Around the world in 40 days but no Gallipoli

[amaroo]

Jb

Four Seasons gets some beautiful properties - the one in Sultanahmet is pretty special as well. The view of the garden from our windows is so peaceful after the bustle of the city.

+1 we're in residence and very much liking the experience and view!

 

[amaroo]

I saw this and thought of you!

 

[TheRealTMA]

I saw this and thought of you!

View attachment 46813

Amaroo - Is it just me? Can't see attachment?

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo - Is it just me? Can't see attachment?

Hopefully my edit sorted it. I'm using the app to post photos and sometimes it just doesn't like it.

 

[Pushka]

Lots of cruise ships in Istanbul.

 

[amaroo]

Lots of cruise ships in Istanbul.

IIRC that is the actual boat FM was booked on for past 5 years. Australians have been swarming the city in large numbers the last few days - most of them left yesterday

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hopefully my edit sorted it. I'm using the app to post photos and sometimes it just doesn't like it.

Yea! Nice boat!

I think the app does this from time to time?

 

[Pushka]

IIRC that is the actual boat FM was booked on for past 5 years. Australians have been swarming the city in large numbers the last few days - most of them left yesterday

Oh. THAT boat.

In Santorini walking down the donkey trail we met up with a lady from Bris who was on an MSC ship. Very much Italian based. We were on Celebrity which has a significant North American contingent. Asked her what the language barrier was like. She said it was nice not to hear loud voices in English. I wondered what she meant for a bit and then I got it.

Friends of ours are on MSC Orchestra which is the ship chartered by Gallipoli Tours. Entertainment like Kate Cebrano etc. They left Fremantle in late March and will be anchored off Gallipoli on Saturday. Cost them around $25,000 and not even in a suite. They booked a few years ago.

QE (Cunard) is berthing in Istanbul in the next couple of days also.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I saw this and thought of you!

View attachment 46819

Sigh. . We should have been in one of those suites at the top. Little bit of sadness but on the other hand we are having a lot of fun in Italy. Mr FM is hogging his laptop/photos at the moment, but will take it off him in Milan and catch up.

 

[robd]

Great TR. Checking in for the ride.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Awesome TR. I did Venice briefly at the end of November 2013 - still a few tourists, but not many. In your first lot of photographs - the fourth one down shows a bell tower and church (forget which one). This island (?) also houses a convent and for a gold coin euro donation you can climb the belltower - spectacular views, but the bell tower is operating so do not reccomend being up there on the hour!

 

[Flying mermaid]

So I now have Mr FM's laptop and can steal his photos our second day in Florence was rather hectic with Saschia taking us to many different churches. The Annunciation church was the first one. She said the Duomo was for Tourists, but this church had hourly masses and was where the Florentine's went. It had beautiful Frescos both inside and outside and enormous restoration work going on in the foyer of the actual church- no charge to enter.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The Duomo is spectacular outside and has a beautiful dome inside. The money to build came from the wool Guild so their motif is all over.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Inside of Duomo and the altar/dome area.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We had asked Saschia to concentrate on Michaelangelo and the Medici so the next stop was Basilica di San Lorenzo and the medici Chapel. First the chapel where Cosimo and his brother have their tombs, done by Michaelangelo.

 

[Flying mermaid]

from there we went to the Chapel of princes where the later Medicis had their tombs - this was really over the top. Fantastic dome and knee deep in marbe, mother of pearl and Lapis lazuli. I did like it though.

 

[Flying mermaid]

More from the Chapel of Princes. The banner in the third photograph was a gift from a Medici Pope.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Last stop (4 hours went very quickly - in fact Sashia (pictured) went at least 1/2 hour longer), was Sante Croce - tombs or memorials to many famous people, including Dante and Michaelangelo and Marconi.

Michaelangelo's tomb has 3 figures in mourning, representing Painting, Sculpture and Architecture - his 3 disciplines.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Leading from the church you can visit a leather shop which had fantastic bags, jackets etc - a small wallet was around $230, but it had an almost buttery feel to it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

On our third day we headed for Uffizi, walking along the Arno river and stopping at Ponte Vecchio.