"Best Mediterranean Cruise ever!!"

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This is email #3 from our fantastic vacation of a lifetime! I last told you about Rhodes, which is still my favorite Greek island. However, since then we have been to Cypress (on Father's Day, June 17) where we took a tour to Kourion, an ancient town with a stunning view. Here the guide showed us a very well preserved home with about 30 rooms, baths, and running water. Unfortunately, the terra cotta pipes which are still visible today had been lined with lead, and the inhabitants led short, if comfortable, lives. There is also a huge outdoor amphitheater from Roman times which seats almost 4,000. It has been restored and is used for plays and concerts today.

We then rode by bus through olive groves (did you know they can live about 300-400 years, and are thus called the "tree of life?") to a relatively "modern" castle, built in the 13th century which at various times was home to the Knights Templar and Knights of St. John's Order of Jerusalem--but not at the same time. Here we climbed to the top where boiling oil had been poured onto attackers, and wandered through the very well preserved areas for cooking, sleeping, and of course, the great hall. It was like being in medieval times, only without the knights! We ended with a walking tour of Limassol, the 2nd largest port in Cypress, but since it was Sunday, everything was closed. After we'd taken a few pictures, we reboarded the ship to enjoy the pool deck and other amenities. We ended the day with a formal dinner and a fantastic show in the shop's theater.