A new Dawn around Europe Then the UK.

[drron]

The forum. must have been magnificent prior to the destruction.

 

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The last before we leave the site.

 

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The view as we descended then looking back.




And now back on the bus.

 

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Some lovely scenery.

 

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The last from the bus.




And now waiting for the tender.

 

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On the tender.



Wharves and tenders leave their marks. The Dawn is just 4 months out from her inaugural cruise.


The Captains welcome night. Notice 50% of the senior officers are female.


Then to dinner. The days extra menu.


I forget what mrsdrron had for an entree but I had the tuna ceviche and the tomato soup that I really enjoy.




We both then had the lobster for mains and declined dessert.

 

[drron]

Next morning we are in Catania,Sicily. views of a warship,parked trucks,silo art and Mt.Etna. What more could you want.

 

[drron]

What more could I want? Well let's start with a Ryanair plane taking off!



Some rather disheveled buildings here.



But time to chill out.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron wanted a quiet day so she stayed on board. I signed up for a tour of Ancient Siracusa in the afternoon. So what better way to spend a morning than watching the comings and goings of trucks from the cargo ferry.





Even a new locomotive being delivered.



And to add to the bliss a Japanese lunch before going on tour. my favourite lunch place on board.

 

[drron]

So off we go on the adventure. First our ship then views from the bus.






Street food.



It is an industrial city.



But soon out in the country.

 

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Citrus grapes and olives were common.





But a lot of industry along the coast.



And a lovely hilltop village.

 

[drron]

Now we are in Syracuse and our guide buys tickets for Neapolis Park. An incredible archeological site. But once again a lot of cheap junk at the entrance.


As you walk in on your right is an ancient quarry -Latomie Del Paradiso.






On the left all that remains of the biggest sacrificial altar ever -the Altar of Hiero where it is said 450 bulls could be sacrificed at the same time.




We now walked down into the quarry.

 

[drron]

Magnificent.





At the bottom is a garden with many fruit trees and berries.

 

[drron]

 

[tgh]

If only the stones could speak….

 

[drron]

This cave has good acoustics. It is said prisoners were shut in here and guards up top could hear everything that was said. Often led to an unhappy ending for prisoners. We then started walking towards the Greek Theatre.









At the entry point for the Greek theatre a contented cat an an Ad for a police light show at night.

 

[drron]

Behind the Greek Theatre are caves which are thought to have been used as tombs.







The theatre is one of the largest Greek theatres and is used still as a theatre.



Good views of modern syracusa and on the day the MSC Splendida which was preparing to leave.

 

[drron]

We now drove down to the modern Syracuse.




The bus dropped us off near the MSC ship.



Now what would a bus from the Factory outlets be doing here.


Now on foot.





and there she goes.

 

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About to cross over to the island of Ortigia which is the old city.





Ruins everywhere.


And up a narrow street.

 

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The street widens into the Piazza Duomo. The Cathedral is here and surrounded by lovely buildings and tourist restaurants.