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Craig & Jeannie Harvey Go Travel Advisors. We will be sharing our travel plans and bucket list trips!

Our joint passion for travel began with our honeymoon cruise in 1999 which intensified our desire to see and experience the world. 59 cruises later and international business and personal trips that have taken us to 6 continents and over 50 countries, we have experienced and embraced the various cultures of the world. Upon retirement in 2016, we embarked on fulfilling our travel bucket list with m

emorable trips with Tauck tours to Australia/New Zealand and African safaris in Kenya & Tanzania where lifetime memories and friends were made. Craig’s ability to research and plan and Jeannie’s passion for photography and documenting each trip through social media and photo memory books have helped us to get the most out of and share our experiences. We would love to help you make your travel dreams a reality.

06/20/2024

Monday: Women’s Monastery

Another stop along our way was this beautiful monastery out in the middle of nowhere. We were told we could not go inside because it was a women’s monastery and one of the ladies in our group thought that we should be allowed to go!

I couldn’t remember the name of it and even with doing several Google searches I couldn’t find it. It’s definitely unique. But there are so many monasteries in Montenegro that my search was futile. So I don’t have any history to tell you; hope you enjoy it anyway.

06/20/2024

Monday: Bane and Jasko promised to take us to one of the waterfalls that you can see up close. It is from the runoff of water from the mountain. We also learn about the three major religions (Christian, a Serbian Orthodox Church and Muslim) and how they coexist together. I believe I understood Bane to say that every year there is a gathering at the top of the hill beyond the waterfall where representatives of each of the religions come together to have some type of ceremony.

Another beautiful spot we got to see off the beaten path here in Montenegro.

06/20/2024

Monday: Tour stop at an old mosque

We enjoyed a refreshing stop where you could drink the water from the fountain and we learned about how in this country the religions all peacefully exist together.

06/19/2024

Monday: Mount Rumija/Region of Pecurice - higher and higher we go!

Each of us comment that this is the best excursion and we are all ready to live here!

06/19/2024

Monday: Climbing Mount Rumija

Steadily we began climbing this mountain, going from a paved road to eventually gravel. We trusted our drivers (though at this point we didn’t have a choice!)

I will give you some basic information about this region but no narration will be adequate for the views that we saw.

“Rumija (Serbian Cyrillic: Румија; Albanian: Rumi) is a mountain in southern Montenegro, situated between the Adriatic and Lake Skadar. The highest point is Rumija, which is 1,594 m (5,230 ft) high. Rumija rises above the town of Bar, and is a natural Dinaric barrier, separating the Adriatic from the Skadar basin. It is the southernmost mountain of Montenegro, and with prominence of 1,500 m (4,921 ft), one of the most prominent.”

06/19/2024

Monday: Bar, Montenegro

Our first stop takes us just outside of town to a very famous site. We “visit” with an olive tree that is over 2000 years old. That is hard for me to wrap my brain around. It’s in a beautiful courtyard area and the few minutes we spend here were quite enjoyable. Olive trees grow everywhere in Montenegro. We are told from the outset that olive oil from this country is better than anywhere else in the world.

I’m not sure if I believe it now, but I will…

“Stara maslina (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Стара маслина, English: Old Olive Tree) is one of the world's oldest olive trees, located near Stari Bar (City of Bar) in Montenegro. The tree is said to be over 2,000 years old. It is a popular tourist attraction in the country.

A side of the tree is completely burnt. According to popular folklore, a few men were playing cards next to the tree. During their game, one member accidentally threw a lit match onto the tree, and it soon went up in flames.
In 2023, the municipality discovered that parts of the tree were dying out, which prompted an expert commission to be formed to preserve the tree. As one of the fixes, a new water drainage system is being implemented.”

06/19/2024

Monday: Bar, Montenegro

I can honestly say this is a destination I never had on my bucket list, but oh how I did not know what I would’ve missed. I think both Craig and I would say this day and excursion has probably been the best so far.

I can certainly give you facts and figures about this country but those came from just a Google search. What we received from this day was an experience which goes far beyond anything you can read, and I’m afraid even beyond what my pictures can capture. We met the people of Montenegro; we ate the food of this country in a native’s own home; we saw parts of this land that no “normal” excursion could ever take you to.

If there is but one place that I would come back to in the Mediterranean, hands-down it would be Montenegro.

“Montenegro (lit. 'Black Mountain') is a country in Southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. It is bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the southeast, and Croatia and the Adriatic Sea to the northwest with a coastline of 293.5 km.

During the Early Medieval period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro: Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half; Travunia, the west; and Rascia proper, the north. The Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries. From the late 14th century to the late 18th century, large parts of southern Montenegro were ruled by the Venetian Republic and incorporated into Venetian Albania. The name Montenegro was first used to refer to the country in the late 15th century. After falling under Ottoman Empire rule, Montenegro gained semi-autonomy in 1696 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, first as a theocracy and later as a secular principality. Montenegro's independence was recognised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1910, the country became a kingdom. After World War I, the kingdom became part of Yugoslavia. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro together proclaimed a federation. In June 2006 Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia and Montenegro following an independence referendum, creating Montenegro and Serbia as they exist today. Montenegro is therefore one of the newest internationally-recognised countries in the world. Montenegro is also a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean, and has been in the process of joining the European Union since 2012.”

06/19/2024

Sunday: At Sea

It seems only appropriate that I do this post while I’m sitting in a café in Sicily. The theme of Sunday seems to be food and we are enjoying some of the best we have had both on the cruise and off.

The next post after this one will be our visit to Montenegro. You definitely don’t want to miss it, it was one of those incredible surprises that we’ve had so far. If you’ve never really heard of it or never thought it was the destination worth visiting, I think you’ll reconsider after you see that post.

06/18/2024

Saturday: Sail away and sunset from Piraeus, Greece.

06/18/2024

Saturday: Athens, Greece

I’m not sure there is any history I could give you about the city that you wouldn’t already know. The thing I remember from our visit here in 1999 was the magnitude of looking at these pieces of architecture that existed more than 2000 years ago and then next to them would be a modern building. The scope of that baffled me then and it baffles me now.

So the shortest version of what happened that day would be this:

After the half hour drive through Piraeus and into Athens we boarded a second bus that did just a city tour. That tour was supposed to take an hour and a half… It took 2 1/2 hours! The main reason? Traffic!
The city tour bus was packed as you can imagine. We sat up top (no cover) and were like sardines in a can. At about the two hour mark I thought I was going to pass out from the heat and even though there were no seats down below, I went down anyway and either stood, holding on for dear life or sat on the stairs. There was probably a safety code violation in there somewhere.
When we finally did disembark the city tour just after 1 pm to get back on the green shuttle bus that was to take us back to the cruise port, we were told that bus would not arrive until 2! I’ll let you imagine the long line that began to form. Everyone was very hot and so were tempers. Add to that the fact that I had run out of snacks that I carry with me and I could’ve used the bathroom about two hours prior… It all made for a very uncomfortable situation.
When we finally arrived back at the terminal before 3, we were added to the longest line you can imagine. Those of us back to back cruising folks had to get in the same check-in line as those boarding the ship for the first time. I think it took about a 45 minutes to finally be back on the ship. I wanted to kiss the ground.

So if you ask us if we made the right choice, Craig would say an emphatic no. I’m still leaning towards a no but realize in time I might be glad I went ahead and saw the city again after so many years. I mean, it is Athens, Greece after all!

Sometimes you just have to laugh about these situations. I share them so that you’ll know not everything goes perfectly in the travel world; you have to stay flexible and consider that some snafus may come your way.

I think you’ll understand if there’s not much historical narration on this post! Who would’ve thought I could cover Athens in one post!

06/18/2024

Saturday: Piraeus, Greece

So as we begin this new week of cruising here is our story for this day.

We had decided we were not going to go on an excursion. We were scheduled to meet with a crew member at 9:45 AM to be escorted off the ship, go through customs and return back on board. The process would be quick and efficient, the only caveat is that we would not be allowed to go back off since we had cleared immigration.

However, around 9:00 AM Craig happened to look in the parking lot of the Port Terminal and saw Hop on Hop off buses. Well, that peaked our interest. Craig asked me if I would want to go. It was hard to decide; we toured Athens back in 1999 so we assumed not much had changed since then (at least the antiquities part!) I didn’t want to have regrets about not taking the opportunity. So in the end, we decided to go. At first it seems like a perfect excursion; we were on the top of an open air tour bus.

History of Pireaus: “Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating back to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when plans to make it the new port of Athens were implemented: A prototype harbour was constructed, which resulted in concentrating in one location all the import and transit trade of Athens, along with the navy's base. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Long Walls were constructed to fortify the route from the main settlement to the port (Piraeus).

Beginning in the 3rd century B.C., Piraeus went into a period of cumulative decline. However, it began growing once again in the 19th century, after Athens was made the capital of Greece. Today, Piraeus is a large city, bustling with activity, and an integral part of Athens. It is a huge marine and commercial-industrial centre, and home to Greece’s largest harbour.”

06/18/2024

Saturday: A new day, a new cruise and new adventures await.

By 7 AM we had packed up our state room and the cabin stewards were there to move us to our new room on the same deck but across the hall. It was so quick and efficient; by 8:00 AM it was all done and we had unpacked.

Now I have to tell you about Athens. I am ready to close this album since it marks the completion of the first cruise on our 3 week itenerary. With over 700 pictures posted I want to get a fresh start.

This would also be a good opportunity to mention that not all of the plans we make are the best ones. We went back-and-forth with the decision as to whether to disembark the ship for the day and go on some type of tour in Athens or stay on board. You’ll have to wait to find out until I start this next chapter on what we decided and what happened.

We learned some lessons for sure.

06/18/2024

Friday: Sail away from Mykonos

If you love sunsets and skies that are painted pink, orange and purple then this is the post for you. It is short and sweet but an appropriate way to close out our visit to this lovely Greek island.

Next up is our arrival in Athens as the first week of our cruise concludes.

06/18/2024

Friday: Sea Bus Shuttle back to ship

Time to return to Sun Princess and say goodbye to Mykonos. It was a short ride from Old Port over to New Port.

06/17/2024

Friday: Last memories in Old Port Mykonos

Our four hour tour has wrapped up and we just have one more site to see before we take our Sea Bus shuttle back to Sun Princess. It is a historic Catholic Church. This location is used for many wedding and engagement shoots.

“The lovely church of Panagia (the Virgin Mary) Paraportiani in Mykonos is among the most photographed churches on the island. It is located at the entrance of the Kastro neighborhood, right by the sea.”

I hope you will agree that our day in Mykonos was well worth it.

06/17/2024

Friday: The Windmills of Mykonos

I imagine there is no other view that is so recognizable for this island. For Santorini it is the whitewashed houses with blue domes and shutters; for Mykonos it would be these windmills. I didn’t care how much my knees or feet hurt; I was going to walk to these windmills and see them up close for myself. I imagine if you picked only one post of mine in the many for this day, this would be the one to choose.

Here is their history… “The Mykonos windmills are an iconic feature of the Greek island of the Mykonos. The island is one of the Cyclades islands, which neighbour Delos in the Aegean Sea. The windmills can be seen from every point of the village of Mykonos, the island's principal village, which is frequently called the Chora (which translates to "Country" in Greek, but refers to an island's "Town") on Greek islands. The windmills are the first thing seen when coming into the harbour of Alefkandra, as they stand on a hill overlooking the area. Most windmills face towards the North where the island's climate sources its strongest winds over the largest part of the year. There are currently 16 windmills on Mykonos of which seven are positioned on the landmark hill in Chora. Most of them were built by the Venetians in the 16th century, but their construction continued into the early 20th century. They were primarily used to mill wheat. They were an important source of income for the inhabitants. Their use gradually declined until they ceased production in the middle of the 20th century. The architecture of each of them is similar, all have a round shape, white colour and a pointed roof and very small windows. Such windmills are found in almost all Cyclades islands. One of these windmills has been transformed into a museum. The whole village of Chora and part of the harbour are visible from this point.”

06/17/2024

Friday: Our day finishes out in the Old Port. Had I realized there would be so much walking involved, especially over unforgiving cobblestone streets, I would’ve brought my hiking poles. I was definitely exhausted by the time we were done but I wasn’t going to miss this last portion that is so iconic.

“The Old Port of Mykonos is located in Mykonos town, just behind the infamous Little Venice.

The southern part of the port is full of life 24 hours a day, as it attracts many visitors thanks to its central location. Numerous shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, and the traditional fish market of the island lie nearby. You can discover them all while walking through the town’s picturesque alleys.
The port offers magnificent views since it happens to be the perfect location to gaze at the charming Cycladic sunset and watch the picturesque town transform into a vivid nightlife center after the golden hour. Around its rocky dock, one can encounter the quaint kaikia (traditional wooden vessels used for fishing).”

06/17/2024

Friday: The next stop on our tour takes us to one of the favorite beaches of Mykonos. This is where we discover more of the mystery surrounding the cats of this island and how they are cared for which is a heartwarming story.

“Kalafatis in Mykonos is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, where the golden sand and the clear blue waters create an idyllic landscape. It is a large beach with golden sand and crystal-clear waters that make up a dreamy setting. Some trees offer natural shadow and coolness to guests, but a few parasols and loungers are available, too.

Relaxation is guaranteed since the beach has remained off the beaten track. Nonetheless, at the same time, Kalafatis is a destination for watersport aficionados, because of the windsurfing and watersport centers that lie on the shore. The beach is divided (one part is mostly used for watersports while the other is for swimming) so that everyone can have a great time.”

06/17/2024

Friday: Time in the quaint village of Ano Mera

Our stop in this little town was so delightful. Each of us had time to roam around and take in the sights we wanted. I went in search of some photo ops, while Craig ran an “errand” of his own.

If you are wondering if baklava was ever consumed by us in Greece, wonder no more!

“The quiet inland village of Ano Mera is home to the restored 16th-century monastery Panagia Tourliani, which houses holy icons and paintings in a whitewashed complex with a striking bell tower and a marble fountain. Bakeries, tavernas, and cafes with outdoor terraces on narrow cobbled streets have a rustic-chic vibe. Walking trails lead into the surrounding landscape of rocky hills and down to nearby beaches.”

06/17/2024

Friday: Our tour continues as we come to a scenic lookout

More images of the landscape and life here on Mykonos.

Another fun fact for you… “Mykonos’ characteristically rocky landscape is poor in flora – yet far richer in fauna than you might think. Its signature animals are the large, spiky lizards that lounge prettily on the rocks and the dry stone fences. Locals still call them “crocodiles”, like the Ionians who inhabited Mykonos used to do several aeons ago. In fact, the very species of the crocodile owes its name to this indigenous Mykonian creature: when the Ionians went to Egypt, they thought that animals swimming in the Nile looked like the lizards in Mykonos and therefore named them “crocodiles”, too.”

We didn’t see any “crocodiles” but did manage several views of donkeys, goats and horses.

06/17/2024

Friday: Images from the north side of the island

In this next post I thought I would just include some images I took from our moving tour bus from the hill sides on Mykonos. The majority don’t need any narration or identification, just enjoy.

Because I always like to include history, facts and information here is something I found from a very helpful website.

“According to Greek mythology Mykonos was named after its first ruler Mykons – himself no less than the grandson of the god Apollo. Mykonos was also the site of the battle between Zeus and the Titans. As the story goes, Hercules who fought on the side of his father, defeated the Giants and imprisoned them under the Mykonian rocky terrain. Purportedly they still remain buried there, at Houlakia Bay. In fact, the stunning beach of the San Marco, is protected by the Ministry of Culture so it is strictly forbidden for visitors to remove even a single pebble!

Mykonos has 15,000 permanent residents in the winter – 4.000 of them are foreigners. In the summer though, the island hosts over 50.000 people in 1 day. Mykonos celebrates over 70 country fairs, 38 of which take place from June to September. There are 4 nudist beaches, 31 taxis, over 800 churches – 80 of them alone in Chora – and more than 200 bars and restaurants. “

https://www.sanmarco.gr/blog/fun-facts-about-mykonos/

06/16/2024

Friday: Our first stop on our island tour is to this lighthouse. It is perfectly situated atop a cliff on the western side of Mykonos.

Any lighthouse is always on my list of must-sees.

“The Armenistis Lighthouse of Mykonos is ideally located in the area of Cape Armenistis. The old lighthouse stands like a sentinel over the region and comprises a mute testimony to the rich maritime past of Mykonos. Nowadays, the legendary lighthouse is managed by the Hellenic Navy's Hydrographic Office. The lighthouse is 19 meters in height. The best part about this lighthouse, which is conspicuous by its octagonal tower, is that it is still in operation. To visit the Armenistis lighthouse, one has to take the road from Agios Stefanos.”

From https://www.greeka.com

06/16/2024

Friday: Our tour of Mykonos

Mykonos is a very small island so seeing it over the course of several hours was very doable. Its tourist season lasts six months out of the year.

“Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades [island chain in a circular formation] group in the Aegean Sea. In addition, it is known for its architecture (whitewashed houses, alleyways and chapels), cosmopolitan vibe and luxury accommodation and services, as well as its party scene and beautiful, sandy beaches. Iconic landmarks include a row of 16th-century windmills, which sit on a hill above Mykonos town. “― Google

06/16/2024

Friday: Arrival in Mykonos

At long last a page turns and we are ready to discover another destination. But this destination is not just any place on the planet; it is a journey I have dearly wanted to take…to visit the Greek Isles.

It has taken a day and a half to arrive since we left Istanbul, so we pull into port around noon. Craig has arranged an excursion for us, again through Viator so I am practically giddy with excitement to get out there. I have already watched Mamma Mia on the movie channel here in our state room several times just to get myself in the mood. Did you know that the name of the Greek island in the movie, Kalokairi isn’t real! Well, that better be the only thing that isn’t legit because I’m expecting everything else to be authentic!

06/16/2024

Thursday evening activities aboard Sun Princess

As our ship sails along the Sea of Marmara and into the Aegean, we enjoy an evening as full as our day was.

06/16/2024

Thursday: Sailing away from Istanbul

I know I offered many posts highlighting the city but I trust it gives you greater insight into such an iconic place. I know I learned much.

For sail away, I went to my usual “secret” spot where I get the best aft views.

06/16/2024

Thursday: Finishing up our tour along the Bosporus Strait, Part #6

I will include these few pictures about two last sites that we saw and learned about.

The first is the Maiden’s Tower: “The Maiden's Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), also known as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros) since the Byzantine period, is a tower on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m (220 yd) from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Turkey.” - Wikipedia

The second is the area known as Galata where many fellow passengers went on tours. “The focal point of lively Galata is the 14th-century Galata Tower, which has expansive views of the Bosphorus from its balcony. Below, the area's narrow streets are home to chic bars, old-school restaurants, and small shops that sell odds and ends. Centuries-old synagogues, churches, and mosques dot the neighborhood, while Galata Mevlevi House museum and cultural center has performances by whirling dervishes.” ― Google

06/16/2024

Greetings from the Mediterranean and surrounding regions. Alas, I am woefully behind on my posting but with so many port days and excursions, my time is limited. To my GOne TRAVELing followers, I am still finishing up Istanbul, with Mykonos and Athens to follow, but I promise it will be worth it. We have now begun our second week of cruising which will afford us visits to some smaller cities than where we have been traveling; maybe that will help.

In the meantime, I’m just tilting my head back, closing my eyes and taking in these experiences with all 5 senses, but mainly with a grateful heart.

06/16/2024

Thursday: Touring along the Asia side of Turkey, Part #5

I realize this is beginning to feel like the tour that never ends but I promise we are drawing to close. A journey like this would not be complete without seeing the sites on the side of Turkey which is by far, the larger portion of the country.

“Istanbul is the only metro city in the world that consists of two continents. Both sides are divided by the Bosphorus strait. Each side has one International Airport. The Asian side of Istanbul is also known as Anatolia by locals. Three main bridges connect the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. If you want to get away from the population and traffic and relax in a clean environment, you must visit the Asian side of Istanbul.

We will talk about the Asian Side of Istanbul, which is accepted as the new world center with trade and population. In the past, the population crossed over to the European continent when they needed to settle in the city. The fact that historical touristic items come to the fore day by day is not the only reason for this. The Asian side is the new choice of locals who need to get away from the crowd of the city and take a breath. Of course, new clean houses, the availability of every opportunity in every region, and the development of urban transportation increase this demand.”

https://istanbulepass.com/asian-side-of-istanbul.html

06/15/2024

Thursday: A dog, some yogurt and stepping foot in Asia!

Part #4: Our touring took us to a small town on the opposite side of the street where we disembarked our boat. Our guide had a special treat for us and the experience turned out to be a memorable one, beyond just trying out a local delicacy. By the way, there is controversy between Greece and Turkey as to who truly invented yogurt. Turkish folks say that it was them but the Greeks have gotten all the publicity and recognition!

“Kanlıca is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Beykoz, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 3,943 (2022). It is on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait. It is known for a yogurt sprinkled with caster sugar, which is sold in local cafés, including the İsmailağa Kahvesi, which has a small museum commemorating famous visitors of the past.”

Honestly, this is one of my favorite posts so far.

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Videos

Short video as we pass underneath the Bridge. I love how the seagulls seem to be guiding us along.

99% of this country is Muslim; to some that might come with its own set of differences/ oppositions but I choose to embrace what I can. As we walk along we hear the prayer chants coming over a loud speaker that can be heard for several city blocks. I decided to record about 30 seconds worth which contain street sounds like car horns as well as the singing of prayers.

This is my one minute video of approaching and then passing underneath this bridge.

And this was Craig’s perspective. I love that in both videos, no matter where you were you could hear the cheers of passengers as we cleared it. I love sharing experiences like this with you.

A time lapse video of the sun actually setting.

They bring out the Princess mascot, Stanley the bear and the ship’s horn plays the Love Boat theme. That is standard protocol on all Princess ships.

So, as we prepare to leave the channel and head out into the ocean, I remember I could videotape it and that way I would definitely capture the lighthouse in all its glory.

A short video as we pass the entrance to the bay. You can hear Stephanie narrating.

The sounding of the ships horns back-and-forth as Nieuw Amsterdam bids us farewell.

The one and a half minute video showing when the two passengers left our ship to be welcomed onto the ship they should’ve been on. You will hear the ships each sound their horns in recognition of the event. I still get teary watching this over and over.

Tracy ordered a Purple Rain which is a combination of three liquors that are red white and blue. Here is a short video showing how when you stir them it creates the purple color. Pretty cool.