Piraeus, Attica, Greece
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Day 4 of the cruise, getting close to the end of the trip, boo hoo. Doing our own thing today, so off the ship about 9am. Was planning to get a bus to the metro but no tobaco shops had tickets and we walked there in less than 1/2 hour. Got metro tickets 2 euros for me and fran, bargain, and there was a train there just about to go. So we changed at Omonia and got the other line getting of at Acropolis. Found the entrance, seems to be the back door, 12 euros for the 2 of us. Wandered around in relative peace thinking this is great no crowds, myth of course. We eventually made it to the main entrance and it was wall to wall people. It is pretty impressive up at the Parthenon and they have a theatre just near the entrance that they have restored that is very impressive, cant actually enter but good views from above. I had heard that they had finished with the renovations but there was still loads of scaffolding and cranes. managed to get shots without them in I think.Wound our way down and had trouble finding our way out, nothing is signposted. Finally found we were at the Thisso metro station and set off through the Plaka from there. i wanted to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier so set off in what I thought was the right direction. Passed some great markets but couldnt get Franchesca to go in, shes a little squeemish. Got to the town hall square and found a map and saw we were heading in the wriong direction. So backtracked to the plaka and set off in the right direction. There was a grouip of protesters doing a skit about the police, showing them as stupid I guess, all armed with cucmbers instead of guns, they followed us all the way up to Syntagma square. We timed it well and just got there in time for the changing of the guard, for all that they shoes with pom poms on I dont think that anyone will laugh at these guys as they are built. Franchesca bought some seed to feed the pigeons and then we headed back to the metro. Got back to
Piraeus and walked back to the ship, Franchesca went off and watched Harry Potter and I had a snooze. Just had dinner in the buffet tonight, still great food just no table service. After that we went and had a cocktail and went to see the show. Katy Setterfield who is a british impersonator. She was great, started off with Dusty Springfield, then did Annie Lennox, Cher, Tina Turner and Bette Midler, she was really good had the place on their feet applauding.Called it a night after losing in the casino:(
Day5
Today we are in Izmir, most people are off to Ephesus but already been there so we are heading to the bazar. So we dont rush up in the morning and get off the ship around 10. We take a taxi into the center and he drops us off at the bazar. It looks pretty quite and I am starting to think that maybe what I read on trip advisor was right and it was mainly closed on Sunday. Anyway we found a shop with " Turkish" Converse only 12 euros. So I got a pair, my black shoes have a hole and seriously need chucking, Franchesca who is Converse obsessed got 2 pairs. By the time we came out the place was opening up and it was posotivley heaving. Franchesca got a couple of tops and a pair of nikes. We had an overpriced coffee and ended up outside the market. I found a shop selling Baklava and bought some I love it. Wandered through the fish market and ended up on the sea front. We were going to have lunch in one of the cafes but kept walking and not able to see the ship, which is slightly worrying as it is pretty big. So we jumped in a cab and of course it was still there just tucked around a corner. Had lunch on board and then went in the pool, well Franchesca did I opted for the hot tub. Had cocktails on deck and watched the sail away day at sea tomorrow. We had a late dinner in the restaurant, very nice steak. The show was halk over by the time we got there so just caught the end. Hasnt been a bad one yet. Had a few goes on guitar hero then Franchesca went to watch a movie and I tried my luck in the casino.
