We have now started the 5th segment of the World Cruise. It should be our final leg but Princess gave us a good deal to go from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles - another 17 days so we will have completed the full World Cruise (111 days). There are now 620 passengers on board with 73 Canadians.
KORCULA - Day 77 - A small island off Croatia - only 29 miles long with a population of 15k. $1 US = 6.35 Croatian Kuna - few places accepted either US $ or Euros.
What a picturesque setting! Imagine sitting in a boat in clear blue waters surrounded by miniature Rockies. The mainland is on our left and the island of Korcula on our right.
We anchored in a calm bay and have a 10 minute tender ride from the ship. Marco Polo was supposedly born here and as we walked through the old city we saw his home. Again, many small cafes and souvenir shops along narrow cobblestone lanes. There was a nice shoreline path - the water was clear and a pretty color. Tourism started to expand in the 60's but we were still in the off season.
It was one of the prettiest sail a ways we've seen on any cruise - we sailed by many tiny little islands.
VALLETTA - Day 79 Capital of Malta one of 4 islands that make up the archipelago of Malta. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean just a mile south of Sicily. Pop - just over 420k - language -Maltese and English. Currency - Euro. Mostly Catholics but a few other religions also exist.
After a very rough ride we arrived on the Island of Malta. I can tell you that the Captain's cure of a couple of cocktails does not curtail seasickness.
We visited Rabat where the Catacombs are located. They've done a lot of excavating and put in narrow pathways so you can tour the burial places.
We also toured Medina and St. Paul's Cathedral - what an ornate place! Beautiful frescos on the walls and ceilings. During our walk we tasted a Maltese snack called pastizzi which is puff pastry filled with ricotto cheese. Then we went to a glass blowing factory.
Malta is a beautiful area with many churches, cafes and bars.
Pictures - 1 - old town of Korcula, 2- some of the islands on the sail away, 3 - coming into the Malta harbour early morning, 4 - inside St. Paul's Cathedral
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