Our final day on the island
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2010
1
22
33
Trip End
Jun 21, 2010
Piraeus, Attica, Greece
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Ok so it is Saturday and we have to catch the Hydrafoil to Pireaus which is the main port of Athens. We had done the laundry, eaten the stuff in the refrigerator and straightened up the house. Packing was of course a challenge because we were pretty settled into living here on top of the hill. Last night we ran around the port trying to look for those last minute things that we thought we might wanna drag back to America. We ate at a little Taverna called Annita’s and - ta-da - that was in the form lamb chops. There was good beer, a wonderful wife and lots of cats to entertain. There for a short time we had about 15 cats trying to get me to give up some lamb. The pictures will be great. I will down load them the first chance I get.
Kathy and I have had a great time here in Ydra and have met some really great people. These island people are so friendly and hospitable. The food has really been super, lamb several different ways Souvaliki that is so tasty and it almost melts in your mouth. The salad are so full of favor and so fresh. The sun beats down so warm and even when there isn’t a breeze, it is still a bearable at 103 degrees F.
We climbed down the hill for the last time, Jack stopped by about 11:30 in the morning to get the luggage, and he even beat us down the hill. We spoke to a number of people, greeting them on the path, and finally stopped by Sue and Lucas’ hardware shop, Kathy gave Sue the book of small towns Alabama and said our good-byes. It was a sad moment, but Kathy and I are convinced that we will return. There are still a dozen or so Taverna’s we haven’t visited. Plus the cats might go hungry if we don’t come back.
The Hydrafoil departed at 12:35 and headed north. That was some ride, I think because the water was rough that the boat was not as comfortable as it could have been. I used the vidoe camera, as the boat retraced the route along the Peloponnese coast that we had driven about 10 days before. The boat pulled into the Island of Poros and a number of people came on, then it was back into the Saronic Gulf until we made our way to Pireaus.
We called the Marriott and the woman there told me there was no way to take a Metro into Athens and get to the Hotel. Well Steves’ had written that there was and we checked it out. Looking like a couple of Gypsies with all our stuff we made it to the Metro stop, it was about a half mile walk through downtown and port traffic. It was pretty warm. At the other end it was a long walk through the streets of Athens from the Metro to the Hotel but we succeeded and got to the hotel about 5. Got settled in and cleaned up a bit and back down town we went, Still unsuccessful concerning finding the Harley shop, but we got to the old flea market in Monastiraki on a quest to locate a door knocker to return to Alabama and assemble to our front door. Walked the streets of the old city near Plaka, it seemed that everyone in Athens was out walking the streets, drinking at the cafes, and just generally watching people and being seen. E found some food and later some ice cream and coffee. Took a couple of night shots with the camera, you be the judge of my success. Finally took a taxi back to the Marriott Hotel.
