Split, Croatia

August 17, 2018

Today we hired a private boat to take us around the first stop was this nice town called Trogir and we walked around there about half an hour.

The next stop was this other nice place called Maslinica and we decided to have lunch at Martinis-Marchi Hotel Restaurant called Minutus Vinum where the Blue Lagoon is. Afterward, we went back to split and had a Tuk Tuk Tour (sort of like an electric golf cart) which was fun.

The driver took us around to a few panoramic picture spots and we also drove by a really nice beach called. The last stop on the Tuk Tuk Tour was the old town where we walked around for a bit and then headed back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Dubrovnik, Croatia.

If you would like to see what we ate while we were in Split, Croatia.

Kastel Kamerlengo

Young Entrepreneur

Tuk Tuk Tour

Our Tuk Tuk Tour Guide looked like the UFC fighter McGregor. A car of tourists started yelling his name out when we passed by them.

Best antiques sold here. Her business card is below

Koper, Slovenia

August 15, 2018 

Today we got a private car to drive us around the first stop was the Ljubljanski Castle which was really nice after a visit to the castle we walked through this cool forest that ended in the Town called Ljubljana.

We walked around there for a little while and then headed to Postojna Cave which was absolutely amazing. The next stop was Predjama Castle which was built onto the side of a mountain.

Afterward, we went back to the port and walked around the town of Koper and went back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Rijeka, Croatia.

If you would like to see what we ate while in Koper, Slovenia.

Ljubljanski Castle

Handmade Lace

Postojna Cave
Postojna Cave
John
John

Chandelier in the cave

John & Maria

Predjama Castle
This family has the same hairstyle as their dog.

John & Maria

Zakynthos, Greece

July 7, 2018 – July 11, 2018

Before boarding the ship we decided to visit Zakynthos. We stayed in Lesante Blu Hotel which was beyond amazing. We had a private pool and we got a chance to relax before the cruise.

Follow us on our cruise which started in Athens, Greece.

If you want to see pictures of the food we ate while in Zakynthos, Greece 

The name of our hotel room.
Lesante Blu Hotel

John
Maria & John

Turtle Island is Yummy….

Maria & John
Maria
John
Maria & John

Maria

Kalo Nero, Kyparissia, Messinia, Greece

July 5, 2018 – July 7, 2018 

Today we visited my family who I haven’t seen in 14 years. I was very excited because they were going to meet John as well.

The next day we visited the Temple of Hephaestus. It was really hot so we cut our tour short.

After a few days, we drove to the port to catch the ferry to Zakynthos, Greece.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Zakynthos, Greece.

Follow our cruise which started in Athens, Greece.

Maria & John

My Family
Maria & Aunt Eugenia
My uncles homemade wine
The old train station we used to use.

Temple of Hephaestus

Bacchus, Greece

Venice, Italy 2018

August 12, 2018

Today John and I took a private water taxi to Piazza San Marco and walked around and of course did a little bit of shopping. I love French and Italian brands the most ♥️ We stopped at this nice Trattoria and had some lunch and then walked around some more and decided to have a glass of wine at Hotel Monaco which is on the water with a great view.

August 13, 2018

Today John and I took a water taxi to San Marco Square again and just walked around and got a bite to eat and took the water taxi back to the ship.

August 14, 2018 

Today we took the water taxi and walked around for a few hours and got lunch in a nice restaurant and then went back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Koper, Slovenia.

If you would like to see what we ate while we were in Venice, Italy.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

August 11, 2018

This is a side note about our Tour Guide Mato he was one of the best guides we ever had. He showed us all the best Croatia had to offer. His business card is the first picture below. Tell him you want The John & Maria from NY  experience. I guarantee you will have a great time!

Today we got a taxi to take us around. The first place he drove us to was a beautiful town called Cavtat we walked around the nature preserve along the water. We also went into the St. Nicholas Church. I highly recommend a visit there and in the future, we will definitely go back and spend a few nights there.

We drove to another area called Konavle and visited this museum called Konavle County Museum in a town called Cilipi which was very nice it has the traditional folklore clothing that the Croatians wore many years ago. We also visited the Zavičajni Muzej Konavala church. We were told that years ago this town was destroyed by the Bosnians in the early 1990’s the only thing they left intact was the church. The only damage to the Church was done inside where they ravaged the Holy Family.

The next stop was another nice town called Molunat which is also another place that is a must to visit. The only problem with that town is that there are no hotels but you can take a taxi and spend the day there at one of the beautiful beaches. We then drove to one end of Croatia where we could see the border of Montenegro where we were yesterday.

We also stopped in this amazing little town with a cool river called Ljuta it’s another must visit!! They have watermills to make cornmeal and they still use them to this day.

The last stop before heading back to the ship was the Fort Imperial Museum. This museum was pretty amazing it has pictures displayed of the towns before and after the war.

August 18, 2018 – Second time

Today we had Mato again our taxi driver from the last time we were in Dubrovnik  8/11/18. He picked us up and took us to our first stop which was a Medieval town called Slano built as far back as the 14th Century.  While there we saw the Wall of Ston which is the second largest stone wall in Europe (5.5km) and in that same area was where the salt production is.

We also visited the Prince’s Palace also known as Knezeva Palace or Rector’s Palace in Slano. Afterward, we drove to Bastrena to Mark’s friend’s house which is right on the water and they’re Oyster Farmers.  They took us to their Oyster line to get some oysters and then to their fishing basket to pick out our fish and they made us an amazing lunch.

The last stop was in the Old City of Dubrovnik where we walked around for about an hour it’s really cool to walk around the medieval town where the Game of Thrones was filmed. Afterward, we drove back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Venice, Italy.

St. Nicholas Church in Cavtat

Zavičajni Muzej Konavala Church

Konavle County Museum

Molunat
Ljuta

John & Maria

John & Maria

Pictures from our second visit to Dubrovnik

Knezeva Palace – The Prince’s Palace

Maria

Thierry, Ursula, Maria & John

Kotor, Montenegro

August 10, 2018

Today a friend of ours from the ship arranged for someone to pick us up and drive us around. The first stop on the tour was Njegusi where they are famous for making smoked prosciutto ham and cheese. There’s a picture of the smokehouse down below. We were lucky enough to try some and it was delicious. The next stop was a monastery in Centinje which was really nice afterward we drove to Lake Skadar (Skadarsko) and we took a half hour boat tour which was really cool with pretty scenery.

August 19, 2018 – Second time

Today John and I decided to get up early and hike up the mountain to the St. John Fortress. Luckily it was shady pretty much all the way up because it was really hot. Afterward, we just went back on the ship to relax.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Dubrovnik, Croatia.

If you would like to see what we ate while in Kotor, Montenegro.

August 19, 2018 – Pictures from the second time in Kotor, Montenegro

Corfu, Greece

August 9, 2018

Today John and I rented a car and drove to Achilleion Palace which was built during the years 1889-1891 by the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary Elisabeth. after visiting the Palace we drove back to the port to pick up our friend Evan. We then drove to Paleokastritsa and had lunch and a few drinks and then drove back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Kotor, Montenegro.

Achilleion Palace

Russian oligarchs Yacht 

Paleokastritsa Beach

John & Maria

Maria
Maria & Evan

Capri, Italy

 August 7, 2018

Today we took the tender boat to the port and then boarded a ferry boat to Capri. We walked around a bit and had some lunch at this place called Isidoro Restaurant where we ordered the Caprese salad and it was the best Mozzarella we ever had. After lunch, we did some shopping and took the ferry boat back to the ship. Capri is a place that we would like to go back and spend some more time there.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Taormina-Sicily, Italy.

If you would like to see what we ate while we were in Capri, Italy.

Maria & John

John & Maria

Maria

John & Maria

John
Maria & John