Endless maze and cornucopia of memories with family and friends, from birth and beyond. My labyrinth is my brain. A brain that will open everytime you click the maze.
"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." *Blessed Mother Teresa
The tiny island is where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation.
The 11th-century monastery is worth climbing.
Entrance to the Apocalypse cave.
Cruise ships anchored away.
That's our cruise ship in the port of Scala. Our guide told us President George W. the beloved and Papa Bush are frequent visitors to this scenic island. Folks her love the Bushes. 37% of Greeks have a name of "George." We droved around in our air-conditioned motorcoach admiring the tranguil beach, the many picturesque inlets and the rocky hills where the Monastery of St. John the Divine is located.
Internet Publication:
6/1/10 lib's labyrinth blogspot
10/2005 ALT MSN Group
Internationally famous for its hot, endless summer days and party nights at the taverna with the sound of music spread like a wave across the white washed narrow streets of town.
The mountainous island with its characteristic windmills and dazzling white houses and boats.
Petrus, pelican mascot of Mykonos
Filipino cruiseline workers on their day-off
We walked through the streets of Little Venice into the direction of the windmills and had our picture taken. We went inside a bakery to buy some sweets but for some crazy reason the baker and owner shooed us away saying, "Go! Go!" What did we do? I guess he didn't like us laughing as we looked at his photos.
ISTANBUL September 18, 2005: Fascinating city - the gateway between the east and west and the Islamic and Christian worlds. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey (capital: Ankara) and situated in the shores of Bosphorus. It is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the east by Marmara Sea. 96.5% is in Asia (Anatolia or Asia Minor) and 3.5% is in Europe. The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Moustafa Kemal Ataturk. Its population is 62 million - 98% Muslims, 1.5% Christians and Jews. Our tour bus arrived before 6 pm at the Port of Piraeus in Athens. There we saw on the dock the much in the news cruiseline BrillianceoftheSeas where a guy (George Allen Smith) from the United States who's just newly married and on his honeymoon just mysteriously disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea last July 5, 2005. I said a little prayer for him as we cruised along the Mediterranean Sea. May God bless him and his family wherever he may be. His death is really and truly a mystery. We arrived the next day at 6 pm after an overnight Hellenic cruise. We enjoyed the short voyage very much.
I arrived in Istanbul on a Saturday afternoon, with the Opa World Travelers from Athens.
Topkapi Palace
The centre of imperial administration and residence of the sultans erected by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the conqueror during 1462-1478. It was ruled by the Ottoman Dynasty until the beginning of 19th Century and converted into museum on April 3, 1924. The relics, skull and right arm of St. John the Baptist, are on display at the Topkapi Palace.
We crossed the Bosporus Bridge to see the other side of Istanbul. The Bosporus Strait is a 19 mile waterway - 700 meter wide at its narrowest point. Navigating its nine sharp bends is a tanker captain's nightmare.
Internet Publication:
6/2/10 lib's labyrinth blogspot
10/2005 ALT MSN Group
ISTANBUL MOSQUES AND BAZAARS
After docking, we rushed to the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar. We were told by our tour director that the bazaars close at 7 pm. There were so many things to buy and the place was so crowded. I bought some T-shirts and made some bargains on souvenirs.
Dolmabache Palace
The Blue Mosque
We have to remove our shoes since it's an active mosque. I loved walking in the beautiful wall to wall carpet of the mosque
ISTANBUL MOSQUERADE: COME, ENJOY! THE MAGIC CARPET RIDE TO ISTANBUL, THAT'S CONSTANTINOPLE. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey (cap: Ankara) and situated in the shores of Bosphorus. It is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the east by Marmara Sea. 96.5% is in Asia (Anatolia or Asia Minor) and 3.5% is in Europe. The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Its population is 62 million - 98% Muslims,1.5% Christians and Jews.
Our tour bus arrived before 6 pm at the Port of Piraeus in Athens. There we saw on the dock the much in the news cruise line Brilliance of the Seas where a guy (George Allen Smith) from the United States who's just newly-married and on his honeymoon just mysteriously disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea last July 5, 2005. He was presumed lost at sea or had met foul play. I said a little prayer for him as we cruised along the Mediterranean Sea. May God bless him wherever he may be. I thought of this even before when it was featured in one of my favorite shows - A Current Affair (FOX). Everything was hush-hush until now. It was really and truly a mystery.
I wonder what happened to this ship? I heard it will be replenished at a dock in Germany. All the boat crews, some Filipinos, were very nice and helpful. The ship captain was friendly and very careful in navigating to all the Greek islands and in Turkey. The entertainment was superb and fabulous. I prefer small ships - I'm just overwhelmed by titanic ships and too many people.
We arrived the next day at 6 pm after an overnight Hellenic cruise. I enjoyed the short voyage very much. After docking, we rushed to the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.
The next day, we had an excellent guided tour by Ertan. He told me while we were walking at the site of the Hippodrome that he was the guide of Charlton Heston when the actor was making the epic movie Ben-Hur. Ertan also saved as the trouble of looking for Turkey's Delight candy called Istanbul Locum by buying (5 euros) for us while we're sightseeing. So yum-yum and sweet!
Aya Sofia - Both Christian church and Islamic mosque
Hagia Sofia (Sacred Wisdom) fresco of Madonna and Child.
Constantine Dynasty (307 - 361 A.D.)
Constantine the Great made two momentous decisions during his rule. A vision before a battle, with victory the following day, convinced him to convert to Christianity among other reasons - he had to appease the christians in Rome. Also he was influenced by his mother Saint Helena who found the real wooden cross of Jesus Christ. But that's another story. He and his sons Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans came to power during the waning years of the Roman Empire. However, they changed and impacted the course of western history. He moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople (now Istanbul). Because of this, he preserved Roman culture from destruction for another 1,000 years. After the death of Constantine, his sons killed most of their male relatives and divided the empire among themselves. Before that I've heard Constantine killed his father-in-law and his sons. I'm so confused about my history.
Dolmabache Palace
I bought the most beautiful Turkish rug at Nakkas (Turkish word for Artisan). http://www.nakkasrug.com The place is located in the Sultanahmet (Old City) district of Istanbul. The store was built on top of the 6th century Byzantine cistern. We went down underground to see the column-filled cistern after haggling with Genghis on the price of the carpet. I was so delighted with my two magic carpets. It's so soft to my feet. I'm stepping on it right now. You'll have a buyer's regret if you traveled all the way to Turkey and did not buy at least a small one.
Entrance or exit to Topkapi
We had a yummy lunch in Konyali Restaurant located at Topkapi Palace. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at the so many golden,emerald, diamond treasures and relics. Our guide Ertan showed as the skull and right arm of St. John the Baptist. Immediately I prayed to him to baptize and bless me again with the Holy Spirit.
Mycenae
In the Trojan War, King Agamemnon had a secret weapon. His name is Achilles. He fought on the Greek side on and off against Troy. This mighty warrior is the son of Peleus and sea nymph Thetis. She tried to make him deathless by putting the baby Achilles in fire by night. She is said to have dipped him in River STYX, but she did not wet the heel by which she held him. It was not so successful after all. Thus he could only be killed by a wound in the heel. Achilles was killed fatally by Hector and Apollo when an arrow struck his heel. After the fall of Troy, King Agamemnon went back to Mycenae. On the day he got home, his wife Clytemnestra and her loverboy Aegisthus killed him. Agamemnon's son Orestes avenged his murder by killing them.
Mycenae was a city in prehistoric Greece located 6 miles northeast of Argos in the Peloponessus. It was first inhabited about 3000 B.C. It is called the City of Agamemnon in Homer's Iliad. The city contained a walled citadel with a famous gate, called Lion's Gate which is still standing. The palaces of the King and Queen stood inside the walls. So did the famous "beehive" tombs. Mycenae rose to its golden height of power and influence between 1600 and 1150 B.C.
Treasury of Atreus
Tholos or "beehive tomb" dubbed Tomb of Agamemnon was built in 1350 and 1250 B.C. Parts of the sculpted decoration are today in the British Museum, London and National Archaeological Museum, Athens. Dromos (Passage) Stomion (Entrance) Tholos (Vaulted Chamber)
Royalty "beehive" Tomb
Postcard view of the ancient city.
Magnificent Lion's Gate
The German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann, unearthed the first remains of Aegean Civilization at Troy in 1871. Photos of his excavations are displayed at Mycenae Archeological Museum. Excavation by Schliemann and others have found gold jewelry, vases and valuable works of art.
I can dig it!
Internet Publication:
6/1/10 lib's labyrinth blogspot
10/2005 ALT MSN Group
