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.

Europe 2010 - Roman Empire Cruise

Our cruise touched seven ports: Dubrovnik (Croatia); Corfu, Katakolon (gateway to the ancient site of Olympia), the Aegean island of Santorini, all in Greece; Kuşadasi (Turkey); Athens (for the Acropolis); and Messina (gateway to Taormina). Each provided photography opportunities, some (Dubrovnik and Santorini) more than others.

Europe 2010 - Paris

You won't find much in the way of famous Parisian sights (or sites) below.

As you should know by now, I'm much more interested in street photography and candid captures than in photographing monuments, buildings, etc. (There are a few exceptions, but they are unusual photographs in their own rights.)

So, this is Paris as I experienced it within the context of nine days walking the streets, visiting some of the important sites and the great museums, and eating lots and lots of fantastic food.