Do we need a guide or should we do our own thing? Advice please? Thanks!

Sedona,

I was just there several weeks ago, by land. Don't know what the Diamond's schedule is, or where it stand in the cruise schedule, so what you do may depend on how active you are, what time of day the stop is, and whether you are "ruined out". Mycaenae and Epidavros are both amazing archaeological sites, so if you are into that sort of thing, don't hesitate to go.

If you go privately, go as early as possible in the day. Can't remember when your trip is, but it is HOT there, and if it's August, it will be hotter still. Get the site as early as possible and plan to be out of there by 10 or 11 if you can.

If on the other hand, you just feel like wandering around a town by yourselves, this is the place. It is a very nice little town, very pretty, and there are also lots of jewellery shops if you are interested in shopping for gold. There may be guides who can do a walking tour with you as well.

If you decide to wander, I'll describe my favourite sidewalk cafe!

Oh, by the way, it's "Nafplion", although the Greeks don't pronounce the final "n".

Thanks for the input. By the way, I thought, from your picture, that you were 20! I couldn't remember how to spell it and didn't want to look it up. I think it's our first stop and we're going in October.

It is a pretty little town, and I did buy a gold ring.....lots of lovely sidewalk restaurants, with the ubquitous Greek salad.....we negotiated with a taxi driver to take us out to the ruins, which were spectacular - there is lots to see there, and it is a pretty spot. Take a guidebook and thats all you need. We were there for the day in mid-May, from the Silver Whisper.

Sedona,

I wish I was 20, at least on the outside!

It will be interesting to hear what Nafplio will be like in October, looking forward to it.

It will for sure be cooler and less crowded, and that goes for the archaeological sites as well. I'm sure it will be lovely.

Oh, and I too bought some jewellery--at least my husband did. I purchased a really lovely gold necklace which I am wearing right now. I think I sussed out every shop in town before we chose it!

Thanks so much for your helP.

Doug is a scuba diver and will be diving on some of the islands, leaving me on my own and Denise and Alan are planning to do the private tour guide route and asked me if I wanted to join along with another couple who are my friends and first time cruisers. This other couple, who are European, recommended "winging it" and not touring. I was torn as to whether to join Denise and Alan or to "wing it." I so enjoyed Denise and Alan's company and didn't want to miss anything.

Per your advice, I think perhaps that all of us may choose to get a taxi together and wing it and make our own tour and invest in merely a guide book. I'll write to Denise and see what she thinks.

You've all been a tremendous help on all my posts and I thank you tremendously.

I have six words of advice.

WING IT - WING IT -WING IT.

sedona, trust me, you don't need a taxi to see Nafplion itself. The streets are very narrow and the old town is build on the side of a hill, so there are many steps. If you want to get to one of the castles, then a taxi would be required, for sure.

On the other hand, if walking alot is a problem, then I'm not sure what to suggest, other than people watching in the main square, under the plane tree, which is what my friend Cliff did last month.

Walking is not a problem. I am just going to get off the boat and see where my feet take me. Thank you.