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CHECKING IN WITH CHUCK
MILAN HIGHLIGHT: DA VINCI'S LAST SUPPER
We understood that visiting Milan meant we had to see da Vinci's Last Supper. Securing tickets for this requires some timing and patience. Tickets are released approximately 4 weeks before your intended visit date. They can be purchased directly from the Cenacolo Vinciano museum, but getting in the queue is essential. Tickets are released at noon in Italy, which is 3AM in California where we live, so I had to wake up in the middle of the night to make the purchase. You can bu
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SINGAPORE & WWII
The fall of Singapore during World War II, a significant event in the Pacific theater, occurred in February 1942 when the British forces, despite their initial confidence, surrendered after just a week of intense fighting. This rapid defeat was a shocking blow to British colonial pride and military reputation. The Japanese forces, demonstrating remarkable strategic prowess, managed to outsmart the British defenders with only a third of the manpower. They executed a well-coord
ATHENS: SOUNION
The Temple of Poseidon is located at Cape Sounion, a prominent promontory situated at the southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula in Greece. This ancient temple, dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea, is perched on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, providing stunning panoramic views that have captivated visitors for centuries. The site is not only significant for its architectural grandeur but also for its historical and cultural importance in ancient Greek civilizatio
SANTORINI
We traveled by ferry from Crete to Santorini which was a pleasant way to arrive and we were not in a hurry. Santorini was our final destination after a month of travel, so we were spending a few days to simply relax, do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly to enjoy its beauty. The volcanic landscape, shaped by an eruption years ago, is the island's most distinctive feature. The Caldera, with its whitewashed buildings and blue domes, provides a stunning setting that is truly unfo
SANTORINI: KATIKIES VILLA
Santorini, part of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, experienced a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC that dramatically altered its terrain. The island's two main towns, Fira and Oia, feature whitewashed, cube-shaped houses that cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera. These towns offer views of the sea, small islands to the west, and beaches covered with black, red, and white lava pebbles. We stayed in Oia at the Katikies Villa Santorini. Since Fira is a pop
CRETE: PHAISTOS
The Palace of Phaistos is one of the key centers of Minoan civilization in Crete, second in importance only to Knossos, and a major cultural attraction in southern Heraklion. Human settlement in Phaistos traces back to the Neolithic era, with the introduction of metal use around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, which spurred further development. At the start of the 2nd millennium, power shifted to kings who constructed grand palatial centers. The initial palace was built
CRETE: PALACE OF KNOSSOS & HERAKLION ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Knossos was inhabited for several thousand years, beginning with a neolithic settlement sometime in the seventh millennium BC, and was abandoned after its destruction in 1375 BC which marked the end of Minoan civilization. It was located high up on a hill to give it a strategic advantage. The first palace on the low hill beside the Krairatos river was built around 1900 BC on the ruins of previous settlements. It was destroyed for the first time along with the other Protopalat
CRETE: APTERA
Aptera was one of Crete's most important city-states. It is situated on a plateau 200 meters above Souda Bay, approximately 15 km from the city of Chania on the road to Rethymno. The theater played a crucial role in the public life of ancient cities. In ancient Aptera, the theatre was constructed on the southernmost side of the site, facing the White Mountains. The main components of the theatre are the koilon (auditorium), the orchestra, and the skene. It is estimated to hav
ATHENS: ACROPOLIS
The Acropolis of Athens stands as the most impressive and intact ancient Greek monumental complex still in existence today. It is located on a moderately high hill (156m) that rises within the Athens basin. The hill spans roughly 170 by 350m and is rocky and steep on all sides except the west, featuring a broad, nearly flat top. For over 3,300 years, strong fortification walls have encircled the Acropolis summit. The initial fortification wall was constructed in the 13th cent
ATHENS DAY TRIP: ANCIENT DELPHI
We had Athens as our base for our various excursions. Delphi was a day trip slightly over two hours north and west of Athens. We visited it with a private guide and driver which made it very doable. It is the heart of Ancient Greece and is a memorable and worthwhile destination. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where Apollo's oracle delivered prophecies, was home to the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Seamlessly blending with the stunning landscape and rich in sacred
ANCIENT CORINTH, MYCENAE AND THE TOMB OF AGAMEMNON
Ancient Corinth is located between two seas (the Corinthian and the Saronic gulfs or the Aegean and the Ionian seas) and between the land of the Peloponnese and that of mainland Greece had a decisive impact on the ancient city’s development and its long-lasting life. Below is a view of the Corninth Canal that separates the mainland from the Peolponnesian Peninsula: The ruins of ancient Corinth, including the remarkable Temple of Apollo and the expansive Roman Forum, stand as
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