There was nothing to complain about. The food was varied and exceptional, reflecting the region. For the unadventurous there was standard American food also. The regular guided tours were fascinating, and so were the extra tours which went into more depth. The service was exceptional; I will probably never be treated quite that way again unless I take another Viking River Cruise. The staff for so helpful and openly friendly, never making you fell silly for asking questions which were probably in the paper memos left of the bed each evening.

I was able to enjoy a visit to an olive oil farm where we learned that olive flowers are pollinated by winds, not bees. There were samples which I loved. I brought a bottle home. (Yes, you can do that.)

On another trip I walked on a Roman viaduct. I touched where the stones had been hand hewed so that a bump protruded to keep them in place. Those stones weighed over 500 pounds each. Read more