Who is up for a Mediterranean Cruise?

Dearest Travel with Lisa fans, you are in for a real treat! I know many of you have been bombarded with daily photo albums from our "Trip of a Lifetime" but here on my blog, it's one stop shopping! That's right, all 9 ports are showcased here with some of the best pictures I have..along with the fabulous cruise on board the Celebrity Summit! I know many of you are dying to go, and you CAN! Remember, for us this trip was 26 months in the planning! Right now, go get an envelope, put 20 bucks in it, and you are on your way to a savings plan for Europe 2010! There were PLENTY of families on this trip, as well as couples of any age who left someone behind! This trip is for EVERYONE! I have a detailed 30 page itinerary ready to put in YOUR hands! Hundreds of hours of research AND a "been there, done that" philosophy will make for the vacation of your life! Seriously, you have not lived until you have seen Italy! Think about it! Life is short, GO TO EUROPE!

Lake Como, Italy Pre-Cruise

Lake Como, Italy
Just half an hour from noisy, bustling Milan, Lake Como is a jewel-like oasis of tranquillity, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. Lake Como is renowned for its exquisite villas. We stayed in Varenna at the Villa Cipressi, mentioned below, and also visited Bellagio. Tremezzo is one of the places we did not visit but is a lovely lakeside town. There's a classic lakeside promenade, as well as many wonderful old villas (some of which have been converted to hotels), and it's from here you can take a car ferry over to Bellaggio and Varenna, on the opposite shore.

Varenna may be the most picturesque town on the lake, its steep winding alleys lined with charming homes, flowering balconies and lace-curtained windows. Just above it is the ancient castle where Theodolinda, Queen of the Lombards, is said to have died in the 7th century. Two famed villas to visit here are Villa Cipressi, with terraced gardens cascading right down to the shores, and Villa Monastero, a true showcase.

On the southern shore is Bellaggio, la perla del lago (the pearl of the lake), considered by many to be the most beautiful town in all of Europe. Its narrow cobbled streets, breathtaking views, impeccable homes and glorious villas (pictured above is Villa Serbelloni) make it a most enchanting spot to spend your own unforgettable "Month by the Lake."

Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy
One of the world's most beautiful cities also happens to be one of its most unusual. Venice is actually made up of over 120 islands in the Adriatic Sea. Because the city is connected by canals instead of streets, a good way to see Venice is on a romantic gondola ride. The epicenter of the city is St. Mark's Square, where you'll find the 900-year-old Basilica of St. Mark.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia
This charming little town has been resting on the Dalmation Coast for some 1,300 years. Once you pass through Old Town's stone walls, you will be transported into the breathtaking medieval world of Stari Grad. Marble-paved squares, monasteries and fountains are just a few of the antiquities still standing just as they were over a thousand years ago.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece
35.25 degrees north. 25.20 degrees east. Perfection has coordinates. Here on Santorini, you'll find whitewashed houses accented by roofs of the bluest blue - there's no doubt that azure waters of the Aegean have served as creative inspiration. Among the many historic sites on the island is the ancient city of Akrotiri, once buried under a thick blanket of volcanic ash over 3,600 years ago.

Athens, Greece

Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Your adventure in Athens begins five miles southwest in Greece's largest seaport, known as Piraeus. While here, be sure to take notice of what is considered to be one of the greatest contributions from the ancient Age of Pericles, the city's infrastructure, which today we know as a city block.

Amalfi Coast and Pompeii

Naples/Capri, Italy
Located on the southern coast of Italy, Naples has spectacular scenery that attracts artists from around the world. From this key spot, you can embark on a trip to the ruins of Pompeii or shop the many boutiques of Sorrento. You may work up an appetite for one of Naples' greatest inventions - pizza - invented to honor the Queen of Italy in 1889.

Rome, Italy

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Once the center of the ancient world from which emperors ruled over nearly all of western civilization for hundreds of years, Rome is still considered by many to reign over all other European destinations. Here you can breathe the air once breathed by great Roman gladiators in the ancient halls of the Colosseum. Gaze upon the very ceilings Michelangelo painted at the Sistine Chapel. Or visit a monument to both size and faith, St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church ever built.

Cinque Terre and Pisa Italy

Florence, Italy
Occupying both banks of the Arno River and situated at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, is Florence. Founded by Julius Caesar himself, Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. History and art shake hands in this picturesque land where masterpieces like Michelangelo's David can be seen in the city's many museums, churches and galleries.

Villefrance, Nice, St Paul France, Monaco

Cannes, France
It is no wonder the world's gather in Cannes for its renowned International Film Festival, Formula One Grand Prix, and glamorous shopping. Basking on the French Riviera between charming seaside villages and those of the Alps, Cannes is the resort of choice for royalty and many of the world's brightest luminaries of business and the arts.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, Spain
There's nothing quite like Barcelona. Especially if you consider the architecture. The city lays claim to its very own form of Art Nouveau, known as Modernisme. The Sagrada Familia Basilica is perhaps the best example of this beautiful and interesting brand of architecture, with its bold color, beautiful tile-work and swirling lines. At the same time, many find the work at the Picasso Museum and the cathedrals of the Gothic Quarter equally inspiring.