The Silver Wind

Caught a taxi from the Ava to Port Piraeus - fixed price, but horrific experience , but didn't make for fixed nerves. Small ship - 280 passengers - 200 crew. Quiet entry, then met our "Butler"

Bo is our Butler - supposedly just for us, but we know through the cabin gossip he looks after a few - and he is good. When we first arrived he sat us down with a full bottle of champers - he was pouring it quickly while explaining it all.

Anyway on our second night on board, we had a long long lunch after a wonderful few hours in Santorini with a couple from Brisbane! Lois and Glenn for you, this guy worked for Sheraton and managed the Ularu/Ayers Rock facility one year after we did our 4WD thing to the Sheraton in 1985, via every corrugation in the Yellow Lady!!

We then went back to relax and ordered some room service, you see we did not bring the "Black tie stuff" - our Butler, Bo, was quite confused about it all, and requested that we leave our cabin for half and hour after room service, We did, as ordered, went to the piano bar, stayed far too long, and relaxed while Ramon played and sang "Frank Sinatra" music for "moi". Another point about this Cruise, Vino and gratuities are all included, so you don't say NO!! - Went back to our cabin - yes, there were 6 balloons - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, easter eggs, chocolate gateau cake, candles, and of course champagne - how wonderful. Of course the real thing is on 24th April, but we won't tell our Bo the Butler we share any different dates. Have no idea where the information came from!!!!

Wonderful day in Santorini yesterday, at sea today en route to Valetta in Malta - a bit rough, but doesn't worry us, even though the Brig spent this morning with the Italian Capitain on the Bridge this morning, I had coffee with the "entertaining staff". Have had a long an interesting lunch in one of the 3 restaurants today, tonight Black Tie, but we will ignore - done too much of that over the years, room service amongst the waves - I would suggest.

Athens - Day 4

Up early, got permission to leave our bags at the Ava, then wandered early through the Plaka up to the Acropolis, cats and dogs everywhere - in shop windows with antiques - just amazing really. The sun was shining, so we boarded the Red "on and off bus" to see the town again - got off near the President's residence and basically hoofed it from there. but not before checking out his very still warriors at the front gate!

Walked back to our hotel through Athens National gardens - in bloom

to the Temple of Zeus

and the Hadrian's Gate

Looking up the street where our great hotel was - the Acropolis at the other end.

Now it's Day 3 in Athens

This morning was a bit overcast, went down for our breakfast and a bit of help on a few things we needed to accomplish today. As usual the staff gave us all the info we needed, and we headed off for the Acropolis, not far from the Hotel really.

The streets are lined with flowering blossom trees, or orange trees.

Now to find the easy way up to the Acropolis.

A reasonable climb, but well worth it.

The Acropolis's stunning theatre.

wandered around - still amazed how they did it.

Views from above

Everywhere you go, there are big gentle dogs just lying around, we were told yesterday that they do not euthanise dogs in Greece - they are fed by all and sundry. Same rules for cats as well.

We boarded the red "hop on, hop off" bus from the bottom of the Acropolis, it started to rain, so I just took photos of the Greek Guards doing their change of guard en route past "Parliament House", where the unhappy people are.

We travelled around on the red HOHO bus, got off at one of their department stores, Hondos, bought all the things I had left at home - hairbrush, lipstick etc. etc. Boarded the bus again and spent more time travelling around with a group of english people (one was born in Reading and follows Reading footy) who are on the final part of a World Cruise on the Aurora Ship -we knew all the same places, a very fun hour or so. We then decided to head back to our Plaka area, and go out for a late lunch - which again was great - back home to the Ava, get the blog done, and prepare for our move to the Silverwind tomorrow.

Another great day for us.

Day 2 in Athens

Yesterday - a busy full day tour - with our first stop being at the Corinth Canal - 23 metres wide and with 80 metre walls built in 1882, so that boats would not have to risk sailing around Cape Matapan, which is the southern most point of the Peloponnese. For many years boats have been hauled across the Peninsular on a cobbled road to avoid the storm risk but obviously the bigger boats needed a canal - and here it is.

We then headed to Mycenae - snow capped mountains and mucho olive trees.

The term "Mycenean" more probably late "bronze age" applies to an entire culture spanning the years 1700 to 1100 BC.

Mycenae, the ancient city, included the Lionesses Gate - pictured above with Liz and a lot of glare in it.

There were circular tombs where royalty were buried

Below the other side of the Lionesses Gate, look at the size of that lintel - estimated to weigh 20 tonnes.

How they moved these we do not know

Wildflowers were out and the sun was shining

Frank really enjoyed the engineering of these BC workers

More olives

Looking back up to Mycenae

Below is the entrance to the Tomb of Klytemnestra, this lintel was estimated to weigh 120 tonnes - nearly as deep as it is wide.

This is all BC building, engineering and sheer physical effort, just incredible!

After leaving Mycenae we headed to Nauplia for a very good lunch at the Amalia Hotel - sat with Ingrid, an archeologist from Canada - she lives 1200 miles north of Calgary, really enjoyed her company.

Next stop was Epidaurus and its theatre designed in 4th century BC

It is well known for its near perfect acoustics - and they are!

And has the only circular stage to have survived from antiquity.

Epidaurus is renowned for its incredible theatre, but also an extensive therapeutic and religious centre, active from the 6th Century BC to 2nd Century AD. The medical tools exhibited from their archeology work is unreal.

On driving back through town we noted the amount of police activity outside the Parliament Building in Constitution Square (Syntagma Square) - and crowds in the park there - thought there could be trouble and yes there was again.

We arrived back to our great little hotel around 7pm, got rid of some gear and wandered just up our thin street , to have a drink underneath the Acropolis.

The Plaka is the oldest part of Athens, it's peaceful and basically minus the "graffiti" warfare that seems to have taken over parts of the city.

In fact the choice to stay at the Ava Hotel in the Plaka district was superb. We watched where we let some others from our tour group off - big hotels, surrounded by graffitied walls, and no access to olde charm. Am very happy with our choice.

Frank again at the front door of our hotel with Hadrian's Gate lit up in the background. This had been a wonderful day, but even got better, switched on the Mac Air to find out that Clare and Nick (nephew) in Sheffield had produced young Oliver 3 weeks early in the back of an ambulance in the snow - that would be these 2, married in a helicopter over the night lights of Las Vegas - Oliver and his Mum are well and at home now. Welcome to this world Oliver.

More of Day 1 in Athens

This is my second shot of Day 1, back in action after a mis-communication between Mac and Liz, and I guess I was wrong!!!

Entrance to our Hotel Ava, backdropped by the Acropolis.

The Plateia Lyskratous built in 334 BC - 2 minutes from our hotel

The staircase from hell - well in the Brig's mind.

Ermou - the main shopping drag - got a kick out of this dog, showing whatever to the 2 painted models in the window.

Liked this, photo taken, but didn't check it out - still in jet lag zombie mode.

Below is the ancient Hadrian's Library

Bikes or stairs Brig?

A grecian door!