On arrival we went for a cruise up the Bosphorus Strait. This is a stretch of water that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. We left from a place called the Golden Horn. This is a body of water that separates the old and new parts of Istanbul.Along the way we saw many beautiful homes in the hills. Also many mansions worth millions. And also the summer palaces of the Ottoman's Sultans and their families. There are two extension bridges that span between Europe and Asia. The are tall enough that even large ocean going ships can pass under them. We stopped for lunch in a fishing village just a few miles from the Black Sea. We could see it from the restaurant.
The last port of call for the cruise was Palma de Mallorca. This day we went to the beach and just relaxed. It was a much nicer beach and much less crowded. The next day we disembarked in Barcelona. We stayed there all that day and enjoyed the city. Barcelona is a beautiful city and we had a great time. They had beautiful streets, and very interesting architecture. One place we visited was a church the La Sagrada Familia. This cathedral was started in 1883 and still is in ongoing construction. It had not been finished yet. There is so much to see. Each side is different looks. It is really a unique building with many very interesting features. This I believe is the front entrance. This is some of the very interesting work on one face of the building. Here is a closer view of the above work. On one side there was lots of different carvings of animals. Here are a couple.
The fourth day of our cruise we visited Pompeii and Sorento. We decided to join a shore excursion, so we chose one that visited the ruins and also went to a beach. Pompeii was very interesting. We were really surprised at how large it was. Even though it seemed that a lot of the city was uncovered there were was still the majority left to be explored. Here are a few pictures of the city. This first couple are as were were approaching the entrance. This one is the amphitheater.
These next three show the street construction and also the ruts from the wagons.
Most all of the houses had mosaics painted on the walls at one time. Here is an example of a couple that have survived. This next picture is the bedroom in a brothel. Over the doorways were paintings of different activities that could be requested. When a man entered he only had to point to a painting as to what he wanted. Then they entered these small rooms. Here is a picture of Mt. Vesuvius in the background. This next picture shows how the walls were constructed. They used bricks for the main construction, then they covered them with a layer of plaster and finally marble or some polished stone. They must have been very beautiful in their day. Here are pictures of a couple of the cast from where people died in the eruption. After leaving Pompeii we went to the beach. This place was beautiful but very, very, very, very, very, (oh well, you get the idea) crowded. We were given seats under umbrellas and sat down to people watch and relax. Dad even went for a swim in the Mediterranean.
Along the way we saw many beautiful homes in the hills. Also many mansions worth millions. And also the summer palaces of the Ottoman's Sultans and their families.
There are two extension bridges that span between Europe and Asia. The are tall enough that even large ocean going ships can pass under them. 
We stopped for lunch in a fishing village just a few miles from the Black Sea. We could see it from the restaurant.
The next day we disembarked in Barcelona. We stayed there all that day and enjoyed the city. Barcelona is a beautiful city and we had a great time. They had beautiful streets,
and very interesting architecture.
One place we visited was a church the La Sagrada Familia. This cathedral was started in 1883 and still is in ongoing construction. It had not been finished yet. There is so much to see. Each side is different looks. It is really a unique building with many very interesting features. This I believe is the front entrance.
This is some of the very interesting work on one face of the building.
Here is a closer view of the above work.
On one side there was lots of different carvings of animals. Here are a couple.
This one is the amphitheater.
These next three show the street construction and also the ruts from the wagons.
Most all of the houses had mosaics painted on the walls at one time. Here is an example of a couple that have survived.
This next picture is the bedroom in a brothel. Over the doorways were paintings of different activities that could be requested. When a man entered he only had to point to a painting as to what he wanted. Then they entered these small rooms.
Here is a picture of Mt. Vesuvius in the background.
This next picture shows how the walls were constructed. They used bricks for the main construction, then they covered them with a layer of plaster and finally marble or some polished stone. They must have been very beautiful in their day.
Here are pictures of a couple of the cast from where people died in the eruption.
After leaving Pompeii we went to the beach. This place was beautiful but very, very, very, very, very, (oh well, you get the idea) crowded. We were given seats under umbrellas and sat down to people watch and relax. Dad even went for a swim in the Mediterranean.
