Thread: Athens or Venice? Help

Have a choice of either going to Athens or Venice, but not both.
Also .. Nice or Monte Carlo.
And.. Ephesus or Croatia.

Have no idea ..anybody?

To put it very simple.

VENICE - the most stunning city in the world!!!!!!

NICE - close to Monte Carlo, Villefranche. Typical Cote D¨Azur towns. Promenade des Angles and the narrow streets of old Nice. I used to live there..

EFESUS - Or Kusadasi, is very good for shopping. The Roman ruins at Efesus, the terraced houses, the house of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of st. John

Hi hanna,

Have you looked at what shorex would be available in the ports and the length of time you'll have to try to see the sights? That might help you decide if you felt you didn't have enough time in the ports to do all that you would like.

I could be biased because I'm on the Venice cruise LOL and, I've already seen Athens & Kusadasi on a combo land/sea vacation.

I've never been to Venice so I have no idea what it's like yet, but the fact that this cruise goes to Venice is why we're on it.

Athens has the Acropolis, but wear really good walking shoes! One of my friends took a slide down the steps by the main area, all that was hurt was her pride. It didn't help that about 50 people were walking towards us and caught the whole thing! One in my group normally has a mishap that is side-splitting funny, but only after we know they're ok....well, we really try not to laugh, most times LOL

Kusadasi; We did a ship's tour to Ephesus where they rushed us through the place and then took us to a carpet place...I'd say store, but we watched how the carpets were made then they took us into a room where we all sat around the walls and gave us some hot cider and presented the rugs to us with much fanfare....I found the experience at the carpet place quite strange as I was waiting for belly dancers and opium pipes to be brought out any minute LOL There was MUCH pressure to buy the carpets!

Why we chose Venice is The Grand Canal; St. Mark's; Doge's Palace and the ability to easily do it on our own. It was also appealing since we'd be in Venice over 24 hours.

Half of the Athens artifacts are in the British museum (it is sad to see all the vandalism that was done to so many of the statues in the name of religion) but Athens would still be amazing.

I would personally not go to Venice. To see how all of that magnificence has deteriorated due to lack of care would be heart rendering.

Lets see now: Athens or Venice? Cleveland or San Francisco? Butte or New York City? Tierra Del Fuego or Paris? Hmmmmm. No brainer. Venice by a million miles.

Having just been to Ephesus, Athens, and Venice I have to say without a doubt Ephesus would be my first chioce. A place not to miss. It is where Paul preached, and where some of the apostles walked. It brougjt the Bible stories I grew up with to life. To think I walked where many walked over 2000 years ago! I also saw St John's Bascilla and John's grave site. Also the house where they say Mary, Jesus mother, spent her last years. The ruins of Ephesus were incredable, the best condition of all that I saw on this trip.

As far as Athens or Venice, that's a tough choice. Venice was beautiful and amazing but I think I would vote for Athens...so much history there. And we also saw ancient Corinth where Paul also preached. As far as the Acropolis, I wore sandles and had no problem walking or slipping at all, loved the climb of 80 steps and the view at the top was awesome!

In France I would vote for Monte Carlo. I wished we had gone there instead of Marseille.

Venice is to die for!!! its amazing. I too face a decison similar to yours.... cruise we want to go on has all med ports we want but not venice, seeing as i've seen venice then maybe not this time but having a difficult time booking it without the venice stopover.

Originally Posted by Laura73

Venice is to die for!!! its amazing. I too face a decison similar to yours.... cruise we want to go on has all med ports we want but not venice, seeing as i've seen venice then maybe not this time but having a difficult time booking it without the venice stopover.

Laura, I don't know when you're looking to book your cruise for, but right now the cruise we're on on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance OTS's this November 13th - 25th is having some major pricing deals on their guaranty rates.

P. S. It goes to Venice

[quote=hanna;1128178]Have a choice of either going to ...

Athens - I think the buildings on the acropolis in Athens are just about the most fascinating of all ancient sites anywhere. But are you into that sort of thing?Iknow I am! I love learning about ancient cultures and this is one of the best places for that. Just knowing that Greek history is what the ancient Romans thought of as antiquity...wow. It really hits you that this is where so many of our modern ideas came from....from science to politics, art and architecture...the Greeks thought of it first. I felt as if I was walking in the footsteps of the very origins of civilization as we know it. It's just simply a fascinating place to visit. Athens is not as pretty as Venice, but you feel as if you are viewing something very important. I think Athens is good for your spirit and really makes you think...while Venice is beautiful and romantic and pleasing to the senses. Does that make sense? I'd choose Athens, but that's just me.

Also .. Nice or Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo, hands down. The Prince's Palace, the architecture in Monaco, and the way everything is build up steep cliffs...gorgeous gorgeous did I mention gorgeous scenery with the yacht harbor, the famous casino, the Hotel de Paris next door. Maseratis and Rolls Royces all over the place, very " Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". Nice is just a pleasant seaside town, not as special in my opinion.

And.. Ephesus - I liked Ephesus even better than Pompeii, wonderful intact ruins. And just being in Turkey is special. You feel as if you are in a really foreign and unique place in the world, since Turkey is the near east - it's almost Europe and almost asia. Very interesting and different types of people and architecture...exotic shopping with great souveniers. I enjoyed it a bunch.
Croatia = Walled medieval city...very pretty but not as fascinating as Ephesus in my opinon.

I tend to choose interesting over scenic, but someone else might feel differently. It just depends on what your preference is!

[quote=Texashorselady;1194649]

Originally Posted by hanna

Have a choice of either going to ...

Athens - I think the buildings on the acropolis in Athens are just about the most fascinating of all ancient sites anywhere. But are you into that sort of thing?Iknow I am! I love learning about ancient cultures and this is one of the best places for that. Just knowing that Greek history is what the ancient Romans thought of as antiquity...wow. It really hits you that this is where so many of our modern ideas came from....from science to politics, art and architecture...the Greeks thought of it first. I felt as if I was walking in the footsteps of the very origins of civilization as we know it. It's just simply a fascinating place to visit. Athens is not as pretty as Venice, but you feel as if you are viewing something very important. I think Athens is good for your spirit and really makes you think...while Venice is beautiful and romantic and pleasing to the senses. Does that make sense? I'd choose Athens, but that's just me.

Also .. Nice or Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo, hands down. The Prince's Palace, the architecture in Monaco, and the way everything is build up steep cliffs...gorgeous gorgeous did I mention gorgeous scenery with the yacht harbor, the famous casino, the Hotel de Paris next door. Maseratis and Rolls Royces all over the place, very " Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". Nice is just a pleasant seaside town, not as special in my opinion.

And.. Ephesus - I liked Ephesus even better than Pompeii, wonderful intact ruins. And just being in Turkey is special. You feel as if you are in a really foreign and unique place in the world, since Turkey is the near east - it's almost Europe and almost asia. Very interesting and different types of people and architecture...exotic shopping with great souveniers. I enjoyed it a bunch.
Croatia = Walled medieval city...very pretty but not as fascinating as Ephesus in my opinon.

I tend to choose interesting over scenic, but someone else might feel differently. It just depends on what your preference is!

as per the above.
athens is where civilisation started.