Ιστιοπλοΐα στη Σαντορίνη ....

So I haven't cruised before....  I could get used to this!

A side note before we get started.... The Hotel Napolean is a family run hotel in Rome.  I learned that the hotel has been in the family for four generations (so far) and they go to any effort to satisfy and please their guests. We found the staff most helpful and courteous and the current manager/owner would stop at nothing to assist us in planning our trip. When we arrived back at the hotel in the evening a bottle of bubbly and four glasses were delivered to the room with a kind note welcoming us to Rome. I thanked him via email and he responded saying he regretted he did not have the opportunity to meet with us, and wished us well in our travels, hoping we would return again.  You just don't get that sort of attention from a chain!

On to Monday morning: After another great breakfast we walked back to the train station wishing we had more time in Rome and planning to return again to enjoy more of the fantastic sites and history.  More minor commotion at the train station as we hadn't notified the staff we were coming with a wheelchair as a lift was required for the train and, apparently, 12 hours notice is expected. This despite the fact that we emailed numerous times over the past 6 months to inquire and notify the folks with the train company that we were coming, to no avail.  My skills in mime were again put to the test, much to the chagrin of Hana who isn't fond of my acting abilities (espesially in public), where I suggested via actions that we get some burly folk together, ie: the police, who were in attendance, and train crew, and lift laurel on to the train; not a big deal to us, but something of a great problemo for them.

So we proceeded to lift Laurel on to the train, on the car, where the lift is, actually part of the train, go figure. I guess only certain people can operate the lift and thus would explain the 12 hours required notice. Once installed on the train we had an uneventful journey to the Port where we disembarked at a level platform.  We walked to the terminal while others on the train waited for taxis and then got a shuttle from the terminal gate to the ship.  The Port is impressive and very big, the ship being two kilometers from the gate.  Entry to the ship is well organized chaos with various queues for luggage, security, and check in.  As we travel light we avoided most of the hassle.  We then proceeded onboard to find our room and the buffet for lunch.

Our room is large and comfortable with a large veranda ajoining the girls room next door.  We left at 5pm and will be sailing until tomorrow (July 20) when we arrive in Santorini.  The Ship is modern and comfortable with an impressive array of emmenities and activities; almost overwhelming as you don't know quite where to start.  We've just decided to enjoy the room, the pools, the buffet, the main dining room for our first semi-formal dinner, and exploring the rest of the ship.  We watched part of the glass blowing demonstration today complete with full glass furnace equipment, etc.  As expected, the food is plentiful, delicious, and well presented with much variety each day.  Edward must check himself lest he become an unmanageable baloon and require a crane to exit the ship.

Hana is looking forward to "Salad" on Santorini....