Saturday 5th September – We were woken up this morning with an announcement that someone else needed evacuation from the ship for medical reasons and we were making an unscheduled visit to Massina, in Sicily. We stopped for about an hour, just enough time to get the patient into the ambulance and family members and their luggage off the ship. We are now about six hours or so late so, instead of arriving in Athens at 6am it will probably be mid afternoon before we are berthed. We are due to leave at 4.45pm so we are hoping that they manage to get permission from the Port Authority to stay longer which will allow us to see the major sites at least. We stayed in bed a little later this morning then, nice to talk to Karyn and John although the connection was a bit difficult and they kept breaking up. Choir practice then a lazy afternoon prior to drinks, dinner and a show. Tonight it was a singer/musician and could he play the piano – was self taught, from Glasgow and a musical family and married to a classical pianist –very talented and got a standing ovation. The Captain announced that we would be arriving in Athens about 2.30pm and had permission to stay until 9pm so good news for everyone who wants to have a good look around. The schedule has however changed somewhat and we will now be going to Mykonos tomorrow then Istanbul and Anzac Cove.
Sunday 6th September – What a great day it has been today! We were up reasonably early and after breakfast attended a lecture on downloading photos and organizing them – did not really learn anything this time. The children onboard did a presentation in the Atrium for Fathers Day. Mason was thrilled to receive a text from Justine. Choir practice 12.15pm and then lunch. We arrived in Piraeus at 3pm and were off and had hired a taxi and driver by 3.30pm. We were so lucky that we got a great one, English speaking and hired for four hours at a great price. He was wonderful and took us firstly to Athens and the Acropolis – a site I was determined to see – it meant climbing 74 steps to the top but was worth it as you will see by the photos. Spent 40 minutes there and then on to the new Acropolis Museum which was fantastic – on then to the Old Olympic Stadium, built on the foundations of the Ancient Athens from the from the 4th century B.C host to the first modern Olympic games in 1890 and more recently used in the 2004 games. We were in time to watch the changing of the guard at Parliament buildings and wasn’t it fascinating! The photos will tell you why! Next it was the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the remains of the largest temple in antiquity, it took 700 years to complete. Our guide then took us around the old town, through the Plaka, the 19th century shopping district at the foot of the Acropolis back to Piraeus and a look around the port area then back to the ship. You will see a photo of Christof with Glen, Alice and Mason – I think he enjoyed the tour and our company as well! We keep pinching ourselves and thinking how lucky we are to have the opportunity to see so much of the world and so many places we have only dreamed of seeing. We left a little late at around 9.30pm and it was dinner in the buffet and then bed – an early morning tomorrow as we are due to arrive in Mykonos at 6am.
Sunday 6th September – What a great day it has been today! We were up reasonably early and after breakfast attended a lecture on downloading photos and organizing them – did not really learn anything this time. The children onboard did a presentation in the Atrium for Fathers Day. Mason was thrilled to receive a text from Justine. Choir practice 12.15pm and then lunch. We arrived in Piraeus at 3pm and were off and had hired a taxi and driver by 3.30pm. We were so lucky that we got a great one, English speaking and hired for four hours at a great price. He was wonderful and took us firstly to Athens and the Acropolis – a site I was determined to see – it meant climbing 74 steps to the top but was worth it as you will see by the photos. Spent 40 minutes there and then on to the new Acropolis Museum which was fantastic – on then to the Old Olympic Stadium, built on the foundations of the Ancient Athens from the from the 4th century B.C host to the first modern Olympic games in 1890 and more recently used in the 2004 games. We were in time to watch the changing of the guard at Parliament buildings and wasn’t it fascinating! The photos will tell you why! Next it was the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the remains of the largest temple in antiquity, it took 700 years to complete. Our guide then took us around the old town, through the Plaka, the 19th century shopping district at the foot of the Acropolis back to Piraeus and a look around the port area then back to the ship. You will see a photo of Christof with Glen, Alice and Mason – I think he enjoyed the tour and our company as well! We keep pinching ourselves and thinking how lucky we are to have the opportunity to see so much of the world and so many places we have only dreamed of seeing. We left a little late at around 9.30pm and it was dinner in the buffet and then bed – an early morning tomorrow as we are due to arrive in Mykonos at 6am.
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