• Final Bon Voyage!

    Nafplion, Greece (Nafplio)…before leaving this town for my last night on board my yacht home of the last two weeks, Seabourn Odyssey, I tried to extend my day hanging out in Old Town Nafplio. I wanted to procrastinate packing and facing the reality that this part of my journey was coming to an end and my friend, Nichole was leaving me to go back to reality while I continued on my exploration of the world!

    We shared a great two weeks sailing this magical part of the Mediterranean. I have explored with and without her and she has relished time without her usual deadlines or to-do lists! I have ate way too much and drank myself beyond my usual limits!

    Seabourn provided a beautiful accommodation and worry free yet luxurious way to see places I never would have gotten to on my own.

    Back in town, hanging bougainvillea is draped across the walkways of Nafplio and swung from balcony to balcony…it is a beautiful contrast in comparison to the unusually painted buildings of the old town. Not the usual blue & white I have seen allover Greece, this town challenged conventional beachside color stories with burgundies, russet browns, deep turqs, and ochre yellows and mustards.

    I spent some time talking to a local cobbler and was fascinated by his collection of lasses and forms..I wish I found him earlier in the day so I coulda had a chic pair of Greek custom sandals crafted for me!

    I am not leaving Greece behind yet…tomorrow is hello Mykonos and goodbye to my yacht for now!
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  • Pleasure Principle!

    Hvar, Croatia…I may have found Nirvana! A gorgeous Mediterranean town surrounded by crystal clear Adriatic waters. Boats, water taxis, and yachts line the harbor and the cobblestone passageways are littered with beautiful young people vacationing from Sweden, Norway, Holland and beyond…gorgeous friendly blondes tanned by the hot sun, all hanging out on boats and rocky beaches looking to have the time of their lives! I see a sailboat rocking to the music as these model-esque beauties line the deck in the latest beach wear! This place exudes the jet set lifestyle of the Cote d’Azure or Capri but at real people prices.

    The entire area is filled with archipelagos with amazing swimming spots…mostly rocky surfaced but yet picturesque. Small speedboats are easy to rent for the day for under $100 to take you from cove to cove for an afternoon of swimming or simple taxi boats offer their services every 20 minutes.

    I found a beautiful St. Tropez style beach club within walking distance to town called “Bonj les Bains”… Stunning is the only word to describe this cabana laden club built into the hillside. The chicest platforms are suspended over the clear water outfitted with shaded lounging beds and bottles of champagne resting in buckets of ice!

    Relaxing here, I can see the coves in the distance full of yachts and boats with swimmers enjoying the Adriatic! I am asking myself, Why haven’t I come here before?

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  • Ahoy Matey!

    Piraeus, Greece…today I boarded my “yacht” for a two week sailing up the Greek coast onto the Croatian Rivieria and up to Venice and back! I am excited for 2 weeks of utter luxury aboard one of the “Yachts of Seabourn”… I love being able to unpack, relax, and let the captain steer us into gorgeous ports of call along this fabled coastline!

    I am thrilled Nichole flew from NYC to join me…last year we did a magical voyage on the uber upscale Regent Seven Seas Mariner and we were hooked on this style of luxury cruising where everything is included and the vibe is more Four Seasons instead of Sheraton!

    Boarding the 450 passenger Seabourn Odyssey was a breeze (I got a little over anxious and we showed up at the port at 1130 am, only to have to wait till after 12noon for official boarding!) and immediately we noticed the yacht-like vibe and the totally contemporary & modern tone of the ship! Any memories of yesterday’s disastrous bus ride are melting away as the uniformed staff is ready to wait on us from head to toe…

    Generous outdoor lounging areas done up with comfy furniture are perfect for 2 weeks in the Mediterranean! After a great welcome lunch, Nichole was off for a nap and I was ensconced at the aft (rear) pool for an afternoon that Thurston Howell would be jealous of!

    Bon Voyage from port as we await sail-a-way aboard the chic “Odyssey”!

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