Having visited Amalfi last year we opted for a DIY and visit Capri. Unfortunately Mother Nature was less than cooperative that day and we had chilly rain. It is very easy to get ferry tickets and travel to Capri without a tour. We braved the rough seas and rain and walked from the ferry port to Anacapri with our umbrellas. There is also a funicular, but the lines were very long. The views and flowers are lovely, and we would like to return when the weather is more cooperative.
This was our second visit to Messina and to Taormina. We used the ship's "on your own" bus transfer to Taormina because it is a bit of a distance from Messina. Taormina is a easy place to visit and explore on your own. The views of Mt. Etna are stunning and the main pedestrian street is a nice place to stroll have a coffee and shop if you desire. There is also a nice park area that has beautiful water views.
We had also been to Corfu previously and seen the Achillean Palace on that visit. This time we walked into the Old Town for a visit of the synagogue and shopping area. We had a leisurely lunch at Restaurant Rex which was very enjoyable.
One of the reason we booked this cruise was to see the Great Pyramids. We went with two other couples on a private overnight tour. Egypt is very polluted and the traffic is beyond chaotic. Seeing the pyramids and the Sphinx were surreal and a highlight of our trip. We road camels, which added to the adventure. We enjoyed a felucca ride on the Nile. We visited the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which houses treasures such as King Tut. Unfortunately the museum is not well maintained and very over crowded. It was a shame to see such incredible pieces of ancient history crammed into such a place. Maybe I am applying western standards to this museum, but I felt that such treasures could be displayed in a less haphazard way so that people could view them more easily. We visited the Step Pyramid and Mohammad Ali Mosque which were interesting. We also went to Memphis. We are very glad we went to Egypt. Would we return? Very doubtful. Are we glad we went? Yes!
The cruise stopped in Ashdod and Haifa. We rented a car in Ashdod and drove to Jerusalem where we stayed overnight. Jerusalem is one of our favorite cities in the world to visit. You have the mix of the religions, the mix of the Old City and the New City, the unbelievable history and the over-whelming sense that you are visiting a very special place on earth. If this is your first visit have a guide who can give you the history of what you are seeing. We did this on our first visit (a land tour for 10 days) This visit we went to the Wailing Wall and met dear friends.
Our second day we went to Mt. Scopus for the "view". We then drove to Cesarea, the ancient port of King Herod. We toured the area which has some well maintained Roman ruins. We spent the afternoon exploring Zichron Yaakov, an area known for wines.
Not to be missed for first time visitors are Jerusalem, Massada/Dead Sea.
We spent 2 night in Rome after the cruise. Rome is the kind of city that grows on you. This was our 3rd visit in 3 years and it was our best. We didn't feel the need to see "everything" like on our first visit. Instead we took leisurely walks stopping at fountains and piazzas. We visited the Borghese Gardens and ate terrific food. We felt like we were living La Dolce Vida!
Not to be missed The Roman Forum The Pantheon The Vatican/St. Peters The Great Synagogue of Rome Trevi Fountain
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