21st to 24th March
Athens sports over three million people, and is one of the world’s oldest cities, with recorded history dating back to 1,200 BC. This was evidenced by the frantic traffic on dense, intertwined steep streets, with parked motorbikes and cars lining all passable and often impassable roads, blocking the uneven surfaces of narrow and cracked pavements, which furnished their own obstacles like tree trunks or columns.
Bustling and lively, we found Athens an exhilarating place to stay for a couple of nights before moving on. We had booked an ‘apartment’, a 20 minute walk away from the Acropolis. By chance we were in an area of Athens that must have specialised in providing second hand car parts and motorbikes. However, no convenience shops… So, you can buy a second hand bumper, but not a banana!
Fortunately, we weren’t far from coffee shops and restaurants, but Lynne was tested by the pervasive use of garlic in the cuisine. We lucked out on our first night by finding the Smile Gastrotaverna – and were met by a lively, animated woman, Zoe, who we think my have been the owner. Making doubly and trebly sure about garlic, we were treated to a GastroGreek treat!
We were up early in the morning to visit the Acropolis, before Lynne settled into an all-day video meeting. We arrived at 8am before the crowds and enjoyed an hour and a half’s peaceful exploration and admiration of the site in the sunshine. Lynne’s father’s absence was keenly felt as we visited the Parthenon, since Peter and Chris had joined him on his last visit.
Peter made good use of the time while Lynne was working, by scouting out the quickest way to the Metro, even purchasing tickets for our journey to Piraeus the following day and buying a delicious humongous lunch to keep Lynne going during her meeting.
Thursday saw us walk to the Metro station with our rucksacks, with a short stop for breakfast. Then the red line to Omania where we changed to the green line all the way to Piraeus. The Metro was delightfully easy to navigate, with large parts of it sparklingly new and shiny.
On our way to embarkation in Bari, Lynne had noticed the free shuttle bus parked in the Port. So we took the trouble to research whether there was a free shuttle bus at the Port of Piraeus, which there was and we found it just across the road from the Metro station. It was not signposted and the bus itself displayed no destination, so a bit of internet research saved us a long walk to the ship.
As we were boarding, one of the crew wanted to direct us to the car deck to leave our rucksacks, but when we explained that we had a cabin, he allowed us on board via the escalators! Thanks for the tip-off, Kirsten.
And what a cabin Peter had booked, with 2 windows, a fruit basket and huge bed. The Blue Star Patmos was a smaller ship, but taking the same number of passengers as the ferry from Bari. She sailed at 3pm and was due in to Rhodes at 9am the following morning, with 6 stops en route throughout the night.
Next stop – Rhodos!
So enjoying reading about your trip, and seeing the photos of Fred. It reminded me of the great trip we did when the family were small, driving from Germany down to Greece Bob aged 6 classic remark at Mycenae, ‘not another heap of old stones’!!
Amazing cabin on the ship!
Last time I was in Athens Lynne, was with you on our Greek tour in about 1989!! Fond memories x