Piraeus and Athens, Greece
Trip Start
Oct 07, 2011
1
13
16
Trip End
Oct 23, 2011
Piraeus, Attica, Greece
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Port of call: Piraeus and Athens, Greece
Temperature 21c (69F) West winds and sunny
Well, we got the A-OK from the Captain, we are clear to go. All is good in Athens today but city wide protests are scheduled for Wednesday the19th and Thursday the 20th. We meet Megan and Jenna outside the ship and search for a taxi. Thankfully we find a driver who is willing to take us to our meeting point without hesitation. I say that because both in Istanbul and Corfu, Greece the taxi drivers prefer not to take you on short distance drives. They feel it isn't worth it. But when you look around, there is a cab for every privately owned car. The competition must be tough. We met up with our tour guide, Angelo and he brought with him a very special guest his Mamma, Tina.
Angelo is in his mid-twenties and his job was to educate us on the Mediterranean / Greek food cultures from the beginning of time to the modernization of today’s cooking and restaurants... in fact we met at a Starbucks in the middle of Athens.
His Mama was very well travelled as she had lived in many countries and worked in tourism herself, mostly at upscale hotels. Your typical Greek Mama takes care of the family until she no longer can. Then a daughter or daughter-in-law takes over. They eat and live together.
We visited magnificent restaurants, tasted all varieties that the city had to offer; the best ouzo, oils, vinegars, herbs, the fish market, desserts and more. After about 3 hours, Angelo and Mama bid us goodbye and off they went into the crowds of people. So we were left on our own with a map or two to find the "hop on / hop off" signs, so we could continue on our journey.
We stopped for a tour of the Acropolis (I need to catch my breath just thinking of it). We climbed so many steps that were built so may years ago. The view, the beauty, the history; it truly is indescribable. For many of you reading this, we wish that you all have the opportunity to come to what is now one of our favorite places in the world.
The people of Greece will work out their political problems. The people are fine; it’s the people in office causing this terrible mess.
We found our way back to the pier from the HOHO (Hop On / Hop Off tour bus). We’re tired, chilled and ready for a little rest before we go to our Dinner Theater that we booked last week. It is called “Ba Da Bing – Ba Da BOOM”, a mob-style murder mystery.
The Captain is saying that the weather will keep improving, and by the time we reach Palermo Italy we will be experiencing 24 C, sunny with south winds (wooohoooo).
Tomorrow we are booked for the Mysterious Palermo tour, to see the Catacombs. SPOOKY.
Have a good night
M.A. and Wayne.
Wayne is snoozing, but I’m waking him up to edit, then I’m snoozing fair is fair ….
Comments
Piraeus sounds wondeful... Everything about Greece sounds magnificent! It's making me hungry... I'm glad you're having fun but we can't wait to see you.
Oh....I remember this so well - and I remember the first glance of this at night as our bus rolled up to the hill and there it was in all its glory! ...that was 25 years ago and now that I see this picture it all comes back - I am so glad that you have experienced this - I have a wonderful pcitures book that I must show you....remind me!
saw layla today ...gave her kisses from you.....