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Stellar Views, Dry White Wines Highlight Santorini, Crete Stops

Posted on November 4, 2025November 4, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 124-125, 2025 European Odyssey Thursday and Friday, Oct. 30-31, 2025; Santorini and Chania, Greece. It’s been all about the wine the last couple of days. I don’t think I ever knew much about wines from Greece, but of course you would expect them to have some good ones, what

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2025 European Odyssey
6 comments

Nostalgic for Sailing Days; Finally Successful in Jewelry Search

Posted on November 1, 2025November 1, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 120-123, 2025 European Odyssey Sunday to Wednesday, Oct. 26-29, 2025; Marmaris and Kusadasi, Turkey, and Rhodes, Greece. Something festive was in the air as I circled the yacht harbor in Marmaris, Turkey. Restaurants and shops lined the promenade surrounding the harbor, but the action was to my left. Banners

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2025 European Odyssey
10 comments

Familiarity Breeds Time to Explore, Sketch, Relax in Mediterranean

Posted on October 30, 2025October 30, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 116-119, 2025 European Odyssey Wednesday to Saturday, Oct. 22-25, 2025; Palermo and Messina, Sicily, and Mykonos, Greece. Some people might be growing tired of the Mediterranean after a couple of months, especially revisiting ports a second and even third time. But it also brings no need to plan for

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2025 European Odyssey
3 comments

I May Love Malta Most Following Repeat Visits Over Past Year

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 114-115, 2025 European Odyssey Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 20-21, 2025; Valletta, Malta, and Tunis, Tunisia. Of the 146 port calls I’ve made in the last year of cruising (110 if I eliminate duplicate visits), I think my favorite may have been Malta. I can’t quite put my finger on

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2025 European Odyssey
7 comments

Mykonos: Endless Picturesque Scenes to Paint, Stunning Prices

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 111-112, 2025 European Odyssey Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18, 2025; Mykonos and Athens, Greece. Writing and sketching are engaged in a battle, and for the last week sketching seems to be winning. It might be a matter of timing – I do my best writing in the morning, and

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2025 European Odyssey
16 comments

Gathering My Courage, I Set Out to Explore Istanbul On My Own

Posted on October 18, 2025October 18, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Day 108, 2025 European Odyssey Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025; Istanbul, Turkey. There are 3,113 mosques in Istanbul. I’m guessing most tourists visit two: Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Blue (or Sultan Ahmed) Mosque. That’s exactly what I did on my first visit here, a couple of weeks ago. Being close

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2025 European Odyssey
15 comments

It Only Takes a Block or Two to Escape Rhodes’ Tourist Frenzy

Posted on October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 105-106, 2025 European Odyssey Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, 2025; Rhodes, Greece, and Kusadasi, Turkey. Rhodes is an easy port to explore on your own. It takes about five minutes to walk from the ship to the Virgin Mary Gate, the closest opening in the massive walls that surround

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2025 European Odyssey
4 comments

Time for Sightseeing Break to Rest, Paint After 100 Days at Sea

Posted on October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 101-103, 2025 European Odyssey Tuesday to Thursday, Oct. 7-9, 2025; Taormina, Sicily, and Valletta, Malta. Sometimes I just need to rest. At least, that’s what my body told me during our second stop this fall in Valletta. I wasn’t in pain or sick, but just tired and feeling more-than-the-occasional

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2025 European Odyssey
12 comments

Change of Plans Leads to New Experience in Ancient Greek Harbor

Posted on October 10, 2025October 10, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 98-100, 2025 European Odyssey Saturday to Monday, Oct. 4-6, 2025; Piraeus and Katakolon, Greece. Sometimes when I wing it, I don’t end up where I thought I was going. Saturday I thought I was heading to Athens. I ended up still in Piraeus. In retrospect – serendipity. I had

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2025 European Odyssey
11 comments

Why So Long to Visit Istanbul? No Idea, but Glad I’m Here!

Posted on October 3, 2025October 3, 2025 by Jo Johnston

Days 95-96, 2025 European Odyssey Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1-2, 2025; Istanbul, Turkey. I had no idea what to expect of Istanbul. I knew its name used to be Constantinople (thanks to They Might Be Giants). But not a lot more. My brief foray over the past two days was

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2025 European Odyssey
12 comments

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I’m a writer in love with the sea, sailing, travel and sketching.

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Recent Posts

  • Stellar Views, Dry White Wines Highlight Santorini, Crete Stops
  • Nostalgic for Sailing Days; Finally Successful in Jewelry Search
  • Familiarity Breeds Time to Explore, Sketch, Relax in Mediterranean
  • I May Love Malta Most Following Repeat Visits Over Past Year
  • Mykonos: Endless Picturesque Scenes to Paint, Stunning Prices

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