DAY 17 EUROPE TRIP - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - Athens

2 June 2009

DAY 17 EUROPE TRIP
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - Athens

Today is the first day of summer or the first day of winter back home. It is an overcast day and Athens looks hazy in the distance.

We had already docked at Athens main port, Piraeus when I first woke up at 6.00am. It has been a port for the last 26 centuries!

During antiquity it was the military port. Now it is a port for cruise ships and ferries.

There are many more ports in Athens. Some cater just for the luxury yachts.

We are off to sight see around Athens and to visit the Acropolis. Athens is about 8 kilometres from the port. The traffic was very heavy and progress was slow. Athens close up was not interesting. It is a considered a modern city with many buildings dating back to the 1950s. It looks a tired city.

The graffiti on the walls spoils the look of the city. From the tour guide we got the impression that they think the graffiti is okay. We were told that the colours used to write the messages related to the colours of the soccer clubs. It was also not uncommon to leave a message on a wall if someone missed meeting you at a predetermined time. On the way we went past a stadium built for the Olympics.

We stopped at the original Olympic Stadium, the Panathinaikon Stadium, used for the first modern Olympic games in 1896. It seated 68,000. It was drizzling slightly when we arrived here but the rain soon passed. The marathon still starts and finishes at this stadium.

We passed Hadrian’s gate and the ruins of the Temple to Zeus on the way to the Acropolis.

An imposing place - a religious centre from the Mycenaean era until the Byzantine period.

The site dates back to 5th century BC. We walked through the Propylaea, to the Parthenon, and the Temple of Athena Nike.

The views of Athens from the Acropolis were much more impressive than from elsewhere.

Soon it was time to make our way back to the ship via the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the university building and several other imposing buildings.

Along the roads we saw mulberry trees, orange trees two types of palm trees and fig trees.

We could have explored Athens more on our own, but it was very hot and we were not impressed with the city as drove past. Quite a few fellow passengers who returned to town had their wallets stolen from pockets and from handbags.

Internet has been down on the ship so we haven’t been able to check our emails. It is very frustrating as I am concerned that the email box could be full. We relaxed around the ship in the late afternoon.

My sister-in-law was dozing on the deck when the heavens opened up for a few minutes. It sure woke her up quickly. We spent some time enjoying the view of the port before setting sail.

It was amazing watching the ship leave the harbour. It had very little room in which to manoeuvre. The gap that it had to sail though appeared very tight.

We had a good laugh at the newly-wed-bot-so-newly-wed game show. After dinner we saw the Impressionist Shari Wilson. We enjoyed the first half of the show. After that it got a bit tedious. We went to the top deck to relax with a drink and then onto the 11.30 pm Sweet Delights Buffet. The buffet was amazing. Ice sculptures decorated the tables. Nibbles were presented as one entered the Sky Lounge. A huge range of deserts was set out on tables. Topping it all off was a chocolate fountain. We also gained an hour back so our late night was not quite so late according to the new time.