While being unabashedly gay, I am, from time-to-time, knocked out by a a beautiful woman. It happened recently when I met our tour guide on Santorini in the Greek Isles.
You may not be able to tell it from this picture, but this woman, probably late 30s or early 40s, was just gorgeous. And a gracious tour guide as well.
I fell in love with a village on the island of Santorini. Pronounced "Ia," Oia is the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorni. It is situated on top of an impressive cliff with spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia.
It is a traditional village with charming houses along narrow streets, blue domed churches, sun-bathed verandas. Of course there are plenty of tourist shops, but there are lovely taverns, cafe's and galleries.
We only had about an hour here -- one of the downsides of visiting places while on a cruise. I could have spent days here photographing, soaking up the sun, and just relishing in the quiet mood of the place.
I'm definitely going back.
Our vacation finishes with two days in Rome. We're staying near the Trevi Fountain and splurged by hiring a private tour guide for a seven-hour walking tour of all the historic sites, the Vatican, the piazzas and fountains...the works.
[This is the end of these silly pre-vacation posts that I created. I'll be back with new posts about the actual vacation starting September 11.]
Today's the last day of the cruise. We hit Naples today and a cruise along the Amalfi Coast and a visit to Pompeii and Salerno are on the agenda.
We're back at sea today. Tonight is the night when Atlantis has their surprise guest star. Last year it was the incomparable Chita Rivera. No clue who it will be there year. After is the White Party.
[They'll be wearing white tonight. And so will we. What I won't be doing is blogging. New posts start again next week sometime.]
Today we begin three days in the Greek Isles. Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini. I hear it's stunningly beautiful.
It's Monday and we've got another day at sea. Today I will indulge in a massage, resting by the pool with a book, and likely dinner with the entire gang for a celebration. It's my birthday! The evening's activity will be an 80s party. So thoughtful of Atlantis to plan a party with my favorite music on my birthday, don't you think?
[All these boys are gathered for my birthday party. Not likely. But we're celebrating anyway. And I'm not really blogging this on my birthday.]
We're all settled into our routine aboard the Atlantis Mediterranean cruise and headed our way to Egypt. But first, there are two days at sea. Surrounded by this...
[I don't know who these boys are and I didn't take this picture. I didn't even write this post on Sunday, because I'm not blogging while I'm away. Enjoy the eye candy anyway.]
It's Saturday and today is the day we set sail aboard the Celebrity Solstice. This is gonna be fun!
Assuming that the plane arrived at 8 a.m. as promised, Andy and I are in Rome. We're meeting up with Bernardo and Greg at the airport (they are staying right there), going to drop our luggage, and then taking the train into the city to begin our first visit to what is supposed to be an amazing city.
[I didn't take this picture. And I left the laptop at home, so I am not live blogging from Rome. I'll be back with new posts mid-September.]
