Top 10 Travel Experiences: Sunrise in Venice

 

Sunrise in Venice

I was fortunate to be able to stay on the island of Venice in a vacation rental owned by one of my former exchange student, Alessio's family.  This allowed me the rare opportunity to experience Venice in the early morning hours before most people were awake.  This feeling of being the only one in Venice was magical.  As crowded as Venice is with tourists (this was October), this felt like an experience that very few people had.  Below are some of the pictures I took along the way to the St. Mark's Square.  I'm sure you can see from the pictures what a beautifully mesmerizing experience this was.  

“I have never in my life been so struck by any place as by Venice. It is the wonder of the world. Dreamy, beautiful, inconsistent, impossible, wicked, shadowy, d-able old place. I entered it by night, and the sensation of that night and the bright morning that followed is a part of me for the rest of my existence.”

– In a letter sent by Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Top 10 Travel Experiences: Sunset at the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, Greece

Temple of Poseidon - Cape Sounion, Greece

Today I begin a series of post based on my Top 10 recent travel experiences.  I will use travel from 2010 until now since those are freshest in my mind.  In 2010, I began international travel again, after stopping after 9/11.  Some of it was initial fear, but most of it was opportunity and finances.  I did travel to many national parks in the US during that time and some with my parents.  I'm so glad I was able to travel with my parents.  

Although this is the first in the series, it is not necessarily #1 or #10.  It is hard to put these in order since they are based on feelings of awe and wonder.  Those are hard to measure.  You will notice a theme that many of theme involve sunrises or sunsets.  Some I have covered in other blog posts and others are new.  I hope you enjoy this series.  

In July of 2021, a group of friends and myself took a tour to Greece.  We did it in the middle of the COVID-19 restrictions.  I thought (correctly) that it would be a great time to visit a popular tourist area during the busy season.  We were able to get good prices and low crowds at these amazing sites and this will be a trip I will never forget.  One member of the group had a recommendation from a friend that we not miss the Temple of Poseidon at sunset.  Although it was not part of the tour, we booked a separate tour to this site and I am so glad that we did.  It is a reminder that personal recommendations are some of the best ways to experience must visit locations.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Temple of Poseidon is an ancient Greek temple on Cape Sounion, Greece, dedicated to the god Poseidon. There is evidence of the establishment of sanctuaries on the cape from as early as the 11th century BC. Sounion's most prominent temples, the Temple of Athena and the Temple of Poseidon, are however not believed to have been built until about 700 BC, and their kouroi (freestanding Greek statues of young men) date from about one hundred years later.^[1] The material and size of the offerings at the Temple of Poseidon indicate that it was likely frequented by members of the elite and the aristocratic class.^[2]

It is important to visit it at sunset.  Otherwise, it is just another set of columns.  :)

As part of the tour, we had the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean Sea.  You can see the temple in the background.  That was where we were headed after the swim.  Notice the smooth rocks on the bottom of the water.  They were a little difficult to navigate. 

Two of my favorite travel partners, we also had dinner/lunch included as part of the tour.  They are showing a traditional Greek salad, that became a favorite on the trip.  I still make this type of salad.  Of course, it never seems to taste as good as it did on this trip.  Perhaps it is the quality and freshness of the ingredients.  

We were blessed with a beautiful day and were treated to an amazing sunset.  The pictures below speak for themselves.  

I'm so glad we added this tour to our trip to Greece.  Highly recommend.  

 Magical Turkey - Part 2: Cappadocia

Cappadocia, Turkey, is world-famous for its surreal "fairy chimney" rock formations, sprawling underground cities, and breathtaking sunrise hot air balloon rides. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique volcanic landscape and historic cave dwellings carved by ancient civilizations and early Christians. 

Here is what makes Cappadocia famous:

• Fairy Chimneys (Hoodoo Landforms): 

  Thousands of cone-shaped, volcanic rock pillars formed by erosion, which dominate the Göreme Valley. 
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• Hot Air Balloon Tours: 

  Known as one of the best places in the world to fly, hundreds of balloons rise at sunrise to offer views of the valleys. 

Reflection: God’s creation is so amazing! I was blessed to take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey. The incredible formations are from the lava flows of nearby volcanoes. There are three in the region. This was my first hot air balloon ride and I loved it! . I normally don’t like heights, but this was so smooth that it did not bother me. I must say that this is in my top 10 travel experiences so far. I was just overcome with amazement. I remember when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time, I was so overwhelmed with awe that all I could think about doing was singing "How Great thou Art." I also called my parents (the connection was spotty - early days of cell phones) to tell them how I was feeling. They actually visited as part of their honeymoon trip to California. Dad had been out west, but for my mom. I can only think that she thought she had died and gone to heaven - in more ways that one. :)😍

• Underground Cities: 

  Ancient multi-story underground cities, such as Derinkuyu, were carved into the soft stone, serving as hiding places for early Christians fleeing persecution. 
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  Cave Dwellings & Hotels: 

  The region is famous for its "cave houses" carved into volcanic tuff, many of which are now boutique hotels. 

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• History & Monasteries: 

  Extensive cave monasteries, churches, and chapels featuring Byzantine frescoes are found in the Göreme Open Air Museum. 

Reflection:  First, I apologize for not including a lot of personal commentary and relying on information that I find.  I can't remember the details of what was said, but certainly remember the way it made me feel.  Walking in the places that early Christians would have been was especially meaningful.  Imagining how I would feel or what life would be like for them.  Then contrasting with the blessings of freedom of worship and freedom from persecution.  Although the world can be hard on Christians, at least we don't have to hide for our lives.  It's also inspiring to see how they determined they were to worship by creating spaces for worship.  

Although, I still have more amazing things to see in Turkey - both Istanbul and Cappadocia have been wonderfully exciting.