Return to Athens

Friday October 7, 2011

Alas it was time to leave our floating adventure station and head back to our hotel in Athens. We have had such a grand time making new friends, seeing exotic places and getting only a tiny nibble of the smorgasbord of exciting travel experiences just waiting to be tasted. When we got to our hotel it was too early to check in but we were able to store any luggage we didn't want with us and board the shuttle arranged to take us to Syntagma square. From there we wandered over to an area of town we had not been to before. We found the ancient Agora or market place. When we approached the gate to inquire about cost we were delighted to hear “today is free” and she gave us tickets for area which included the museum. This is the area at the foot of Mars hill. We were amazed at the scene the signs revealed to us. Each step we took brought us to a new temple dedicated to another god. There were several and then one still standing. It was much larger than the ones we had seen the foundations for. Standing on a rise it was quite impressive. We saw it later in the evening when we came to the same area on our way to the restaurant and it was lit up. Gorgeous! After walking through the large market area we made our way up on the huge chunk of marble known as Mars hill. I could just hear Paul's discourse as he talked of their temples to so many gods and how they in fact had named one to the unknown god just in case they had missed one and then how he bore testimony of how the god unknown to them was Jesus Christ. I have always loved that passage of scripture and now I was here getting a little taste of how Paul must have felt. The museum had many interesting bits and pieces of the rubble of living, pots, jewelry, voting discs, burial paraphernalia ... a real assortment of interesting things. I loved the voting system. Names were written on a disc that was cast into an area. When they were counted the person with the most votes was exiled for 10 years. Isn't that the best!!!

We made our way back through the streets now busy with the business of the day, dodging enthusiastic shop keepers and those the locals call gypsies that want to sell you something out of the bag they carry or are begging on the streets. It is hard to discern who you should help out.

After catching the shuttle back to the Metropolitan hotel we checked in and had a relaxing afternoon napping and spending time up on the roof top by the pool watching the kids of an Australian family, who were with our group on the cruise, splash around and have fun in the pool. It was not hot enough to tempt me to get wet.

The evening supper was to be in a little taverna in the Psiri district of Athens which is at the foot of the Acropolis. The bus diver dropped us where we could get pictures of the Acropolis lit up at night. Foolishly Dad had left his camera back at the hotel and mine had very low battery so picture taking was disappointing. The meal however was not. We wound our way through the narrow streets through a very run down area but finally came out on streets lit up with Tavernas and clubs where music played and groups gathered to be wined and dined. Sprite for us but the rest of the group enjoyed the “anything you want to drink included”. The meal started with appetizers that included delicious puff pastry chicken pies and dill zucchini balls which were a potato, zucchini and dill mixture rolled into ball, coated with a crumb crust and deep fat fried or baked I wasn't sure. They were light and yummy. We had Greek salad with the best feta cheese I have had. Then our main dish was assorted meats on a platter with french fried potatoes (as popular here as North America). By this time we were starting to feel stuffed. Dessert was assorted fresh fruit and brownie with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Needless to say, by the time we were done we felt like we would never have to eat again. When we returned to our hotel we said our good byes to our new made friends. It was sad our time together was over. Many of them had early flights home or on to the next leg of their own adventures. We were packed up and a little unsure of our schedule for leaving as the only way to find out was go to the bus station and find out for sure about departures. Like a lot of things in Greece there are no absolutes just probabilities.

From what we could determine the bus leaves either at 9:45 or 10:00 on a Saturday but with a warning “times are subject to change”. We shall try to arrive in plenty of time.

More Islands

Thursday Oct 6, 2011

Our first explore today was the city of Heraklion on the island of Crete. After our guide (Dimitri) showed us around a little he left us to explore. The first thing we did was go into the art gallery just to see what they had on display. It was a collection of photographs from the second world war taken by Costas Belafas . He had documented the resistance movement that had eventually been joined by the allied force and been a big part of freeing Crete and bringing victory to the allied forces. The collection was emotional and gave me a feel for the challenge this proud culture has faced that I have no idea about. The city was much like so many other but with a big city feel. The sounds and scents of the market and bazaar area were exotic. There were spice stands, a block long fish market, many produce stand, butcher shops with meat hanging out for inspection. There were skinned squirrels and pigs heads and other things I couldn't identify. Greeks greeted each other in their enthusiastic way, their speech loud and quick. Warm greetings and disagreements all sound the same to the untrained ear of a foreigner. Old men stood smoking and waiting for business, others sat on old chairs just watching the crowds. It was early so some merchants were still fussing with the display of their wares, getting the fruits and vegetables piled just right. It would have been fun to buy a basket of goods, go home and cook up some great concoction but I guess I will just have to suffer through another day of someone cooking all the meals, serving all I could possibly eat and having so many choices it is hard to decide if you really are too full.

The Bazaar had lots of beautiful things to buy but the only thing I couldn't resist was an original oil painting of a Mediterranean scene. (no frame just the canvas).

Back to the ship in time for lunch and then some sun worshiping on the top deck. About 3:30 we arrived at Santorini, the most photographed place in Greece. No wonder! The place was amazing. Sitting up on the top of high cliffs, the white washed houses looked like icing oozing over the top of a tall cake but a we approached it was obvious they were buildings stacked together to completely cover the side of the hill. Only the front of the house is visible, the rest of it goes back into the hillside. We were looking at the Greek's artistic cliff dwellings.

Falling in Love

Wednesday October 5 2011,

Another fabulous adventure kind of day. We started early as we have most days so far. I was up by 5:15 am and ready for the next little gem we might uncover in this wonderful place they call Greece. Today we were docking at Rhodes and doing an explore of the island before we were turned loose in the main bazaar. I was enchanted as we approached the island just at dawn and the walls of the city gleamed in the rosy light . A large part of the city was enclosed by fortress walls and a huge castle stood looking out to sea. I could imagine ancient watchmen sending out the cry of an approaching vessel. In reality the port already had two big cruise ships and another soon joined us. We rode a bus about 60 km to the town of Lindos. There, perched on a hillside, a large walled acropolis, on the highest eastern cliff of the town, was incredible. The land just looked like a big pile of rocks but somehow there were fertile spots where trees and gardens were growing. The fortress was used as the movie set for the movie Guns of Navarro. I will have to see that movie again. This is the part of the world where celebrities buy property. Our guide pointed out Pink Floyd's house which was right next to the ancient theatre carved into the hill side of the little town. I wonder if he has ever performed there just for fun. Today was the first day we have been really inconvenienced by strikes in Greece. The archeological sites were all closed today as a protest for the huge wage cuts workers have all received. That meant we could only look at the Acropolis from below but were not able to tour it as had been the plan. Sigh,oh well more time for down town. We walked to a little bay where, according to tradition, the Apostle Paul had landed here and taught the people before leaving Rhodes. It was a beautiful little harbour. The morning sun was already warm and there were people swimming in the crystal clear water. After wandering through the shops and winding streets with their lazy cats, potted plants and gated ornamental door ways we climbed the hill to board the bus and head back to the capital city of Rhodes. The walled fortress is bigger than any we have seen. It had two walled moats to cross before you reached the enclosed city. I guess the only way to penetrate it was with help from a traitor, which was how the Turks finally succeeded overtaking the city. It was at the time of the crusades when the castle was being protected by St. John's knights. Our guide told us the fascinating story and then how the gunpowder that had been hidden by the traitor was never found but lead to the destruction of a huge part of the city, hundreds of years later, when it exploded.

The Bazaar was two long streets of shops with wonderful things to buy if you wanted brand name clothes, expensive jewelry, classy foot wear, leather coats, beautiful linens and then all the touristy souvenirs. If you had a big shopping budget there were lots of great buys but just looking was also quite entertaining. The old town area was filled with character and around every corner was another interesting scene. We had an afternoon filled with just soaking up the charm of the place. I think I sort of fell in love for I felt a tug of regret at having to go so soon when the ship pulled away from the harbour and we watched this little spot of intrigue slip from our view.

Following John!!

Tuesday Oct 4, 2011

Our first morning breakfast on the ship. We went to breakfast at 6:00 AM as we were headed off early to Kusadasi and Ephesus. The buffet was already a buzz with people. There were lots of choices and it was just hard to make sure you found what you really wanted for breakfast rather than dishing up a lot of other stuff. Tomorrow I will be better at dishing up now I know which lines are for what I really want. After we were stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey, we were ready to discover lost civilizations, haggle with magic carpet salesmen, avoid possible shipwrecks, and make a pilgrimage to holy ground. Yes we were ready for everything the day might throw at us!

Our tour group had one of the earliest departures from the ship so we were soon on our way. When we loaded on the buses I suddenly had a greater appreciation for the "Insight Standard". This bus had seats so close together I couldn't put my knees out straight or I would be wedged in and never get out. I was glad the trip was only 30 minutes as my knee caps were getting a bit tender. As the guide who was guiding us for the morning trip to Ephesus and Kusadasi welcomed I thought "shouldn't we have someone from the area be our guide instead of some misplaced westerner" His speech came across as someone possible from the USA. Once he introduced himself I realized I was as ignorant as most of the tour group. He had quite a humorous way of letting us know that Turkish does not mean some dark skinned guy with a moustache or beard. His English was real good but occasionally he phrased things in way you realized he was from another culture. He had an interesting chatter all the way to Ephesus and we learned about Turkey and some of its culture. The land was fertile with lots of orchards with apples, oranges, pomegranates and peaches. It really looked like the land of milk and honey. As we were about 3 miles from the site the guide asked us where we thought ancient Ephesus was and then said "look around you because all this area is built on top the ancient city". You could see some terraced areas where there were partial remains of walls. History talks of Ephesus as a port city but here we had just driven 20 km from the ocean. River silt has really changed the face of the plain and also been the reason for the fertile area. When we got our first glimpse of the archaeological site we were immediately struck by the expanse of the area. It was huge and filled with partially standing buildings, roads and walkways and a huge ancient city that spread over more than 10 city blocks. Only 10 percent of the city of an estimated 250,000 people has been excavated so far. What was done was grand. A person could have spent all day and still not seen it all. After a bit of free time for exploring we piled back in the bus and headed to Kusadasi to meet Mr. Tony (for short). He is an expert in carpet weaving. We were welcomed to a very posh building with beautiful plush carpets hanging everywhere, we walked past a jewellery shop filled with gold and silver, diamonds and emeralds. We were ushered up stairs and invited to be seated on the plush seats the lined the walls, we were served drinks, Dad and I had a lovely apple cider, and then the presentation began. There were at least four guys rolling one carpet out after another as we were told of the qualities of each. They were exquisite and truly were worth the 600-2000+ Euros they wanted for them but alas I was not in the market for such a deal.

After watching carpets fly we were left to explore the bazaar area of Kusadasi. Though these places are all similar they all have their own charm. The people were very kind but a few are bit aggressive so I did my best to avoid eye contact and not look to interested if I wasn't. As always our time passed all too quickly and we were soon back on the ship having our lunch and headed for Patmos. We sailed through a narrow passage between the Greek Island of Samos and the coast of Turkey. Asia on our left and Europe on the right. We arrived in Patmos in the mid afternoon. It is a small island and in half hour we had taken a bus tour of much of the inhabited area. We took a walking tour through a main town square where the town hall was. This area was situated high above the port area with the streets built in narrow mazes like so many of the island towns. Next stop was the grotto where much of the book of Revelations was received by John as he was exiled on this island. Of course the area has a church built over it and has been turned into a shrine. It was touching regardless of the pomp and ceremony to realize we were actually walking where early Apostle had lived and taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Sadly the people of Greece are very set in their superstitious ways and a change in attitude and perspective will need to precede the accepting of true doctrine today. Such a friendly people I hope I can see the day the restored gospel flourishes in Greece.

A change

Monday October 3, 2011

When I awoke this morning I could tell there was a change. First thing that was different was that it was 7:30 AM, the latest tine I have awoken since this holiday began. Next, we had Louis Majesty luggage tags to put on our bags. We were picked up at 9:00 AM by the bus and headed to the harbour. Along the way we were given our boarding passes, with cabin number (907) and receipts for our passports and told to have both in our hands when we left the bus. We were given a health form, to declare we did not have any contagion, to sign and hand in. Then we arrived at the port entrance. Just like an airport, we had to get our luggage checked and then put all our carry on stuff in a tub to go through the x-ray machine. I remembered to take out the computer and the tablet so there was no hassle. Once through, we turned in our passport and were given the receipt stub to be able to retrieve them when we ended our cruise. We were told that our boarding pass would act as our passport until we returned. It was also our room key. Don't lose or misplace it!!!!!

Then we walked the gangplank into the bottom of the ship. They swiped the boarding pass and took pictures, which they told us we could buy later. Our guide, Dimitris, had told us that our cabins were not ready yet, so we met with him and the rest of our group in the Rendezvous lounge on the fifth deck. He gave us some basic instructions, told us about the optional excursions(about 15 all together) that would be available and gave us his recommendations. We then bought the ones we wanted and he told us a little about the history and things we would be seeing. They announced that our cabins were ready and we were sent on our way to our cabin. We found that cabin 907 was on the 9th floor. Since we entered on deck 2, and had climbed to deck 5, that meant we had to climb stairs for four more floors to get to our cabin. We opened the door to a palatial cabin. A bay window displayed the harbour with Athens in the background. Beside the queen size bed, another window also had inviting sunshine streaming in. There was a couch and two arm chairs. A fridge, a 35” TV and two bedside desks. A walk-in closet where we could hang our suitcase clothes. And a dresser to put the others in. Of course there was also a bathroom with a tub and shower. Heaven on the seas!! This would be “home” for the next 4 1/2 days.

Following instructions, we donned life jackets and headed to Deck 7, the Promenade Deck, outside, to attend the obligatory emergency evacuation instruction session where we were shown our assembly station and survival craft number. More paparazzi. By the end of the day we became aware that they were everywhere taking pictures of everything we did. Back up to our room we headed. We got very familiar with that staircase as the day progressed. Then the ship began to move and we were on our way. We went out on the promenade deck to watch Athens fade into the horizon. The wind picked up a bit and we could feel, and taste, the spray of sea salt. This was a new experience for us. We were thrilled. We walked along and noticed a slight, almost imperceptible tilt and sway as we moved along the corridors exploring this brand new world we had entered. This is not a large cruise ship but for us it was gigantic. They told us there were 1985 passengers on board. We went to the buffet for lunch and enjoyed people watching.

We arrived at Mykonos Island about 5:30. We disembarked, our boarding passes in hand to be swiped as we left the ship. We hopped on shuttle buses and we taken into the town where Dimitri led us on a walking tour through the town, which was built like a maze. For defensive purposes we were told. We really enjoyed seeing the beauty of the town with its narrow streets and whitewashed houses. It was amazing. We spent until about 9:00 pm in town and them climbed back on the shuttle bus to be taken back to the ship. We embarked, boarding pass in hand to be swiped as we entered the ship. I think I see a pattern happening. We went to the buffet for supper and then back to our cabin. We are cruising overnight to Kusadasi, Turkey. Wake up call is at 5:45 AM tomorrow morning and we will be leaving the ship at 6:50. So the early mornings continue. One thing constant in a sea of change. Good night.

Mom's version

We left our hotel in Athens ready for the next leg of our journey and another first for us. We were headed for our home for the next 5 days – the Louis Majesty. By Cruise standards it is a smaller cruise ship so we were delighted to find our room spacious and comfortable. There are no balconies but we have a nice bay window that makes the room bright and pleasant. Our destination was Mykonos. We were not arriving there until 3:30pm so that gave us some time after our group origination meeting for lunch and an explore of the ship. It was rather windy so rather than lay out on deck we decided to have some quiet time in our room and Dad had a good nap. We have been on the run from early morning until after 11:00 every evening so it was good to finally have a siesta.
We were able to dock and walk off the boast at Mykonos. Our guide, Dimitris, took us for a walk around including history and interesting information and the turned us loose to get lost in the narrow maze of streets and shops. The town is beautiful white buildings on a hillside and the streets are narrow mazes. They built these towns like this on purpose to protect themselves from pirates. Some of the walkways are so narrow there is only room for two abreast. This was also a defence stratagem so they could handle invaders in small groups. We wandered the peer, passed a taverna offering fresh octopus just set out on the grill, passed another taverna where Peter the 4 foot pelican was begging for his supper. We walked up to the famous windmills and got pictures just as the sun went down and the sky was brushed with warm rosy tones so we got to soak in the beauty of a Greek Isles sunset. It was magical! We scouted out the little shops but were not really in a buying mood. It was nice not to have the high pressure feeling we always had walking by shops in Athens. We spent some time on the waterfront taking pictures of the lighted town with the moon sitting high over a beautiful shimmering town, A town busy with curious travellers like ourselves seeking adventure and finding magic in Mykonos.

Reaching New Heights

Sunday Oct 2, 2011

Behind our hotel in Kalambaka the jutting pinnacles and cliffs of Meteora stand proudly. Ancient remains of an inland sea too determined and proud to erode. The barren rocks were an invitation to those seeking solace, oneness with deity to escape the world below and literally hang out away from the maddening crowd. A couple of the monasteries are visible from the town but you wonder how you will possible visit them as they stand hundreds of feet in the air with only a vertical cliff face to climb to get there. As we rode the bus on the winding narrow road through the village of Kastriki, which is the original town,towards the back of the rocks you are amazed to see there are more monasteries hanging in mid air on top the cliffs. Of course our bus is not the only transport of pilgrims looking for solitude, there were at least six other buses climbing their way up the narrow passage. Meeting one coming from the other way was always a bit of a challenge especially if it is at one of the many winding bends in the road. Luckily we arrived at the first Monastery before the influx of tourists so we were able to really enjoy the chanting of the monks we could hear as we were taught by our guide the meanings of the many paintings that completely wallpapered every room. I found it very interesting. We were informed the paintings were the illiterate man's scripture. Since the lay person did not have access to written scripture, paintings in churches were their scripture. The views from the mountain tops were stunning and though I think there are better ways to worship than being a recluse in a secluded monastery, I do see how such a place could be a place of meditation and inspiration, though a bit harder with 8 buses full of tourists all seeking their own adventure.

After winding our way carefully back down to earth we headed back to Athens. The drive was about 5 hours through rural Greece.We made our way back over the patchwork plains and up over a couple of mountain passes. Dora, our guide played some Greek music and I believe most of us enjoyed at least a few minutes of shut eye. A couple really snored along to the music.:)
Tonight we went to a Greek restaurant near our Hotel with 11 other tour members and enjoyed a very pleasant meal and conversation. We have really had fun getting to know couples from Australia, Ireland, USA and Canada. Tomorrow we board the boat for 5 days of island hopping. More fun to come.

Seeking Wisdom

Saturday October 1, 2011

We were like pilgrims seeking wisdom as we climbed the the rocky incline up Mt Parnassos to the sanctuary of Apollo. This is one of the most amazing sites we have visited. It is built on the spot that was considered the centre of the Ancient world. When Zeus sent two eagles out from the ends of the universe to find the centre they met here.

Though the settling of this area began in the 14^th century BC, it was during the 8^th and 7^th century BC that the sanctuary of Delphi really began to take shape. The area was believed to be the place the gods spoke through Pythia who uttered sounds that were then translated by the priests of Apollo. The centre of the sanctuary was Apollo's temple and around the temple were treasuries built by different cities or areas in Greece. The sacred way, leading to the temple, was lined with monuments and statues celebrating victories of major battles. The area also had a theatre for musical and dramatic performances plus a huge stadium for the Pythian games that rivaled the Olympic games in fame and glory. The stadium and theatre were well preserved and the size and work of erecting them where they are is incredible. The museum adds further insight as we saw some of the statues and ornamentation that decorated the site. I believe ancient visitors would have been as enraptured as a kid visiting Disneyland. As you stand on the terraced hill above the theatre and look out over the majesty of the panorama that lays before you it is not hard to see why the ancients considered the site sacred.

We spent the morning in our time-capsule adventure, and then rode the bus back to the serene port of Itea for a relaxing lunch on the waterfront. The day was perfect with the sun dancing on the water, with a gentle breeze and the chance to just breath in the moment!

Our trip from the Corinthian Gulf took us winding up a narrow road over two mountain ranges and then down into the plain of Thessaly. There at Thermopylae 300 Spartan warriors lead by Leonidas gave their lives in an attempt to stop the Xerxes Persian army before it found its way through the narrow pass and into the rest of Greece. The next couple of hours gave us a view of rural Greece with fields of cotton ready to harvest, little flocks of sheep, patchwork grain fields and one little village after another. Many of the villages seemed to be built in the highest spot possible. Tonight we are nestled at the foot of Meteora where the monasteries are perched high on the cliffs above us. The town of Kalambaka is a buzz with tourists seeking the treasure that comes to adventure hungry travelers fulfilling their Grecian dreams.