TIME TRAVEL

Friends Val Hills and Ann Gregory reminisce about Time travelTime travel the historical highlights of their Adriatic voyageFriends Val Hills and Ann Gregory reminisce about the historical highlights of their Adriatic voyage

The opportunity for two ladies of a certain age to be a part of the maiden voyage of Viking Sun was too good to miss and she didn’t disappoint! T he opportunity for two ladies of a certain age to be a part of the maiden voyage We had chosen this journey as it of Viking Sun was too good to takes us through history – from miss and she didn’t disappoint! the Venetians to the Romans We had chosen this journey as it and ancient Greece. takes us through history – from The ship was glorious: sleek and the Venetians to the Romans modern, with a hint of Scandi. Our and ancient Greece. stateroom would have to wait – we The ship was glorious: sleek and were off to explore Venice, to plan modern, with a hint of Scandi. Our our next day, taking the waterstateroom would have to wait – we bus shuttle arranged by Viking. were off to explore Venice, to plan A whole day in Venice to look our next day, taking the waterforward to! On the way back from bus shuttle arranged by Viking. our recce, we noticed how elegant A whole day in Venice to look the ship looked from the water and forward to! On the way back from we couldn’t wait to explore her. our recce, we noticed how elegant Our stateroom was near the ship looked from the water and Mamsen’s and this quickly became we couldn’t wait to explore her. our favourite place for breakfast Our stateroom was near – the pancakes were divine – and Mamsen’s and this quickly became the adjacent Explorers’ Lounge is our favourite place for breakfast a wonderfully stylish and sociable – the pancakes were divine – and space, ideal for enjoying views. the adjacent Explorers’ Lounge is Next day, the water bus to a wonderfully stylish and sociable St. Mark’s Square worked a treat, space, ideal for enjoying views. with Viking staff and their big Next day, the water bus to red brollies very visible, to help St. Mark’s Square worked a treat, us find our way. We began with with Viking staff and their big the included tour, then made our red brollies very visible, to help way off the beaten track. Venice us find our way. We began with is always busy around St. Mark’s the included tour, then made our Square and the Rialto bridge, so way off the beaten track. Venice is always busy around St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto bridge, so

we would recommend the Hidden Venice on Foot tour, unless you are confident enough to go it alone.

There is so much to see – little streets, almost alleys really, opening into wonderful old squares, nearly all with an ancient church; canals criss-crossed by little hump-back bridges. And all the while, the ebb and flow of This page, left Venetians living their to right: Early lives around you. The colourful market morning in the Piazza San Marco, Venice; near the Rialto bridge Val and Ann reminds you that this enjoy a drink on is a living, breathing board Viking Sun city where people live and work; it is not Disneyland. Overleaf, left to right: Grand Canal palace façades

The Lion of Venice, the viewed from the ancient winged lion statue that is fish market; a synonymous with the city, would be our constant companion on stunning waterfall spotted in Krka National Park most of our journey. Sailing away from the Venice lagoon is simply wonderful. From the top deck, we could see the islands on both sides as Viking Sun glided slowly through the lagoon, before breaking out into the Adriatic Sea.

The next morning, we woke up in Split, Croatia with a fantastic view of Diocletian’s Palace directly SPRING 2021 | VIKING.COM 11

opposite our balcony. After breakfast, we headed out to the coach which took us to the Krka National Park. This really is a jewel of Croatia, with spectacular scenery and stunning waterfalls. Our tour guide Harry’s knowledge was extensive, and his witty delivery made the outing great fun.

That evening, we ate in Manfredi’s Italian restaurant and can honestly say that the steak was the best we’ve tasted - and that’s some feat! It was so good we went there twice in a week!

From one “Game of Thrones” backdrop to another: it’s onwards to the pearl that is Dubrovnik, certainly a ‘must see’ of the Adriatic. Surrounded by thick, medieval walls that tower over the city and the sea, it is a sight to behold. The included tour took us high above Dubrovnik, which gave a fantastic view of the city and the

Isles beyond. Our tour guide gave us a real insight into life in medieval Dubrovnik (formally Ragusa) including the origin of the word ‘quarantine’. We had no idea it began here in 1377, Krka National Park really is a jewel of Croatia, with spectacular scenery when a mandatory offshore period of 40 days was introduced to and stunning waterfalls stave off the plague. Walking on the walls is a must for more intimate views of the city. The difference between the new red pantile roofs and the older ones reveals the extent of the damage and trauma suffered by this city during the war of the early 1990s. Kotor beckoned the next day as we sailed on down the Dalmatian coast into the beautiful fjord-like inlet. This small Montenegrin city is a relatively new destination. The ancient narrow streets give a PHOTOS: © ISTOCK sense of its past and the need for protection against pirates. It was October and the days were getting warmer as we travelled south.

we would recommend the Hidden

Venice on Foot tour, unless you are confident enough to go it alone. There is so much to see – little streets, almost alleys really, opening into wonderful old squares, nearly all with an ancient church; canals criss-crossed by little hump-back bridges. And all the while, the ebb and flow of This page, left

Venetians living their to right: Early lives around you. The colourful market morning in the Piazza San Marco, Venice; near the Rialto bridge Val and Ann reminds you that this enjoy a drink on is a living, breathing board Viking Sun city where people live and work; it is not Disneyland. Overleaf, left to right: Grand Canal palace façades The Lion of Venice, the viewed from the ancient winged lion statue that is fish market; a synonymous with the city, would be our constant companion on stunning waterfall spotted in Krka National Park most of our journey. Sailing away from the Venice lagoon is simply wonderful. From the top deck, we could see the islands on both sides as Viking Sun glided slowly through the lagoon, before breaking out into the Adriatic Sea. The next morning, we woke up in Split, Croatia with a fantastic view of Diocletian’s Palace directly opposite our balcony. After breakfast, we headed out to the coach which took us to the Krka National Park. This really is a jewel of Croatia, with spectacular scenery and stunning waterfalls. Our tour guide Harry’s knowledge was extensive, and his witty delivery made the outing great fun. That evening, we ate in Manfredi’s Italian restaurant and can honestly say that the steak was the best we’ve tasted - and that’s some feat! It was so good we went there twice in a week! From one “Game of Thrones” backdrop to another: it’s onwards to the pearl that is Dubrovnik, certainly a ‘must see’ of the Adriatic. Surrounded by thick, medieval walls that tower over the city and the sea, it is a sight to behold. The included tour took us high above Dubrovnik, which gave a fantastic view of the city and the Isles beyond. Our tour guide gave us a real insight into life in medieval Dubrovnik (formally Ragusa) including the origin of the word ‘quarantine’. We had no idea it began here in 1377, Krka National Park really is a jewel of Croatia, with spectacular scenery when a mandatory offshore period of 40 days was introduced to and stunning waterfalls stave off the plague. Walking on the walls is a must for more intimate views of the city. The difference between the new red pantile roofs and the older ones reveals the extent of the damage and trauma suffered by this city during the war of the early 1990s. Kotor beckoned the next day as we sailed on down the Dalmatian coast into the beautiful fjord-like inlet. This small Montenegrin city is a relatively new destination. The ancient narrow streets give a PHOTOS: © ISTOCK viking.com sense of its past and the need for protection against pirates. It was October and the days were getting warmer as we travelled south.

So, we returned to Viking Sun in the afternoon to enjoy some of its many delights and eventually found ourselves sitting in the sun chatting to new friends over a cocktail.

We headed down the coast towards Corfu, to the island’s old town and fortress. We took to the water again, this time in a small boat to visit Paleokastritsa and it’s wonderful coastline. Our little boat inched its way into a cave where sunlight somehow shone through an underwater cave from the other side, to reveal a remarkable bright turquoise splash of water called ‘The Eye’. The last full day of our journey loomed as our beautiful ship cruised into the Ionian Sea and we arrived in Katakolon. It was to be one of the most memorable days. Absolutely compelling was our visit to Olympia, the home of the Olympic games, whose origins go back to nearly 800 BC and took place every four years for the next 1100

years till 400 AD. That’s like us still watching the Olympic games every four years that were started by William the Conqueror! The site is vast, and it was interesting to see the place where the present-day There is so much to see – little streets Olympic torch is lit. The museum is opening into wonderful old squares, wonderful: the Greeks canals criss-crossed by little bridges were true masters of stonemasonry and sculpture. Here we found out that the Greeks were the first to create statues with a relaxed hip where one leg is bent slightly, a legacy passed on to Michelangelo and evident in his David statue. We both came away truly awestruck by the spectacle and size of the site. Back on Viking Sun, we went to a discussion about the Elgin Marbles led by the onboard resident historian; there was an extensive programme of historical, geographical and political talks during the trip to suit all interests. All too soon our journey was over but we had a fabulous time. Everything about the ship, her staff and our journey was truly memorable. We loved it so much we are booked to do it again!

The 8-day 2022 Venice, the 8-day Venice, the Adriatic & Greece Adriatic & Greece journey, voyage from $4,695pp in Veranda from Venice to Athens, stateroom.

starts from £2,740pp. $4,795pp.

Above: Katakolon, a small town on the coast of the Ionian Sea Below: The monastery of Paleokastritsa in Corfu

MEDITERRANEAN'S ICONIC SHORES

29 DAYS | 23 GUIDED TOURS | 8 COUNTRIES

VIEW ITINERARY

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SPAIN FRANCE MONACO

Montpellier (Sète) Monte Carlo

Marseille Venice

CROATIA

ITALY Dubrovnik Šibenik

Florence/Pisa (Livorno) Adriatic Sea Split MONTENEGRO Kotor

Barcelona

Rome (Civitavecchia)

Bari Naples

Crotone GREECE

Corfu (Kérkyra) Aegean Sea TURKEY

Istanbul

Troy (Çanakkale)

Mediterranean Sea Messina Sicily Ionian Sea Katakolon Athens (Piraeus) Ephesus (Kuşadasi)

Cruise Overnight in Port Mediterranean Sea Rhodes

Heraklion Crete

MEDITERRANEAN’S ICONIC SHORES

BARCELONA – ISTANBUL or vice versa 29 DAYS | 23 GUIDED TOURS | 8 COUNTRIES SET SAIL APR – SEP 2023; APR – AUG 2024 From $18,995pp in Veranda stateroom From $23,995pp in Penthouse Veranda

CORFU, GREECE

Cruise with Viking and explore the world in Scandinavian comfort, on modern spacious ships with only 930 guests. With the added comfort of industry leading health and safety protocols, this iconic Mediterranean itinerary will give you peace of mind in this new age of cruising, whether it be your first time or the next.

Explore coastal gems, ancient ruins, legendary cities and the sunkissed shores for which the Mediterranean is renowned and or which people return year after year. Simply unpack once and settle in, with privileged access to numerous sights and attractions, world class dining choices, award winning service, and a unique on board enrichment program.

ENJOY, IT’S ALL INCLUDED PRIVATE VERANDA STATEROOM | NORDIC SPA FACILITIES | SHORE EXCURSIONS | CHOICE OF 8 DINING OPTIONS WINE & BEER SERVED WITH LUNCH & DINNER | 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE | WI-FI & GRATUITIES NEWEST SMALL SHIP FLEET | INDUSTRY-LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM