Travel Friends,
Many of you know Erle & Pat Hudson, two of our travel experts from COTC. They recently returned from an incredible vacation and we wanted them to share their journey with you, our travel friends.
We just returned from one of our most incredible trips and wanted to tell you about it. You may want to do a version of this yourself.
We departed McAllen, TX on October 5 and flew to Rome with stops in Houston and Frankfurt. Through her work some years back with Clear Channel, Pat knew of a small boutique hotel within two blocks of St. Peters – The Santa Anna. What a treat that was! The room and bath were great but the wonderful breakfast served daily, sitting areas both inside and out, a most helpful and friendly staff, and the bustling little street just outside the front door, which was closed to auto traffic for the most part, made our stay here for four days truly a delight and most memorable. In the morning the street was filled with business men and women dressed in formal business attire hustling as they walked to work along with a good mix of priest and nuns most likely associated with or visiting The Vatican and St. Peters. In the evening, numerous little restaurants were open along the street and each had an outside eating area serving remarkable Italian cuisine.
St. Peters, The Sistine Chapel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps are all sights that you just must see for yourself. I am totally without the vocabulary to describe.
We did not want to leave but the calendar said it was time to head to the Port of Civitavecchia which serves Rome. What a beautiful drive through the Italian farm land with acres of olive trees, grapes, and various vegetables. When we reached the port we boarded Celebrity Silhouette. What a gorgeous ship and we were on her ninth voyage. It still smelled new! Along with about 2800 other guest we enjoyed exquisite dining, wonderful shows and service. And, for you non-smokers, the ship is smoke free including the casino except for a small area on the back of Deck 15 where those who indulge can enjoy their cigar, pipe or cigarette.
Now let me tell you about our itinerary. Our first stop was Palermo, Sicily. As we had seen in Rome, the architecture was wonderful with all of the old buildings dating back hundreds of years. For those of us from the US with nothing much over two hundred years old it is a sight to behold. One of the highlights of Palermo was going to a wonderful beach just a few miles away and continuing my quest for the absolute best gelato in the region.
After two days at sea our next four days were spent in Israel. Two days at the Port of Haifa and two at Ashdod. How absolutely amazing. As a Christian in this most holy land for not only Christians but Jews and Muslims as well visiting Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and the very sights where Jesus was born, grew up, taught in the Temple, preached The Sermon on the Mount, prayed in the garden, and struggled under the weight of the cross to the locations of his crucifixion, and then to the points of His Resurrection and Ascension is indescribable. Our Israeli and Palestinian host thanked us for coming and asked us to encourage others to visit Israel. There was never a moment you needed to fear. The days were full and involved a lot of walking but though I face knee replacement in a couple of months, they were very fulfilling and doable.
I must say a quick word about Masada, Herod’s fortress overlooking The Dead Sea, amazing amazing amazing.
From Israel we sailed to Mykonos and the Greek Isles. The day at sea between Israel and Mykonos was welcomed as a day of recovery not only physically but mentally. Despite all the issues Greece is having, Mykonos was soooo beautiful and welcoming. With all of the white buildings trimmed in blue with blue shutters it’s easy to see why this is a favorite for all who visit. After a long day of shopping, and sight seeing, Pat and I were hungry and we stopped at an Oceanside café, Cristina’s, which served wonderful baked feta, hummus and Tzatziki Dip as we overlooked the blue sea of the Aegean.
Another day at sea and on to Naples, Sorrento and Pompeii. Again beautiful Italian cities with so much history. Pompeii is almost unbelievable until you see it with your own eyes. Though I enjoyed it thoroughly, Pompeii was a bit much for my ailing knee with quite a few steps putting it to the test.
We were then on our way back to Rome. We rested up a day before boarding our flights back home on October 23.
Pat had been to Europe three times while “I slaved” in the manufacturing plants along the US Mexican border. She kept telling me that I absolutely had to go and I did not know what she meant until I experienced it for myself. For those of you, and I know you are out there, who say that you just want to see the sights in the US let me encourage you to broaden your horizons and look to Europe, and in particular Italy, Israel and Greece. It will blow you mind.
