Europe 2010

We returned to Europe in 2010, making a 21-day trip that began with a "Roman Empire" cruise on Holland America's MS Noordam and ended with a Rick Steves' "Best of Paris" tour. In all our years, we'd never visited Paris (the reasons are complex and somewhat embarrassing).

The cruise began and ended in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome and from which many cruise lines depart. The cruise encompassed September 8-18, although we arrived in Italy a day early. Our itinerary included Dubrovnik (Croatia); Corfu, Katakolon (Olympia) and Santorini in Greece; Kusadasi (Turkey); Athens (Greece) and Messina (Sicily). Photos from the cruise include none from Athens, there being none that fit my "artistic" criteria for inclusion here.

We flew from Rome to Paris for the Rick Steves' tour. Our four previous experiences with the "Europe Through the Back Door" tours have all been exemplary (although Scotland was substantively disappointing due to the weather), and the 5-1/2 days with Rolinka, our Rick Steves' tour guide, were no exception. I heartily recommend this tour as an introduction to Paris -- it will leave you wanting to come back.

Which we intend to.

Again and again.

	"Roman Empire" Mediterranean cruise on Holland America's MS Noordam.
	Paris.