Ahoy!

"Big Trip 2009" is quickly approaching and our excitement is definitely mounting. This past week we booked our shore excursions AND realized that we are going to be in Rome on Easter Sunday. Wow!

Here's the itinerary for those who may be interested (ahem - our parents):
4/10 - Depart Barcelona
4/11 - At Sea
4/12 - Easter Sunday in Rome - We have booked an excursion that will take us to St. Peter's, St. Clemente's Basilica, and the Colosseum. We wouldn't mind hanging around St. Peter's for Mass, but I have a feeling that may be a bit too much.
4/13 - At Sea
4/14 - Athens, Greece - We are going to go it on our own in this port. It appears that the metro is a half hour walk from the dock and its an easy ride to the Acropolis.
4/15 - Ephesus, Turkey - First stop on our excursion is the House of Virgin Mary. Next, we'll continue to Ephesus and see the grand amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastic Baths, the Odeon, the Lower Agora, and the State Agora.
4/16 - At Sea
4/17 - Cairo, Egypt - The two days in Egypt are going to be AWESOME! We'll visit the Giza Plateau (Great Pyramids and the mighty Sphinx). Then, a lunch cruise on the River Nile, the Citadel of Saladin, Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali, and the Papyrus Institute.
4/18 - Alexandria, Egypt - We'll do some obligatory sightseeing in Alexandria, including: the statue of Mohamed Ali, the monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Mosque of Abu El Abbas, Qait Bey Fort, Catacombs of Shawqafa and the National Museum, and Montaza Gardens.
4/19 - At Sea
4/20 - Malta - This is our last port and we are planning to out it alone here, too. It seems to be pretty easy to get around and we will likely just be happy walking through the towns.
4/21 - At Sea
4/22 - Return to Barcelona. We will stay in Barcelona for an additional four days and experience this eclectic city.

Have you been to any of these places? We are looking for recommendations, particularly in Athens and Malta, since we won't be on an "official" tour.