Our final day at sea

Got up early today, got my coffee with Bailey’s and sat on the balcony for a bit.  It was a little windy out there. 

We all met up for breakfast at the wind Jammer and then Maryann and I headed to the towel animal making demo. 

Polar Bear

Dog

Frog

After that we headed to the pool to lounge.  I went in to the art auction.  I reserved a piece but forgot to go see it before the gallery closed.  SorryThomas Kinkade. 

I rejoined Maryann at the pool in time to see Bernie win the belly flop contest. 

After lounging a bit more I headed back to pack (they take your luggage the night before we get to port).  The ladies rejoined to pack and we sat on the balcony with some final day drinks. 

We headed to dinner and, per usual, were told we were early.  Poor Maryann has been battling every night with them because we selected our dining time and joined our room to the other ladies so we can all dine together.  Somehow RC screwed it up and kept putting us at the wrong time. It all worked out though and we had our final meal with our waiter Piotr from Poland and his ‘brother’ Mart.  

 Maryann hadn’t been to the back of the boat sowe headed to level 10 to see the sunset

We headed to the Centrum to watch the game show where  staff members dance with a passengers.  It got a bit awkward when clothes were being ripped off but it was funny.  

After we were off to the final show. The main act juggler was a bit off but I chalked it up to trying to juggle on a moving ship.  His balancing acts were good though.  They brought out some of the staff at the end. 

We headed back, put our luggage out (I’m about9 ounces over but we’ll see if they lay it slide at the airport...darn limoncello and olive oils!). 

Tomorrow we disembark at Venice.  

Final thought:

I don’t think I’ve been posting the towel animals we’ve had. 

Creepy Bunny

Lotus Flower

Sloth

Santorini Greece

Woke up in Santorini today.  We are tendered again and they say it’s a 2-3 mile trip to shore.  This is what we’re looking at from the ship. 

It’s definitely not how I pictured it.  In my mind the entire hillside would have been covered in white buildings with blue roofs.  But don’t get me wrong; it’s still beautiful. 

We joined our tour guide Zina for our tour.  A busride got us going up a steep, windy hill that barely fit the bus but it was a 2 lane road. We stopped at the top for a panoramic view. Again, had to walk up steep stairs today

Then another stop in Pyrgos for a walking tour (and many stairs!) but phenomenal views.  

Interestingly they paint everything ( walls, walkways) white - and even the trees!

I got to see some donkeys.  I thought there was a runaway donkey situation as I saw one runningdown the street with a load but there was a manholding a rope. 

After the walking tour it was stop at a winery for wine and mezes 

This reminded me of Star Wars 

They don’t grow grapes on vines but low to the ground.  The humidity is what keeps them watered (as you can tell by my hair it’s VERY humid)

They have gorgeous flowers 

After the vineyard it was off to Fira.  This was where the bus dropped us and we found our way down in the cable car.   The tour ended at a beautiful Greek Orthodox Church we sat in for a few to cool off. 

We sat for lunch at    

This was our view

And we decided to try various starters instead ofa meal. We had Tomato soup, feta wrapped in phyllo with blueberry compote, grilled halloumi cheese with dipping sauce and eggplant with cheese. 

After lunch we headed to the cable cars.  The guide told us to be there by3 to be down by 4.  Thankfully Maryann had read the compass note thatsaid it can take 2 hours to get on it. We waited almost 2 hours.  It was completely disorganized and people we getting really angry as others werecutting the line   We made friends in line and gotthrough but this is what we were waiting in. This is us making the best of it

And a donkey parade went by as we were waiting.  

There is a staircase down that you can down in 30-40 minutes but the guide told us not to do it because the donkeys use it and they pee and poop on the steps, they’ll push you over to get by and the stairs are slippery.  I’m glad we did t ale then because we heard 3 people fell and broke ankles just in the time we were there.  

We finally made it to the cable cars and had a lovely ride down. Each ride has 6 cars that fit 6 people each which explains the wait. 

We made it down and Grover found a donkey to ride. 

We took the tender back to the ship and had great views 

Once back on board we hit the bar and took our drinks to the balcony to enjoy and watch our departure. Again had some great views. 

Tomorrow Olympia!

Final though:

Maryann says, with the balcony, it feels like we’re on the most expensive whale watch....and she’s mad we haven’t seen any whales!