or did our own thing.
Dubrovnik and Split are interesting cities and relatively new destinations for tourists. Both are steeped in history with a real sense of a troubled past. It is hard to believe that it is over twenty years since the Croatian War of Independence. Our guide around Dubrovnik showed us the remaining evidence of that brutal war and reminded us of the hardship suffered. Croatia achieved independence from Yugoslavia in 1995, but paid a high price. Approximately 21-25% of Croatia’s economy was ruined, with an estimated US$37 billion in damaged infrastructure, lost output, and refugee-related costs. Over 20,000 people were killed in the war, with refugees displaced on both sides.
Our visit to Athens coincided with their financial crises, which was reflected in a dark cloud which seemed to hang over the city and its people at that time. Our tour took in all the main sights around Athens, including the Acropolis, the Parthenon Temple, Pnyx Hill where we were able to admire the incredible views of the Aegean Sea as you look out over the city.
Izmir was a big surprise as we hadn’t expected it to be so cosmopolitan. It is also regarded as a cultural hub where elegant mosques and traditional bazaars dot the palm-lined boulevards and ancient Greek ruins look down from the hill tops. While some of our group stayed to haggle for bargains in the bazaars, others opted to go to Ephesus. The ancient city of Ephesus is one of the most well-preserved Greco-Roman ancient cities in the world. They also visited the House of the Virgin Mary, one of the pilgrimage centres of Christians and the site where Virgin Mary passed her time and died. The chat around the dinner table that night was mostly about the wonders of Ephesus…………so much so that I wished that we had gone as well.
Be wary of anyone in the streets of Izmir offering small currency exchange for a €5 note. My brother Thomas was hood-winked…………….we had such a laugh !
Throughout our holiday the weather was perfect for cruising, sun-bathing and touring. We had a wonderful time and all the more enjoyable because we were with family.
Sense of Venice to Izmir cruise
In terms of currency, we were able to use the Euro throughout, even in Turkey where they were happy to receive it.
Our general experience of the Italian people was that they are very friendly, they dress more stylishly than most and are definitely much more casual, they also have a great affinity with Irish people in terms of being up-beat and with a sense of humour. Indeed, as tourists we felt welcomed in all cities visited.
Given the different languages spoken, it is always a good idea to get a guide so that you get a better understanding and appreciation of where you are visiting. Celebrity Cruises offer a great selection of on-shore tours and activities, or indeed you can organise your own tour.
Our must see recommendation for a trip from Venice to Izmir
(1) Our few days in Venice were really enjoyable – Venice is a magical place;
(2) The tours of the different cities, reminding us of the extraordinary rich history of Europe, and
(3) The nightly shows on-board the Celebrity cruise – great variety and most enjoyable
Cost per person for the holiday was roughly €1,500 Euro.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at home, on your return.”
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