Overnight flight from Houston via Munich and you arrive in Athens late afternoon. The airport is a long, expensive cab to town, or one can ride the Metro from 5 min. Walk from the baggage claim and you're on the way to the main public square in Athens; Sygmentra. My hotel was theoretically a short walk away, but there was a large Pro-Palestinian and Gay Pride demonstration that I had to walk through. PHOTOS HERE
After check in and a quick shower, I walked the other direction and found some dinner in a casual Greek Restaurant where my waiter, as most middle aged men in Greece; had been to Galveston Houston via the Merchant Marines.. Not an uncommon occurrence in Greece.
The next morning after a classic Greek breakfast, I walked for 20 min. To my “Skip the Lines” waking tour of the Acropolis. It however was not “skip the crowd”. One walks up the hill for about 20 min to get to the top and actually see the ruins as well as the Parthenon. It was so crowded on top, I couldn't hear my guide, so I waved goodbye and left. As you know history, ancient Greece was the center of the universe many millennia ago and it frequently took place at the Acropolis.
My friends Brad and Tenia Elridge picked me up at the hotel for an afternoon drive and dinner along the southern coast. What a great way to spend my first day.
The next morning a cab ride to the port of Piraeus and I boarded the NCL Viva.
Our first stop was in a northern Greek community of Volos. PHOTOS HERE We couldn’t figure out why we were here except to kill time. Sandra, John and I walked along the bay front and found a nice little restaurant and walked in to a coffee house where I rediscovered Freddo Cappuccino. What a wonderful refreshing drink.
The next day, a hour bus ride from the port of Izmir to the Ruins of Ephesus. PHOTOS HERE This ancient archaeological site is thought to be inhabited from 600 BC. There is still excavation. The most recent section was “The Terraced Houses” which were only started 25 years ago. Magnificent preserves of home and rooms all covered by a giant ventilated covering. This tour was fantastic in spite of the 3 hours spent on the bus.
Then it was in Istanbul. PHOTOS HEREThe Lopez’s and I were there 12 years ago. Not much has changed. Very vibrant city with 16 million people. Majority Muslim and just as “in you face” as they were the last time we were there. We were in a different area this trip. A walking tour of the Topkapi Palace and Grounds. There are many worthy sites in Istanbul but this is my favorite. I can see the famous diamond that was the theme of the 1962 movie “Topkapi”.That evening we took a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus. This water way is the divide between Europe and Asia. It is also the only sea route out of the Black Sea. We walked a lot and I finished the stop with a Haman, which is a traditional Turkish Scrub and Bath. Done in a central , heated, domed room with 10 of my new found friends. It’s something one must experience….once.
Mykonos has been labeled the "Emerald of the Aegean Sea". PHOTOS HEREIt is a must stop on any tour of the Greek Isles.
Fortunately for me, my travel companions John and Sandra have spent many summers in the Greek Islands so I just went along. We walked across the street from the pier, rented a small car and drove across the island to Lia Beach. Now there are several beautiful beaches with club restaurants but this one is furthest from the pier and not as crowed. We actually opened the place upon arrival at 10 am. When we left a 3:00 it was full.
One could rent lounges at the beach from 70-90 E for the day or simply take a table in the restaurant and drink and eat for the day. I drank, smoked, ate and swam. I spent a lot of time dreaming about spending the summers here.
