Best of Greece and 7 Day Aegean Cruise – Travel Days

Best of Greece and 7 Day Aegean Cruise

Travel Days: 9-10 Sept 2009

Temperature in Athens: 24 and cloudy

I departed on Air Canada from St. John’s at 12:45 pm on 9/9/09.

Yup. 999.

I arrived in Toronto on time and the Eight hour flight to Zurich left on time. I expected to get three or four hours sleep, but knew that would be impossible ten minutes into the flight. I was in the aisle seat in the centre section of three seats and behind me were three children around four to six years of age.

Or at least old enough for their feet to reach the seats in front of them.

I bet you know where I’m going with this one.

Yeah. All three constantly hammered the seats with their feet, let out blood-curdling squeals for no reason and the girl behind me kept pounding the touchscreen behind my head. The father was seated behind and across the aisle and could see what they were doing. He stopped them several times, but it was obvious he had zero control over these children. Unfortunately, the flight was full (except for the empty seat next to me) and the flight attendants couldn’t do anything except keep them from running in the aisles. So, I gave up on trying to sleep and decided to watch some movies.

Until the entertainment system gave out.

Good thing I’m a patient person.

The good news was that I managed to fit in “My Life in Ruins” before the system went down. Loved it. I think it’s a must for anyone that likes touring in general and especially for anyone who goes to Greece. I won’t be able to look at the others on the tour without labeling them – the divorcees, the jokster etc.

I arrived in Zurich and took the airport subway to the other terminal (just followed everyone else). Took less than a minute to go through passport control and security screening. The Swiss flight to Athens was on time. The plane had no entertainment system and the seats were more crowded than the Air Canada planes, but a small Swiss chocolate bar after our lunch more than made up for it. (I needed the caffeine!).

I arrived on time into Athens at 1:15 pm and picked up my luggage. I followed the signs for Customs Control and walked out without seeing a customs agent anywhere. A taxi driver was holding up a Trafalgar/Brendan sign. He had my last name written on a sheet and I was the only one arriving at the time. The drive into Athens took thirty-five minutes.

I arrived at the Divani Palace Acropolis and checked in. They had a welcome package for me with all the information I needed on timings and optionals for the land portion of the tour.

The hotel had a nice nice lobby, a small elevator and my room was small, but comfortable enough.

It had a balcony and I could see the Acropolis from there, but it wasn’t quite a postcard picture.

The beds were firm (which I love). There was a bar fridge, hair dryer, safe, TV (with only CNN in English and one channel with English shows with Greek subs as well as several pay stations), and the usual shampoo and stuff. There was no iron and when I asked for one at the front desk they said irons were not allowed in the room because of safety issues. I asked if there was a room I could use and she said no, but that the cleaning ladies would iron something for a small fee.

I opted for the wrinkled look.

There was also no kettle. Another safety issue, perhaps.

Internet had several options. I took the three hours for 16 Euro. They provided the cable for use in the room and detailed instructions to make sure you log out (so that you don’t accidentally leave it logged in and use up all the time). I had no problem with my connection.

I did my laundry and had a shower then went out for a walk so that I didn’t fall asleep watching CNN. I walked up to Syntagma Square and watched the changing of the guard.

As a retired vet, I found it refreshingly “different.” The area was also covered with pigeons which reminded me a lot of Trafalgar Square in London, and yes, there were people there selling seed so that you can get the pigeons to land on you.

I walked into the Square and had a quick bite at McDonald’s and then walked the streets. The Acropolis was perfectly situated to keep you oriented so that it didn’t matter where you were on the map. To get back to the hotel, I just had to keep the Acropolis to my right as I walked.

I made it back to the hotel by 6:30 (the sun goes down around 7:30). I managed to stay conscious until nine when two days without sleep finally caught up to me.

 

 

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