A Journey from Antiquity to the Middle Ages - Rhodes

By Cruising With Honey - 18:11

A Journey from Antiquity to the Middle Ages - Rhodes

Cruising and travelling in the off-peak season has many benefits, the main is that you won’t have crowds of tourists.

In my wildest dreams, however, I never imagined that my daughter and I would be the ONLY people at the spectacular Acropolis of Athena in Lindos on the Greek island of Rhodes.

Let me explain.

Rhodes and the Temple of Athena

It was Day 6 aboard my three continent cruise with Celestyal and today the destination was Rhodes. I don’t know which god or goddess of weather was looking down upon us, but the weather the entire cruise was nothing short of spectacular. Beautiful sunshine, light breezes and no rain. Today in Rhodes was no exception.

This was my second time on this picturesque island, but unlike my first time in May 2022 where there were eleventy-hundred keen tourists, this time it was almost barren of humans.

Arriving in Lindos, our tour group was the only one visiting the famous archaeological site. In peak times, this small fishing village is super popular due to its breathtaking beaches and coastline.

After climbing up 300 stone steps to the citadel, the stunning coastline showed off below. Gosh it was gorgeous. Our group numbered less than 20 and after taking obligatory photos and videos, all descended back to the village.

Not me and not my history-besotted daughter. Here we stood, alone, in the streaming sunshine among the intricately carved temple columns, the birthplace of the cult of Athena. It was perfectly silent except for the distant sound of the lapping waves below. Never could I have even dreamed up an exquisite experience such as this.

Meandering the Medieval City

Having had our fill in Lindos, the tour continued to the Medieval City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once again, this was my second time here, and once again much less crowded.

The city, which was occupied by the The Order of St John of is surrounded by a 4-km wall. Rich in history, the town is a preserved insight into the past. A definite standout is the Street of the Knights, a cobblestone avenue that once was lined with the houses of the knights.

If you love history and architecture, the city is filled with examples of a time long ago. Almost haunting, it exudes the power of the Middle Ages.

Back aboard the Journey

There was only one more day after this one and I was keen to get back aboard Celestyal Journey. This week was zooming past so quickly I was yet to see so much on board - and I was looking forward to the show tonight, Hellenic Voyage.

The show, was a trip into Hellenic folk traditions and was a highly polished production. Cruise Director Teresa kept all the passengers in stitches with her quick wit. Most passengers got in to the spirit of the theme, dressing in the Greek colours of blue and white.

As the night came to and end, I realised that tomorrow was our last day. Was it time to pack yet? Not quite. That would signal the end of this amazing cruise, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the Journey just yet.

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Cyprus - The Island of Sunshine and the Goddess of Love

By Cruising With Honey - 16:59

Cyprus - The Island of Sunshine and the Goddess of Love

There are some places in the world you have a very clear idea about, the landmarks or must-see tourist spots. This wasn’t the case for me with Cyprus.

Still coming down from the high that was my spectacular day in Egypt, I was not expecting too much from our next stop. As Celestyal Journey made her way to Cyprus, I was looking forward to a pleasant day. Little did I know this would be one of the most surprising stops on my three-continent cruise.

Docking at Limassol, the coaches were lined up at the port to take eager cruisers to discover this island country, and particularly the city of Paphos. With my history buff daughter in tow, today was all about her seeing some archaeological sites and learning more about the deep history. I just wanted to eat haloumi cheese.

But before we could get to mosaics and ruins, the coach made a stop which literally took my breath away.

WATCH MY REEL HERE

Aphrodite's Rock

The coach pulled over, the passengers piled out and right before our eyes was a place that unsurprisingly inspired legendary tales of beauty and love.

This was Aphrodite’s Rock. How did I NOT know this wonder existed? WHY haven’t I read about this before and HOW can natural beauty like this actually be real?

Rays of golden light hit the deep blue water like a laser, piercing and pristine. The white cliffs rose high and majestic, creating an enclave where I was sure the goddess herself was going to emerge on a seashell from the churning waves below escorted by sweet cherubs and a choir of angels.

Standing there, it was easy to see how the myth that this was the birthplace of Aphrodite came about. I yearned to swim in the beckoning waters below, but the stop was brief and we needed to keep moving.

Royal-type tombs

Next stop was the Necropolis of the Kings, an archaeological site made up of a series of underground tombs dating back to the 4th century BC. Our amazing tour guide shared the history of the area, and that while it is called Necropolis of the Kings, no royalty were buried here. The name reflects the magnificence of the tombs.

I walked into several tombs, taking the steep stone steps down into the final resting places of Paphitic aristocrats. The magnificent tombs were very well preserved, but I have to admit it was actually a little bit eerie. I’m guessing that the state of these tombs is due to the glorious weather Cyprus boasts.

Did you know that it is sunny on Cyprus between 300 to 350 days of the year?

Mosaics of art

Finally, our last stop was the archaeological park, a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here my daughter was in her element. We explored the large estate, including the vilas of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion and Orpheus where we ooh’s and ahh’d over the stunning mosaics. These are among the finest in the Mediterranean and were discovered by accident by a farmer in 1962. Incredible!

The day wasn’t complete yet – I was still to try the local haloumi. I could not have come all the way over here and NOT tuck into my favouite cheese.

With about an hour left to explore Paphos harbour, we sat at one of the many restaurants and ordered a plate of the white, squeaky dish. The waiter lovely kindly ‘assumed’ my 18-year-old daughter and I were 'sisters' (thank you for the ego boost, kind sir).

As I took my first mouthful and watched one of the most stunning sunsets over the harbour, I knew at the at moment, that Cyprus had completely and utterly stolen my heart.

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A Moment in Eternity - My Journey to the Pyramids

By Cruising With Honey - 17:33

My Journey to the Pyramids with Celestyal Cruises

Nothing could have ever prepared me for the moment I saw the Great Pyramids in Egypt.

WATCH MY REEL

The hot desert sands whipped my face, my head scarf fluttered and the sound of the hawkers’ voices filled the air as they vied to catch my attention. But, none of those distractions registered.

This was the moment I had been waiting for.

I stood, transfixed, hot tears involuntarily escaping my eyes – eyes that couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. And yet, here I was, at the Pyramids.

There was a surrealness standing there. I felt as if I had been transported back in time. Millions of people before me had stood in this exact same spot and millions will be here after me. It’s as if was just one grain of sand in this passage of eternity.

I marvelled at these mammoth structures, aching to run my fingers over the stones that were crafted by workers whose names have been forgotten in history.

Instead, I reached down and picked up a handful of sand, rough pebbles filling my palm, the gritty mix connecting and grounding me, cementing a visceral and indelible core memory.

But, despite my yearning for time to stand still, it continued to move forward. A camel ride and then back on the coach to another location within the Giza complex to get even closer to the pyramids.

Some of my fellow travellers ventured inside the giant tomb, but I was too enthralled walking around, feeling so very small but utterly grateful.

It was time to see the sphinx and gaze upon this mythical being guarding over his kingdom and the afterlife.

The desert backdrop created a magical scene, the Sphinx’ pharaonic head regal, the immovable and magnificent pyramids in the background, the sun, slowly setting creating an ombre sky resplendent in hues of golds.

I turned for one more look, one more moment to register this incredible scene. A camel walked by, his syncopated rolling gait reminding of the ship that brought me to this adventure. A ship aptly named Journey, that was waiting to transport me to the next port and continue my exploration.

It was a bittersweet goodbye, but for now, in this lifetime, it was enough.

A few extra details

Egypt was the second stop on my 7-day cruise aboard Celestyal Journey. The shore excursion I was treated to included a visit to the Muhammad Ali Mosque, a delicious lunch cruise on the Nile, pyramids and sphinx stops and visiting a papyrus museum.

Coach transfers from Alexandria port to Cairo took about three hours. The coaches travelled in a convoy with a police escort. Each coach had a dedicated security officer and an incredible tour guide.

The coaches were very comfortable, modern, clean and air conditioned.

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Seizing the Day on Celestyal Journey

By Cruising With Honey - 14:44

A Sea Day aboard Celestyal Cruises Celestyal Journey

Sea-ze the day

There’s fierce debate among the cruising community as to what they love more – a port day or a sea day.

For those yet to cruise (what are you waiting for?) a port day is when the ship visits a port and guests can disembark and explore. A sea day is when the ship is at sea for the whole day cruising with no stops. Depending on the length of the cruise

Today, was the only sea day aboard my 7-night Celestyal 3-Continent cruise on their newest cruise ship, Celestyal Journey. And I planned to make the most of every minute. The daily schedule was packed with activities ranging from lectures, cooking demonstrations, dance classes, interactive games and even an ice-carving demonstration. How much can I fit in on day?

But first, a stroll around the deck to drink in the impossibly blue sea views. I smiled widely, knowing we were on our way to Egypt. If I couldn’t feel the delicious sea breeze, I’d assume I was in a dream.

Tucking into a Mediterranean-style breakfast, and a mastica-flavoured milkshake, I was ready to head to the Greek cooking demonstration. But first, let me explain mastica. As a child, my mother used to give me these little translucent balls of resin instead of chewing gum. I absolutely loved it! This resin leaks from the bark of the Gum Mastic Tree of which there are many varieties in the Med and Middle East.

For word nerds, mastic comes from the early Greek word mastichon (to chew) and is the root of the English word masticate. Makes sense, right? The flavour is very herbaceous and unlike anything else, with notes of pine and juniper and anise. What delighted me on board Celestyal Journey was the use of this unique ingredient to flavour beverages and food. Here’s a tip, you can buy mastica-flavoured liqueur to add to your cocktails.

Bringing to life the intoxicating flavours of Greek cuisine

If I attend an event, concert, lecture etc I will always sit in the front row or as close as possible. Which also means, I try my hardest to arrive as early as possible. Since receiving the daily schedule, the night before, I was super excited to watch the Greek cooking demonstration. Dragging my daughter to sit front and centre - she wasn’t overly excited about my enthusiasm – I scanned the table set up on the stage that was laden with all kinds of fresh produce and seafood. Eeeek, I couldn’t wait!

I just love watching cooking demos while cruising and of course sampling the yummy dishes created. Chef Reda worked his magic, making a super creamy tzatziki and a seafood dish, bursting with garlic and fresh prawns and lobster.

Lectures, ice magic and dancing at the day away

With the aroma of garlic still in the air, Eden and I raced to listen to the Ampitheatro Show Lounge for the Egypt of Wonders lecture presented by an animated and interesting guest lecturer. Midway through, the lecturer selected audience members to be part of an ancient pharaonic history scene. Eden was picked to be get on stage to be part of the show – something she was NOT thrilled about but gave me lots of ammunition to tease her relentlessly for the rest of the day.

The lecture was actually fascinating and got us even more excited – if that was possible – to arrive in Egypt tomorrow.

It was time for lunch then a soak in the jacuzzi and a lounge by the pool. The sun was shining, and the ship was gliding across the water, gently rocking me into a state of bliss. Could this sea day get any better? Just as I was about to nod off, a huge block of crystal-clear ice was hauled onto the deck. Look, I’ve seen dozens of ice-carving demos on ships, and I can honestly say they never seem to get boring. I’m always enthralled by the workmanship, skill and sheer talent of the chefs to turn block of ice into a veritable artwork. As chef hacked into the hard ice, a shape was gradually appearing. Cheers erupted as he proudly displayed his finished product, a beautiful profile of a stallion. It seemed such a shame that this would ultimately melt into a puddle of nothing.

While I missed the Salsa dance class, the Arabian dance class was up next on my agenda. So fun, so upbeat and definitely helped to work up an appetite for dinner. If you’re not the type of cruiser who doesn’t like participating in group activities, I would actually encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Any group activity is a great way to meet other passengers on board and sometimes even ignite lifelong friendships.

The countdown to reach Egypt was on

Watching the magical sunset, the butterflies in my tummy were multiplying and an accelerated rate. It was about 8pm and while I had every intention to watch tonight’ show the Cirque Fantastic, I knew it was going to be an early start tomorrow.

The ship was due to arrive in Alexandria at before 6am we were to disembark the ship for our shore excursion, The Pyramids and Nile in Style. At 6:15am.

My dream to finally see Egypt was merely hours away, and just like a sat up to watch the first iceberg when I cruised to Antarctica, I wanted to be out on my balcony to see the moment Egypt appeared.

Tomorrow, I’ll be walking in the land of the Pharaohs. It seemed surreal, and yet I knew in my core that this was my destiny.

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