It’s a a pretty cushy way to travel, I have to say. For all the traveling we have done in our 32 years of marriage, not to mention our respective college European travels, this is only our second cruise. And as I sit in my deck chair in the warm sun, with the sea breezes to keep me comfortable as we sail, I must admit it has its appeal.

My room is not far away. And I haven’t had to pack and unpack in nearly a week. We treated ourselves pretty well when we booked our room this time, moving up several levels into prime territory. Cruise ships have gotten smart, providing private balconies for nearly all the upper level rooms. It was a tempting option, but instead we opted for a room without – primarily to secure a more stable position smack in the middle of the ship. I was most thankful for that choice when our ship was rocking and rolling on our first day out of port. And with so many outdoor areas for lounging, we rather prefer our enlarged indoor sitting area and huge windows right over the water.

In fact, that position gives us an up close view of some nautical action. We are situated directly above the ship’s gangway, the same entrance used by local pilots who are required to maneuver the ship in and out of port. They are delivered to and from the ship on a small boat and we just happened to see such a rendezvous after departing Venice. We were fascinated to watch the pilot boat sidle up alongside us, match our speed and then duck under the curve of ship to collect the pilot. When it pulled away, there was the pilot climbing down the ladder over the small bow of the boat. Once we knew we had this front row seat, we watched similar performances at other ports.

It is impossible to go hungry on a cruise ship. With all the food offerings, it could be a continual feast but instead we restrain ourselves so as to finish the trip the same size we started. A hearty breakfast gets us through the day and we look forward to the elegant dinner that awaits in the main dining room. We are assigned to a table of 10, which feels unwieldy at first. But with each couple hailing from a different country, lively conversations result and we enjoy our new dining friends.

At first I bristled at the idea of two formal nights. What a hassle, I thought, having to add two fancy outfits and all the accessories to my already overstuffed suitcase. But when the time comes, I not only relent but relish the opportunity to dress up a bit and celebrate. Naturally, the ship wants to sell us overpriced photographs to commemorate the evening. Instead, we opt for our own more unique do-it-yourself shot that Rich rigged up on deck. Not bad!

We round out the evening with the nightly show. The headliner acts are very good, bringing in amazing acrobats, humorous string musicians, and mind boggling magicians. These are supplemented by staff musicians and dancers who keep us entertained. They even take to the air with aerial acts in the tall Centrum space. Late night people that we are (not!), we don’t last much beyond this show. After all, tomorrow is another day, a new destination and a deck chair awaiting.

I think we are getting the hang of this cruising thing.

Pure white buildings. Perched atop volcanic rock, far above the deep blue sea. Starkly contrasting with the classic cloudless blue sky. Santorini looks just like the Greek tourism photos.

We’re first off the ship, in the tender that takes us to shore before 7am. The sun has not yet risen above the mountainous terrain, and the island towns twinkle with lights high above us as we move across the water through the semi-darkness. By the time we reach the town of Oia, we have absorbed our first lessons about the island from the local tour guide. And the sun has climbed to its golden hour, bathing the town in its morning glow. We are left on our own to explore.

There are major advantages to being early birds. The town is still quiet. It’s pedestrian-only streets are sparsely populated. Shopkeepers are just taking down their shutters and setting out their wares. We see the town as it wakes.

Walking the narrow passageways reveals new sights with each turn. Soon we are traversing the edge of the cliff face, which affords unobstructed views of the town as it clings to the mountain top and slides down its side. It is a maze of buildings all interconnected at multiple levels, each vying for the ocean view. The longer I look, the more I see. There is infinite detail among this pattern of structures.

All along our route are secluded lodgings and outdoor restaurants offering spectacular views. I imagine myself nestled in one of these guest rooms. I could easily be convinced to spend a week here. Exploring these walkways. Finding a niche to read a good book. Basking in the sunlight. Searching out swimming spots. Trying a new restaurant each night. Sampling the wonderful Greek dishes. I am reluctant to leave when we must move on to Fira.

Our cruise ship pointing toward Oia

This is the largest town on the island, and is already crowded with tourists. Its beauty is similar to Oia, and we stroll its narrow passages. But the spell has been broken. It’s more commercial. The shopping areas are teeming with cruise ship passengers, now that three additional ships have joined ours in the harbor. Already I miss the peace we found in Oia.

Our return to the ship delivers a final, unexpected twist. Shunning the cable car for its long queue, we opt for the steep cobbled path that zigzags its way down the mountainside to the old harbor below. It’s surface is uneven and slippery at times, but the real challenge is dodging the donkeys. Unpredictable at best, they are equally undisciplined whether being ridden up or returning unaccompanied to the bottom. The trip is unique, to say the least.

We are thankful for being early risers. It gave us the best of Santorini. The island still looks idyllic from the deck of our ship. Its white buildings like frosting atop the dark volcanic rock. It is spectacular.

This is a first for both of us. Neither Rich nor I have been to Turkey before. For that reason we choose a tour that includes multiple locations, so that we can see something of the countryside. While all of our pictures reflect the ancient ruins that we visited, it will be the space in between that we remember best.

We have an excellent local tour guide. He feeds us just enough information about his country to help us interpret what we see, understand something of their local customs, and appreciate his culture and history. Visiting three different sites we start with a large open-air amphitheater at Milletus, seating 15,000 people. What is most impressive is the perfect acoustics, only achievable from one very specific spot on the stage.

The Temple of Apollo at Didyma is fascinating for its story. Our guide informs us that it was an unachievable feat. It could never have been finished, given its impossible dimensions. Yet the grand vision is apparent and there is great detail in its components.

The main attraction of the area is Ephesus. A whole city has been discovered and is in a state of continual restoration. It is impressive for being so extensive. We walk on marble streets and take in the collection of structures on either side. The facade of the library towers above us.

On the tour bus we pass through towns. We don’t see individual houses. Instead there are multiple dwelling units, all in pastel colored stucco. Many appear rundown, but I suspect we do not appreciate the local standards. Someone asks about the barrels on top of nearly every building. They are water heaters, our guide explains. We hadn’t even noticed the attached solar panels which heat the water in the top barrel to near boiling, then it drains into the barrel below. Highly efficient, it is a cheap way to deliver hot water to the residents. After that, we couldn’t miss seeing them everywhere.

Men sit at tables in outdoor cafes. Fields with animals are as likely in town as in the country. We learn to identify olive trees which are abundant. The terrain is rough, with hills and mountains in the background. It feels foreign and holds a rich history.

A buffet lunch enables us to sample the local dishes. Fresh salads, well spiced lamb, cheesy puff pastries and rice dishes are all tasty. Desserts are rich and moist, dripping with honey. I appreciate this opportunity even knowing it caters to the cruise ship tourists.

We finish our tour in the port town of Katakolon. We are deposited at the Bazaar and led into a carpet shop for a demonstration on how their local rugs are made. Our guide has already explained that Turkey is in danger of losing the craft of hand weaving, as young people no longer learn it from their elders. So the government has developed local weaving centers and subsidizes the instruction of young women in this technique.

Our carpet store has been in the same family for five generations. The owners are proud of their product and proceed to show us their wares. But first we are all served a drink. I opt for tea, but Rich is more adventurous and accepts a glass of Raki, the national (and very strong) alcoholic drink. They roll out carpet after carpet for us, young men flicking them open with a flair. We learn the differences between wool, cotton and silk, and blends of each. Soon it is easy to see how the designs get more intricate the finer the materials. And we are impressed. They demonstrate how the colors change depending on the direction of the rug. And we are amazed.

Even though we are not in the market for a rug, their sales techniques are very effective. Until we discover the prices. We need only listen in on the inquiries of others to learn how high a price these hand made rugs command. It is not really a surprise, having learned that even the smallest rugs takes nine months of double-knotting each individual strand. We just really hadn’t appreciated their true value before. Which makes it even easier to leave without one. But we truly enjoy the education.

Not quite ready to leave the Bazaar, we walk the halls past various stalls. I can’t resist a stand with scarves, and soon find myself being fawned over by the eager salesman. Like all the shopkeepers, he is most persuasive and offers end-of-season bargains. I figure I can’t go too wrong with a scarf for five Euros. Even if it turns out not to be genuine Pashmina, I only care that it is something I like. He demonstrates several scarf styles with it on me and hopes I will choose multiple bargain rate scarves, but I leave with only one. Not to be deterred, he carries my scarf to another shop where his friend can sell us beautiful leather jackets. It doesn’t work, and I leave with my single scarf. The experience is worth the price.

One short day in Turkey is hardly enough to appreciate the country and its people. But that’s the nature of a cruise. It can only ever be a glimpse at each day’s destination. A tease to let us know we’d like to return for more. Today we are happy to have a taste of Turkey.